Barranco de Guayadeque, Archaeological site in Agüimes, Gran Canaria, Spain.
Barranco de Guayadeque is a deep gorge that cuts through the land between Agüimes and Ingenio on Gran Canaria. The canyon holds various plant species including cacti, agaves, and plants found nowhere else, all adapted to the dry climate.
The gorge served as home to the Guanches, the first people to live on Gran Canaria, who made their homes in caves carved into the cliff walls. Archaeological discoveries inside those caves show how these early inhabitants adapted to living in this landscape.
The name Guayadeque comes from the Guanche language and refers to a place once inhabited by the original island dwellers. Sacred caves and burial sites scattered throughout the rock walls still stand as reminders of how important this canyon was to those early people.
Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and bring water since the canyon has little shade and rocky ground. Walking is best done in early morning or late afternoon when it is cooler.
Several restaurants operate from cave openings in the canyon walls where diners can eat while seated inside natural rock chambers. This experience blends history, landscape, and local food in a way few places can match.
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