2017 Hike Gran Canaria Barranco de la Mina 19th April

0855hrs 19/04/2017 cycled together with Margaret (from S/V Sea Bird) from Las Palmas Marina to the Telmo bus station and caught the 0930hrs nr 303 Global bus to San Mateo where we caught the 1030 hrs nr 305 bus towards Tejeda. Got off at the bend in the GC15 where it crosses the Barranco de la Mina, waypoint nr3 in Rother Walking Guide route nr 23. Below is Viewranger Map with our route shown in green.

The bus stop where we got off the bus to start our steep climb up the Barranco de la Mina 

  

Start of the hike

  

Soon entered the narrow gorge

 

With dense clusters of the rosette-leaved Aeoniums

 

 

 

 

 

The Gorse was in full blossom

 

Abandoned house with 3 cave entrances below it

 

 

  

At 1250 hrs we arrived at the Degollada de Becerra

 

With super views over the central Caldera - Roque Nublo to the left, Roque Bentayga to the right

 

Fine place for a break with Roque Nublo in the background
 

Our path descends to Cruz de Tejeda where welcome refreshments await in the Parador

 

View across the road from the Parador which we reached at 1400 hrs

 

 After refreshments on the Parador terrace, including Tejeda assorted almond cookies, we caught the 1515 nr 305 bus back to San Mateo which linked to the Nr 305 bus back to Las Palmas - this was a very enjoyable hike.

2017 Hike Gran Canaria Artenara to Cruz de Tejeda 13 April

Thursday 13th April we cycled to the Telmo bus station and caught the 0815 Global nr 220 bus to Artenara (it was a public holiday so the Sunday bus schedule applied).

After tea coffee and cake

 

We set off on the hike to Cruz de Tejeda, one of our favourite hikes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although we have done this hike many times, we do not remember ever seeing it so colourful. The Gorse was out in full glory

 

as well as other wild flowers

 

 

 

 

 

 

We even encountered some Tajinastes

 

 

 

 

 

 .

 

 

After tea coffee and assorted Tejeda almond cakes at the Cruz de Tejeda Parador, we waited a few minutes at the bus stop with this view

 

and caught the 1730 hrs nr 305 bus back to San Mateo which connects with the 1830 hrs nr 303 bus back to Las Palmas. A thoroughly enjoyable hike

2017 Hike Gran Canaria El Rincon - Caldera de los Marteles - Tenteniguada 3rd April

We were late leaving the marina so we took a taxi to the Temo bus station and caught the 1010 hrs nr 303 bus to San Mateo where we hired a taxi to take us to the start of our hike in El Rincon (cost €14 ). Below is the taxi rank in S Mateo

 

The below Viewranger map shows our route in green

After leaving our taxi, the hike started with climbing these stone steps

 

 

Very soon we encountered our first of many beautiful Tajinastes on our route

 

 

 

The Gorse was also in bloom

 

More Tajinastes

 

 

 

 

The viewpoint overlooking the Caldera los Martelos

 

 

Tenteniguada coming into view

 

El Rincon . Our descent from here was long and steep - our sticks were invaluable to save our knees

 

Caught the 1700 hrs nr 13 bus from Tenteniguada to Telde then the 1750 hrs bus to Club Real Nautica in Las Palmas. All in all a super hike in perfect weather made even more special by the Tajinaste etc floral display