Parador Cruz de Tejeda

Those travelling to Gran Canaria not for the beaches, but for the magnificent mountain scenery and the excellent hiking opportunities offered by this spectacular terrain, will find it hard to find a better base than the island's Parador. Standing at an altitude of 1560 metres above sea level, Gran Canaria's Parador is situated almost exactly in the centre of the island, at the crossroads of the old Royal Trails, which still form the basis for the island's extensive network of hiking routes. It takes its name from a cross carved in 1690 which still stands next to the hotel's entrance and which has served as a local reference point since the 17th century.

The original part of the Parador was built in 1937 and following careful restoration this now mainly hosts the hotel's public areas, including the comfortable lounge with its large fireplaces at both ends, alongside a couple of guestrooms and junior suites. The majority of the 43 guestrooms are in a modern but very well designed extension which has been cleverly built into the hillside so that it doesn't detract from the natural beauty of this spot. This design also ensured that virtually all the rooms enjoy magnificent views of the crater and the pine-forested mountain slopes from their balconies. The rooms themselves are very comfortably furnished and attractively decorated in calm and neutral contemporary tones. All have modern en-suite bathrooms with hairdryers, air-conditioning, mini-bars, satellite TV (limited English-language channels), safety-deposit boxes (payable locally) and free internet access (by cable). Free WiFi is available in the lobby area.

Given the Parador's location, it is only natural that the majority of guests are keen walkers, and leaflets detailing the various local trails are available from reception. In the mornings, a wholesome buffet breakfast sets you up for the day's activities, and after working up an appetite you can dine on regional specialises including kid, watercress stew, rabbit salmorejo and bienmesabe (a typical local dessert), although naturally more international choices are also available. For those days when you choose to relax at base, the hotel's terrace café "El Mirador" - so named because of its panoramic views towards the impressive monolith Roque Nublo - is open throughout the day, and there are a couple of local restaurants just across the road, although these are not open in the evenings.

To soothe tired muscles after a long hike in the mountains, a visit to the Parador's spa centre is just the thing. The entry charge of €25 per visit includes the use of the indoor and outdoor spa pools, the sauna, steam room and a selections of massage showers, whilst a wide range of health and beauty treatments is available at an additional charge.

Whilst dedicated ramblers will be happy to spend their entire holiday in this delightful mountain retreat, others who simply wish to explore the island's mountainous interior for a couple of days could consider including the Parador as part of a multi-centre itinerary in combination with one of our coastal properties, or even a stay on one of the other islands - just contact us to discuss possible options.