Cabo Verde: Palm Grove and Agricultural Landscape on Gran Canaria

Cabo Verde on Gran Canaria remains shaped by agriculture. Key features include the Palmeral del Cruce de Cabo Verde-Los Dragos, the Reserva Natural Especial de los Tiles, the historic banana industry, and a winding descent along the GC-752. Here, botanical, ecological, and agricultural aspects meet a specific cycling route.

Palm Grove and Protected Area

The Palmeral del Cruce de Cabo Verde-Los Dragos is an emblematic place on Gran Canaria and covers just over two hectares. It lies within the Reserva Natural Especial de los Tiles, a special nature reserve. This brings a clearly defined palm grove and a larger protected-area framework together in the same landscape.

The Reserva Natural Especial de los Tiles covers 91.5 hectares in the municipalities of Guía and Moya and encompasses one of the last remaining laurel forest areas. Despite its small extent, this forest plays an important role in protecting the soil and replenishing groundwater. The protected area therefore extends beyond the individual palm grove to include a remnant of laurel forest with ecological significance.

Palm Grove and Terrain

The Palmeral de Cabo Verde extends across alluvial terraces and colluvial deposits along the Barranco del Salado and the ravines of La Cañada, Moreto, and Los Dragos. The Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis) is predominant. Date palms (Phoenix dactylifera) are found almost exclusively in the lower section of the Barranco del Salado. The terrain and distribution of species describe two different aspects of the palm grove: its geological setting and its botanical composition.

Agriculture and History

The area’s present-day agricultural character can be understood in the context of its former farming history. In the 1960s and 1970s, the northern coast, the Costa de Lairaga, and the coastal basalt plateaus, including Cabo Verde–La Cordillera, were almost entirely covered with high-yield banana plantations. Cabo Verde’s agricultural infrastructure is of ethnographic value. Together with the history of banana cultivation, it makes agriculture a distinct cultural topic alongside the natural vegetation.

Cycling the GC-752

The GC-752 offers a seven-kilometer winding descent through Cabo Verde, from Moya to the sea. Along the way, views open out over the Atlantic Ocean, the north coast, and a city on the horizon. The road through Cabo Verde to Moya is also narrow and winding, a useful detail to consider when planning a trip.

For cycling trips, the route via the Cabo Verde side is recommended instead of the Los Dragos side to avoid heavy traffic. As traffic and road conditions can change, check the latest conditions before setting out.

Archaeological Significance

Near Cabo Verde, the archaeological site of La Montañeta was designated a “Bien de Interés Cultural” by the Government of the Canary Islands under Decree 14/2009. This archaeological connection complements the themes of natural landscapes and agricultural history.

Discover more destinations: San Fernando, Los Dragos, San Bartolomé De Fontanales

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