Day tours from Gran Canaria's busier resorts end at the harbour of Puerto de las Nieves, on the island's north-west coast. Agaete is the municipality around it, home to about 5,700 people, with the Atlantic along its western edge. The port was long the place to view the Dedo de Dios, a rock pinnacle off the shore, until tropical storm Delta destroyed it in November 2005. On the south-east edge of town lies El Maipes, a pre-Hispanic necropolis.
Agaete
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- Spanish; English, German in resorts
- Power plug
- Type C/F, 230 V
- Visa
- Schengen
- Time zone
- UTC+0 / UTC+1 (WET/WEST)
- Tap water
- Safe; mineral taste in the south
- Tipping
- Not expected; 5–10% for great service
- Emergency
- 112
Things to do
All tours in Agaete on GetYourGuide
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When to go
High season
Nov – Mar
Winter-sun season on Gran Canaria brings the day tours to the port, and the west-facing shore takes the heaviest Atlantic swell of the year, so keep well back from the water's edge on the rocks.
Shoulder
Apr – Jun
Long days and a calmer sea, with the evening light falling straight in off the ocean onto the harbour.
High season
Jul – Oct
Spanish summer holidays bring island families to the coast, and August is the fullest month at the harbour.
How long to stay
A day covers Agaete: the town, the harbour at Puerto de las Nieves and the El Maipes necropolis on the south-east edge of town all fit into one visit, which is why the port is a common end point for day tours from elsewhere on the island. Stay the night if you want the evening here, when the sun goes down over the Atlantic straight out from the west-facing coast.
What to see
Destinations in Agaete
Frequently asked questions
Can you still see the Dedo de Dios at Agaete?
No. The Dedo de Dios, a natural monument on the coast, was destroyed by tropical storm Delta in November 2005. Before that, the harbour at Puerto de las Nieves was the preferred place to view it.Where on Gran Canaria is Agaete?
In the north-west of the island. The Atlantic runs along its western side, Gáldar borders it to the north-east and Artenara to the south.Is Agaete worth a day trip?
It is one of the island's standard day-trip destinations: Puerto de las Nieves is a common end point for day tours from the more touristic areas of Gran Canaria.Where is the El Maipes necropolis?
On the south-east outskirts of Agaete, near the football ground.