Moya between Culture and Nature
Accommodation in Moya
Moya brings together natural landscapes, literary heritage, historic architecture and geological features. Moya offers specific points of interest for each of these interests.
Nature and Landscape in Moya
The Los Tilos Special Nature Reserve covers 91 hectares. It is the best-preserved remnant of the dense laurel forest that once covered the north of Gran Canaria. The area can be explored on foot along a signposted circular route. If you are planning a visit, check the current trail conditions.
The Barranco de Azuaje, within the municipality, offers a different landscape: it lies in the Doramas Rural Park and is designated a Special Nature Reserve. Its landscape includes steep mountains and rock caves, as well as lush endemic vegetation, perennial cascades and pools. While Los Tilos is particularly defined by its preserved laurel forest, the Barranco stands out for its varied rock formations and water features.
The Caldera de los Pinos is another notable geological feature. It lies at 1,350 metres above sea level. Its circular crater has a funnel shape, measures 300 metres in diameter and is 150 metres deep. These figures give a tangible sense of the scale of this landscape feature. The Guía–Moya route is also a useful reference for hiking: it is 14 kilometres long and rated easy. When planning your trip, be sure to take current trail conditions into account.
Literature and Historic Buildings
The Tomás Morales House Museum is housed in a 19th-century building where the poet lived during his childhood and youth. Morales is considered the leading figure of Canarian lyric modernism and one of the most important Spanish writers of this literary movement. The collection devoted to the poet Tomás Morales includes a well-preserved documentary archive, numerous personal belongings and a valuable painting collection.
The Church of Our Lady of Candelaria was built in 1957 over the original chapel, where the parish of Moya was founded in 1515. The church houses a 15th-century statue of Our Lady of Candelaria and a work depicting Saint Jude Thaddeus by José Luján Pérez, dating from 1803. Separately, a large stone balcony offers panoramic views of the north of Gran Canaria.
The architecture of the Heredad de Aguas de Moya mansion is markedly different from that of the church. The building was constructed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It has two storeys, a symmetrical ashlar façade, a porch, six neoclassical columns and a central clock tower. Its individual architectural features make it a specific point of interest for anyone interested in historic architecture.
The chapel of San Bartolomé de Fontanales also has a long history of construction: the surviving building dates from 1872, while an earlier chapel had already been built in 1635. The building is no longer used for religious services. La Montañeta is considered the most important archaeological site in the Villa de Moya. It has numerous natural caves where the indigenous people of the Canary Islands lived. Check current access conditions before visiting.
Coast and Regional Specialties
At Charco de San Lorenzo, pools in the volcanic rocks along Moya’s coast make it possible to swim without being exposed to the area’s strong surf. The pools vary in capacity and depth, and there is also a sandy area. These features offer practical guidance when planning a visit to the coast. Conditions can change, so it is a good idea to check the current situation locally.
In the municipalities of Guía, Gáldar and Moya, Queso de Flor de Guía, Queso de Media Flor and Queso de Guía are made entirely by hand.
For the broader travel overview: Gran Canaria.
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