Cañada de los Gatos is an archaeological site on the hillside above Puerto de Mogán, in the municipality of Mogán in south-west Gran Canaria. It preserves the excavated foundations of houses built by the island's pre-Hispanic inhabitants along a gully, and further along the valley a burial ground of shallow graves, some individual and some communal. Information boards explain the remains, and a path links the houses, a viewpoint and the burial ground.
Canada de los Gatos Archaeological Site
Local name: Zona Arqueológica de Cañada de los Gatos
Pre-Hispanic hillside settlement of excavated house foundations and a burial ground above Puerto de Mogán
- Entrance
- There is an entry fee.
- Accessibility
- Not wheelchair accessible: the entrance has no wheelchair access, the hillside path is uneven, and returning from the burial ground means a climb.
- Parking
- Car parks about 110 m and 160 m away in a straight line; no wheelchair-accessible parking.
- Difficulty
- Easy walk on an uneven, unshaded hillside path with handrails on the awkward stretches; returning from the burial ground the same way means a climb.
- Transport
- Bus stop Puerto de Mogán, about 320 m away in a straight line.
- Hours
- Tuesday to Sunday 10:00–17:00; closed on Mondays.
- Address
- C. la Puntilla, s/n, 35139 Lomo Quiebre, Las Palmas, Spain
What makes it special
From the path between the house foundations you look straight out over the rooftops of Puerto de Mogán. The ancient Canarians built here beside the gully, and the excavated outlines of their homes step along the slope, each with its own information board.
Past the viewpoint the path follows the side of the mountain, with views and rock formations on the way, and drops into the valley to the burial ground. The graves are shallow, some for one person and some shared, and panels with photographs show what the excavation found. It is the island's pre-conquest history on the edge of a resort harbour, and a change of pace from the beach.
Good to know
- The hillside has no shade and there is no drinking-water point nearby: bring water, especially on a hot day.
- The path is uneven, with a handrail on the awkward stretches. Wear sturdy shoes.
- The burial ground sits down in the valley, so going back the same way means a climb.
- The other way out leads through a hotel's grounds and is easy to lose; look for the route out to the street.
- Free public toilets stand about 150 m away in a straight line. The gates are locked at closing time, so finish the walk before then.
Getting there
The site is tucked up a side street on the edge of Puerto de Mogán. The Puerto de Mogán bus stop is about 320 m away in a straight line, and there are car parks about 110 m and 160 m away.
From the entrance the path climbs through the house foundations to the viewpoint, then runs along the mountainside and down into the valley to the burial ground. From there you have two choices: climb back the way you came, or take the second exit, which comes out through a hotel's grounds before reaching the street. The hotel buildings make that exit confusing, so keep heading for the road. If the gate at the burial ground is shut, the climb back is the only way out.
Best time to visit
Best: in the morning, soon after opening.
Avoid: the middle of a summer day, Mondays, and late afternoon.
The hillside offers no shade, the site is shut on Mondays, and the gates are locked at closing time while the burial ground lies at the far end of the path.
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Canada de los Gatos Archaeological Site on the map
The hillside path is uneven, with a handrail only on the awkward stretches, and there is no shade. Wear sturdy shoes and carry water on hot days.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the walk around Cañada de los Gatos difficult?
It is an easy walk, but the path is uneven and has little shade. The burial ground lies down in the valley, so returning the same way means a climb.Is there anything to see besides the house foundations?
Yes. The path continues past a viewpoint over Puerto de Mogán and along the mountainside to a burial ground of shallow individual and communal graves, with panels and photographs of the finds.Do I have to walk back the same way?
No. A second exit beyond the burial ground leads through a hotel's grounds to the street, though it is easy to lose your way there. If that gate is shut, you climb back the way you came.Can I visit with a wheelchair?
No. The entrance is not wheelchair accessible, there is no wheelchair-accessible parking, and the hillside path is uneven.