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.

Hike 27.07.13 Barranco Azuaje to San Andres

Left Dutch Link at around 0900 hrs on Saturday 27 July to catch the 0940hrs Nr210 bus to Arucas from where we would take the 1015hrs Nr 123 bus direction Moya. However on discussing this with the bus driver, we were advised to take the more direct 0950hrs Nr 234 bus to Moya instead as this was more likely to arrive in Arucas in time to catch the 1015hrs nr 123 bus - the only bus making this route on a weekend.

 

We realised belatedly that we should really have taken the 0840hrs bus to ensure that we arrived in Arucas in time - however luck was on our side and we arrived at exactly 1015 at the Arucas Bus Station and the Nr 123 Moya bus was 5 minutes late - phew! but parked next to our Nr 234 bus - a long story but may save someone a disappointment - next time we do a walk requiring thes buses we will go mid week - there are more buses.

Got off the bus just before the bridge over the Barranco Azuaje (see below phot0) at around 1045hrs, ready for our hike, Nr 10 in the Sunflower Gran Canaria Guide Book

The hike begins by crossing the bridge and taking the track to the Barranco floor

After a few minute we pass the ruins of an old Spa

and a few minutes later arrive at a picnic are - ideal for 11'ses

  Looking up the Barranco

the track is in places a bit overgrown

and criss-crosses the little stream

under overhanging rock faces

past delightful little waterfalls and rock pools

Some parts require a bit of scrambling up steep-ish rocks - someone has thoughtfully provided ropes to hang on to secured by rock bolts

more rope assisted scrambling

At this point we realise that we have probably gone too far - our hike is supposed to end at a waterfall - which we have not seen - but the track continues climbing towards Fontanales, a few kilometers away.

The Barranco opens up to a fertile area which people are farming

Decide to retrace our steps.

We decide that the original objective of the hike most be in this area - rock pool and small waterfall just visible behind some thick foliage - super place for lunch.

After returning to our starting point, we follow the track under the bridge towards San Andres on the northern coast.
The 4-wheel drive track ended at an abandoned farm complex (much further than indicated in the Sunflower Guide) and continued as a ridge path around the walls of a farm

The track took us through areas overgrown with bamboo/ cane

sometimes it was a bit difficult to find the path - a sign indicating that this was actually a "Camino Real" was very reassuring?

After a while meandering through the "jungle" a 4-wheel drive track reappeared winding its way between high walled banana plantations

Eventually we arrived at the San Andres football pitch and the motorway

A hundred meters or so to the right was our bus stop - we were very fortunate - within 5 minutes our bus (nr 103) to Las Palmas arrived.

This proved to be a very enjoyable varied hike.