From below, a green cone among vineyards.
At the top the ground drops away: 650 feet deep, more than half a mile across.
And beyond it, Las Palmas and the sea.
Scroll –
up to the Pico
Twenty minutes from Las Palmas lies the youngest volcano on Gran Canaria. The viewpoint, the crater rim and the hike down into the caldera are free and need no booking – the only rule of the protected area is to stay on the marked trails. What does need a reservation is Roque Nublo in the center of the island.
Road up to the summit parking lot, open around the clock. 360-degree view over the caldera, Las Palmas, the northeast coast and the center of the island. Since April 2024 no vehicles over 3.5 t may drive up.
Camino de Agustinito from the Caserío: a good hour there and back, old farmsteads, a wine press and grain caves at the bottom. The gate says 8 am–5 pm; according to press research it is no longer locked.
Since February 2025 daytime access only with a free QR reservation on grancanariasenderos.com, at most 60 people per hour. The old parking lot is gone – shuttle from Tejeda or Cruz de Los Llanos.
Photo: Wolfgang Sauber · CC BY-SA 4.0
The trail starts paved and quickly turns to earth and loose volcanic cinder. With every switchback the walls close in, the wind stays above, it goes quiet. On the crater floor stand the Casa de los Marrero, an old wine press, a threshing floor and caves from pre-Hispanic times – all around, 650 feet of lapilli, and above, a circle of sky. The climb back up is the hard part: 560 feet in the sun, so go in the morning.
Affiliate links to GetYourGuide: if you book, we earn a commission and the price stays the same. Prices and ratings as of 22 September 2026. Nobody needs a tour for Bandama itself – these make sense if you have no car or want to combine city, garden and crater in one day.
Photo: AndyScott · CC0
Bandama is a Monumento Natural and a European protected area, but there is no admission, no quota and no mandatory guide. The few rules are posted along the trail.
The lapilli ground gives way, and signs warn of rockfall on the crater walls. Do not cross the barriers on the rim – that is the one rule the Cabildo enforces.
That is what the sign at the start of the descent says. According to Canarias7 (2022) the gate is in practice no longer locked. Do not count on it: be back up before 5 pm.
During an Alerta por incendios in summer the Cabildo de Gran Canaria closes trails and recreation areas across the island, at short notice and without exception.
Since April 16, 2024 the road to the Pico is closed to vehicles over 3,500 kg – motorhomes of that class included. Pedestrians and cyclists are free to go.
| Admission to the caldera, crater rim and viewpoint | free |
| Parking at the Mirador Pico de Bandama and at the Caserío | no fee documented |
| Roque Nublo: reservation via grancanariasenderos.com | free |
| Roque Nublo: shuttle Global line 18 from Tejeda / Cruz de Los Llanos | standard Global fare |
Photo: Wolfgang Sauber · CC BY-SA 4.0
Three options, all starting at the Caserío de Bandama on the GC-802 – which is also where the bus stops.
| Descent into the caldera (Camino de Agustinito) · from the gate at the Caserío | About 560 ft (170 m) down and back up, about 1 hour of walking, 1.5–2 hours with a loop of the crater floor. Paved at first, then earth and lapilli, slippery in places. Free. |
| Loop trail on the crater rim (Borde de la Caldera) | 2 miles (3.2 km), about 1 hour 20 minutes, moderate because of exposed sections. Combined with the descent as one big loop: 4.7 miles (7.5 km), about 3 hours, 1,250 ft (380 m) of climbing. |
| Road to the Mirador Pico de Bandama (1,883 ft / 574 m) | From the Monte Lentiscal roundabout via La Atalaya and the Caserío, about 20 minutes' drive from Las Palmas. On foot from the Caserío 30–40 minutes along the road. Parking at the top is free. |
Photo: H. Zell · CC BY-SA 3.0
Without a car: Global bus line 311 Las Palmas (Estación San Telmo) – Tafira – Jardín Canario – Bandama – Santa Brígida, roughly hourly on weekdays (5:55 am–8:55 pm from San Telmo), about every two hours on Saturdays and holidays. The Bandama stop is at the Caserío, right at the start of the descent; to the viewpoint you continue on foot. From Santa Brígida about 12 minutes.
By car: Via the GC-4/GC-15 to Monte Lentiscal, then the GC-802 through vineyards to the Caserío de Bandama and on to the Pico. Parking at the Caserío (also at the golf club) and at the viewpoint, free, full on weekends. Vehicles over 3,500 kg have been banned from the Pico since April 2024. The Cabildo plans to close the summit road to private traffic and run a shuttle (Plan Integral, announced in 2019, confirmed again in 2024, not implemented as of 09/2026).
Mornings before 11 am: cooler for the climb back up, the trade-wind cloud usually has not settled over the center of the island yet, and parking at the Caserío is free. Clearest views in winter after rain; spring for the flowers in the crater. Avoid summer afternoons (heat, wildfire warnings). Sunset from the viewpoint is popular, but then no more descent.
Photo: Basotxerri · CC BY-SA 4.0
About an hour's drive separates Bandama from the landmark at the center of the island. Since February 3, 2025 the Cabildo has regulated access to Roque Nublo – arrive without a reservation during the day and you will be turned away.
Free at grancanariasenderos.com (linked from the Cabildo), QR code on your phone. At most 60 people per hour, daytime until 5 pm – the Cabildo gives 10 am as the start, press reports from the launch 9 am.
The parking lot at the Degollada de La Goleta has been removed. Park in Tejeda or at the Cruz de Los Llanos, then Global line 18 every 30 minutes between 9:30 am and 6 pm. From Las Palmas lines 303/305.
From La Goleta about 1 mile (1.5 km) to the foot of the monolith (5,948 ft / 1,813 m). Dogs on a leash. During wildfire alerts the Cabildo suspends reservations.
Affiliate links to GetYourGuide: if you book, we earn a commission and the price stays the same. Prices and ratings as of 22 September 2026. On guided Roque Nublo tours the operator handles the reservation – ask before booking.
Photo: Rvr · CC BY-SA 4.0
No. The viewpoint, the crater rim and the hike into the caldera are free; there is no ticket and no reservation. Parking at the Caserío and up on the Pico costs nothing either.
Yes. The Camino de Agustinito is a marked public trail. In 2024 the Cabildo renewed steps, railings and signposts – you just have to stay on the trail.
Global line 311 from Estación San Telmo in Las Palmas toward Santa Brígida, roughly hourly on weekdays (5:55 am–8:55 pm), about every two hours on Saturdays and holidays. The Bandama stop is at the Caserío, right at the start of the descent.
About an hour for the descent and climb combined, 1.5–2 hours with a loop of the crater floor. The big loop including the crater rim is 4.7 miles (7.5 km) and takes about three hours.
As of September 22, 2026 no closures are known. During wildfire warnings the Cabildo de Gran Canaria closes at short notice – current notices at cabildo.grancanaria.com.
Yes, during the day until 5 pm: free with a QR code via grancanariasenderos.com, at most 60 people per hour. Park in Tejeda or at the Cruz de Los Llanos, then take shuttle line 18.
About 170 m (560 ft) down: roughly one hour for the descent and climb combined, plus time at the old farmstead below. The 7.5 km (4.7 mile) loop including the crater rim takes about three hours.
For children who can walk for an hour on steep, slippery ground, yes. Strollers and wheelchairs are out; the viewpoint at the top, on the other hand, is accessible to everyone.
Sturdy shoes with tread. After the paved start the trail is earth and volcanic cinder, and the climb back up in the sun is strenuous – pack water and a hat.
Yes, the road goes up to the parking lot at 574 m (1,883 ft). Vehicles over 3,500 kg have been banned since April 2024; in the long run the Cabildo wants to close the summit road to private cars and run shuttles, but as of September 2026 that has not happened.
Volcanically, no – the last eruption was about 2,000 years ago, and the Canary traffic light for Gran Canaria is green. The hazards are rockfall on the walls, heat, and wildfire alerts with trail closures in summer.
Mornings: the descent is still cool, the view from the Pico is usually clear, and parking is free. In the afternoon the trade-wind cloud often pushes over the center of the island.
Yes, about an hour's drive separates them. For Roque Nublo between 9 am and 5 pm reserve in advance for free (grancanariasenderos.com) and use the shuttle from Tejeda or Cruz de Los Llanos – the old parking lot no longer exists.
The restrooms at the viewpoint were put back into service in 2024; at the Caserío there are restaurants and bodegas. In the crater itself there is nothing.
Sources · accessed on 22 September 2026
