Arucas Gran Canaria

Arucas is the main town in the north of Gran Canaria, featuring beautiful 19Th century architecture, history, tradition, neo-gothic styled church of St. John the Baptist – and of course – the all over the archipelago popular rum distillery!

Arucas General Information

Arucas Gran Canaria is located just west of Las Palmas, separated from it by the ravine Barranco de Tenoy. It can be reached by exiting Las Palmas to the south via the GC-23, and turning right to the GC-3, and continuing through the GC-300 straight to Arucas.

Or, you can take the shore road (GC-2) and head west(also from Las Palmas). There is a turn left after Moya Alta to the GC-20 reaching GC-300 right outside of Arucas.

If you are coming from the sun-bathed general south areas via the coastline, head to Las Palmas and turn left before the water treatment plant (large tanks present to the right – you can’t miss it) to GC-3, continue to GC-300 straight to Arucas. Watch the road signs – it’s all written with BIG letters.

So, as you are approaching Arucas Gran Canaria, you will notice it’s main feature – Iglesia de San Juan Bautista (Church of St. John the Baptist) – which will look kind of overgrown for the town of this size.

Iglesia de San Juan Bautista

The church of Arucas is 60 meters high, featuring a beautiful design created by a Catalan architect, Manuel Vega March, a dabbler of Gaudi. The church was built in the place of a previous one – Parish Church, built back in 1515 – because it was too small for a fast growing town of Arucas. Construction started in 1909, it was consecrated in 1917, but work continued until 1977 when it was officially finished. It’s record height (when it comes to churches) in the archipelago sure makes it stand out as the icon of Arucas Gran Canaria.

The material used as a main building block is a unique lava stone called piedra azul or the blue stone of Arucas. Regardless of the church’s modern look, it’s interiors are housing many religious artifacts that date as far back as the 17th Century. The interior is a more conventional neo-Gothic style with stained glass with a sculpture of Christ Recumbent (Cristo Yacente) created by a local 20Th century artist Manuel Ramos Gonzalez. The rich treasures, especially paintings & sculptures inside is a main tourist attraction.

The popularly known Cathedral of Arucas is a good choice for visiting either if you are a religious person or fan of great architectures and followers of Gaudi.

History of Arucas

Just outside Arucas to the north, in the year 1481, the general area of Montana de Arucas was housing a great battle between the courageous Doramas – the Guanche leader – defending the city from the Spanish army lead by Pedro de Vera. Dormas was killed in the battle by Verna, and the town was totally destroyed.

The new town was founded in the 15Th century as the capital of it’s district, originally one of the 10 kingdoms that were part of Gran Canaria. It grew fast and became very wealthy thanks to the cochineal (a beatle feeding off cactus pear, crushed to produce red dye) and sugar cane trades. It is also notable for the production of cereals, vineyards, cocoa and bananas.

Unfortunately, the town center was (again) destroyed in the 1868 Spanish Revolution, so the majority of the old buildings are 19Th century styled.

The ancient inhabitants (Guanches) farmed the land here, worked as shepherds and lived in the nearby caves which are inhabited even today – a bit modernized though. It is quite popular for the current inhabitants of the island to follow the ancient tradition of Guanches of living in caves. The cave’s are not cheap and depending of size and location go up to prices of regular modern apartments.

Places to See in Arucas, Gran Canaria

In the Plaza de la Constitucion, there are more architecturally significant buildings. The town hall was built in 1875 and restored in 1932, and the local Municipal market is also notable for it’s size – transformed into a shopping center.

Next to the square is the attractive Muncipal garden (Jardin de Hespérides) with many species of tropical trees and plants located in the Calle de la Heredad, a beautiful street flanked with parks and gardens. Here, you can also check out Aruca’s a most lovely building – the Heredad de Aguas de Arucas y Firgas, built in 1908 and home to the Water Board today. There is a tourist office in that street too.

Other places of interest include the Jardín de Gouriñe (Gouriñe’s Garden) and the Museo municipal de Arucas (Arucas Municipal Museum).

A nice way to see Arucas Gran Canaria is to catch the local mini-train from the square next to the church that will take you to all the local points of interest.

Arucas Rum Factory

Another thing that makes Arucas interesting is that the local tradition of rum production. The Arucas rum factory (Destilerías Arehucas) founded 1884 and still part of the modern Arucas, with a production capacity of 3,5 million liters of rum annually. It is very well known for it’s premiere rum – sticky honey mixed product – Ron Areucas – named after a local Guanche tribal leader.

There is plenty of opportunity tasting different kinds of flavours: chocolate, lemon, coffee, almonds and two most favored by tourists – Canarian Banana Liquer sold in its decorative bottle, and the Ron Miel. You can purchase the rum in their local store at discount prices. This distillery is the biggest rum factory in all of the Canary Archipelago, and is located in the street of Calle Era de San Pedro 2.

You can visit the rum museum (Museo Ron Arehucas) reflecting the history of rum production, technology, brewing, and check out the barrels signed by famous historical figures such as famous tenors Alfredo Kraus and Plácido Domingo and also the members of the Spanish royal family.

For the end, I recommend visiting the nearby Montana de Arucas with it’s mountain-top restaurant offering great local dishes and drinks, and also a stunning view over the northern area of Gran Canaria. You can either go there by car or take a 1,5Km walk (measuring if you start from the center of the town) and enjoy the agricultural area filled with greenhouses growing bananas and all sorts of fruits.

If you are visiting Gran Canaria in the period of June, be sure to drop by to Arucas on 24Th, when the local fiesta celebrating San Juan Bautista, Arucas patron and saint, is taking place.