Visiting the second-largest of the Canary Islands, just for a few walks and sightseeing. December 2014.

Where to escape the December depression for someone from the Cancer zodiac sign, if not towards the Tropic of Cancer? The south coast of Gran Canaria one is the most frequented tourist destinations, but with a hired car the island interior is open for discoveries, and, in parts, it is surprisingly attractive for hiking. But it came without surprise that the Sahara-like dunes of Maspalomas — although just in sight of a luxurious hotel — were the highlight of the trip.

• Gallery Gran Canaria on pastvoyages.jankowski.org
• Gallery (183 images) Barranco de Tirajana :: Pico de las Nieves in clouds :: Cruz Grande pass far behindBarranco de Tirajana :: just another reservoir damSanta Lucía de Tirajana :: green surroundingsSanta Lucía de Tirajana :: the church a day after St. Lucia fiestaSanta Lucía de Tirajana :: a palm grove inside the villageSanta Lucía de Tirajana :: the procession figure a day after St. Lucia fiestaSanta Lucía de Tirajana :: typical Canarian houses around the St. Lucia churchSanta Lucía de Tirajana :: by the main roadSanta Lucía de Tirajana :: pssst, a small child sleeps in the souvenir shopSanta Lucía de Tirajana :: all you can buySan Bartolomé de Tirajana (Tunte) :: spread houses below Pico de las NievesCuesta de Fataga :: pines and cactiCuesta de Fataga :: sunset approachesMirador Fataga :: Fataga lights, central mountains in cloudsMirador Fataga :: Far Maspalomas viewSan Augustín coast :: a windy morningIn Mogán :: cafe leche-lechePuerto de Mogán :: The Barranco de Mogán outflow and the Playa behindPuerto de Mogán :: The Barranco de Mogán outflow and the new town behindPuerto de Mogán :: the yacht harbour :: this one arrived latelyPuerto de Mogán :: in the artificial old townPuerto de Mogán :: flowersPuerto de Mogán :: a booming marketPlaya de Taurito :: the hotel complex seen from the car windowPlaya de Taurito :: you do not need the seaPuerto Rico :: The PlayaPlaya de MaspalomasPlaya de Maspalomas :: too many sunset photographersAbove Mogán :: Los Azulejos rocksDegollada de la Aldea :: La Aldea (de San Nicolás) viewDegollada de la Aldea :: the view towards VenegueraBushes by La AldeaLa Aldea (de San Nicolás)West Coast :: Playa de la AldeaWest Coast :: North of Playa de la Aldea :: a fresh rainWest Coast :: Mirador del Balcón :: looking northWest Coast :: Mirador del Balcón :: looking southWest Coast :: Mirador del Balcón :: looking downWest Coast :: By Montaña Cerrada :: bushesWest Coast :: By Montaña Cerrada :: looking northWest Coast :: On the road :: Somewhere by El RiscoWest Coast :: By Guayedra :: Puerto de las Nieves viewWest Coast :: By Guayedra :: looking southWest Coast :: By Guayedra :: the road along the coastWest Coast :: Puerto de las Nieves :: a Fred Olsen ferry to TenerifeWest Coast :: Puerto de las Nieves :: La Eremita, the church with precoius interiorWest Coast :: Puerto de las Nieves :: Playa, Roque de las NievesWest Coast :: Puerto de las Nieves :: a street sceneGáldar :: a street by the main churchGáldar :: no, this zombie is not St. Lucia, definitelyGáldar :: a street sceneGáldar :: Felice Fiestas or... Siestas?Barranco de AzuajeBarranco de Azuaje :: Do not drive by rain?Mirador Balcón de Zamora :: the view down to Teror, Las Palmas far to the leftTeror :: the old town housesTeror :: Basilica de Nuestra Señora del PinoTeror :: Basilica de Nuestra Señora del PinoTeror :: Basilica de Nuestra Señora del PinoTeror :: Virgen del Pino imageTeror :: Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Pino :: excessive acupuncture is painfulTeror :: the sleepy main streetArucas :: cold eveningThe ugly motorway south of Las PalmasUpper Barranco de Arguineguín :: El Barranquillo AndrésDegollada de Tauro :: starting the climb towards Montaña de TauroMontaña de Tauro :: a sparse pine forest :: Barranco de Mogán behindMontaña de Tauro :: Degollada de Tauro suroundings :: looking towards the central calderasMontaña de Tauro :: on the wayMontaña de Tauro :: an (old Canarian cult?) platform north of the Tauro topMontaña de Tauro :: Barranco de Arguineguín, Soria lake partly seenMontaña de Tauro :: climbing to the top proper :: Barranco de Arguineguín behindMontaña de Tauro :: Barranco de Veneguera, Los Azulejos rocks belowMontaña de Tauro :: the unspectacular top, looking southwest to Guirre ridgesMontaña de Tauro west wall :: Mirador Altos de Montaña :: Mogán belowMirador Altos de Montaña :: a high placeMirador Altos de Montaña :: Degollada de Tauro suroundings :: central mountains in cloudsMirador Altos de Montaña :: upper Barrancos de Mogán, de Veneguera :: Degollada de Veneguera and de la Aldea behindMirador Altos de Montaña :: upper Barranco de Mogán, Montaña de Sándara ridges (The Inagua Reservation)Mirador Altos de Montaña :: surroundings of lakes de la Cueva de las Niñas (seen) and Soria (not seen)Montaña de Tauro :: on the way backBarranco de Arguineguín :: a typical village bar in SoriaBarranco de ArguineguínBarranco de Arguineguín :: a strange pyramid on the way down homeBarranco de Arguineguín :: looking back towards SoriaLas Dunas de Maspalomas :: La Charca lagoonLas Dunas de Maspalomas :: climbing the first one on the way to Playa del InglésLas Dunas de Maspalomas :: sand bushesLas Dunas de Maspalomas :: sand bushesLas Dunas de Maspalomas :: another bushes...Las Dunas de Maspalomas :: overgrown dunesLas Dunas de Maspalomas :: naked dunes as seen from the Riu Palace Hotel, Playa del InglésLas Dunas de Maspalomas :: heading toward the seaLas Dunas de Maspalomas :: heading toward the sea (contrast)Las Dunas de Maspalomas :: on a windy ridgeLas Dunas de Maspalomas :: following a ridgeLas Dunas de Maspalomas :: following a ridge (contrast)Las Dunas de Maspalomas :: the sun gets lowerLas Dunas de Maspalomas :: further along the ridge, looking back to the Riu Palace HotelLas Dunas de Maspalomas :: the sea is nearLas Dunas de Maspalomas :: sand ripplesLas Dunas de Maspalomas :: ripplesLas Dunas de Maspalomas :: further along the ridge, looking back to the Riu Palace HotelLas Dunas de Maspalomas :: just another rippled sand duneLas Dunas de Maspalomas :: rippled sand formationsLas Dunas de Maspalomas :: a pretty tall oneLas Dunas de Maspalomas :: a few steps to the shorePlaya de Maspalomas :: the sunset approaching by the dunesPlaya de Maspalomas :: reddish cloudsPlaya de Maspalomas :: sunsetMirador de Fataga on the way to San Bartolomé de Tirajana (Tunte) :: looking north to the central mountainsSan Bartolomé de Tirajana (Tunte) below :: the central mountains hidden in the passat cloudTo Degollada de Manzanilla :: cactus bushesTo Degollada de Manzanilla :: on the dusty pista from TunteTo Degollada de Manzanilla :: the pass in sightTo Degollada de Manzanilla :: a water source by the roadDegollada de Manzanilla :: looking northwest behind the pass :: Morro de la Hierba HuertoDegollada de Manzanilla :: looking back :: the road from Tunte, Santa Lucía far above, Fataga belowDegollada de Manzanilla :: looking southwest :: Barranco de Pilancones and de la Data behindBehind Degollada de Manzanilla :: volcanic rocks and cntrasting greenBehind Degollada de Manzanilla :: the view of Morro de la Hierba HuertoA couloir from Morro de Las VacasDegollada de Rosiana :: Pico de las Nieves in passat cloudsBy Degollada de RosianaIn upper Barranco de PilanconesBy Morro Guanil :: Barranco de Pilancones, Morro de las VacasBy Morro Guanil :: Barranco de Pilancones, Cumbre de TrujilloBy Morro Guanil :: Barranco de Pilancones, Barranco de la Data, Montaña NegraNearby Degollada del Dinero :: Barranco de la DataNearby Degollada del Dinero :: Morro de la Hierba Huerto :: the far view towards Inagua Reservation ridgesDegollada del Dinero :: upper Barranco del la DataDegollada del Dinero :: Morro de la Hierba HuertoPico de las Nieves :: Teide on the TenerifePico de las Nieves :: Roque Nublo stretching out from the cloudsPico de las Nieves :: looking south, Tunte in clouds down belowPico de las Nieves :: looking southeast towards the military installationsPico de las Nieves :: the sun is getting lower :: Roque Nublo and TeidePico de las Nieves :: western ridgePico de las Nieves :: just after the sunset :: Roque Nublo and Teide zoomedLas Palmas :: Auditorio Alfredo KrausLas Palmas :: Auditorio Alfredo KrausLas Palmas :: Auditorio Alfredo KrausLas Palmas :: Auditorio Alfredo Kraus :: the interiorSan Augustín hotelAyacata village :: Roque Nublo ridge aboveBy La Goleta :: Roque NubloBy La Goleta :: pine conesEl Montañon :: looking towards Pico de Las NievesEl Montañon :: Roque NubloEl Montañon :: Moriscos, Cruz de TejedaEl Montañon :: the broad ridge, Montaña de Asserador, Roque Nublo, Teide on the Tenerife far behindEl Montañon :: looking southwest :: reservoirs of upper Barranco de Arguineguín far behindBy Degollade de los Homos :: just two of usBy Garanón, Corral de los Juncos :: Roque Nublo, Roque Bentaiga, Altavista, Teide far behindBy Garanón, Corral de los Juncos :: the Tejeda valley :: pointy Roque Bentaiga, Altavista, Teide far behindDescend to La Culeta :: an old camino realDescend to La Culeta well belowDescend to La Culeta :: traversingDescend to La Culeta :: Roque Bentaiga, Altavista, Teide zoomedLa Culeta :: the villageLa Culeta :: the trail to Roque Nublo descriptionBy Roque Nublo :: house ruins well below La GoletaBy Roque Nublo :: climbng a ridge opposite La GoletaBy Roque Nublo :: approachingBy Roque Nublo :: getting to Degollada BlancaBy Roque Nublo :: on the ridge of Degollada BlancaBy Roque Nublo :: El Fraile rock, Pico de las Nieves behindBy Roque Nublo :: approaching the highest rocksBy Roque Nublo :: looking south towards Barranco de Arguineguín suroundings, Montaña TauroBy Roque Nublo :: the far Teide in sightBy Roque Nublo :: the neighbour and the main rock of Roque NubloBy Roque Nublo :: looking down to the Barranco de la AldeaBy Roque Nublo :: El Fraile, Pico de las Nieves ridgeBy Roque Nublo :: looking towards Altavista und TeideBy Roque Nublo :: Roque Nublo en faceBy Roque Nublo :: the far Teide in sight :: talking with the sunset watchersBy Roque Nublo :: the ridge towards Degollada Blanca in the setting sunBy Roque Nublo :: just above Degollada Blanca :: El Fraile, Pico de las NievesBy Roque Nublo :: El Fraile in the last sun raysBy La Goleta :: the valley of Ayacata :: post-sunset cloudsBy La Goleta :: Ayacata belowBy La Goleta :: the clouds turned already grey of higher resolution pictures