Roque Bentayga and its interpretation centre

What it is

The Roque Bentayga is the great isolated crag in the middle of the Tejeda caldera, opposite the Roque Nublo. For the ancient Canarians it was a sacred place: at its base is an almogarén, a place of worship from which the passing of time was followed and the equinoxes were marked, and around it there are caves used as dwellings and granaries, engravings, paintings and holes cut in the rock. The site forms part of the cultural landscape of Risco Caído and the Sacred Mountain Places of Gran Canaria, a World Heritage Site since 2019. The Cuevas del Rey, on the slope, are in the same archaeological park.

The interpretation centre

It is at Finca El Majadal, at the foot of the rock, on the road that crosses the centre of the island. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 to 16:30, with last entry at 16:00, and admission is free. It is closed on Mondays, on 1, 5 and 6 January, on 1 May and on 24, 25 and 31 December. It is small: you see it in half an hour, and it helps you understand what you are going to see up there. Its phone is 699 100 085.

Getting there

By car from Tejeda village it is a few minutes along the road towards Artenara, with a signposted turn-off to the Bentayga. There is parking beside the centre. From there a short path leads to the base of the rock and the almogarén. No bus stops at the centre.

With children

The caves, the engravings and the history of the ancient Canarians usually appeal to children and teenagers. The path is short but steep and with loose stone: closed shoes and watch the edges.