A Discovery Exclusive: Back in Time

Description

Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

Adventure lovers will thrill to the opportunity to turn back time and enter the world of Gran Canaria's earliest inhabitants.

Settle into your comfortable motorcoach and enjoy a scenic one-hour drive along the east coast of Gran Canaria traveling up the mountains en route to Santa Lucia. The entire Discovery Exclusive tour is accompanied by an archaeologist guide.

Santa Lucia, founded in 1815, is cut within a volcanic crater 2,300 feet above sea level and studded with petite white-washed buildings. Its verdant palm valley is filled with history. Archaeological finds have been made dating back to the time of the Guanches, ancient aboriginal dwellers of the Canary Islands.

Its traditional, rustic beauty and heritage attractions charm visitors who come to appreciate its unspoiled Mediterranean ambience.
As you journey, enjoy the ever-changing scenery and pause for photos at the "El Guriete" viewpoint for panoramic views. Point your camera at the Fortress of Ansite, a dramatic granite formation studded with dark caves and tunnels once used by the aboriginals as defensive platforms, tombs and even homes. The fortress was the site of the last battle between the Guanches and Pedro de Vera, the Spanish conqueror.

Continue on to the fortress itself, where scientists are hard at work looking for clues to the hidden past.

The nearby museum, La Fortaleza Visitors Centre, displays the artifacts unearthed in such digs. You will have an opportunity to view displays and exhibits and get a glimpse into life in ancient times. In the audio-visual room there is a permanent documentary showing of the daily lives of the pre-Hispanic inhabitants from the small settlement of La Fortaleza. Up at the viewpoint terrace, visitors can obtain information about the natural surroundings of the settlement, as well as being able to see a reproduction aboriginal home.

Continue into the village of Santa Lucia with a population of approximately 69,000. You'll no doubt have worked up an appetite and will welcome the opportunity to sit down and enjoy a traditional Spanish tapas meal. With the spectacular Valley of Tirajana as your backdrop, feast on Canary specialties and wine.

A short walk takes you to El Valle Oil Mill. Entry is given by special permission only, but the doors are open for you. Here, you will have the opportunity to explore one of the last existing specimens of traditional olive oil production and learn how olive oil plays a vital role in Spanish cuisine and the Mediterranean diet. Marinated olives are the star dish in the region and often have a spicy kick.

On your return drive back to the ship, your archaeologist guide will share more information about all that you saw and answer any questions you may have about Gran Canaria.