Arucas is a small but quite dynamic town with a population of about 34,000 inhabitants.
It is located approximately 3 km from the northern coast of Gran Canaria and only 12 km outside the island capital Las Palmas (about 10 km in a straight line).
The city is the second largest in Gran Canaria and is part of the urban agglomeration of Las Palmas.
It is located about 250 meters above sea level in a hilly area.
The high hills in the outskirts of the town of Arucas offer an attractive view of the town and the church.
Looking to the north you can see the dark-blue waters of the Atlantic.
Weather
Arucas have fresh tropical climate and offers its visitors a pleasant year round weather, with no winter cold or unbearable summer heat.
Temperatures are pleasant and usually range between 20 and 27°C.
Arucas’ weather is usually mostly sunny.
It is suitable for tourism throughout the year.
But remember that sometimes winter nights are cool.
For this reason a light jacket or an anorak will do a good job if you travel in winter or spring.
Things to Do in Arucas
Today natural environment covers just a small part of the area.
Arucas vicinity is occupied by farmlands.
Close to the town are grown mainly bananas, tobacco and sugar cane.
Although not very large, Arucas is a town to offer a lot of attractions.
Here you will find numerous beautiful buildings, but one of the most spectacular is probably the Church of San Juan Bautista.
It was built in 1502, soon after the conquest of the island by the Kingdom of Castile.
It was dedicated to Saint John the Baptiste (in Spanish San Juan Bautista).
Another famous landmark is Arucas Botanic Garden “Jardín de la Marquesa de Arucas”, created in the late 19th century.
In Arucas you will have the opportunity to visit also authentic rum distillery.
Incidentally, this is the place to say that the town is among the most famous producers of rum in Europe and exports the fragrant beverage to various countries around the world.
A bottle of rum is an exotic, traditional and elegant present for your family and friends at home.
The old historic part of Arucas is a great place to hang around.
Here you will find charming small street cafes, numerous craft shops and beautiful bright colored buildings.
If you get hungry while walking the narrow streets, you can visit one of the restaurants offering local cuisine.
Of course, the richest is the variety of seafood.
Among the biggest temptations is the opportunity to try roasted grupar with garnish, but if you’re not into seafood, you could try the great variety of local tropical fruits, fresh vegetables, cheeses or just a cup of fragrant local wine.
Arucas is a great place for long walks and cycling.
In fact you could walk all over the town without effort within a few hours.
However, if you visit Arucas by car it is best to park somewhere and walk on foot, because there are many streets that are too narrow and virtually impassable by car.
Using public transport from Las Palmas is a good and fast way to get to Arucas.
Several different routes lead to the town from the city of Las Palmas, and if you miss any of the buses do not worry – their schedule is regular and you will have to wait for no more than half an hour.