Arucas is a handsome town in the north of Gran Canaria, known for its grand neo-Gothic church, its sugar-cane past and the Arehucas rum distillery. The distillery welcomes visitors for a guided visit that lasts about an hour and covers the story of the company, the ageing cellar, the production areas, from the mill to the fermentation and distillation rooms, the bottling plant and a tasting of a selection of rums and spirits. The visit is adapted for people with reduced mobility, children enter free and parking is free when there is space. The distillery is open on weekday mornings and on Fridays until the evening, and it closes on holidays. It is a good rainy-day alternative to the beach and an easy stop on a day in the north with Teror.
How it works
The distillery is at Calle Era de San Pedro 2 in Arucas. No reservation is necessary, so you can arrive during opening hours, pay at the desk and join the next visit. Opening hours run from half past nine to two from Monday to Thursday, and from half past nine to six on Fridays, and the distillery is closed on holidays and during private events, so check the visit page for your date. Products can be bought at the end of the visit.
What to expect
A short tour that shows how sugar-cane spirit is made and aged, followed by a tasting. The setting is a working distillery, and the route is adapted for reduced mobility. Because tastings involve alcohol, plan transport rather than driving yourself after a visit, especially if you are going on to winding mountain roads.
Making the most of it
Spend the rest of the morning in Arucas itself, with its large church, its market and its cafés, then continue to Teror, a hill town known for its balconied houses, the basilica of Our Lady of the Pine and a lively Sunday market. The north of the island is greener and cooler than the south, so bring a light jacket.
If you are staying in the south, allow a full day, or base yourself in Las Palmas, which is much closer. Because the distillery is open only on weekdays, plan this day for Monday to Friday.
What to expect
The experience
A guided visit of about an hour through the cellar, mill, fermentation and distillation rooms and bottling plant, ending with a tasting.
Best time
Weekday mornings, combined with a stroll in Arucas and lunch in the town.
How long
The visit lasts about an hour; allow half a day with the town and a trip to Teror.
Tips
No booking is needed, but check opening days and holiday closures, and leave the driving to someone else after the tasting.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Adults who enjoy food and drink, local history and a break from the beach.
- Families
- Children enter free, but the tasting is for adults, so it suits older children who like factory tours.
- Couples
- A relaxed morning of rum, then lunch in the old town.
- Pair with
- Teror and its basilica, or a day in Las Palmas.
- Time needed
- A morning, or a full day if you add Teror.
Good questions
Do I need to book a visit to the Arehucas distillery?+
No reservation is necessary, so you can arrive during opening hours and join a visit. Check the visit page first for holiday closures.
What are the opening hours of the distillery?+
The distillery is open Monday to Thursday from half past nine until two, and on Fridays from half past nine until six. It closes on holidays, including the eighth and twenty-fifth of December.
How long is the distillery visit?+
The visit takes about an hour and ends with a tasting of a selection of rums and spirits. It covers the cellar, production areas and bottling plant.
Is the visit suitable for children?+
Children enter free, and the route is adapted for reduced mobility. The tasting itself is for adults.
What else is there to do in Arucas and nearby Teror?+
Arucas has a large neo-Gothic church and a pleasant old town, and Teror has a basilica, balconied houses and a Sunday market. Both fit easily into one day in the north.
