2016 Hike Gran Canaria, Teror to Firgas

0745hrs Sunday 23 October left marina and walked with Christer, Siv, Per, Bitte & Elizabeth to the Telmo Bus Station. 

 

Beautiful sunrise

 

Caught the 0830 nr 229 (slow)  bus arriving in Teror at 0920 hrs

 

The hike we had planned to do would take us through the Finca de Osorio and via the La Laguna picnic area to Firgas

( Below map is from the ViewRanger App - very handy app as one's GPS position is always being displayed on the offline map and plots one's track as one walks).

 

However, we found the main entrance gates to the Finca de Osorio closed.

 

We met a kind lady Julia who was walking her dog who was also surprised but showed us an alternative entrance to the Finca

 

This route had good views towards the north coast, but on arriving at the 2nd entrance we were stopped from entering by a warden who told us that the Finca was closed to the public on Sundays.

 

So our very friendly guide walked back with us and showed us another route which climbed steeply up the hill behind the Finca. Close to the top we said goobdye 

 

And not long afterwards, we stopped for a picnic lunch

 

 

We were now on our originally planned route which took us past the popular La Laguna picnic area

 

 

Views of the North Coast

 

At this point we were following a signposted route which was not marked on the ViewRanger map

 

Which way?

 

 

 

Shortly after this sign, the route came to a dead end!

 

So we retraced our steps

 

and with the aid of the ViewRanger app, found our way to Firgas (arrived around 1430 hrs) where we had a welcome beer whilst waiting for the bus.

 

Caught the 1500 hrs nr 211 bus to Arucas then the 1540hrs nr 210 bus to Las Palmas, getting out at El Corte Ingles

 

2016 Hike Gran Canaria, San Andres to Firgas

 0745hrs Sunday 9 October 2016 left Dutch Link and walked with Christer to Telmo Bus Staion to catch the 0830 hrs nr 105 bus to San Andres on the northern coast of Gran Canaria. 

Got off the bus around 0900 hrs 

 

And together with Pia, Ulf and Lars walked along the coastlal path

 

 Mosaic map of the Canaries

 

to the start of the Barranco Azuajes

 

Our hike would take us up the Barranco Azuajes, then the Barranco de la Virgen to Firgas where we would take the bus back to Las Palmas

 

 

A break

 

 

 

 

Looking down at the ruins of the Balneario de Azuajes Spa

 

The trail took us past some cave houses

 

Looking up the Barranco de la Virgen

 

 

As by this time it was getting a bit late and the route description was not too clear, so we decided to take the most straight forward route from here and walked along the GC305 road to Firgas

 

 

The road took us past the Firgas Drinking Water Plant

 

 

Arrived in Firgas at around 1615 hrs - next shuttle bus to Arucas was not until 1700 so we enjoyed a very welcome beer and Tapas in a bar close to the bus station. Had to change in Arucas to the 1740 hrs nr 210 bus back to Las Palmas - got off at El Corte Ingles and walked back to the Marina.

A very enjoyable hike of around 19 km which climbed from sea level to an altitude of  over 700 m.

2016 Hike Gran Canaria CV Firgas

0830 1st October 2016 joined the Las Palmas Club Varadero hike up the Barranco Azuaje near Firgas. 

The coach left the club at 0850 hrs and drove us to Arucas for breakfast.

After which it took us to Firgas, arriving at the start of the street with the famous cascades at 1015 hrs

 

The hike would take us up this street and then steeply down into the Barranco Azuaje

The map is from the ViewRanger App

 

 

 

 

Looking down into the Barranco Azuaje

 

 

 

Looking down at the ruins of the old Balneario de Aguajes Spa Hotel

 

 

The trail then went along the barranco floor through the jungle following the stream

 

One of several stream crossings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bit of rock climbing

 

Temporary repairs!

 

The trail brought us steeply back up the side of the Barranco to this Levada which we followed to the cascade street at the bottom of which was our restuarant where we had lunch

 

Casa Conchi

 

 

 

 

After an excellent filling lunch, our coach picked us up at 1640 hrs and drove us back to the marina - a very pleasant sociable hike