Fiesta del Queso, Santa María de Guía

The Cheese

Queso de Flor de Guía is curdled with vegetable rennet from thistle flowers, and it is the only DOP cheese on Gran Canaria. The DOP covers three types, Flor de Guía, Media Flor de Guía and Queso de Guía, all made by hand in the hills of the island's north-west with traditional grazing and transhumance.

Day One in Guía

The first Sunday fills the town from 10:00 with a traditional food and craft fair and a market of cheesemakers and local produce; in 2026 there were 12 dairies, 24 craft stalls and 13 food stands, and more than 4,000 visitors. The Casa de la Cultura hosts the Cata Insular de Quesos, the island cheese contest; the 27th edition judged 63 cheeses from 11 municipalities. Producers often sell out, so come early.

Day Two in Montaña Alta

The festival was first held in 1977 in Montaña Alta, a farming village above the town, and the second Sunday is its day. Villagers cook sancocho canario (1,200 kg of it in 2026), potaje de jaramagos and tortillas with honey for visitors at stalls along the main street and around the square, and around seven dairies sell cheese. Folk groups play, long-serving neighbours are honoured, and the contest prizes are handed out.

The town asks visitors to take the bus. In 2026 line 107 ran every 15 minutes from Gáldar bus station between 9:30 and 12:30, stopping at the car park by El Bardo park, and returned every 15 minutes from 12:30 to 15:45.

Casa del Queso

The rest of the year, the Casa del Queso in Montaña Alta (Calle Hoya de la Prensa 14) explains the cheese and its shepherding traditions, runs cheesemaking workshops and sells local cheeses after a tasting. In August 2026 it opened Tuesday to Friday 10:00 to 16:00 and Saturday 10:00 to 14:00, closed Sundays and holidays; call 928 55 83 32 to check current hours. Reach it on the GC-70 from Santa María de Guía, and climb the Pico de Montaña Alta nearby for a 360-degree view.