Ingenio: Discover Culture, Coast and Craftsmanship

56% of Ingenio's municipal area is designated as a protected natural area. At the same time, the town's thematic spectrum ranges from the coast and water sports to the history of churches and mills, as well as crafts, festivals and traditional cuisine. Anyone planning a trip to Ingenio will therefore encounter very different facets within a compact narrative space.

Nature and Coast

Playa del Burrero is suitable for sailing and windsurfing because of the trade winds and wave conditions. Playa del Burrero and the small Playa de San Agustín together offer around 500 metres of coastline, with a bathing area of sand and gravel. The information on water sports and the type of ground thus places two different focuses on personal day planning.

Culture and History

The Church of La Candelaria in Ingenio dates from 1901 and was built on the remains of an earlier chapel of the same name. Its bells were cast in Cuba in 1820 by migrants from Gran Canaria and donated to the church.

The Museo del Agua y del Azúcar traces Ingenio's historical development from the 15th century to the present day through the theme of water. It comprises three independent mill buildings connected by irrigation channels that carry water from the Barranco de Guayadeque. The Molino de los López watermill dates from the 19th century and was used to grind grain for gofio until the middle of the 20th century.

The Casa del Reloj belongs to the Real Acequia de Aguatona; farmers set their clocks there according to the association's clock in order to buy the water needed for irrigation. A route through the historic centres of Ingenio and Carrizal leads along streets featuring sculptures and murals.

Local craftsmanship has also been passed down independently: calado lacework continues to be produced in the households of the municipality of Ingenio as a local craft tradition. The Taller Municipal de Cerámica showcases traditional crafts such as ceramics, palm weaving, ironwork, brasswork, stoneworking, reedwork, calado, Canarian knives and Trapera textiles. The first floor of the Taller Municipal de Cerámica contains a work area and kilns.

The Museo del Festival Internacional de Folclore displays clothing and objects provided by more than 150 embassies of the countries participating in the festival. It also has interactive screens and a screening room where traditional dances of the Canary Islands, such as Folia and Isa, are presented.

Festivals and Cuisine

The Festival Internacional de Folclore “Muestra Solidaria de los Pueblos” is organised every year by the cultural association Coros y Danzas de Ingenio and includes daily performances, parades and workshops. The carnival celebrations in Ingenio take place over several days in different parts of the municipality, including the centre of Ingenio, Carrizal and Playa del Burrero. The programme includes concerts, costume competitions, murga competitions and parades, among other events.

In Ingenio, the traditional bread “pan de puño” is made and offered for sale locally. Ingenio's traditional cuisine includes goat meat, roast pork, papas arrugadas with mojo, garbanzos compuestos, sweet morcilla and regional cheese.

The Oficina Municipal de Turismo in Ingenio provides visitors with information to help them plan their day, holiday and activities in Ingenio.

A holiday apartment in Ingenio can be associated conceptually with the themes of nature, coast, culture, crafts and cuisine. You can incorporate travel dates, room category or cancellation conditions into your personal planning; at the same time, there remains room to discover the town's different facets, from protected natural areas to festivals and regional cuisine.

Other destinations in Gran Canaria include Las Marciegas, El Estanco, Arinaga, Tejeda, Arucas, Maspalomas, Trasmontaña and Vega De San Mateo.

For the overarching travel overview: Gran Canaria.