|
Part of the ancient crater rim that runs alongside the park boundary, Guajara (2717m) stands over 700m above the crater floor, from where it looks more like a series of cliff faces than a mountain. Though a fairly strenuous five-hour return trip, with a steep climb and a loose descent, the hike up is one of the best walks on the island. The path climbing across its sheer north face has excellent views over the whole national park and is a good perspective from which to make out the flow of the most recent lava tongues on the slopes of Teide. On a clear day the views of the island of La Palma, seen on the way up, form part of a summit panorama that includes La Gomera, El Hierro and Gran Canaria along with large parts of Tenerife's southern coast. The trail begins just a few metres south of the Parador Hotel beside a sign depicting park footpaths. The narrow track soon ends in a T-junction, where a left turn follows a path that curves to the right before meeting a road. (There are parking spaces here too.) Crossing the road, the reasonably well-trodden trail heads straight up, marked by occasional paint spots. Around 500m beyond the road the path bears left and begins to steepen as it crosses a cliff face at its base to lead out onto the rim of the crater. From this point the path steepens further, leading up at the foot of a row of cliffs that mark Guajara's northern face. The path climbs up in front of these cliffs, then passes over them (follow the irregular and faded paint markings carefully to find the quickest way to the summit), past a triangulation point to the summit and a large wind shelter. The descent is to the east of here - paths to the south lead in the direction of Vilaflor and Paisaje Lunar, but to return to Las Canadas continue along the line of the crater rim. This path, which is steep and loose with small pumice rocks, heads down to a saddle just over a kilometre away where it is crossed by another path. From here you have two options. Head north around 500m back downhill to reach the crater floor and follow the wide track along the base of Guajara back to return to the Parador Hotel. Alternatively, heading right at this junction will take you south to Paisaje Lunar , near Vilaflor, in around three hours.
Your Tip for Guajara
Help other backpackers! Write your own guides and backpacking tips to Guajara - they will appear instantly on this page - Please only write a tip/guide to Guajara - visit the main Guajara forum to ask a question!
Please do not post links to your site here (they won't work) - please use the Guajara webguide section below! Thanks.
|
