contramapas 2026 gr 131 trek canary islands

Contramapas 2026: GR 131 trek across Canary Islands

Contramapas 2026: a walking classroom across the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are gearing up to be traversed from end to end in an experience that goes far beyond sport. The Contramapas project, run by the Atlas Cultural and Environmental Association, returns in 2026 with an ambitious challenge: to link the archipelago on foot from La Graciosa to the Orchilla Lighthouse on El Hierro. The expedition begins this Thursday, 30 April, and finishes on 30 May, coinciding with Canary Islands Day. It will follow the route of the GR 131 long-distance footpath, covering nearly 600 kilometres of identity, nature and culture.

An educational leap forward

In this third edition, the initiative takes a qualitative leap by putting education at its heart. Pupils from eight secondary schools – one per island – will actively take part in the trek, integrating themselves into what the organisers call a ‘living classroom’. The involvement of young people is the result of the ‘Aula GR131: Trails that Connect’ programme, supported by the Government of the Canary Islands. The aim is for students not just to walk, but to rediscover their territory through hands-on learning. According to Manuel Cabezudo, the project leader, the GR 131 has “enormous potential as an educational tool” for understanding the social and environmental reality of the islands.

The crossing is structured around around thirty stages that will pass through Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera and La Palma. It is not simply a matter of covering kilometres; on each island, meetings with local communities will be held to build a collective story of the land.

Live tracking and how to follow

As a technological novelty for 2026, the Atlas Association has set up a tracking system. Via a link available on its social media channels, anyone can see the team’s exact location around the clock, allowing the people of the Canary Islands to virtually accompany this journey across the peaks and mid-altitude zones.

Route, team and backing

Route: Start on La Graciosa (30 April) and finish on El Hierro (30 May).

Multidisciplinary team: Led by Manuel Cabezudo, the group includes mountain guides, environmental communication specialists and Lucas Ramírez, a 17‑year‑old student who will complete the entire route.

Regional support: The project has backing from the Government of the Canary Islands, various island councils (cabildos) and entities such as Fred. Olsen Express and the UD Las Palmas Foundation.

The project enjoys a solid network of public and private supporters that reinforce its regional dimension. After earlier editions focusing on culture and inclusion, Contramapas 2026 consolidates itself as the great educational adventure of the Canaries, using walking as a methodology to appreciate the knowledge and challenges that the archipelago faces today.

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