Agaete

Overview

Agaete is a picturesque village town, located in the North Western region of Gran Canaria. With a population of only 6,000 people, it’s not very big, or very busy. This part of the world is rather more peaceful, perfect for those looking for a bit of rest and relaxation! Agaete is dotted with historic buildings and beautiful landscape, with plenty to explore. 

History

Spanish conquerors launched a fierce attack on Puerto de las Nieves in the late 15^th century, shortly before taking the town of Agaete. Records indicate that the exact period in which Agaete fell to the conquerors was the year 1483, making it one of the oldest villages in the whole of the Canary Islands!

The new governor of the town was to be Don Alonso Fernandez de Lugo, a religious man who ended up creating a shrine to la Virgin de las Nieves (Lady of the Snow), which still stands today.

Agaete was once the most popular place to come and catch a glimpse of ‘the finger of God’ (Dedo de Dios). Despite sounding like a sexual euphemism, ‘the finger of God’ was actually a natural monument, which resembled a skywards pointing finger. Unfortunately, this mysterious monument was washed away in a recent tropical storm, rendering Agaete’s status as ‘TFG’ watchpoint obsolete!

Culture

This little town in Gran Canaria is home to almost 6,000 people. The locals are very religious here and they value their siestas too, so a certain degree of respect will have to be maintained to avoid causing offence.

The people in Agaete are extremely friendly and the atmosphere in the area is very relaxed. Few cars populate the streets and children play freely in the square. Cafes and bars are crammed with elderly locals contemplating life and slowly sipping their coffees. The people here are certainly not in any sort of rush and there is a tangible feeling of calm about the place. If you’re looking for a little peace and tranquillity, Agaete is for you.

Economy

After the conquest of Agaete, wine and sugar mills were cultivated with massive success. The town exported its produce all over Europe and developed good economic ties with various European countries. Agaete achieved rapid economic growth. This was short lived however, when problems with the sugar industry sent the town into despair.

Agaete has since recovered though, through the cultivation of tomatoes. This town has also recently taken to growing various fruits such as bananas, mangoes, oranges and lemons.

How To Get There

If you’re coming from Las Palmas, the easiest thing to do is jump on the Global bus 103. This service takes you straight to Agaete and buses leave almost hourly. The first bus departs at 5.00am and the last at 10.00pm, so you won’t be struggling for transport!

On Saturdays and Bank Holidays this service remains largely the same, with buses leaving pretty much hourly. The only difference is that the first bus departs at 6.00am instead of 5.00am!

If you’re coming from Galdar then you can grab the Global bus 103 again. There are limited services at this station though with buses departing only at 5.00am, 6.00am, 8.30am, 9.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 4.30pm and 5.30pm.

If you find yourself in the South of Gran Canaria, you’re best is to climb aboard the Global bus 30 in Faro de Maspalomas. This service will take you straight to Las Palmas and from there you can get on the aforementioned 103 bus.

The first number 30 bus departs at 7.15am and this is followed by another bus at 8.00am. After this, buses arrive approximately every 20 minutes until 8.10pm, with a final service at 9.25pm. On Saturdays and Bank Holidays, this service remains largely the same, however there are slightly fewer buses.

If you decide to drive you can follow the GC-2 Autopista from the capital of Las Palmas, which will take you around 20 minutes.

Nearby to Agaete is Puerto de las Nieves, where you can catch a ferry to Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Sights

Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción

This church was erected in 1874 and it has a very distinguishing profile. The tall church powers over the local area and captures the imaginations of tourists and locals alike with its ornate beauty.

Address: Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, Plaza Tomas Morales, Agaete, Gran Canaria

La Ermita de Nuestra Señora de las Nieves

This little chapel happens to be nearly half a millennium old, and considering its age, it’s not in bad shape! This modest building also contains a historic artefact from artist Joos von Cleve, and is definitely worth a visit. Near this building is a tourist information centre which will be happy to help.

Address: Oficina de Tourismo de Agaete, Nuestra Señora de Las Nieves, Gran Canaria
Telephone: 928 554 382

Huerto de las Flores

This flower garden is certainly worth seeing. It contains various different types of beautiful flowers, not only from the Canary Islands, but also from the Caribbean region. If you enjoy wildlife, then this place is a must.

Address:  Huerto de las Flores, Calle Huertas, Agaete
Opening Times: Varied. However it is open most weekdays, from 9.00am until 12.00pm, and again from 4.00pm until 6.00pm.
Price: Free.

Cueva de las Cruces (Cave of Crosses)

Rumour has it that these caves were inhabited by the ancient first settlers of Gran Canaria, the Guanches. After the advance of the conquerors however, the inhabitants were forced away, leaving the area empty. The Spaniards took advantage of this and attempted to mark their territory by scribing crosses into the stone. Today these caves are interesting to see, especially if you enjoy a good hike hike!

There are a few small, local art galleries in the area, which are not too far from the centre of the village. However, if you’re looking for something a little bit larger, then a quick car or bus journey to Las Palmas is what you need. The capital boasts an enormous array of museums and galleries and caters for pretty much all tastes and preferences!

Beaches

Playa de las Canteras (Las Palmas)

Playa de las Canteras is around 3,000 metres long and it harbours a unique blend of rich, golden sand. This place is very popular with tourists, so it is advisable to get up early and reserve a spot on the beach! The shoreline in this area is full of various outlets and kiosks too, making it extremely simple to satisfy any impulsive shopping urges!

Playa de Las Nieves

This is not a very large beach, but it's certainly a very beautiful one. It was here that the Dedo de Dios (finger of God) stood, until nature came along and took it down! This beach is quite close to a promenade, suitable for light shopping and snack buying. 

Playa de Guayedra

This beach is made up of stones and black sand but it is quite comfortable to relax on. The only problem is that it is not very easily accessible and there is often a strong wind blowing through the area. Beaches Sotavento, El Risco and Faneroque could be described in a similar fashion too.

Festivals

Fiestas

June 29^th - Fiesta de San Pedro
This celebration in honour of St Peter features a lot of dancing, singing and stage performers.

August 4^th – Fiesta de la Rama
This fiesta involves thousands of people dancing through the street and merrily waving palm branches around to a musical beat provided by two live municipal bands. Experts suggest that this festival contains a similar meaning to the rain dance of the initial inhabitants of Gran Canaria. In this rain dance, people would dance through the streets with palm trees before using the plants to whip the sea, in an attempt to ask their God for rain. Today, the palm trees are not used to whip the sea, but are offered to the Virgin Mary.

December 8^th – Fiesta de la Concepcion is a parish festival honouring the immaculate conception.

Restaurants

Dedo De Dios

Dedo De Dios boasts some of the best seafood in the Canary Islands, and that’s saying something! The atmosphere in this restaurant is relaxed and friendly and the price is very reasonable. Average Price: €6.

Address: Carretera Puerto de Las Nieves s/n, 35489, Agaete Gran Canaria
Telephone: 928 898 581

Casa Romantica

Casa Romantica is a small food outlet ideal for people on the go. This establishment offers a very convenient quick stop for sightseers and locals alike, and as the name suggests, the atmosphere in here is certainly more than a little amorous! Average Price: €13.

Address: Fairly close to the centre of Agaete
Telephone: 928 898 084

Nightlife

Bar Medina

Medina is a small bar which sometimes screens live football matches. The staff are friendly, the beer is cheap and the people are very friendly!

Address: Plaza Tomás Morales, 5, 35480 Agaete, Gran Canaria
Telephone: 928 89 80 56

Restaurante Cofradia De Pescadores

Despite being a restaurant, this place serves up a fantastic array of drinks. It also has a beautiful sea view from the terrace. On the weekends, this place can fill up quickly so it might be worth making a reservation.

Address: Puerto de las Nieves Muelle s/n, 35480 Agaete, Gran Canaria
Telephone: 928 886 250

Shopping

Agaete has many kiosks selling excellent local produce, which is worth trying out at least once! There are also a wide variety of stylish outlets selling everything from electrical equipment to souvenirs.

In the main street of Agaete you can find pretty much anything you want, be it clothes, cafes or craft shops. There is also an underground shopping complex, which, should keep even the most ardent shopper satisfied.

The Calle de la Concepcion and the Calle Juan de Armas are also useful addresses for keen shoppers to check out.