Gran Canaria earns its nickname. Within 50km of coastline you have desert dunes, ancient ravines, pine-forested highland ridges and volcanic summits rising to 1,900m above the Atlantic. Most people arrive and never leave the beach. We go somewhere else entirely.
Over five days we run four completely different landscapes — from the headland above our charming harbour base in Puerto de Mogán, through the volcanic interior of Pilancones Natural Park, up to the sacred summit of Roque Nublo at 1,813m, and finally down into the extraordinary Guayadeque Canyon with its cave restaurants carved into the cliff face. No two days look or feel the same.
Our base is the Cordial Mogán Playa — a beautiful 4-star hotel right in the heart of Puerto de Mogán, one of Gran Canaria's most charming and characterful towns. March is the island's sweet spot: dry season, 22–25°C on the coast, cooler and perfect on the mountain trails. The island is quiet, the trails are almost entirely ours.
A beautiful 4-star hotel right in the heart of Puerto de Mogán — one of Gran Canaria's most characterful towns, built around a pretty harbour and known as the "Little Venice" of the Canaries. Pool, sea views, breakfast included, and the harbour restaurants and bars a short walk from the front door. The ideal base for returning to each evening after a big day in the mountains.
Chat directly with Charlie & the team — no pressure, no sales pitch. Just an honest conversation about whether Gran Canaria is the right trip for you.
Book Your Free Call →Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) is well served by direct flights from across the UK — Jet2, easyJet, Ryanair and TUI all operate regular routes from major regional airports. We host group transfers on arrival and departure days in our private minivan, so please aim to land between 10:30 and 13:00 on Day 1 where possible.
If your flight falls outside this window, no problem — we can arrange a private transfer for a small additional fee. Just let us know in advance so we can plan accordingly.
On departure day the group transfer leaves Puerto de Mogán after breakfast on Day 5 — we'd suggest booking return flights departing no earlier than 14:00 to give yourself comfortable time at the airport. Our meet point on arrival is in the main arrivals hall — look for the Pure Trails sign.
Gran Canaria is a Spanish territory and part of the European Union. British citizens can enter and remain in Spain for a maximum of 90 days in every 6-month period without a visa. US and most other Western passport holders are also visa-free for short stays. We recommend checking the latest entry requirements for your nationality before booking.
Gran Canaria earns its reputation as the island of eternal spring for good reason. March sits squarely in the dry season — expect 22–25°C on the coast, clear skies and very little rain. It is genuinely one of the finest months to be on the island, with the summer heat and crowds still some way off.
In the central highlands around Cruz de Tejeda and Roque Nublo, temperatures can drop by 6–10°C compared to the coast. A lightweight mid layer is worth packing for the Day 3 summit run — it can feel alpine at 1,800m even in March sunshine. Sun protection is essential throughout — UV levels at elevation are significantly higher than they feel.
October departures enjoy similar conditions — warm, dry and settled, with the bonus of quieter trails and the island returning to a more relaxed pace after the summer season.
Gran Canaria is one of the most varied trail running destinations in the world — which is exactly why we chose it. No two days on this trip feel the same. Day 1 runs along a sealed-off coastal headland road with panoramic ocean views. Day 2 takes you into the volcanic interior through pine forest and the deep Fataga Ravine. Day 3 climbs to 1,813m on ancient highland paths to the summit of Roque Nublo. Day 4 drops into the Guayadeque Canyon — narrow, ancient and quite unlike anything else we visit as a company.
Trail surfaces vary considerably: volcanic rock, sandy ravine paths, pine-needle forest tracks and open ridge trails all feature across the four running days. A trail shoe with solid grip and some lateral support is essential throughout. Road shoes are not suitable for this terrain.
Gran Canaria hosts the Transgrancanaria ultramarathon each February — one of Europe's toughest trail races. We run sections of these famous routes, which gives you a real sense of the island's reputation among serious trail runners worldwide.
We cater for all abilities and this trip is deliberately designed to be enjoyed rather than raced. Daily distances of 12–22km with up to 900m of ascent on the biggest day mean you'll need a reasonable base of trail fitness, but this is accessible to anyone running regularly and comfortable on hilly terrain.
With two guides throughout we can accommodate a range of paces, and we'll split into groups where needed so that everyone moves comfortably without pressure. Nobody gets left behind.
As a rough guide — if you can comfortably run 20–25km per week and manage two or three hours on your feet across back-to-back days, you'll be well placed to enjoy everything the trip has to offer. If you're in any doubt, just get in touch. We're always happy to have an honest conversation before you book.
Each day starts with breakfast at the Cordial Mogán Playa before we load into the minivan and drive to the trailhead — typically 25–40 minutes depending on the destination. On the trail we cover between 12 and 22km depending on the day, with the van accessible at key points carrying water, snacks and any kit you don't want to carry.
Lunches on all three running days are included — on Day 4 in particular, lunch in the Guayadeque cave restaurant is one of the highlights of the whole trip. Afternoons are yours to relax by the pool, explore Puerto de Mogán's harbour and market, or simply sit in the sun. In the evenings we head out together for dinner in town — the restaurant is on you, giving you the freedom to order what you fancy. Puerto de Mogán has excellent local restaurants right on the waterfront.
We're based at the Cordial Mogán Playa throughout the trip — a beautiful 4-star hotel right in the heart of Puerto de Mogán, one of Gran Canaria's most charming and characterful towns. Built around a pretty harbour on the island's quieter western coast, it's a world away from the larger resort developments to the east. Pool on site, breakfast included, and the harbour restaurants and bars just a short walk from the front door.
Accommodation is twin or double room with en-suite bathroom. Guests travelling solo will share with another guest of the same gender unless a single supplement is requested at the time of booking. The single room supplement is £175pp.
Completely normal — nearly 90% of our guests arrive on their own. Pure Trails is deliberately designed around the solo traveller experience. You'll join a small group of like-minded people who share a love of running and exploring the world on foot. By the end of Day 1, you'll feel like you've known everyone for years.
Groups are capped at a maximum of 10 guests, which keeps the dynamic intimate and genuine. There's no awkward mingling required — the shared experience of running some of the most spectacular volcanic terrain in Europe together takes care of that entirely on its own.
If you'd like to speak with a previous Pure Trails guest before booking, just ask — we're always happy to connect you with someone who's done one of our trips before.
Trail shoes are essential — volcanic rock, ravine paths and open ridge terrain all require a shoe with solid grip and some lateral support. Road shoes are not suitable. If you're unsure what to choose, get in touch and we can advise based on your experience and the specific terrain.
A running vest or lightweight pack is required each day to carry water, snacks, a light layer and any personal medication. Key items to pack include: trail shoes, running vest (1.5L minimum hydration capacity), lightweight mid layer for the highland days, sun protection (high SPF, hat and sunglasses — UV is strong at elevation), and any personal first aid or medication. The full kit list is sent in your pre-departure pack approximately three weeks before the trip.
Yes — we run the trail lunches ourselves and can cater for all dietary requirements including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergies. Please make sure you declare any requirements at the time of booking so the guides can be briefed well in advance.
Breakfasts are hosted by the Cordial Mogán Playa and can accommodate most requirements with advance notice — we'll pass your details on to the hotel directly. In the evenings we head out to local restaurants in Puerto de Mogán where you order for yourself — the town has a good range of options for most diets.
Travel insurance is mandatory for all Pure Trails guests and must be in place before departure. Your policy must cover trail running activity, medical evacuation and trip cancellation. A standard travel insurance policy will not cover trail running — please check the small print carefully and look for policies that specifically include adventure sports or trail running as a covered activity.
We recommend providers such as Sports Cover Direct, Battleface or World Nomads, all of which offer appropriate trail running cover. You'll be asked to provide your insurance provider, policy number and emergency contact number as part of your booking form.
Yes — the March 2027 departure is our first ever trip to Gran Canaria, and we're genuinely excited about it. The island has been on our radar for several years and after extensive route research we're confident it's one of the finest trail running destinations in Europe.
As with all new Pure Trails destinations, the trip has been carefully planned and recced before we open bookings. Our guide team knows the terrain and the itinerary has been built to showcase the island's most extraordinary landscapes across five days. If you've run with us before, you know how we work. If this is your first Pure Trails trip — welcome. You're in good hands.
Adventurous
Challenging