Gran Canaria: Los Pilancones Natural Park e-Scooter Tour

Los Pilancones Natural Park on an e-scooter is a smart way to see Gran Canaria’s interior without turning your day into a hike marathon. You cover a proper route, you feel the climb and the big view, and you still keep it easy and controlled with a guide.

I love the combo of on-road riding and real nature time inside Los Pilancones, plus the chance to take in the famous Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles viewpoints. If you get Lorenzo, you’ll also appreciate how the guide weaves in clear stories about the southern side of the island while you ride.

One key consideration: you need the right license to drive a 2-seater e-scooter. If you do not have an original or digital AM or B driving license, you can still join, but you ride as the rear passenger only, and the scooter test drive matters for first-timers.

Key things to know before you go

• Small group (up to 6): more space to ask questions and get help during the test drive
• 2-seater e-Chopper scooter: one rider drives, the other rides in the back
• Los Pilancones is UNESCO biosphere protected: you ride inside the park area declared in 2005
• Ayagaures Village and dam: you get both a village stop and the reservoir payoff
• Soda included, tapas optional: a 10-minute pause includes your soda, cave tapas cost extra
• 100% on-road: off-road is not allowed, so the experience stays smooth and predictable

Why an e-scooter tour works so well in Gran Canaria’s south

In Gran Canaria, the easiest mistake is treating everything like a beach day, then realizing you have no time left for the island’s mountain side. This tour solves that. You start in the Maspalomas area, move up through the Ayagaures route, and then return downhill with the kind of momentum that makes 3 hours feel just right.

The best part is the mix of “wow” and “I can handle this.” You are not only doing viewpoints, and you are not only doing a driving lesson either. You get guided stops in places that matter, including Los Pilancones Natural Park, the Ayagaures area, and the water reservoir at the dam.

You do need to be ready for one practical reality: this is a real e-scooter route, not a stroll. If your main goal is total zero-effort sightseeing, you might prefer a traditional tour. But if you like movement and want to see more than one area in a half-day, this is a strong fit.

The 3-hour route from Maspalomas to Ayagaures, step by step

The tour runs for about 3 hours and follows an itinerary built around the Ayagaures Mountain route. You will ride mostly outside the city, then enter the protected park area, and eventually come back downhill.

Here’s the flow you should expect.

Start near Playa del Ingles, then roll into Maspalomas City

You meet at Bici Bike Vintage inside Cita Shopping Center in Playa del Ingles. From there, you head toward Maspalomas City for the beginning of the ride. This early section matters because it’s your warm-up. You’ll get familiar with how the e-Chopper 2-seater handles and how the group rides together.

The tour also includes time tied to Maspalomas, including access to the Maspalomas Dunes Natural Reserve and the well-known best panoramic view in Playa del Ingles. Even if you know the coastline, these angles from above give you a clearer mental map of where everything sits.

A short nature stop for Canary Island fruit plantations

After the Maspalomas area, the route shifts toward the mountain outside the city. Along the way you stop briefly to see local plantations of tropical fruit typical of the Canaries, including mango and avocado trees.

This is quick, but it adds texture. Gran Canaria is often sold as sun and sand, yet the island’s agriculture and microclimates are a big part of the story. Seeing those plantings breaks up the “just drive, just view” feeling.

Enter Los Pilancones Natural Park on the on-road route

This is the heart of the experience. You enter Natural Park Los Pilancones, declared in 2005 as part of the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The riding stays 100% on the road, and off-road is not allowed, so you get nature time without bouncing around.

You’ll ride through a greener stretch described with palm trees, plants and cactus, plus typical Canary flowers. It’s a change of mood from the beach zone, and you feel it immediately as you climb and then settle into the park roads.

Ayagaures top pause: soda, an old cave, then back on the route

Once you reach the top around Ayagaures, you pause for about 10 minutes. This is your breather and your photo window. You can taste your soft drink in a tapas bar built inside an old Aboriginal cave with prehispanic roots.

Important detail: the tour includes 1 soda or pop. Tapas are optional and cost extra.

Ayagaures dam, then return downhill

After the break, you continue toward Ayagaures dam, a large water reservoir. This stop is worth it because you see how the island manages water, not just how it spends it on scenery.

Then it’s the best kind of return: downhill. The ride back feels quicker and more exciting, because you’re not fighting the climb again. You get speed, views, and momentum, but still within a guided, controlled setting.

Los Pilancones Natural Park: what you’re really seeing

Los Pilancones can sound like a name on a brochure, so let’s make it practical. The value here is that you are not just passing through a random road. You’re entering a protected biosphere area tied to a major international framework. You also ride a route that changes vegetation as you go.

You get:

• A mountain-feeling track outside the dense resort grid
• A green valley section with palm and cactus-type plants
• A sense of island ecosystems that are different from the coastal dunes

Because it’s on-road only, you can focus on the experience rather than worrying about terrain. You also get the benefit of a guide who can explain what you’re seeing in plain terms while you ride. If you’re the type who likes context, this is one of the more meaningful parts of the day.

One small planning point: if you’re sensitive to sun and wind, bring a jacket, especially in cooler months. Even though the Canary Islands are famous for mild weather, mountain air can feel sharp.

Ayagaures Village and dam, plus the cave stop you can choose to upgrade

The Ayagaures area has two big components on this tour: the village-side mountain stop and the dam area.

At the top near Ayagaures Village, you get that short pause where you can have a soft drink. The tapas bar detail is fun because it’s not a generic café. It’s built in an old Aboriginal cave from prehispanic times. That connection is exactly the kind of thing that makes a quick stop feel like a real moment, not just another waypoint.

If you want more than drinks, cave tapas are optional for €15 per person, minimum 2 people. You can pay by cash or bank card at the restaurant. Two extra rules to know:

• Tapas are not available in July and August
• The tapas stop is closed on Wednesday

Then you head to Ayagaures dam, a large water reservoir. Reservoirs sound technical, but seeing it after the climb helps you connect the island’s nature with its infrastructure.

The return being downhill also adds to the sense of reward. You start with riding effort, you reach the payoff, then you glide back.

Driver rules and safety details that can affect your day

This is the part that can make or break the experience, so pay attention.

You need the right license to drive

To drive the e-scooter 2-seater, you must have an original or digital AM or B driving license. They do not accept provisional licenses, copies, or pictures.

If you don’t have the license, you can still come along, but you ride as the rear passenger only. Children over 7 can ride as passengers if they are accompanied by a paying parent.

There is also a youth rule: if a young person is at least 15 and has an original or digital AM license, they can drive, but must be accompanied on the tour by at least one paying parent who is a paying participant. In that case, the youth pays like an adult.

Expect a test drive before you start

Before the tour begins, the guide does a test drive. This is not just for safety, it’s for confidence. If you are new, this is when you learn how the scooter accelerates, brakes, and behaves when you are in a moving group.

Weight and age limits

• Maximum total weight on a single scooter is 160 kg (driver + passenger)
• The tour is not suitable for people over 100 kg (220 lbs)
• Not suitable for people over 70 years
• Not suitable for children under 7
• Not suitable if you have no previous experience

Also, off-road is not allowed. So if you are hoping for wild dirt-road adventure, this is not that.

Clothing: closed shoes and jacket

Closed-toe shoes are required. No sandals or flip flops, and open-toed shoes are not allowed. If you’re there in cooler months, pack a jacket.

And bring your ID. You need an original ID or passport for each participant.

What you get for about $93, and who it’s best for

At around $93 per person for a 3-hour guided experience, the value comes from the mix of things included and what you avoid.

What’s included:

• E-scooter Chopper 2-seater
• Helmet
• Liability insurance and taxes
• Multilingual local guide
• 1 soda or pop

You’re also getting a guide-led structure that keeps you moving through Maspalomas, into the mountains, and into the Los Pilancones area without needing to plan the route yourself.

What is not included:

• Hotel pickup or drop-off
• Tapas tasting in the cave (optional €15 per person, minimum 2, with the July/August and Wednesday limits)

For money value, I think this is a solid choice if you:

• Want more than one area in a half-day (Maspalomas, Los Pilancones, Ayagaures)
• Are comfortable with guided driving and want a mix of nature plus panoramic views
• Like the idea of a small group and getting attention during the test drive

It may not be the best fit if you:

• Don’t have the license to drive and you really want to be in control of the scooter
• Are looking for slow, walk-and-stay sightseeing
• Prefer off-road exploring (this is on-road only)

Meeting point at Bici Bike Vintage in Cita Shopping Center

Logistics are simple if you show up ready.

Meet at Bici Bike Vintage, location 292, inside Cita Shopping Center, in Avenida de Alemania, 22, Playa del Ingles. The entrance is near a reconstruction of the Tower of Pisa. Free parking is available in front of the Santa Monica Hotel.

This tour does not include hotel pickup, so plan your transportation to the meeting point. I’d also arrive a bit early. With a test drive and ID checks, arriving right on time can feel stressful.

Also, bring what you need for rules compliance:

• Passport or ID card
• Jacket (especially in winter season)
• Closed-toe shoes
• Driver’s license if you plan to drive

Should you book the Los Pilancones e-scooter tour?

Book it if you want an efficient way to see Gran Canaria’s interior, with guided context and a fun riding element. The Los Pilancones UNESCO biosphere access plus the Ayagaures top pause and dam stop make it feel like a real route, not a quick photo scam.

Skip it or choose something else if:

• You cannot meet the driving license requirements and you don’t want the rear passenger role
• You’re not comfortable with driving or have no previous scooter experience
• You want off-road adventure, because off-road is not allowed

My final advice: if your group can handle the basics, like closed shoes and ID, this is an enjoyable, well-structured way to turn a morning or afternoon into a memorable ride through protected mountain terrain.

FAQ

Do I need a driving license to drive the e-scooter?

Yes. To drive the 2-seater e-scooter, you need an original or digital AM or B driving license. Provisional licenses, copies, and pictures are not accepted.

Can children ride on the tour?

Children under 7 cannot participate. Children over 7 can join as passengers on the rear seat if they are accompanied by a paying parent.

What if I do not have a driving license?

Adults without a driving license can participate as passengers in the rear seat. They cannot drive the scooter.

Is off-road riding allowed?

No. The tour is 100% on the road, and off-road is not allowed.

What is included in the €93-style price?

You get the e-scooter (2-seater), helmet, liability insurance and taxes, a multilingual local guide, and 1 soda or pop.

Where do we meet?

Meet at Bici Bike Vintage, location 292, inside Cita Shopping Center on Avenida de Alemania, 22, Playa del Ingles. Free parking is available in front of the Santa Monica Hotel.

Is the cave tapas tasting included?

No. Tapas cost an extra €15 per person with a minimum of 2 persons. Tapas are not available in July and August, and the tapas stop is closed on Wednesday.