Thursday, 25 April 2019 11:37

Visit Osorio: Gran Canaria's Country Estate

Finca de Osorio: Gran Canaria's green estate surrounded by forest Finca de Osorio: Gran Canaria's green estate surrounded by forest photosgrancanaria.com

The Finca de Osorio is an old country estate surrounded by laurel, cork oak and chestnut forests. You need permission to visit but it is a great spot for a walk and a picnic. 

Osorio 3The Osorio estate consists of over 200 hectares of forest and farmland surrounding the Pico de Osorio; a small volcano that reaches an altitude of 967 metres. 

The laurel and tree heath forests at Osorio are one of the last surviving fragment of the legendary Doramas forest that once covered the whole of north Gran Canaria. It was cleared for farmland years ago but somehow the Orosio Estate never lost its trees. 

Now owned by the Gran Canaria government, it is the centre of an ambitious reforesting project and the only place in Gran Canaria home to wild Laurel pigeons.

What to do at the Finca de Osorio

The whole estate is crisscrossed with trails so you can just wander without a plan and take in the atmosphere.

However, it is easy to miss one of Osorio's highlights; a deep, narrow gorge shaded by the canopy of the laurel trees. Here's how you find it...

Osorio 4From the car park, walk towards the stables and then turn left and head towards the manor house. At some point, you will have to identify yourself to a very friendly security guard with a clipboard. At the house, walk over the stone bridge and then take the first trail on your right. It leads off through the forest, following a small dry valley. When you reach a fork in the path take the left trail and you are in the green gorge. It's only about 500 metres long but you will have to duck under fallen trees and a little rock arch to reach the very end. 

Back by the main house, which has toilets, there's a traditional English-style formal garden planted with subtropical plants (and home to tiny green tree frogs).

Osorio 1If you feel like a more challenging walk, take the left trail just before you reach the big house from the car park. Follow the signs for the Pico de Osorio and you are on the way up the volcano. It takes about an hour to get to the top (take layers, its windy up there). 

How to get to the Finca de Osorio

Osorio is on the GC 43 road between Teror and Arucas. The entrance, next to the cemetery, is just 2.5km from the centre of Teror town. 

To request permission to visit the Finca de Osorio use this online form from the Gran Canaria Government. 

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  • Exchange Money In Gran Canaria Or At Home?
    Exchange Money In Gran Canaria Or At Home?

    Visitors to Gran Canaria often ask whether it is better to exchange their local currency for euros at home or in Gran Canaria. 

    The answer is that it is almost always better to buy your euros at home than it is to bring pounds to Gran Canaria and use local banks or currency exchanges. This rule of thumb applies all over the world. A currency is almost always cheaper the further away you are from the place you can spend it (because demand for it is lower). 

    Exchange rates are almost always better at home than in Gran Canaria

    You are very likely to get a better exchange rate using a British currency exchange specialist or local bank. Many of these companies will deliver your euros to your home.

    One of the best rates in the UK is often from the post office, especially if you do it well in advance.

    The only way you'll get a better rate in Gran Canaria than at home is if the exchange rate changes while you are travelling and this is rare. 

    You also have to bear in mind that currency exchanges in Gran Canaria are getting rarer and some local banks don't exchange money for non-clients. 

    To Transfer large amouynts of money to Gran Canaria, or to make regular transfers, always use a reputable currency broker such as Currencies Direct. This will save you money on exchange rates and bank charges and is highky secure. 

    The risk of bringing cash to Gran Canaria

    Another important factor to consider is the risk of bringing cash to Gran Canaria: If it is lost or stolen, there is no way of getting it back. 

    It is much safer to bring a debit or credit card and use local bank ATMs to take out money. These days, a good option is a pre-charged debit card. 

    Cards may be slightly more expensive that carrying cash, unless you seek out a bank card with low commissions, but it is much more secure. 

    Bank ATMs like Bankia, Santander and BBVA often charge lower rates than the ATMs in shopping centres and busy tourist areas.

    Alex Says: Always select the Euro option at ATMs in Gran Canaria because the exchange rate is much better than if you opt for the Local Currency option. The same applies when you pay by card in shops and restaurants.

    See our Gran Canaria Tips section for more nuggets of useful local information.

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