Visitors driving through northern Gran Canaria next week should allow extra time around Arucas, where daytime diversions will affect parts of the GC-20 and its connecting roads from Monday 22 June to Friday 26 June 2026.
The Canary Islands Government has announced a new phase of works on the Circunvalacion de Arucas, the ring-road project linked to the conditioning of the GC-20 between kilometre points 3+400 and 4+870. The work is part of the final asphalt layer on several parts of the infrastructure, and it will require temporary closures, signed diversions and alternative routes around Santidad, Visvique and access points used by drivers heading between Arucas, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the north of the island.
For tourists, this is not an island-wide travel warning and it does not affect Gran Canaria Airport, the main southern resorts, ferry terminals or beach access in the main holiday zones. It is, however, a useful practical update for anyone planning to drive to Arucas, Teror, Firgas, the north coast, or Las Palmas de Gran Canaria from inland northern routes during the affected days. Rental-car visitors using GPS alone should be especially cautious, because temporary roadworks can change local access patterns faster than navigation apps update them.
The scheduled works will take place during the day, from 08:00 to 18:00, between Monday 22 and Friday 26 June. There will be no traffic-affecting asphalt work on Wednesday 24 June because of the San Juan holiday. The remaining days each affect different junctions or access points, meaning the best route may change depending on the day, the direction of travel and whether drivers are heading toward Las Palmas, Arucas, Santidad, Visvique, Teror or the GC-3.
What Is Happening On The GC-20
The GC-20 is one of the important road corridors for the north of Gran Canaria. It serves local movements around Arucas, but it also matters for visitors because it links several places that appear regularly on independent travel itineraries. Arucas attracts day-trippers for its historic centre, stone architecture, local food, cafes and the landmark church of San Juan Bautista. The wider area is also used by travellers heading toward Teror, Firgas, inland viewpoints and northern coastal towns.
The new restrictions are connected to the final surfacing of the Arucas ring-road works. In practical terms, the authorities need to close specific ramps, roundabout accesses and incorporations while asphalt is laid safely. These closures are temporary, but they fall in daytime hours, when visitors are more likely to be out driving between sightseeing stops, lunch reservations, hotel check-ins and beach plans.
The official advice is to respect temporary signage, drive with extra caution and plan journeys in advance. That advice is particularly relevant in this part of Gran Canaria because local roads can be narrower, hillier and more junction-dependent than visitors expect. A missed turn or closed access can add time to a journey, especially if several drivers are being redirected through the same alternative route.
| Date | Main affected point | Visitor planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 22 June | Entry and exit ramps between Visvique and Santidad | Allow extra time if travelling between Arucas, Visvique and Las Palmas |
| Tuesday 23 June | Connections between Santidad and Visvique, plus access to Santidad from Cardones | Closures begin from 09:00 at Santidad to ease early traffic |
| Wednesday 24 June | No asphalt works affecting traffic because of San Juan | Normal conditions may still depend on local holiday traffic |
| Thursday 25 June | Visvique roundabout and all its accesses and incorporations | This may be the most disruptive day for visitors using inland north routes |
| Friday 26 June | Incorporations to the GC-20 and access from the GC-20 to Arucas via Santidad | Drivers should follow signed turnarounds and temporary access routes |
Monday 22 June: Visvique And Santidad Ramps
On Monday 22 June, the first daytime phase will affect the entry and exit ramps between the Visvique roundabout and the Santidad roundabout. These ramps will be closed while asphalt work is carried out.
Drivers travelling from Visvique toward Las Palmas de Gran Canaria will need to access via the Visvique roundabout, continue along Carretera del Pino and Carretera del Lomo, and then join the Arucas-Autovia del Norte connection. Drivers moving from Arucas toward Visvique will be redirected through the Santidad roundabout, Carretera del Lomo and Carretera del Pino.
For visitors, the main takeaway is to avoid treating Monday as a normal quick drive through the Arucas access area. If your plan includes Arucas in the morning followed by Las Palmas, or if you are leaving Las Palmas for inland northern villages, build in extra time. The detours are local rather than long-distance, but unfamiliar roads and roadworks traffic can make short diversions feel slower than they look on a map.
Tuesday 23 June: Santidad, Visvique And Cardones
On Tuesday 23 June, the works move to the connection ramps between the Santidad and Visvique roundabouts. These will be closed to traffic, and access to the Santidad roundabout from Cardones will also be affected. The Santidad closure is scheduled from 09:00, a detail designed to help the first wave of morning traffic leave the area before restrictions fully apply.
Drivers heading from Santidad toward Las Palmas should use Calle Pintor Velazquez, Carretera del Lomo and Avenida Pedro Morales Deniz before joining the GC-3 in the direction of Las Palmas or Agaete. Drivers travelling from Arucas toward Santidad should use the GC-43, also known as the Carretera de Visvique, and then the GC-303, or use access from the GC-3 where appropriate.
This is the kind of temporary arrangement that can confuse visitors because several place names appear close together and the correct detour depends on direction. The safest approach is to follow the temporary road signs rather than forcing a pre-planned GPS route. If your itinerary includes Arucas, Teror or a north-coast lunch stop on Tuesday, avoid scheduling tight back-to-back commitments.
Wednesday 24 June: No Scheduled Traffic-Affecting Asphalt Work
The authorities have said there will be no asphalt work affecting traffic on Wednesday 24 June because of the San Juan holiday. That does not automatically mean every road in the wider north will feel quiet. San Juan can bring local movement around municipalities, beaches, family gatherings and festive activity, so visitors should still plan sensibly if they are driving late or heading into town centres.
For holidaymakers, Wednesday may be the best day of the week to plan a more relaxed visit to Arucas or the inland north if you want to avoid the main scheduled construction diversions. It is still worth checking current conditions before setting off, especially if your route depends on smaller roads or if you are returning to accommodation in another part of the island after dinner.
Thursday 25 June: Visvique Roundabout Closures
Thursday 25 June is likely to be the most important day for visitors to note. The works will focus on the Visvique roundabout, requiring the temporary closure of all its accesses and incorporations. Because roundabouts in this area serve multiple directions, a full access closure can have a wider practical effect than a single lane restriction.
Drivers travelling from Santidad toward Las Palmas should again use the alternative route via Calle Pintor Velazquez, Carretera del Lomo and Avenida Pedro Morales Deniz, then join the GC-3 toward Las Palmas or Agaete. The Santidad closure will begin from 09:00. Drivers on the GC-20 heading toward Las Palmas who want to access Santidad should use the GC-43 and then the GC-303, or access from the GC-3. Vehicles coming from Santidad toward Arucas should use the GC-303 and then the GC-43 to reach the Visvique area.
For visitors, Thursday is the day to be most conservative with timing. If you are planning a self-drive route through northern Gran Canaria, consider whether you can travel earlier, later, or via a more straightforward main-road option. If you are on an organised excursion, the operator should account for traffic arrangements, but it is still wise to expect possible adjustments to pickup times or route order.
Friday 26 June: Access To Arucas Via Santidad
The final scheduled day, Friday 26 June, will involve asphalt works on the incorporations to the GC-20 and on access from the GC-20 to Arucas through the Santidad roundabout. These points will remain closed during the day while the works are carried out.
Drivers travelling in the direction of Las Palmas who want to access Santidad will need to make a turnaround at the roundabout by the BP service station before taking the entry toward Santidad. Drivers heading from the Santidad roundabout toward Las Palmas will need to continue to the BP service-station roundabout before joining the GC-20.
For visitors arriving in the north for a weekend stay or leaving accommodation after a Friday excursion, this may be the day when a small access change matters most. The route is still manageable, but anyone unfamiliar with Arucas should avoid last-minute rushing. If you have a restaurant booking, hotel check-in, ferry connection from Las Palmas or a timed activity, add a buffer.
What This Means For Visitors To Arucas
Arucas remains open and accessible, but the week’s roadworks may make some approaches less direct. This is an important distinction. The story is not that visitors should avoid Arucas. It is that travellers should treat the town as a destination that may require slightly more careful routing between 22 and 26 June.
For many holidaymakers, Arucas is a classic half-day or full-day stop from Las Palmas, the north coast, or the resort areas when combined with Teror, Firgas or inland viewpoints. Its appeal lies in a slower, local rhythm: walking through the historic centre, stopping for coffee, visiting local shops, seeing the church exterior, and pairing the town with nearby rural scenery. Those reasons to visit have not changed. What changes next week is the need to check your road approach before you go.
If you are staying in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and planning to drive north, the GC-3 and GC-20 area may still be usable, but signed local diversions should take priority. If you are staying in the southern resorts and making a longer day trip, the roadworks are only one part of your route. The bigger planning issue is not the total distance from the south, but the final approach around Arucas and the possibility of slower traffic once you reach the affected junctions.
Advice For Rental-Car Travellers
Rental-car visitors should be careful with navigation apps during temporary works. Apps are useful for general orientation, but they can occasionally send drivers back toward a closed ramp or a restricted junction if the road closure is too recent or too local. In the affected area, temporary signs, cones and official diversion boards should override the phone screen.
It is also wise to avoid very tight itineraries in northern Gran Canaria next week. A route that combines Las Palmas, Arucas, Teror, Firgas and the coast can be rewarding, but it already involves varied roads and several stops. Adding temporary diversions makes the day more vulnerable to delays. A better plan is to choose fewer stops, leave room for lunch or coffee without rushing, and keep the return journey flexible.
Drivers should also remember that local residents will be dealing with the same diversions for work, school, appointments and daily errands. Patient driving matters. Do not stop suddenly to read signs, do not follow another car blindly, and avoid risky turns if you miss a diversion. In Gran Canaria’s hillier northern road network, it is better to continue safely to the next signed option than to improvise.
How To Plan A North Gran Canaria Day Trip During The Works
The simplest way to keep a north Gran Canaria day trip enjoyable during the works is to reduce the number of fixed-time commitments. Instead of trying to cover Arucas, Teror, Firgas, the coast and Las Palmas in one compressed loop, choose one main inland stop and one flexible secondary stop. That gives you room to follow the signed diversion without feeling that the whole day has slipped away.
Travellers staying in Las Palmas may find it easier to visit Arucas earlier in the day and return before the afternoon build-up, or to use the San Juan pause on Wednesday 24 June if that fits their plans. Visitors staying in the south should remember that the drive to the north already takes time, especially if crossing the island for a cultural or rural itinerary. A detour near the end of the journey can feel more tiring after a long drive, so leaving earlier and avoiding last-minute lunch bookings is sensible.
For families, the practical issue is less about distance and more about comfort. Keep water in the car, do not let fuel run too low before entering local diversion routes, and avoid assuming that every small road will have quick places to stop. For travellers using taxis or private transfers, confirm the pickup point and allow for a driver to suggest a different meeting location if temporary signage makes the usual access awkward.
Why This Road Corridor Matters For Tourism
Roadworks around Arucas may sound local, but the GC-20 corridor is part of the visitor experience for a specific type of Gran Canaria holiday: the independent trip beyond the beach. Many travellers now want to see more than one side of the island, especially if they are staying for a week or returning for a second visit. Northern towns, inland landscapes, local food stops and cultural routes are all part of that wider tourism offer.
Good road access helps spread visitor spending beyond the busiest resort areas. When routes between Arucas, Teror, Firgas, Las Palmas and the north coast work smoothly, tourists are more likely to add inland towns to their plans, book guided excursions, eat in local restaurants and support small businesses. Short-term disruption is inconvenient, but road-improvement projects can also support that broader visitor distribution once works are complete.
That balance is why this update matters. It is not dramatic, and it should not discourage visitors from exploring northern Gran Canaria. It simply gives travellers the information they need to make a good decision on the day: when to leave, which routes may be affected, and how much flexibility to build into the itinerary.
Impact On Tours, Taxis And Local Businesses
The temporary closures may also affect taxis, private transfers, small-group tours and businesses that rely on easy access between Arucas and nearby municipalities. For tour operators, the main issue is reliability: a driver may need to adjust the order of stops, use a different approach, or allow more time between pickup points. For restaurants, cafes and visitor attractions, the challenge is making sure guests understand that the town is still reachable even if the usual route is interrupted.
Local businesses in Arucas and the surrounding area may benefit in the longer term from a better road surface and improved infrastructure, but the short-term week of daytime works can still be inconvenient. Visitors can help by planning ahead rather than cancelling casual trips at the first sign of a detour. If you are unsure about access to a specific restaurant, accommodation or activity provider, check directly before setting off.
No Wider Gran Canaria Travel Disruption
The GC-20 diversions should be understood as a local northern Gran Canaria roadworks notice, not a general warning for the island. There is no change to entry requirements, airport operations, beach access, ferry services or ordinary travel to the main resort areas. Visitors staying in Maspalomas, Playa del Ingles, Meloneras, Puerto Rico, Mogan, San Agustin or Las Palmas will not be affected unless they plan to drive through the Arucas roadworks area.
That said, travel planning is often about small details. A visitor who knows about the diversions can adjust a day trip easily. A visitor who does not know may lose time, miss a lunch reservation or become frustrated on unfamiliar roads. That is why the update is worth noting for anyone exploring beyond the most common beach routes.
Bottom Line For The Week Of 22 June
The final asphalt phase on the GC-20 around Arucas will bring daytime closures and diversions from Monday 22 to Friday 26 June, generally between 08:00 and 18:00, with no scheduled traffic-affecting work on Wednesday 24 June. The affected points change by day, with Santidad, Visvique, Cardones, the GC-43, GC-303 and the BP service-station roundabout all appearing in the diversion pattern.
For visitors, the practical advice is straightforward: keep Arucas and northern Gran Canaria in your plans if they interest you, but give yourself more time, follow temporary signs, and avoid relying entirely on GPS. The works are temporary, local and part of a road-improvement project, but they fall during useful sightseeing hours. A little planning will make the difference between a smooth day out and a frustrating detour.