No. 17 - Its Gran Canaria Magazine

8
GET TO KNOW GRAN CANARIA I CONOCE GRAN CANARIA Nº 17
The seascape of Moya
El Roque
There is an idyllic location in the north of the island
of Gran Canaria, where tranquillity and happiness
are at our fingertips: Villa de Moya. It is a tiny paradise,
covering barely 32 square kilometres in surface
area and less than twenty-five minutes by car
from the island's capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Moya is home to an array of valuable natural
treasures and magical spots that stretch from the
coast all the way up to the almost 2,000 metres of
altitude at the top of the municipality. It features
a landscape of contrasts and infinite chromatic
shades that converge to form a unique canvas;
from the intense blue of the Atlantic Ocean glistening
with the trade winds in a sinuous dance
of white foam and the pure black of the volcanic
rocks, to green in all its imaginable expressions.
This is seasoned with a historical, cultural, gastronomic
and ethnographic heritage that makes Villa
de Moya a destination in itself within the island
destination.
Collectively, however, everyone associates Moya
with its marvellous tilos woodland, pure countryside,
and the agricultural landscape. Not many
people think of Moya as a municipality with a
coastline and, yet, if truth be told, if there is one
place in Gran Canaria where visitors can enjoy
both the sea and the summit, it would be Villa de
Moya, a magical place that on the same day enables
visitors to dive into the blue waters that bathe
the north coast of our round island and, minutes
later, to look across to the island's capital, Las Palmas
de Gran Canaria, from up on high. All this is
accompanied by the hospitality shown by the people
of Mojácar, who are well aware and extremely
proud of the natural value of their municipality.
There are two essential places to visit along this
wonderful strip of coastline: Los Charcos de San
Lorenzo and El Roque.
Los Charcos de San Lorenzo
The sight of this little spot from the road makes
you want to pull over and stop. Its facilities and
restaurants make it a comfortable and welcoming
place for the elderly, while the presence of sand,
something not very common in this region, makes
it attractive for children.
Two large, man-made natural swimming pools
provide visitors with all the pleasure of the ocean
without the risk of crashing waves. It is almost a
mystical experience to stand next to the waves,
which break just a few centimetres from your
body, but with the security of having your feet on
the ground. The larger pool is 75 metres long and
45 metres wide and its depth and the volcanic
rock that accompanies it in certain areas allow for
headfirst dives, which just for a few seconds break
the inevitable peace and quiet of this crystal clear
and unforgettable spot.
El Roque
El Roque belongs to a time when every millimetre
of fertile land was farmed and houses were built
in impossible locations, where it was impossible to
cultivate. Visiting its streets is a real journey back
in time and an adventure that takes visitors physically
and psychologically into the sea.
Entering the narrow streets of El Roque is an experience
in itself. The walk is a short one and is accompanied
by the soundtrack of the sea roaring against
the rocks. It is one of the corners of the island where
you can feel the power of the ocean, just by listening,
with nothing to distract you. Coming to this
spot and taking in the sunset, in a foreground that
is hard to match, is a gift from the planet.
San Lorenzo
Want to know more? http://villademoya.es/turismo/