The Guatiza Montaña Calderetas walk has a couple of short, but steep up hill sections. The paths are not always easy to see. The views down towards the coast, into the craters and across the valley floor however, make the climb worth while.
The walk is about 4km and usually takes roughly 2 – 3 hours with photo ops and water breaks. The walk can be combined with a visit to the Cactus Garden, which has a small restaurant. For a touch of authentic village life however I recommend a visit to Bar Bulin near the centre of the village.
Directions
Take the LZ-1 out of Arrecife and first exit at the round-a-bout in Tahiche. Continue on the LZ-1 past Costa Teguise, but take the next exit for Guatiza. Follow the road through the village and park at the Cactus Garden (Jardín de Cactus).
Click on the map image above to open a Google map of the area in a new tab.
The Walk
Head east away from the main road with the Cactus Garden on your left. Stay on Calle Brunela, at the end turn left onto Calle Adonis. Follow this single track road out of the village. You pass two dirt tracks on the left, take the first dirt track on the right, up a short incline.
You are now in the foothills of Monatña Calderetas. The path winds around the folds of the exterior crater wall. On the western slope you have the chance to look inside crater where the crater wall has been blasted out.
These volcanoes are much older than the Timanfaya range and boast a wide range of fauna and flora. Eventually the path starts to climb in earnest to the lip of the highest crater. From here you can see Mala, Arrieta and Punta Mujeres to the North. With Charco del Palo and Los Cocoteros towards the coast. Looking across the crater rim you have views of Guatiza and the rich farmland of the valley floor.
On the far side of the crater the path descends through an old picon extraction area before emerging at the bottom into the village. Turn right here onto Calle Jesús María Betancort, keep bearing right until you turn left into Calle Bermejuela. A final right into Calle Adonis brings you back to the Cactus Garden (just look for the windmill).
Guatiza Montaña Calderetas – History
To read more on the history of Guatiza you can checkout the following sites:
These sites are in Spanish, so if it helps I have made an attempt to summarise a few topics of interest in the History section. Did you know that Guatiza isn’t where it used to be and isn’t what it used to be called.