Practical
A great view comes with a hill. Here's how to make it easy. .
Yes, there’s a hill. A steep one. It’s the foundation for the quiet and the view. Here are eight easy ways to beat the climb, and the reward waiting for you at the apartment.
The price of a great view: our honest guide to surviving Avenida Roque del Este
Every great view has a price. Ours is a short uphill walk, with a rather enthusiastic finish.
Puerto Rico stretches from the beach all the way up the hillside, and our apartment sits above the bustle, with panoramic views of the bay. The beach is about 8 minutes away, the bus stop 5 and the supermarket 10, all downhill.
Coming back is a different story. But here’s something worth knowing: the steepest part is the final 180 metres, from the junction of Calle Gran Canaria and Avenida Roque del Este to our apartment.
According to Google Maps, that short stretch climbs about 19 metres, an average gradient of around 10%. It’s a proper little climb, especially in flip-flops, carrying a bag of shopping and a watermelon you didn’t really need.
The good news? It’s only about four minutes on foot. And if you don’t fancy the workout, you don’t have to do it.
Here are eight ways to make the hill part of the holiday rather than a problem.
1. Let the engine do the climbing
Most of our guests rent a car, and there’s free street parking right outside the building. Drive down to the beach or the shops and back up again, and the hill simply stops being a thing.
On foot? Treat the hill like a one-way street. Stroll down, then take a taxi back. Taxis are metered and easy to find down in the centre, and a short ride up usually costs just a few euros. Split between two, it’s cheaper than the ice creams you had on the way.
There’s no rule saying you have to walk both ways.
2. Climb before 11 or after 5
The hill isn’t the problem. The hill at 2 pm in July is.
If you feel like walking back, aim for the morning or late afternoon, when the sun is lower and the pavement isn’t trying to cook you. In winter, the climb is much more forgiving.
And remember, the steep section is only 180 metres. Take your time and you’ll soon be home.
3. Swap your "cholas" for trainers
Cholas is the Canarian word for flip-flops. They’re perfect for the beach and considerably less practical on a steep uphill walk.
Keep a pair of trainers and a bottle of water in your beach bag, and change before the climb. Your calves will send you a thank-you note.
4. Shop once, properly
Do one big shop on your first day, by car or by taxi. After that, if you’re walking, top up with a backpack, not carrier bags. With both hands free and the weight on your back, the climb feels half as steep.
Rather not carry anything at all? HiperDino, the big local supermarket chain, offers online grocery shopping and home delivery in selected areas. Check the delivery options for postcode 35130 on its website or app before you arrive.
And unless you’re hosting a watermelon festival, buy the smaller one.
5. Go al "golpito"
There’s a lovely Canarian expression, al golpito. It means slowly, calmly, without rushing.
This is where it earns its place.
Small steps, steady pace, no heroics. Nobody’s timing you. Stop for a moment, turn around and admire the bay. Everyone pretends that’s why they stopped.
The view really does get better as you climb.
6. Climb once a day
Walking? Plan your day like a delivery driver. Beach in the morning, lunch, then shopping on the way back, all in one trip down.
One climb a day is a holiday. Three is a training camp.
7. Leave the pushchair on the flat
Travelling with a little one? A pushchair is great for the promenade by the beach, but considerably less fun on our hill.
The easy option is to drive, or take a taxi back up. If you’re walking and used to a baby carrier, it beats a pushchair on the climb. Save the uphill workout for another holiday.
The same goes for anyone in your group who finds hills difficult. There’s no reason to make your holiday harder than it needs to be.
8. Remember what’s waiting at the top
Every climb needs a finish line.
Ours is a cold drink from the fridge, a quick shower, the building’s pool and a bedroom with air conditioning.
And then there’s the terrace.
Sit down, put your feet up and look out across the bay. It’s amazing how quickly a hill turns into a memory.
So is the hill a deal breaker?
Not for us. The hill gives us the two things we love most about the apartment: the peace and the view.
Down by the beach, you get the bustle of the resort, the restaurants and the crowds. Up here, you get quiet evenings, fresh air and a panorama of the bay.
Two guests put it perfectly. One wrote that everything is within walking distance, “although the way back is a steep climb”. Another’s advice: “don’t underestimate the climb back”. Both gave five stars anyway.
We’d rather you knew about the hill before arriving than discovered it halfway up with six litres of bottled water. It’s steep, but it’s short, and with a car or a taxi it’s entirely optional.
By day three, you’ll know the drill. By day seven, you might even be overtaking people.
And if you spot a cyclist tackling the hill, give them a cheer. Unlike them, you have options.
The price of a great view: our honest guide to surviving Avenida Roque del Este
Every great view has a price. Ours is a short uphill walk, with a rather enthusiastic finish.
Puerto Rico stretches from the beach all the way up the hillside, and our apartment sits above the bustle, with panoramic views of the bay. The beach is about 8 minutes away, the bus stop 5 and the supermarket 10, all downhill.
Coming back is a different story. But here’s something worth knowing: the steepest part is the final 180 metres, from the junction of Calle Gran Canaria and Avenida Roque del Este to our apartment.
According to Google Maps, that short stretch climbs about 19 metres, an average gradient of around 10%. It’s a proper little climb, especially in flip-flops, carrying a bag of shopping and a watermelon you didn’t really need.
The good news? It’s only about four minutes on foot. And if you don’t fancy the workout, you don’t have to do it.
Here are eight ways to make the hill part of the holiday rather than a problem.
1. Let the engine do the climbing
Most of our guests rent a car, and there’s free street parking right outside the building. Drive down to the beach or the shops and back up again, and the hill simply stops being a thing.
On foot? Treat the hill like a one-way street. Stroll down, then take a taxi back. Taxis are metered and easy to find down in the centre, and a short ride up usually costs just a few euros. Split between two, it’s cheaper than the ice creams you had on the way.
There’s no rule saying you have to walk both ways.
2. Climb before 11 or after 5
The hill isn’t the problem. The hill at 2 pm in July is.
If you feel like walking back, aim for the morning or late afternoon, when the sun is lower and the pavement isn’t trying to cook you. In winter, the climb is much more forgiving.
And remember, the steep section is only 180 metres. Take your time and you’ll soon be home.
3. Swap your "cholas" for trainers
Cholas is the Canarian word for flip-flops. They’re perfect for the beach and considerably less practical on a steep uphill walk.
Keep a pair of trainers and a bottle of water in your beach bag, and change before the climb. Your calves will send you a thank-you note.
4. Shop once, properly
Do one big shop on your first day, by car or by taxi. After that, if you’re walking, top up with a backpack, not carrier bags. With both hands free and the weight on your back, the climb feels half as steep.
Rather not carry anything at all? HiperDino, the big local supermarket chain, offers online grocery shopping and home delivery in selected areas. Check the delivery options for postcode 35130 on its website or app before you arrive.
And unless you’re hosting a watermelon festival, buy the smaller one.
5. Go al "golpito"
There’s a lovely Canarian expression, al golpito. It means slowly, calmly, without rushing.
This is where it earns its place.
Small steps, steady pace, no heroics. Nobody’s timing you. Stop for a moment, turn around and admire the bay. Everyone pretends that’s why they stopped.
The view really does get better as you climb.
6. Climb once a day
Walking? Plan your day like a delivery driver. Beach in the morning, lunch, then shopping on the way back, all in one trip down.
One climb a day is a holiday. Three is a training camp.
7. Leave the pushchair on the flat
Travelling with a little one? A pushchair is great for the promenade by the beach, but considerably less fun on our hill.
The easy option is to drive, or take a taxi back up. If you’re walking and used to a baby carrier, it beats a pushchair on the climb. Save the uphill workout for another holiday.
The same goes for anyone in your group who finds hills difficult. There’s no reason to make your holiday harder than it needs to be.
8. Remember what’s waiting at the top
Every climb needs a finish line.
Ours is a cold drink from the fridge, a quick shower, the building’s pool and a bedroom with air conditioning.
And then there’s the terrace.
Sit down, put your feet up and look out across the bay. It’s amazing how quickly a hill turns into a memory.
So is the hill a deal breaker?
Not for us. The hill gives us the two things we love most about the apartment: the peace and the view.
Down by the beach, you get the bustle of the resort, the restaurants and the crowds. Up here, you get quiet evenings, fresh air and a panorama of the bay.
Two guests put it perfectly. One wrote that everything is within walking distance, “although the way back is a steep climb”. Another’s advice: “don’t underestimate the climb back”. Both gave five stars anyway.
We’d rather you knew about the hill before arriving than discovered it halfway up with six litres of bottled water. It’s steep, but it’s short, and with a car or a taxi it’s entirely optional.
By day three, you’ll know the drill. By day seven, you might even be overtaking people.
And if you spot a cyclist tackling the hill, give them a cheer. Unlike them, you have options.
The price of a great view: our honest guide to surviving Avenida Roque del Este
Every great view has a price. Ours is a short uphill walk, with a rather enthusiastic finish.
Puerto Rico stretches from the beach all the way up the hillside, and our apartment sits above the bustle, with panoramic views of the bay. The beach is about 8 minutes away, the bus stop 5 and the supermarket 10, all downhill.
Coming back is a different story. But here’s something worth knowing: the steepest part is the final 180 metres, from the junction of Calle Gran Canaria and Avenida Roque del Este to our apartment.
According to Google Maps, that short stretch climbs about 19 metres, an average gradient of around 10%. It’s a proper little climb, especially in flip-flops, carrying a bag of shopping and a watermelon you didn’t really need.
The good news? It’s only about four minutes on foot. And if you don’t fancy the workout, you don’t have to do it.
Here are eight ways to make the hill part of the holiday rather than a problem.
1. Let the engine do the climbing
Most of our guests rent a car, and there’s free street parking right outside the building. Drive down to the beach or the shops and back up again, and the hill simply stops being a thing.
On foot? Treat the hill like a one-way street. Stroll down, then take a taxi back. Taxis are metered and easy to find down in the centre, and a short ride up usually costs just a few euros. Split between two, it’s cheaper than the ice creams you had on the way.
There’s no rule saying you have to walk both ways.
2. Climb before 11 or after 5
The hill isn’t the problem. The hill at 2 pm in July is.
If you feel like walking back, aim for the morning or late afternoon, when the sun is lower and the pavement isn’t trying to cook you. In winter, the climb is much more forgiving.
And remember, the steep section is only 180 metres. Take your time and you’ll soon be home.
3. Swap your "cholas" for trainers
Cholas is the Canarian word for flip-flops. They’re perfect for the beach and considerably less practical on a steep uphill walk.
Keep a pair of trainers and a bottle of water in your beach bag, and change before the climb. Your calves will send you a thank-you note.
4. Shop once, properly
Do one big shop on your first day, by car or by taxi. After that, if you’re walking, top up with a backpack, not carrier bags. With both hands free and the weight on your back, the climb feels half as steep.
Rather not carry anything at all? HiperDino, the big local supermarket chain, offers online grocery shopping and home delivery in selected areas. Check the delivery options for postcode 35130 on its website or app before you arrive.
And unless you’re hosting a watermelon festival, buy the smaller one.
5. Go al "golpito"
There’s a lovely Canarian expression, al golpito. It means slowly, calmly, without rushing.
This is where it earns its place.
Small steps, steady pace, no heroics. Nobody’s timing you. Stop for a moment, turn around and admire the bay. Everyone pretends that’s why they stopped.
The view really does get better as you climb.
6. Climb once a day
Walking? Plan your day like a delivery driver. Beach in the morning, lunch, then shopping on the way back, all in one trip down.
One climb a day is a holiday. Three is a training camp.
7. Leave the pushchair on the flat
Travelling with a little one? A pushchair is great for the promenade by the beach, but considerably less fun on our hill.
The easy option is to drive, or take a taxi back up. If you’re walking and used to a baby carrier, it beats a pushchair on the climb. Save the uphill workout for another holiday.
The same goes for anyone in your group who finds hills difficult. There’s no reason to make your holiday harder than it needs to be.
8. Remember what’s waiting at the top
Every climb needs a finish line.
Ours is a cold drink from the fridge, a quick shower, the building’s pool and a bedroom with air conditioning.
And then there’s the terrace.
Sit down, put your feet up and look out across the bay. It’s amazing how quickly a hill turns into a memory.
So is the hill a deal breaker?
Not for us. The hill gives us the two things we love most about the apartment: the peace and the view.
Down by the beach, you get the bustle of the resort, the restaurants and the crowds. Up here, you get quiet evenings, fresh air and a panorama of the bay.
Two guests put it perfectly. One wrote that everything is within walking distance, “although the way back is a steep climb”. Another’s advice: “don’t underestimate the climb back”. Both gave five stars anyway.
We’d rather you knew about the hill before arriving than discovered it halfway up with six litres of bottled water. It’s steep, but it’s short, and with a car or a taxi it’s entirely optional.
By day three, you’ll know the drill. By day seven, you might even be overtaking people.
And if you spot a cyclist tackling the hill, give them a cheer. Unlike them, you have options.
