Monday, 18 May 2015 08:26

GC-220: Gateway to Tamadaba With Stunning Rural Scenery

Fagajesto village and flowers on the GC 220 road in northwest Gran Canaria Fagajesto village and flowers on the GC 220 road in northwest Gran Canaria

This little-known rural road winds up through the northwest of Gran Canaria past cliff-edge villages and flower meadows and brings you to the wild pine forests of Tamadaba. 

The start point for the GC 220 route up into the northwest highlands of Gran Canaria is this roundabout on the GC 2 road between Galdar and Agaete. Look out for the tiny hermitage and head inland. You're heading into an area of Gran Canaria that's as different as possible from the beaches of the south coast. 

This is rural Gran Canaria where there's plenty of water and lots of greenery; it's like visiting The Shire. You pass little villages surrounded by terraced farms and palms, wildflower meadows during spring, and fields of potatoes growing in the red earth. Here it's goats and partridges that block the road rather than traffic; the only vehicles are local cars and little farm trucks and the odd convoy of tourist minibuses (the Secret Tours of Gran Canaria use this road). 

On the first section of the road, look out for cliff-edge Hoya Pineda hamlet, famous for its aboriginal-style hand-made pottery. Stop here for a walk around a local village and great views of the north coast. Then carry on up through villages with great names like San José de Caíderos, Fagajesto and Juncalillo. There's not much to experience in them except than rural peace and local cafes. 

Just past Fagajesto village you come to the turnoff for the GC 217 road to Artenara that takes you up past pine-fringed reservoirs and towards the Tamadaba massif and pine forests. Don't miss the GC 216 loop road that gets you right out onto the edge of Gran Canaria's western cliffs.

After Juncalillo village the GC 220 winds up towards the pine forests and joins the GC 21 road between Lanzarote village and Artenara. At the junction, turn right or west for Artenera or left or east for Lanzarote, Valleseco and ultimately Teror. 

Lex says: Even if you're heading to Artenara, it's worth driving the other way along the GC 21 for a kilometre for the views of Montañon Negro; A spectacular cinder cone dotted with pine trees. 

 

 

 

 

 

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  • How To Choose A Legal Gran Canaria Airport Transfer
    How To Choose A Legal Gran Canaria Airport Transfer

    Gran Canaria's hotels have to be licensed and offer a quality level of service as well as having insurance and complying with fire regulations. The same goes for the boats that take people out to watch dolphins, the companies offering jeep safaris, and even the holiday let apartments. 

    However, not everybody in Gran Canaria follows the rules. For example, there is a significant industry running illegal and uninsured transfers between Gran Canaria airport and the island's resorts. These cars, driven by locals and foreign-residents, are just private vehicles and the drivers are unregulated and uninsured. They don't pay tax and there is no way to hold them responsible if something goes wrong. 

     At Gran Canaria Info we believe that all people and all companies offering services to tourists should legal and above board.

    So, how do you know that your airport transfer service is legal and registered with the Gran Canaria authorities?

     Using legal Gran Canaria airport transfers

    It is quite easy to know if your airport transfer service is operating in a legal way because all registered transfers have the following...

     A blue license plate: Taxis and other public service vehicles in Gran Canaria all have blue plates.

    A VTC sticker in the window: This stands for Vehículo de Transporte con Conductor, the official designation for licensed transfer drivers ans chauffeurs.

    An SP sticker on the car: This indicates that the car offer a Servicio Publico or public service and is therefore allowed to pick up and transfer members of the public. 

    Parked in the transport zone: Official airport transfer vehicles don't park in the public car park of the airport. Instead they have their own parking zone right by the arrivals gates at the airport (next to the taxis and package tour buses). Your transfer driver therefore should not have to pay a parking fee before leaving the aiport. 

    How to spot an unlicensed transfer service

    Unlicensed drivers get away with offerring their service because they claim that they are just members of the public picking up a friend. They are allowed to stand at arrivals with a sign (just like any member of the public can).

    However, they also have to park their car in the public car park and will walk you there with your luggage, stopping to pay the parking fee at the meter. A licensed transfer driver does not need to do this because they have their own parking zone right by arrivals.

    Some unlicensed drivers don't even wait at the arrival gate because the official drivers recognise them and get annoyed. Instead they have to stand further away (often by the Spar supermarket or the car rental desks). 

    When an unlicensed driver drops you at the airport they will not want to be paid in a public area because this proves that they are charging rather than "transporting a friend" for free. 

    An unlicensed car will not have a blue license plate, or a SP or VTC sticker, and will often look like a private car (because it is a private car). 

    What's the problem with unlicensed airport transfers?

    Some people use unlicensed cars because they are the cheapest option and don't realise that they are unlicensed. 

    There are several problems with unlicensed services. The most obvious is that they are uninsured so if something goes wrong or there is an accident, you are not protected. The price that unlicensed drivers offer is only low because they cut corners (hopefully not literally). You have no way of even knowing if your unlicensed driver has a Spanish driving license, insurance and a good driving record. Licensed drivers are vetted regularly and must be fully insured and licensed to work.

    Another problem is that unlicensed transfers undermine the legitimate transfer drivers and businesses in Gran Canaria. Local drivers make a living from transfers and offer a legal, regulated service with minimum standards. Every time an unlicensed service undercuts them, it is effectively stealing from local people and the island economy.

    We believe that everybody in Gran Canaria deserves better!

    Gran Canaria Airport Transfer Services

    To find out more about the Gran Canaria airport transfer, see our Gran Canaria airport transfer article which explains the three different models; man/woman from pub with car, online transfer websites, and local transfer services.

    Or you can book a legitimate Gran Canaria airport transfer at a great price right here. Our service uses local drivers and supprts the island economy because all the money you spend stays in Gran Canaria.

    Alex Says: Using our service also helps the Gran Canaria Info team to keep providing quality local information here and in our Facebook Group

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