The Güi Güi Special Nature Reserve, also known as Güigüí or Guguy, is a coastal mountain range located in the central-western part of the island of Gran Canaria, within the municipality of La Aldea de San Nicolás. Covering an area of 2,920.9 hectares, this protected area is part of the Canary Islands Network of Protected Natural Areas and the Natura 2000 Network as a Special Area of Conservation. Its terrain, of great geological antiquity, dates back to the first Paleocanarian volcanic cycle, featuring a 14.5-million-year-old volcanic tube that is home to unique cave-dwelling fauna. The landscape features a striking contrast between arid peaks, steep ravines, and cliffs that drop abruptly into the Atlantic, softening at their mouths into small pebble and sand beaches. The vegetation includes cardonal-tabaibal scrub, remnants of thermophilic forest, and threatened endemic species exclusive to the area, such as the centaury Cheirolophus falcisectus. In addition, the area serves as a refuge and breeding ground for notable birds such as the peregrine falcon, the Cory’s shearwater, and the Bulwer’s petrel. On the Hogarzales mountain, also known as the Fortaleza de Ajódar, there are archaeological sites dating back to the indigenous peoples of Gran Canaria. Due to its inaccessibility, the reserve remains in an optimal state of conservation and is considered by specialized guidebooks to be one of the great coastal landscapes of western Gran Canaria. The best time to visit is during fall, winter, or spring, avoiding the hottest hours of the day.
