Arucas: Bananas, Rum and a Giant Church

Arucas: Bananas, Rum and a Giant Church

Arucas town is famous for its colossal Gothic church built with bug money (see below). Oh, its also got a rum distillery and one of the best preserved town centres on the island.

 

History

Arucas was founded in 1478 on the site of a pre-Hispanic Canarii village. It got rich quick thanks to sugar cane cultivation before fading when the sugar industry move to the Caribbean in the 1600s. Arucas rose again with cochineal cultivation in the 1900s: Cochineal are small insects that live on cactus plants and produce a bright red dye.

Most of the current town centre dates from the cochineal era and the church was built with bugl money just before chemical dyes destroyed the industry after the First World War.

Sights

The dark-coloured but surprisingly light San Juan Bautista church dominates the Arucas skyline.

Built entirely of local stone by master masons over 10 years from 1909, it was originally much paler but the facade has changed to a dark grey. Get inside if you can for the carved stone columns, beautiful stained glass windows, the works of Canarian painter Cristobal Hernandez de Quintana, and an extraordinary carving of the Reclining Christ by Manuel Ramos.

The area surrounding the church is all cobbled streets and fine old houses and is a steep but worthwhile place for a stroll. Afterwards have a coffee in the church square or on charming Calle Gourie and pop into the Casa de la Cultura to see the pretty patio and its big dragon tree.

The main street runs from the church to the municipal park with a kid's playing area, plenty of flowers and some lovely working examples of the stone water channels that used to irrigate the entire area.

Past the park down the hill is the Arehucas distillery with tours of its bottling plant and barrel room running during the morning. Tastings are included in the price and you can buy bottles in the inevitable gift shop at the end of the tour. The most expensive bottle sets you back over 80 euros but a bottle of the local Arehucas, the island's most popular rum, is about 10 euros. 

A steep walk or a short drive up to the top of the Montaña de Arucas volcano gives you a lovely overview of the area and its banana plantations. The drive from Arucas town down to the coast takes you through the banana plantations. Stop at El Puertillo for a seafood lunch by its little beach or a dip in its lovely natural pools.

For more highlights of Arucas town, visitits tourism website in English here.

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Arucas Gran Canaria Info team
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  • Exchange Money In Gran Canaria Or At Home?
    Exchange Money In Gran Canaria Or At Home?

    Visitors to Gran Canaria often ask whether it is better to exchange their local currency for euros at home or in Gran Canaria. 

    The answer is that it is almost always better to buy your euros at home than it is to bring pounds to Gran Canaria and use local banks or currency exchanges. This rule of thumb applies all over the world. A currency is almost always cheaper the further away you are from the place you can spend it (because demand for it is lower). 

    Exchange rates are almost always better at home than in Gran Canaria

    You are very likely to get a better exchange rate using a British currency exchange specialist or local bank. Many of these companies will deliver your euros to your home.

    One of the best rates in the UK is often from the post office, especially if you do it well in advance.

    The only way you'll get a better rate in Gran Canaria than at home is if the exchange rate changes while you are travelling and this is rare. 

    You also have to bear in mind that currency exchanges in Gran Canaria are getting rarer and some local banks don't exchange money for non-clients. 

    To Transfer large amouynts of money to Gran Canaria, or to make regular transfers, always use a reputable currency broker such as Currencies Direct. This will save you money on exchange rates and bank charges and is highky secure. 

    The risk of bringing cash to Gran Canaria

    Another important factor to consider is the risk of bringing cash to Gran Canaria: If it is lost or stolen, there is no way of getting it back. 

    It is much safer to bring a debit or credit card and use local bank ATMs to take out money. These days, a good option is a pre-charged debit card. 

    Cards may be slightly more expensive that carrying cash, unless you seek out a bank card with low commissions, but it is much more secure. 

    Bank ATMs like Bankia, Santander and BBVA often charge lower rates than the ATMs in shopping centres and busy tourist areas.

    Alex Says: Always select the Euro option at ATMs in Gran Canaria because the exchange rate is much better than if you opt for the Local Currency option. The same applies when you pay by card in shops and restaurants.

    See our Gran Canaria Tips section for more nuggets of useful local information.

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