Ruta de los Peregrinos

1 The route starts at kilometre 30 of the main TF-24 road, which leaves La Esperanza up to Las Cañadas from a place known as La Crucita, where there is a lookout spot. The trail starts to the right of the look-out, on a forest path. A few metres to the left of the starting point, there are two, half-buried stumps indicating the entrance to the path. You must be careful along the first stretch of the path as it can get very slippery. The path leads up to the Las Arenas Volcano, up a steep slope and over lava flows. It is criss-crossed by the forest track. The trail enters the Pedro Gil Caldera (Cauldron), whose volcanic cone, Las Arenas, makes it unmistakable. Once the trail starts to follow the track next to the volcano, it continues a few metres to the right of the track, re-joining the track further on, until it crosses a fence. The path descends toward a chestnut grove and down to a stone building known as El Refugio. A few metres from here, the trail continues off to the left, leaving the path for good. A few metres further on, you have to turn off to the left. The trail now runs through an interesting old pine forest, through which you continue to walk for about 35 minutes, along a pleasant path that climbs gradually down under the shade of the trees. This point is on a small ridge, from which you can see a dry water canal a few metres below. Here, you must take the track to the left, crossing the canal a little further down. It follows another water channel, this one containing water. The path then continues without any turnings or forks until you reach a black top stretch, in the upper district of Arafo. Here you must follow the road down until you come to the first turning to the left, which leads to the centre of Arafo.

2 Here you can take a bus to Candelaria, the end of the trail.

Interesting details

Ruta de los Peregrinos

The "Virgen de Candelaria" route commemorates the route taken by the original figure of the Patron Saint of the Canary Islands, from the Chimisay Beach, where she first appeared before some local goatherds around 1440, to the cave of the Mencey (King) of Güimar in Chinguaro. The figure of the virgin remained here until approximately 1464 and was later taken to the San Blas cave around 1496. The present figure is the work of Fernando Estevez and it is located in the Cathedral of Candelaria.

Flora

Pines, bugloss, tree heath, etc

Values

Las Arenas Volcano. Caldera de Pedro Gil. Chinguaro Caves. Cho Marcial Peaks.

Heritage

Cathedral of Candelaria (built in 1959). Arriba Church (Hamlet of El Socorro, declared a cultural asset). San Blas Cave. El Socorro Trail, declared a cultural asset.

Protection

Corona Forestal Nature Park. Las Siete Lomas Protected Landscape. Useful telephone numbers Town Tourist Information Centre 922 161 133 Arico Local Police 922 511 711 Red Cross 922 281 800 City/Highway Police 922 510 214 TITSA (Bus company) 922 531 300

Route details

Position	Boroughs of Arafo, Güímar y Candelaria
Start point	La Crucita view point
End point	Arafo
Distance	Route 1: 14,5 km.Route 2: 12,5 km. Total: 27 km.
Duration	Route 1: 6 h. approx. Route 2: 3 h. approx.
Difficulty	Medium
Accessibility	TITSA bus routes
Grade	Route 1: Average 12% approx.Route 2: Average 3% approx.