We booked this tour expecting a full-day scenic exploration of Gran Canaria, including mountain viewpoints and Roque Nublo as a main highlight, as clearly advertised. Unfortunately, the experience was nothing like the glowing reviews, and we genuinely cannot understand how this tour receives so many 4* and 5* ratings. Firstly, the coach arrived late, leaving us panicking that we were waiting in the wrong place. The only positive of the entire day was that the coach itself was relatively new, clean, and comfortable. The driver was clearly skilled at navigating narrow mountain roads, but his driving was extremely aggressive and at times genuinely frightening. Despite Roque Nublo being promoted as a key highlight, we did not see it at all. We understand the mountains can be foggy, but we didn’t stop anywhere in the mountains whatsoever. no viewpoints, no photo stops, nothing. This alone made the trip a huge letdown, as this was the main reason we booked. It quickly became obvious that the entire excursion was little more than a sales tour. The first stop was in a tiny village with absolutely nothing to see. We were taken, as a group of around 40 people, into an elderly woman’s private living space. She sat by the door holding a basket for tips. It was awkward, uncomfortable, and completely pointless. The second stop was advertised as an aloe vera farm, but in reality it was simply a shop with a lengthy sales pitch. The products were nice but extremely overpriced, and again, this stop existed purely to extract money from tourists. The next stop was a small village with a fountain. acceptable, but hardly noteworthy. Lunch was another disappointment. We passed several far nicer places in the villages we stopped at, places we were never given time to explore (usually no more than 15 minutes). Instead The restaurant the tour operator chose for us was diabolical. While cheap (€15 for three courses and a drink), the food and atmosphere were comparable to a school canteen. We were assigned seating at a tiny table with strangers, which made us very uncomfortable. Ironically, this was the longest stop of the day and by far the worst. We had packed our own food but were not allowed to eat it inside the restaurant. The choice was either pay for their meal or wait outside in the pouring rain. After lunch, we endured a long drive through the mountains, again with no stops at viewpoints, which was extremely disappointing given the tour’s scenic claims. The next stop? Another shop. The final stop was the village of Fataga, which was genuinely lovely and the nicest part of the tour. Unfortunately, once again we were only given about 15 minutes, barely enough time to walk around, let alone browse the gift shops or enjoy the village. The tour guide was repetitive and very difficult to understand, adding little value to the experience. Finally, the most frustrating part: during drop-off, we were driven past our hotel so others could be dropped off in a specific order. This added an extra 40 minutes to what was already around 8 hours of sitting on a coach, making a long and disappointing day even worse. They then had the audacity to encourage us to leave tips! Ultimately, this was an appalling experience. overpriced, misleading, and designed primarily to funnel tourists into shops. We wasted an entire day and a significant amount of money. There was not a single stop on this tour that justified the time or cost, and it bore little resemblance to the itinerary advertised.
We are sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations. We would like to clarify several points regarding this tour. Firstly, the tour itinerary, including stops and timing, is clearly described on our website and at the time of booking. Roque Nublo and mountain viewpoints are included as highlights; however, weather and visibility conditions in the mountains can change rapidly and may prevent certain stops for safety reasons. On the day of your tour, the mountainous areas were not accessible due to these conditions, and we always prioritize guest safety over sightseeing. Regarding the stops, the villages, aloe vera farm, and local points of interest are part of the authentic cultural and scenic experience, and they are accurately represented in our product description. These locations are not “sales tours”; any products offered for sale at farms or local shops are optional and clearly communicated to guests. We do not require purchases. Lunch is arranged to ensure all guests are served in a timely manner within the schedule. Guests are welcome to bring their own food, but restaurant policies regarding outside food must be respected for hygiene and safety reasons. The coach drop-off sequence is organized to efficiently return all guests to their hotels safely. Travel times between stops are part of island-wide excursions and can be lengthy due to road conditions. Our guides are experienced professionals who provide commentary in the tour languages, and we apologize if the style did not match your personal preference. We regret that your expectations regarding weather, timing, and sightseeing did not align with the circumstances on the day of the tour. While constructive feedback is always welcome, we strongly reject claims that the tour was intentionally misleading or primarily designed to funnel tourists into shops. All stops and experiences are authentic, safe, and consistent with our advertised itinerary.
