DE DEPORTES DE MONTAÑA Y ESCALADA Y MONTAÑA DE DEPORTES DE FEDERACIÓN ESPAÑOLA FEDERACIÓN SL–TF 231 SAN MIGUEL DE ABONA–ALDEA BLANCA CAUCE SUR PROJECT

Most of the San Miguel de Abona–Aldea Blanca trail follows the path continues until you reach a road just before it bends round to the right. The road will gradually take you into a markedly rural land, reflecting the Since 2005, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of pulation. Today, the road provides an ideal starting point for discovering of the former Camino Real del Sur (Royal Road of the South). Along You will then come to a fork in the road where Camino Real branches agricultural landscape of the arid south of the island. The agricultural te- Tenerife Island Council has been promoting a project to dynamise the the historic quarters, hamlets, terraced farming land, the way you will learn about the rural life that characterised the sou- into two. We suggest that you take the left branch as it is the more rraced land, now mostly in disuse, almost completely covers the mid-altitude lands of the South of Tenerife in order to economically and ravines, volcanoes and hillsides that make up the distinctive thern part of the island that is embedded in the hillsides, dotted with interesting route. In this zone you will see different structures such hillsides along the trail. socially revitalise area that stretches from Candelaria to Arona. landscape of the mid–altitude land of the South. rocks and volcanic cones. Below is a description of the downward as small channels and deposits for rainwater collection, transport route. and storage. After going past the Casa del Gato house, the trail goes through an area The project is called CAUCE SUR, in reference to the Carretera The set of four walks that are offered along this main road will allow you abounding with remains from the prehispanic occupation of the region. General del Sur (General Southern Highway). The road took more than to discover for yourself the strength, simplicity and beauty of a land The trail starts from Plaza de San Miguel along the cobbled La Iglesia A few metres further on you will come to the edge of the ravine a century to build (1858–1975), and it became the true backbone of the that is hostile by its very nature, but where human beings have used street. After going past Casa Museo de El Capitán and El Calvario called El Drago or Las Mesas. Even from here you can hear the gur- The trail continues to make its way along the ancient Camino Real South. As the roadworks developed, the highway transformed the way all their ingenuity to build a place to live. cross you will come to Tamaide neighbourhood, one of the oldest ham- gling of the Tamaide spring, which has flowing water almost all year track, reaching the ridge of Los Cabuqueros, where you can enjoy the zone was used and the personal and economic interaction of the po- lets of the municipality, where Cruz de Piedra or Cruz de la Morena is round, except in very dry summers. panoramic views of San Lorenzo Valley and Aldea Blanca, with a large located, marking an ancient crossroads. number of eye–catching volcanic cones. A few metres from the spring are some caves that were carved out of Continuing along La Cruz street, the tarmac surface gives way to the the limestone rocks. These caves were used as a refuge for people After making your way over the TF–657 road at the crossing, you will original stone-paved road before descending towards the boxed–in bed and animals as well as for storing food and tools, taking advantage of reach the resting place called Las Crucitas. Along the last stretch you of El Lomo ravine. Plant life is more abundant here because of the pro- the constant temperature that this volcanic material provides. will cross through the small valley of El Ahijadero before taking the agri-

tection and humidity afforded by the ravine. cultural track into Aldea Blanca centre. El Escobonal Teide The road continues towards La Hoya, a hamlet that has a well– SL–TF 263 El Escobonal–Fasnia The trail takes you up the far side of the ravine along a narrow path conserved tile–making oven at its entrance. After passing through the FASNIA until you reach the ridge of El Mojón. Here you will find the best–pre- hamlet, the trail climbs upwards, going past La Hoya spring. 5,5 km 2 hours served stone-paved part of Camino Real in the municipality. This stretch

Enclaves indicated in the map PR–TF 86 Mar a cumbre de Arico Arico El Viejo TECHNICAL DATA 1 (Section: Arico–Arico El Viejo) 2 4 4,5 km 2 hours 30 min Itinerary (recommended direction): San Miguel de 3 8 VILAFLOR VILLA DE ARICO 7 9 5 TF–28

Abona square – Tamaide – Barranco del Lomo – 10 Las Vegas

600 m 6 SAN MIGUEL DE ABONA–ALDEA BLANCA ABONA–ALDEA DE MIGUEL SAN Lomo de El Mojón – Barranco de El Drago o Las Mesas 550 m Chimiche – Caserío de La Hoya – Lomo de Los Cabuqueros – ADEJE 500 m GRANADILLA SL–TF 242 Camino de Las Vegas

Valle del Ahijadero – Aldea Blanca. 450 m 11

Tenerife Island Tenerife TF–1 CANARIAS 400 m SAN MIGUEL 7,7 km 3 hours 15 min Estimated length: 7.500 m 350 m

300 m Valle de Ahijadero Las Américas

250 m Aldea Blanca TF 231 TF Estimated unevenness: 400 m 200 m Caserío de la Hoya Aldea Blanca SL–TF 231 San Miguel de Abona–Aldea Blanca

150 m Los Cristianos

Estimated duration: (descending): 3 hours 30 minutes 100 m El Médano 7,5 km 3 hours 30 min San Miguel de Abona San Miguel de SL 50 m Tenerife South Difficulty: Low 0 m Las Galletas Airport

R 0 m 3.000 m 1.000 m 2.000 m 4.000 m 5.000 m 6.000 m 7.000 m Trails that form part of the Cauce Sur project

HOW TO ARRIVE YOU ARE A PART OF THE Depending on the direction you want to take for the trail, SAN MIGUEL DE ABONA SERVICES TEAM FOR THE CONSERVATION OF you can start in one of two villages. To get to these villages, THE NATURE RESERVES AND follow the instructions below: ROADS OF TENERIFE The historic quarters of San Miguel represent the best–preserved At the back of these houses there are small kitchen gardens, some of Citizens Service Center: 901 501 901 San Miguel de Abona: From the TF–1, take exit 62 towards traditional town centre in the South of Tenerife. The trail follows a straight which are still in use. San Miguel, going via the TF–65. Not–to–miss places line along the old Camino Real del Sur, which crosses the present–day San Miguel de Abona City Council: 922 700 000 Walk on the signposted roads and be careful of the way of living, La Iglesia street. When Carretera General del Sur was built at the beginning of La Iglesia street provides the backbone for exploring San Miguel the privacy and the properties of the inhabitants. Aldea Blanca: From the TF–1, take exit 62 towards San the 1940s it did not affect the town centre of San Miguel de Abona, centre and visiting some of its most characteristic buildings. El Aljibe exhibition hall: 922 700 000 ext 258 Miguel, via the TF–65 and then branch off onto the TF–657 The houses that line the street and nearby vicinity are beautiful allowing it to preserve both its urban layout and traditional buildings. If you avoid noise, you will be able to discover much more life around you. towards Aldea Blanca, via Edelmira Alfonso Alfonso avenue. 1 Iglesia de San Miguel Arcángel Tourist Information Office: 922 738 664 examples of an architecture style that is half rural, half urban. They Take all the rubbish with you, even the organic one. Therefore, you will 2 Los chorros were built during the 18th and 19th Centuries for landowning families It is definitely worthwhile taking time to wander through the streets, Center of Tourist Initiatives: del: 922 793 312 (Adeje) contribute to keep the beauty of the landscape and you will avoid the Emergencies 112 and for the bourgeoisie farmers in the region. The walls of these because San Miguel de Abona is in the process of being assigned the 3 Municipal library spread of rodents. Be especially careful with the cigarette ends. buildings are characterised by the use of volcanic materials. Of designation as a Place of Cultural Interest, within the Category of 4 Birthplace of John Bethencourt Alfonso Tenerife Tourism: 922 635 192 / 922 239 500 particular note is the stonework that can be seen on the corners of Historical Area, because of its heritage and landscape. The collection of plants, animals and other objects from the environment many of these houses, and also their tiled or flat roofs. 5 Casa Azul (town hall) Local police station: 922 700 807 / 629 232 623 can lead to the loss of irreplaceable resources. CONTINUITY SUDDEN CHANGE CHANGE WRONG DIRECTION OF THE PATH OF DIRECTION OF DIRECTION 6 El Aljibe (hall) Health centre: 922 700 040 7 San Miguel rural hotel R 8 Casa Museo de El Capitán (museum) Civil Protection Service: 922 700 861 / 629 846 915 Prohibited uses: 9 Calvario (crosses) R Weather forecast: 922 213 222 edition: 2010.

st Site declared a Place of Cultural Interest

e. 1 TITSA buses: R Route 484: GRANADILLA – Charco del Pino – San Miguel – Llano del Cabildo de Tenerife. Camello – Las Socas – LAS GALLETAS (Costa del Silencio) – El Fraile. FOR YOUR SAFETY...

s e l Route 416: GRANADILLA – San Miguel – Valle San Lorenzo – a r ! o G M La Camella – Cabo Blanco – Cruce Buzanada – Los Cristianos – Playa u s z a m an L San Juan Ju Pu á li de Las Américas – Torviscas – La Caleta – ADEJE (Los Olivos) n d When you prepare your backpack, do not forget to include: o y C 3 2 á mobile phone, sunscreen, hat, coat, raincoat, enough water and food. O c b e is r p e 1 Further information: 922 531 300 o P s 4 ére z Cá Look up the weather forecast in order to be sure that it is adequate. ur ce l S re de L s al a Taxi service: 922 747 511 (San Miguel) ener s G M sia Wear suitable clothes and footwear. o le r Ig a a l L e e Incidents and suggestions: [email protected] s l al Walk always with somebody and only along the signposted path. 7 C 5 J Further information: Tell your relatives or friends about the route you are going to follow. u 6 8 a n B www.sanmigueldeabona.org 9 e th e www.caucesur.com n Bear in mind the daylight hours that you will need to finish your itinerary. c o u www.webtenerife.com rt A l fo Remember: Walking in the countryside can be dangerous. n s o Europa invierte Ayuntamiento de You do so at your own risk. So take care. en zonas rurales San Miguel de Abona San Miguel at the beginning of the 20th Century. Dirección técnica y documentación: Servicio Técnico. Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural. Edita: Cabildo de Tenerife. Published by: Published Dirección técnica y documentación: Servicio Técnico. Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural. Edita: Cabildo de Tenerife. Coop. Photographs: Cabildo de Tenerif Design and development: AEONIUM Comunicación y Educación para el Desarrollo Sostenible S. The importance of having a parish 1 Until 1796, San Miguel de Abona did not have its own parish, and so its inhabitants had to travel to A house with a history 2 Vilaflor to attend religious services and funerals. The Casa Museo de El Capitán (museum) is one of the most emblematic buildings in the area. In 0 km 1 km Today, San Miguel Arcángel Church, also known the 19th Century it was home to Mr. Miguel as «the cathedral of the South» with its baroque 1 Canary Island style, is a symbol for the people of SAN MIGUEL DE ABONA Alfonso, who not only was captain of the militia, San Miguel. but also served as local mayor for several terms B of office. Today it houses a museum that a

r specialises in different ethnographic topics r

a related to life in the region.

n 2 TF–65 c

o Near the house stands El Calvario, a simple TF–28 religious construction to seek divine protection d

Meeting Point e at the crossroads.

3 6 TF–565 Tamaide l

Tamaide and La Hoya springs originate L

o

from underground water flowing out of m natural breaks in the land. But putting o their origin to a side, these springs have traditionally been great hot spots, where Living in the mid-altitude lands of South Tenerife people would catch up on the latest 5 gossip, and even where people would fall in love. Now that water is on tap at La Hoya hamlet is a good example of the different elements that make up a rural village home, these springs have fallen silent, Las Lajas but they have many stories to tell from in the southern mid–altitude land. Located the depth of their memories. beside the road and close to the springs, La Hoya is believed to be the oldest hamlet in the Lomo el Mojón municipality. Its houses are grouped together Roque de Jama 3 around the structures that reflect farming life in the past, such as terraced farmland supported 5 by dry stone walls (without any mortar) and 6 Caserío de La Hoya threshing floors where the grain was beaten 8 every summer. The tile factory 4

TF–28 This tile–making oven presides over the B a entrance to La Hoya hamlet. This very r oven made most of the tiles that were 9 r 7

used to roof the traditional houses in the a

n 4 A mine–cum–room vicinity. In time, making handmade tiles 7

c

stopped being a profitable venture and o The landscape of the South is full of small La Centinela the oven fell into disuse. Its restoration cave–like holes like this one, called jableras, ensures the conservation of one of the d e the result of mining jable, a whitish volcanic key elements of Tenerife's traditional l sand that was strewn over vegetable architectural heritage.

D gardens to protect crops from the strong

r sun, retain moisture and enhance the soil's a properties. g Montaña de o Las Tabaibas At the same time, these caves were reused o for different purposes, as a stable, store or L a even for housing. Half life s 8 M e Casa del Gato stands at the side of s the track, depicting what life was like a s in this region just a few decades ago. It presides over a dry stone terraced hillside. But its sober elegance should 10 Volcano parade not make us forget the hardships of 10 the sharecroppers who lived there re- From this vantage point you can enjoy aring the animals and working a land the panoramic view of a long line of that they did not own, which meant small volcanoes. Although some of they were only allowed to keep half them have been mined and exploited the produce of the land. in different ways throughout history, Valle del Ahijadero they are still the highlight of the landscape, lined up along a crack in the ground. Can you imagine what an amazing sight it must have been to witness these eruptions? Legend 11

SL–TF 231 SAN MIGUEL–ALDEA BLANCA SAN MIGUEL–ALDEA THROUGH LAS LAJAS ALDEA BLANCA BLANCA THROUGH LA (Negotiable track, but not HOYA officially approved or signposted)

RESTAURANT The stone watchman 9 ACCOMODATION RAVINE Roque de Jama imposes its presence An orchard in the arid south BUS STOP BUILDINGS over the landscape. Since aboriginal 11 times it was a symbol and a reference TOWN WITH ROAD HISTORIC INTEREST for the inhabitants of the region, as This small protected valley is known discover the south Let’s LIMIT OF THE OBSERVATION DECK attested by the numerous prehispanic MUNICIPAL AREA as El Ahijadero. In these areas, remains found in the area. Roque de where farm life was so hard, this Jama has been declared a Protected oasis offered a welcome change. The Natural Area under the category of valley received all the rain water like Natural Monument, not only because a funnel, along with the fertile soil of of its archaeological heritage, but also the surrounding land. And this is why because of its geological age and its the valley orchards, which have now unique species of flora and fauna. fallen into disuse, were like the Extended area breadbasket of the south of Tenerife.