El Espinillo: Hiking and Archaeology

El Espinillo still has a small permanent population. Several themes come together here to help you plan your trip: hiking routes pass through the village or mention it as a destination along a branch trail, while archaeological sites at Roque Bentayga and Cuevas del Rey broaden the picture of the surrounding area. Agriculture and the Fiesta del Almendro add to this picture. You can choose your destination based on whether you would most like to discover the routes, archaeological remains, or rural character.

Hiking and getting your bearings

A municipal hiking activity exploring the values of the Biosphere Reserve passed through El Espinillo, La Solana, and El Chorrillo before continuing to El Carrizal de Tejeda. On the Cruz Timagada–Bentayga route, a left-hand turn leads to the hamlet of El Espinillo. These offer different points of reference for finding your way: the first route description mentions several places and a final destination, while the second identifies a specific turnoff to the hamlet. Check trail conditions locally before planning to take the turnoff.

Archaeological sites at Roque Bentayga

Near El Espinillo, the archaeological site at Roque Bentayga includes an ancient defensive wall, an almogarén, and caves. These different features give the site several points of archaeological interest, rather than reducing it to the monolith alone. An interpretation centre stands at the foot of the monolith; from there, a somewhat steep path leads to the site. An older route description gives an approximate time of ten minutes for this walk. This is an estimate for the path, not the time to spend at the site; check trail conditions locally.

Cuevas del Rey, also near El Espinillo, is a settlement of artificial caves carved into tuff and used as living spaces and granaries. The cave settlement adds a different perspective to the features at Roque Bentayga: here, the focus is on how the rooms carved into the rock were used and on their context as a settlement.

Forest, agriculture, and the Fiesta del Almendro

The pine forests in the area consist of Canary Island pines. Extensive reforestation supplements the remnants of the original large pine forest. The forest remnants and reforested areas are therefore two distinct features of the surrounding landscape. El Espinillo, La Solana, and El Chorrillo are predominantly agricultural; some goats are also kept in the area for milk and cheese. Together, these details offer a rural perspective on the area, beyond its archaeological sites.

The Fiesta del Almendro also offers a concrete glimpse of local traditions. In the 2025 programme, El Espinillo contributed carnival tortillas and rice pudding for visitors to sample. The programme also described the fiesta as an event that had been held for 55 years. If you plan to visit during another edition, check its programme; the dishes mentioned here relate to 2025.

Discover more destinations: Teror, Urbanización la Suerte, Santa Brígida, Tejeda, Puerto de las Nieves, Valleseco, Las Palmas De Gran Canaria, Las Marciegas.

For the general travel overview: Gran Canaria.