Barranco de Guayadeque

Guayadeque cuts about fifteen kilometres inland from the eastern coast of Gran Canaria, a steep ravine with walls of layered volcanic rock, and it has been inhabited continuously since before the Castilian conquest: the pre-Hispanic Canarians cut dwellings, granaries and burial caves into the soft tuff, and people have gone on living in caves there ever since, with houses that have doors, windows and services set into the rock face. A chapel is cut into the cliff, and two restaurants operate inside caves. An interpretation centre near the mouth covers the archaeology. In January and February the almond trees planted on the terraces flower across the valley, which is a local event with a festival at Tejeda in the island's centre.

What you actually see

• The cave dwellings - houses cut into the tuff and still lived in.
• The rock chapel - a church excavated into the cliff face.
• The almond blossom - terraces flowering in January and February.
• The interpretation centre - pre-Hispanic archaeology from the ravine.

When to go

January to March for the almond blossom, which is the valley's set piece; the ravine is accessible year-round. Summer is hot with no shade on the upper terraces.

Honest expectations

The cave houses are private homes and photographing them closely intrudes. The road up the ravine is narrow with limited passing and parking, and it congests at weekends and during blossom. Cave restaurants book out.

Nearby

Aguimes and Ingenio are at the ravine mouth; Roque Nublo and Tejeda lie in the island's centre.