Tenerife Sur: Short Walks Under 10 km

Los Cristianos-La Chayofita Circular (Arona)

Route Summary

A tremendous town walk around Los Cristianos, with the added bonus of ascending little Montaña Chayofita, giving great all- around views of the mountains behind, and the coastline and holiday cities of Los Cristianos/ Las Americas/ Costa .

Duration: 3 hours.

Route Overview

Duration: 3 hours Transport/Parking: Los Cristianos is a major hub in the Titsa network. Parking available at start of walk. Length: 10.100 km / 6.31 mi Height gain: 208 meter Height loss: 208 meter Max Height: 85 meter Min Height: Sea level Surface: Smooth (rough on Mt Chayofita) Child Friendly: Yes Difficulty: Easy Dog Friendly: Yes Refreshments: A multitude of options!

Description

This pleasant urban walk covers many of the landmarks and attractions of Los Cristianos, just edging into the upmarket eastern end of Playa de las Americas before returning along the wonderful beach promenade to the base of Montaña Guaza. Walkers should be aware that the walk is just over 10 km in length. At the mid-point on the walk, the otherwise smooth surface changes to rough and, at times, slippery conditions as we ascend and descend Montaña Chayofita, so please use appropriate footwear!

Los Cristianos is a popular tourist with a busy ferry and fishing port. For the first half of the 20th century it was a quiet fishing village. It is the older hub of the bigger “holiday city”, also comprising of Playa de Las Americas and Costa Adeje, and is an excellent base for exploring the whole island. It has two sandy beaches, a wide array of bars and restaurants, and is blessed by a year-round warm and sunny climate. In recent years, it has taken over some of the role of an administrative and cultural centre for the Arona , including hosting the Courts of Justice and Cultural Centre for the council area.

1 Waypoints (1) Start on Calle Marea (28.04311; -16.70855) We start on Calle Marea close to the Parque Tropical Tres complex, overlooking Playa Los Callados where there is a convenient beach bar to welcome us on our return. Proceed from here along the pavement in the direction of Los Cristianos. You soon join the Avenida Juan Carlos I and carry on.

(2) Pass Gran Arona (28.04558; -16.70955) After just over 300 m, you will pass the luxurious and stylish Gran Arona Hotel on your left. You may want to check out the grand and verdant lobby area. (309 m)

(3) Pass marketplace (28.04765; -16.71030) In another 250 m, or so, you will pass the marketplace. Markets are held on Tuesdays and Sundays. Carry on up the Av Juan Carlos I as everything starts to get busier all around you. Your pavement route will start to rise uphill. (567 m)

(4) Pass Cultural Centre rear (28.05258; -16.71306) After a further 633 m you will pass the rear entrance to the Centro Cultural, with a street cafe on your left. You may want to pop in to check upcoming events. (1.2 km)

2 (5) Pass bus station (28.05372; -16.71269) In just another 200 m, you will start to pass the bus station on your right. There are no public toilets at the bus station so the cafes on your left do brisk business, I'm sure partly on that basis. (1.4 km)

(6) Go left at "Magic Roundabout" (28.05542; -16.71238) In anther 200 m you have reached the main entrance roundabout for Los Cristianos, with its grand mountainous back-drop in the distance. Colloquially known as "The Magic Roundabout" it is very busy all the time, to and from all directions. Perhaps the reason for the name is that if you make an error of judgement whilst driving and enter the inner lane (Canarians don't tend to do that!) you may spin around the roundabout for an eternity awaiting a gap in the traffic or an obliging outer lane driver, to permit exit! Walk left here for a short distance. (1.6 km)

(7) Left down Bulivar Chajofe (28.05568; -16.71353) Soon, in 100 m, or so, you turn left down the pleasant pedestrian walkway at Bulivar Chajofe. (1.7 km)

(8) Pass Cultural Centre front (28.05362; -16.71430) In 200 m, you will see the front entrance to the Centro Cultural across the road and to your left. Keep going down Av Los Playeros as you start to enter the busy centre of the town. (1.9 km)

3 (9) Church plaza (28.05204; -16.71725) In another 400 m you will have entered the area of the town's main church and plaza. You may want to linger a while, perhaps have a coffee, and take in the scene. When you are ready, head for the top left (west) area of the plaza and take the pedestrian street to your left. There are more than one set of steps on your right taking you up to the next street level. You choose! (2.3 km)

(10) Up steps to Avenida de Suecia (28.05198; -16.71875) After just over 100 m we have taken a set of steps at a more or less mid point, and climbed the steps to Av de Suecia, the old shopping centre of the town. Notice that there are only a few chain outlets, many are independent shops. Turn left and walk towards the end of the street. (2.4 km)

(11) Right at plaza down Av La Habana (28.05158; -16.72073) After 300 m you will have reached a busy roundabout and plaza area. Veer to the right past the plaza and onto Av La Habana as it gently runs downhill. (2.7 km)

(12) Pass CC San Telmo (28.05206; -16.72215) After just 100 m, mid-way down the slope you will notice the entrance to the C.C. San Telmo on your left. You may want to check out the menus on the high-end restaurants on either side. San Telmo is quite an upmarket, trendy area, so there are no PR/touts to cajole you outside the eateries. Keep going at the base of the hill as you follow the street as it veers to the right. You will notice the sea and Las Vistas beach area beginning to appear on your left side. When you reach the junction with Calle Finlandia, turn right up that road. (2.8 km)

4 (13) Up these steps on Calle Finlandia (28.05557; -16.72359) In a further 500 m, you may carry on up Calle Finlandia to the rear of Montana Chayofita or you can climb these steps to get a better view of your surroundings from a higher level. Turn left at the top of the steps and carry on until you reach the obvious entrance to the Montana Chayofita area. (3.3 km)

(14) Follow walkway behind Montaña Chayofita (28.05676; -16.72141) In another 200 m, or so, you should enter the park area at the base of Montaña Chayofita and walk straight ahead following the main walkway. (3.5 km)

(15) Veer right and up this walkway (28.05707; -16.71949) In just a further 200 m veer right onto the narrower walkway at this point behind Montaña Chayofita. (3.7 km)

(16) Up rough path here (28.05692; -16.71921) Almost immediately, cross the rough road and take the narrow stony path, steep in places, to the high point of the volcanic cone. (3.7 km)

5 (17) Top of Montaña Chayofita (28.05397; -16.71997) The top is only 85 m above sea level but there are superb views in all directions. When you are ready to move on, carry on in a clockwise direction as you descend, first, to another viewpoint, over Las Americas, then down a sometimes slippery path into the collapsed centre of the hill where there is a small cave/shack dwelling. You may want to leave a small monetary donation to support the lifestyle of the occupant. Carry on back down to street level where you turn left to re- trace your steps back to the pavement on Calle Finlandia. (4.1 km)

(18) Cross road to park (28.05681; -16.72156) After reaching Calle Finlandia again, noticing the large Courts of Justice building with fluttering flags on your right across the huge roundabout junction, take the crossing into the park area. Stroll through the park ending up at street level on your bottom left side. You are now on Av Antonio Dominguiz, the main entrance road into Playa de las Americas. Carry on for about 100 m before crossing the street, looking out for a pedestrian walkway leading away from the street on your right. (5.2 km)

(19) Right and up walkway off Avenida Antonio Dominguiz (28.05733; -16.72356) After about 300 m from the point where you entered the park on Calle Finlandia take this pedestrian walkway off Av Antonio Dominguiz. (5.5 km)

(20) Left at "Green Hospital" (28.05768; -16.72477) In just 100 m, or so, you will see the "Green Hospital" (named for obvious reasons). Veer left on the walkway here and carry on through the pleasant park area, keeping to the left side, away from the hospital. (5.6 km)

6 (21) Pass plaza on Calle Luis Diaz de Losada (28.05693; -16.72829) Emerge from the park, turn left and pass the square by the roundabout, Carry on down Calle Luis Diaz de Losada. (6 km)

(22) Turn right onto Avenida de Las Americas (28.05449; -16.72901) Soon, in 300 m, you will arrive at another roundabout. Turn right here onto the iconic Avenida de Las Americas (The "Golden Mile") and carry on. (6.3 km)

(23) Pass Hard Rock Cafe (28.05496; -16.73111) After just 200 m, having sensed the upmarket ambience of the street, cross over here to take in the guitar sculpture and the slightly over the top entrance pillars and angelic statues signalling the entrance to the Piramide de Arona (one of the largest auditoriums in ), the Cleopatra Hotel, and Hard Rock Cafe. The entrance to the C.C. Safari is over the road on your right at the rear of a plaza area. (6.5 km)

(24) Turn left down walkway to sea-front (28.05509; -16.73194) In just another 100 m, turn left down a tree-lined walkway heading for the sea-front. (6.6 km)

7 (25) Turn left along promenade (28.05368; -16.73233) After 100 m, at the end of the walkway, turn left along the sea-front promenade, taking in the marvellous seaside views at Playa del Camison. (6.7 km)

(26) Carry on following promenade at Las Vistas beach (28.05222; -16.72837) After about 500 m, carry on as, now, the marvellous Playa Las Vistas beach is on your right. (7.2 km)

(27) Pass Clinica Vintersol (28.05331; -16.72546) In another 300 m, you will pass the famous Clinica Vintersol on your left. This building links back to the 1950's origins of Los Cristianos as a holiday destination. To quote from Meryl Kew's blog article - "The origins of lie with a Swede called Bengt Rylander. He came to Los Cristianos in 1956 suffering from multiple sclerosis to take advantage of the warm climate. He found it extremely beneficial and being a writer and TV personality by trade, he was able to spread the word, and the rest, as they say, is history." Carry on along the promenade. You may be thinking about a refreshment at this stage and there are plenty of options on your left side as you stroll along! (7.5 km)

(28) Through the tunnel (28.05051; -16.72088) After another 500 m, you will veer left and go through the tunnel to the port area of Los Cristianos. (8 km)

8 (29) Pass shrine to the Virgen del Carmen (28.05002; -16.71971) In another 200 m you will pass this small shrine to the Virgen del Carmen at the edge of the Playa de Los Cristianos. This is a scaled down model of a 600 kilo life sized statue that was sunk at the bottom of the bay in 2005. In the eyes of believers, the sunken statue blesses the boats that come and go in the busy harbour as they pass overhead. Carry on walking around the beach on the promenades you enter the holiday centre of the town with its many, many restaurants, bars and street cafes. (8.2 km)

(30) Pass Swedish Church (28.05017; -16.71489) After about 500 m, you will pass the Swedish Lutheran Church, "Casa Sueca" which has obvious connections to the origins of health and general tourism in Los Cristianos. Keep going, weary feet by now, or not! (8.7 km)

(31) Pass Los Hermanos Petanque Club (28.04870; -16.71291) In another 300 m you will pass the busy and well-known "Los Hermanos" petanque club on your right. Carry on walking along the prom. (9 km)

(32) Continue to follow promenade (28.04750; -16.71141) After a further 200m, you arrive at Playa de Los Tarajales. As you proceed on, you will notice that squatters have taken over disused commercial "local" units on your left. After you pass a large villa on the point ahead of you, on your right, turn right and take the path onto the next promontory where there are great views of the bay, back towards the centre of Los Cristianos. The next small stony beach is Playa los Callados From the promontory walk towards the Callao Beach Club where you may wish to rest your weary feet for a while ...? (9.2 km)

9 (33) End of walk passing Callao Beach Club (28.04312; -16.70865) After about 900 m from the previous waypoint you will have arrived back at your destination, passing the Callao Beach Club in the final stage. (10.1 km)

10 Route Map

Links: Photos from walk Download GPX file (GPS Exchange Format) Download Route Guide PDF (with illustrated Waypoints) Access Walk on Viewranger Access Walk on Wikiloc

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