THURSDAY

22 OCTOBER

UNDER THE SPELL OF TAMADABA

We will descend from the cave-houses in Fagajesto and walk inside the impressive cliffs in Agaete, under the gaze of the Tamadaba massif while feeling the energy of one of the oldest areas in the island.

This route starts at the cultural centre in the village of Fagajesto, which belongs to the municipality of Gáldar, a toponym of aborigine origin that gives its name to the village located between the Montaña Gorda and Lomo el Palo. This area is particularly known for the cave-houses scattered around, offering a unique scenery among fertile farmlands and a legacy of livestock-farming. We will then continue our way, catching a glimpse of these peculiar houses while we descend the ravine known as Barranco del Sao. A steep descent awaits us. Surrounded by some breath-taking cliffs, we will be able to witness their rugged walls covered in lush vegetation on both sides. After several minutes, we will find ourselves in front of one of the lungs of the island of Gran Canaria, known as the Pinar de Tamadaba, a pine forest that has been declared Biosphere Reserve and that will delight our eyes for most of the journey.

BOOK YOUR TRAIL

TECHNICAL DATA

PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY:

medium-high

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY:

high

TRAIL TYPE:

Linear

DISTANCE:

9,1 km

DURATION:

3:45 h

CUMULATIVE ELEVATION GAIN:

250 m

CUMULATIVE ELEVATION LOSS:

1.242 m

We will continue our way until we reach the village of "El Sao". There, both the ground and the vegetation that have accompanied us on this route will change, giving way to strong Canary Island pines, which will guide our way to the village of San Pedro. From there, we will see the sea on the horizon, and the whole San Pedro valley at our feet, while we leave the fishing village of Agaete in the background.

Then, we will leave the path behind and finish our last kilometre walking the road towards the estate known as “La Finca las Longueras”, where the spectacular “Hotel Rural Las Longueras” will be waiting for us to enjoy the end of our journey in the fertile valley of the Valle de Agaete.

The “Hotel Rural Las Longueras”, known as "La Casa Roja", is a 19 th -century colonial villa, full of history and charming corners, where peace and quiet prevails. The hotel is located in an orange, avocado, mango and papaya plantation, offering a landscape that looks like something out of a movie set, the perfect place to taste some of the local specialities.

Once the tasting is over and after enjoying the beautiful surroundings of the hotel, we will go on a ten-minute walk to the bus pick-up point and return to the initial meeting point.

THIS ROUTE INCLUDES:

Civil liability insurance
Accident insurance
Picnic
Guided route and interpreter of the natural, ethnographic and cultural values of the island
Transport to and from the start and end points of the route (from Las Palmas G.C or Playa del Inglés)
Specialised guided tours in several languages
Snack-type lunch

Important Notice:

Due to the current situation caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, we at Gran Canaria Natural & Active, the association responsible for organising the 'Gran Canaria Walking Festival' have been forced to cancel the food tastings we had planned at the end of each route in the stated tourist establishments, so as to comply with current regulations banning social gatherings and celebrations of more than 10 people.
However, the organisation will still offer all participants a snack-type lunch every day of the event during each of our routes.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

This trail is quite uneven with steep slopes, so the use of walking sticks is recommended for more safety. It is also very important to wear appropriate footwear. Between km 1 and km 2.6 we will make an impressive but quite technical descent, in which the use of either walking sticks or patience will be of great help. After that the path becomes much easier. The ground at the beginning crosses a path with loose soil and rock, so appropriate footwear is important especially during that first part. This route is suitable for people over 15 years old.

When the tasting of local products at the “Hotel Rural Las Longueras” is over, we will go on a ten-minute walk to the bus pick-up point and return to the initial meeting point.

INTERESTING SPOTS

Along the route, we will find endemic vegetation such as the Kleinia neriifolia, locally known as veroles and other plant species such as the Canary broom. We will also find small water springs flowing down the walls of the cliffs from where we will make our descent. The protected area of the pine forest known as Pinar de Tamadaba, the cave- houses of Fagajesto and the valley of the Valle de Agaete are some of the most interesting spots in this area.

Fagajesto

Fagajesto is the name given to the group of houses located between Montaña Gorda and Lomo el Palo. The cave-houses scattered around are very distinctive and picturesque of this area where the land is predominantly used for farming and livestock. There are still many shepherds around who look after their sheep, get fresh milk to make homemade cheeses, and still practice transhumance, which consists in moving their cattle to the highlands with the changing of seasons, looking for the best grounds for their animals to graze. This area was known as the island's granary in the 18 th and 19 th centuries because of its cereal cultivation.

The Mills of Barranco Del Sao ravine

The "Sao de Agaete" is a place between natural cliffs and small water springs which we will reach by climbing up the valley of the Valle de Agaete. There, we will find 3 of the most important mills that existed in this area where up to 1,200 kg of wheat, barley and millet could be grinded in one single day. We will still be able to see their original structures from the beginning of the 20 th century, as they remain abandoned nowadays due to their difficult access and new population centres being established in other parts of the island.

Los Berrazales

The famous spas of Los Berrazales became an important focal point for residents and tourists who came in search of the famous waters with healing powers of this area. Many healing qualities have been linked to the waters that emanate from the springs of the island, and "Los Berrazales" is one of them. Several spas were built and people went there looking to heal their skin problems. This gave the area a lot of movement between the end of the 19 th century and the beginning of the 20 th century. In 1912, several landslides led to the construction in a nearby area of the so-called Health Hotels and the Guayarmina Hotel, where tourists could stay and then go to the spa to continue benefiting from the healing waters.

Lomo San Pedro

This is how the valley of the Valle de Agaete is also known, at the foot of the impressive cliffs of Tamadaba, where the San Pedro and La Vecindad de Enfrente neighbourhoods are located. On the eve of the San Pedro festivity, there is a special celebration traditionally known as the rama chica, the small branch, in which all the neighbours actively participate, and the patron saint is traditionally carried in procession by the elders.
The neighbouring village, known as the "Vecindad de Enfrente", which literally means “the opposite neighbourhood”, has been given this name for its location across the ravine opposite the small village of San Pedro, despite being practically joined together in one nowadays.