GR131 Canary Islands, Day 15 – Tuesday, Jan 27, 2026
We pitched our tent at a recreation area, bracing for another bone-chilling night, but the mountains had other plans. To our surprise, it was a balmy 10°C (50°F) at sunrise.
With only 10 km (6.2 miles) left of our Gran Canaria (GC) traverse, the ocean made its presence known early; even at an elevation of 1,200 meters (3,937 feet), we could hear the rhythmic thunder of the Atlantic swells hitting the coastline throughout the night.
The Big Descent to Agaete
We weren’t exactly «alpine start» material today, hitting the trail around 8:15 AM. The GR131 serves up a massive descent today, dropping almost all the way to Agaete.
We started with 2 km (1.2 miles) of mellow forest cruising before hitting the rim. Then, the real work began.
The trail turned technical—steep, winding, and punishing on the knees—as we navigated loose rock and slick sections. We had 1,200 meters (3,937 vertical feet) to shed, and even without rain, the humidity made the stones surprisingly greasy. You definitely had to pick your lines carefully.
The contrast here is wild. Unlike the arid, rugged barrancos of Maspalomas where we started, this side of the island is lush, vibrant, and incredibly green.
Catching the Ferry
From our vantage point, we could see Agaete and the harbor. We spotted a Fred. Olsen ferry docked and waiting—our ride to Tenerife. The boat was set to sail at noon, so we treated ourselves to a quick breather at the 300-meter (984 feet) mark before the final push.
The trail dumped us out into town just 1.5 km (0.9 miles) from the pier.
A quick «resupply» at a Spar store for some snacks, and we were at the ticket office. Tickets were €48 per person, and we had a smooth ninety-minute crossing.
Next Chapter: Tenerife
The GR131 journey continues. After docking in Santa Cruz, we hopped the tram up to La Laguna. The Tenerife section officially kicks off in La Esperanza, about 10 km (6.2 miles) southwest of our base camp (a rental apartment) here in La Laguna.
Finding a spot to stay in La Esperanza was a no-go, so we’ve got a taxi called for 07:30 AM to drop us at the trailhead. I’m always a bit skeptical of trail transfers—let’s see if he actually shows up! I tried the Uber app, but it was a ghost town, so we went old-school and called a local dispatch.
Gran Canaria truly delivered. We’ve been blessed with «bluebird» skies, minimal wind, and perfect trekking conditions. Fingers crossed the weather gods are just as kind to us on Tenerife.
Today’s stats: 10 km (6.2 miles