Tips and Location for Barranco de las Vacas in Gran Canaria - Parking - Hike

When Is the Best Time

I was amazed by the beauty of the Barranco de las Vacas. The canyon cannot compete with the Antelope in Arizona, but it is easily accessible and free. The Barranco de las Vacas, the red canyon, is a popular sight well-known on social media nowadays. It is an easy walk of fewer than 10 minutes if you are able to park your vehicle where we parked. Parking Google Maps There is no permit needed, and no fee is requested for this spectacular canyon in Gran Canaria.

A visitor standing on a rock in Vacas Canyon — The light inside the canyon is amazing.

If you don't have a rental car, there is an excellent day tour available where Vacas Canyon is usually included; Tour by GetYourGuide at no extra cost.

A woman in the long appearing Barranco de las Bacas — I enjoyed the view from the rock to the beginning of the canyon.

The best time to enjoy this magnificent photo spot is early morning before 10 am. Also, the sunlight in the narrow gorge is perfect for catching these magical, colourful walls.

The shimmering orange light along the walls in Vacas — The light in the Vacas Canyon was perfect in the morning.

The narrow gorge gets pretty busy during the day. Definitely avoid weekends when the Canarios visit this spectacular place as well.

Trailhead to the gorge — This is the steep part; then turn right through the tunnel

Limited parking is the other reason for early arrival. If you arrive too late, you have to line up in the canyon and wait because everybody wants to get the perfect Instagram shot. Honestly, this spoils the entire trip to this stunning gorge!

The beginning of the famous canyon — Scrambling over huge rocks

We arrived before 9 am and enjoyed this outstanding place alone; when we left the canyon and walked back to the car, many people asked for directions.

Parking Barranco de las Vacas

Small car park to the right shortly before the trailhead — Park your car here, and you can already see the tunnel to the left.

Coming from Agüimes, there are two spaces shortly before the canyon on the right. Google Maps Location If you continue driving a few hundred meters further up there is another small parking for roughly four small cars.

Best Daytime for Barranco de las Vacas

The orange walls and huge boulders on the canyon floor — There are rocks on the canyon floor.

Midweek and before 10 am secures a parking place. Enjoy the shimmering orange colours in the morning and the tranquillity of the canyon before the crowds arrive.

Tip: Check out the weather forecast before. The walls won't shimmer in reddish-orange if the sky is covered in clouds.

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Location and Tips

Gran Canary, Agüimes

Spain

The famous gorge Barranco de las Vacas is located 5 km north of Agüimes. Follow this link to find the correct entrance for Barranco de Las Vacas Google Maps Location. It is a short walk to this spot; nevertheless, wear proper shoes for the short but steep incline.

Directions to the Canyon

View from the tunnel into the canyon — The view from the tunnel into the canyon

We parked our car on the right at the first parking. Walk on the left for roughly 100 m. Look for a footpath leading down to this tunnel. The road leads above. This short part of the hike is steep and slippery. Wear appropriate shoes. When you reach the bottom, you walk to the right through the short tunnel to enter the canyon.

Another 100 m and the gorge narrows. Shortly after, you reach the main part of the Barranco de las Vacas. This canyon has a dead end and waterfall during heavy rainfall.

When we visited the canyon, a puddle was left at the end of the canyon. There is a waterfall during and after heavy rainfall. You have to walk the same way back. It took us less than 10 minutes from the parking to the popular part.