Pinos de Gáldar Viewpoint, known in Spanish as the Mirador Astronómico de Pinos de Gáldar, is a lookout in the highlands of northern Gran Canaria. It overlooks the Pinos de Gáldar crater (Caldera de los Pinos de Gáldar), a volcanic hollow of dark cinder with Canary pines on its slopes. Information boards at the edge explain the crater, and on clear days the view reaches the villages and towns of the north coast. It is also one of the island's astronomical viewpoints for watching the night sky.
Pinos de Galdar Viewpoint
Local name: Mirador Astronómico de Pinos de Gáldar
Astronomical viewpoint above a pine-scattered volcanic crater, with views to the north coast of Gran Canaria.
- Entrance
- Free; there is no ticket.
- Parking
- Free car park about 16 m from the viewpoint; a second parking area about 315 m away.
- Difficulty
- None to speak of: the car park is about 16 m from the viewpoint.
- Transport
- Bus stop Entrada Juncalillo, about 800 m away in a straight line.
- Advance booking
- No booking needed.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, every day.
- Address
- 35457 Gáldar, Las Palmas, Spain
What makes it special
The ground drops away almost at the car door. Below lies the crater, a bowl of red-brown and black cinder with pines clinging to its walls, and the eye follows it down before lifting to the ridges beyond. On a clear day the view carries past the crater to the villages and towns along the north coast.
Information boards in several languages explain how the crater formed, so the place makes sense even without a guide. Few people stop for long, and the loudest thing up here is usually the wind in the pines.
It is also one of Gran Canaria's astronomical viewpoints. Come back on a clear night and the sky over the highlands fills with stars.
Good to know
- There are no toilets and no drinking water at the viewpoint or nearby; bring what you need.
- Cloud often settles over the northern highlands and can hide both the crater and the coast. Check the sky before you drive up.
- The roads up are narrow and run along steep drops. Allow time and take them slowly.
- Nights at this height turn cold. Bring a warm layer if you come to watch the stars.
- Boards at the viewpoint explain the crater in several languages.
Getting there
Most people arrive by car. The last stretch climbs narrow mountain roads with steep drops at the side, so drive it slowly. The car park sits about 16 m from the viewpoint, and there is a second parking area about 315 m away.
The nearest bus stop, Entrada Juncalillo, is about 800 m away in a straight line.
Best time to visit
Best: a clear, sunny day, when the view reaches the towns on the north coast — or a clear night for the stars.
Avoid: days when cloud sits on the highlands.
The whole point is the view, and in cloud there is little to see beyond the edge of the car park.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
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Pinos de Galdar Viewpoint on the map
The roads to the viewpoint are narrow and run along steep drops. Drive slowly and keep well to your side on the bends.
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Frequently asked questions
Is there parking at Pinos de Gáldar Viewpoint?
Yes. A free car park sits about 16 m from the viewpoint, and there is a second parking area about 315 m away.Can you get to Pinos de Gáldar Viewpoint by bus?
The nearest bus stop is Entrada Juncalillo, about 800 m away in a straight line.Are there toilets or water at the viewpoint?
No. There are no toilets and no drinking water at the viewpoint or nearby, so bring what you need.Can you visit at night?
Yes. The viewpoint is open 24 hours and is one of Gran Canaria's astronomical viewpoints, so a clear night is a good time for stargazing. Bring a warm layer.What weather do you need for the view?
A clear, sunny day. Then the view reaches past the crater to the villages and towns on the north coast.