|
MAS PALOMAS-PICO DE LAS NIEVES.
RECOMENDATIONS
- With a normal vehicle try to avoid dirt roads that are not indentified or signposted.With jeeps or vehicles appropriate for these routs, take information about the road with you; avoid private, agriculture or restrincted use tracks.Respect prohibitions.
- Avoid stopping your vehicle in places where you will interrupted the traffic; it causes annoyance or accidents
- Avoid forming long lines of cars; follow bends closely; slow down speed and allow faster cars to go past.
- On long descending slopes use low gears rather than brakes.
- Pay special attention to cyclists and pedestrians on the side of the road.
- If you are in rugged areas, caution with intense rain and strong winds, precaution with stones or earth falling onto the road.
- In natural protected areas and specially amongst pine trees, extreame your precautions against fire when it is hot or windy.
THE ROUTE
This road, the GC-6O, is the main and most important of the routes that go
through San Bartolomé de Tirajana. It crosses from North to South and
through the middle of the entire municipality, crossing the different
landscape that divides the route into three natural parts.
The first goes through the Fataga Ravine, first along the sides, then through
its interior up to its source, allowing us to observe the singular morphology
of this typical V shaped valley. The aridity of the climate and relief make
the palm groves along its bed a real oasis. Next to these, the white houses
of Fataga and Arteara contribute to create an Atrican atmosphere. Maybe
that is why it is not a surprise to see camels and camel drivers; here to
delight visitors rather than assigned to traditional agricultural labour like
their grandparents used to carry out.
The visit to the theme park on the native world and the pre-Hispanic
necropolis of Arteara (interpretation centre planned) is a recommended
way of stepping into the life and death of the ancient people of The Canary
Islands. All these natural and ethnohistoric values have given this ravine
the designation of Fataga Protected Landscape and it has been included
in the Natural Protected Areas of the Canaries.
The second part goes through the interior of the Crater Caldera de Tirajana,
an enormous crater of more than 40 km. in circumference, carved by erosion
for millions of years, and open towards the Southeast through the ravine
of the same name. Its enormity and archaeological importance make it one
of the sanctuaries of the nature and history of Gran Canaria. The principal
village of the municipality and the Saint James centre of the island are
found here, where the religious image of Santiago el Chico (Santiago the
Lesser) can be seen, which perpetuates the religious importance that it
already had in pre-Hispanic times, with the Humiaga sacred rock, nowadays
called Risco Blanco (White Crag).
The route continues to go up into the interior of the crater, at the foot of
the Natural Monument of the Tirajana crags which are the northern walls
of the crater and that are more than 1000 m high, reaching the pass Degollada
de Cruz Grande.
Through this natural door we enter the Rural Park Parque Rural del Nublo,
the largest and most important natural protected area of the island, just
before reaching Ayacata. And here - a village of flowering almond trees
and paradise for mountain climbers - we abandon the road that continues
to Tejeda. Now following the GC-600 road, we begin the third part of our
route that goes through the typical mountainous forest. You will find
recreational areas, camping areas, and pleasing nooks and crannies that
invite you to stop before reaching the island's top, the Pico de las Nieves.
In this place, if the meteorological conditions are favourable, which they
usually are, your prize will be to sea one of the most beautiful and
representative sights of the archipelago, which combine its principal
symbols ... pine trees and ocean, the Nublo and the Teide, rock and volcano.
RECOMMENDED:
All the itinerary. Natural observatories. Recreational
activities, walking along the footpaths, and staying at rural accommodation.
Cultural visit to San Bartolomé de Tirajana (Tunte), Fataga and the Necrópolis
de Arteara. Local crafts, agricultural products, gastronomy. Olives, wine,
cheese, guindilla (a drink made from cherries and spices, macerated in
rum) ... Popular fiestas - Saint James in Tunte, July 14th-27th; Albaricoque
(apricot) in Fataga, June 28th - July 6th; St. Anthony / El Carmen in Ayacata,
August 11th.17th / November 8th-16th. Please note: Tunte is the old name for
San Bartolomé de Tirajana and is still in use.
In winter, the natural spectacle of cataracts of clouds falling from the
Cumbre (the local name for the top of the Island - its central, mountainous
part), waterfalls in the Negro Ravine and the flowering of the almond trees.
THE VILLAGE OF SAN BARTOLOMÉ DE TlRAJANA / TUNTE
Right in the centre of the Caldera de Tirajana, next to the bed of the
Tunte Ravine, the principal village of the municipality since 1813, it is
located on the site of the pre-Hispanic village of Tunte. Its privileged
situation, at a height of 890 m, has made it the principal intersection
of the communications of the south of the island throughout history.
In its urban area there are different architectural styles pertaining to
each moment of its history, from pre-Hispanic houses to modern
buildings like the Town Hall, that alternate with examples of traditional
architecture. And also religious architecture Like the church of San
Bartolomé (St. Bartholomew) with a neoclassic bell gable reconstructed
towards the end of the XVII Century. The equestrian image of Santiago
el Chico is venerated here, made out of polychromatic wood of the XV
Century, which has made it the centre of the Saint James peregrination
of the island. Here we find the Museum Casa-museo de los Yanez and
the Pancho Guerra Cultural Centre. Nearby are the Town Hall, local
police station, health centre, Red Cross emergency centre, and other
public services.
The island's gastronomy, cheese, wine and typical home-brewed
beverages of Tirajana like the guindilla and the menjunje (a maceration
of rum, honey, and oranges with spices) can be tried at the numerous
bars and restaurante, where you may also sea local crafts. The best of
San Bartolomé de Tirajana, however, are its people, with their warm
hospitality and kindness. The village, of 890 inhabitants, is 53 km away
from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 28 km from the airport and 23 km
from Playa del Inglés.
NATURAL OBSERVATORIES
This route could be named after its natural observatories because of the
numerous points of panoramic interest that are found throughout the route.
Due to the dryness of the climate in Tirajana, you will find excellent visibility
throughout all the year, and the light and shade of the twilight hours
contribute to spectacular landscapes.
As soon as you begin, at 7.5 km from the starting point, you will find the
pass Degollada de las Yeguas, 478 m. It is a strategic natural observatory
situated on a big esplanade on the eastern border of the Fataga Ravine
and with full amenities. You may see the most beautiful panoramic views
of this large ravine and its rocky surroundings, from the ocean to the
mountains, thanks to its panoramic angle of more than 1900 oriented
towards the west.
The vantage point Vista de Fataga, 929 m, not far away from San Bartolomé,
also has amenities, and is in the middle of the mountain that separates the
basin of the Fataga Ravine and the Caldera de Tirajana.
It is one of the few
Gran Canarian natural observatories that offers a complete panoramic view
of 3600. You may see two great depressions, as well as mountainous spurs
and the Amurga mountain mass.
At the lowest part of the stone crest that separates the basins of Tirajana
and La Plata, 6 km from San Bartolomé, we find the Degollada de Cruz
Grande, 1250 m, an intersection of roads and mountain pass. From the car
park at both sides of the crest, we may see beautiful perspectives of these
basins and of the Natural Monument of the crags Riscos de Tirajana, with
panoramic angles of 180º oriented towards the east and west.
The natural observatory of the peak Pico de las Nieves, 1945 m, is situated
not far away from the highest point and right at the geographical centre
of the island. Its privileged situation makes of it the best panoramic view
due to its amplitude, reach and beauty, which allows 2100 of panoramic
angle. The place, a simple esplanade where the GC-134 road ends, offers
bird's eye views of the Tejeda and Tirajana craters, of the southern mountain
masses and the western part of the island, and especially, of the two
symbols of the Canarian identity which are the Roque Nublo, and the peak
Pico Teide on the island of Tenerife. Sometimes, the meteorology of the
mountains extends a
mantle of mist that it
compensates with
the most beautiful
and spectacular dusk
that may be seen on
the island.
THE NECROPOLIS OF ARTEARA
An important native cemetery from the IV century B.C., where more
than a thousand tumular graves have been found over an area of
2x1 km. They were built of dry stone and are composed of a cist or
box-shape made of stone slabs where the body was placed and,
which once closed, was buried under a pile of stones. The osseous remains found have not permitted us to find out about
the burial rituals, although the palm and rush material that was
used as a shroud, has. Also, we have been able to determine the
Mediterranean and Cro-Magnon typology of these individuals, as
well as their strength and remarkable height, The importance of
the remains has justified the creation of an Interpretation Centre,
now under construction, where the most significant remains of the
culture of the ancient people of The Canary Islands will be shown.
The route begins at the Viuda de Franco roundabout, following the avenue
Avda. de Tirajana that crosses the neighbourhood of San Fernando. At the
second roundabout, leave this avenue to take the Galdar one, to the left
of the allegoric mural (if you turn to the right you go to the GC1 motorway).
After a last roundabout, the GC-60 road leaves behind the last buildings
where there are two famous restaurante (1 Km.), to enter abruptly into arid
southern nature where Canarian vegetation like the cardón (Canary Islands
cactus-spurge) and the tabaiba (shrubby spurge) predominates.
The road gains height along gentle slopes and some zigzag, while it skirts
the eastern slope of the Fataga Ravine, still not too high and from where
the devastation of an aggregate plant may be seen. You now enter into
the natural area called the Protected Landscape or Paisaje Protegido de
Fataga (4.2 Km.) before passing by the Mundo Aborigen (Native World)
recreational complex (6.3 Km.) and reaching the special natural observatory
of the pass Degollada de las Yeguas (7.5 km) where the enormity and
beauty of this ravine may be seen.
Here, the road begins a 4.2 km descent, following its sloping eastern course.
First, surrounded "by steep crags that become gentler as you go down
towards the bed of the ravine. Here you can see the magnitude of the
rockfall of the Puntón del Garito. Amongst its red rocks you will find the
pre-Hispanic necropolis of Arteara, archaeological remains of great
importance, which you may visit.
With the bird's-eye view of the necropolis and the Arteara palm grove you
reach the bed of the ravine (11.7 km) where a road that turns to the left
takes you to this small village and to two recreational and leisure areas
with camel rides and other amenities. Keeping to the same side of the
ravine, here the road begins to ascend and it takes you to the natural
observatory called the Vista de Fataga, about 12 km away.
A dirt road that turns to your left (12.9 Km.) takes you, after 16.6 km, to the
village and reservoir of Ayagaures. Another dirt road, also to your left, (15
km) is an access road to the Fataga reservoir and a climbing area, which
you get to after 1 kilometre ... on foot
Fields of crops, fruit trees and traditional buildings surround the village
of Fataga (16.1 km) a picturesque village that is worth a stop (the small
church, the rural architecture, shops, restaurants, a petrol station...) before
continuing on a steeper and zigzagging road. After passing by the old
windmill; important ethnographic ruins; a beautiful palm grove and some
new recreational areas (camel rides, exotic birds, a restaurant, etc.), the
road goes up through the head of the ravine to enter the basin of Tirajana,
at the Vista de Fataga (21 km), a natural observatory with amenities and
wide panoramic views over the Fataga and Tirajana Basins.
The road now levels of amongst pine and almond trees towards San
Bartalomé, passing by an intersection with the by-pass around the San
Bartolomé village centre, that bifurcates towards the left, and the large Las
Trajanas Rural Hotel, whilst going down towards an intersection (23.1 km)
with the GC-65 road that comes, to the right, from Santa Lucía. Continue
to your left to reach the village centre, park your car and enjoy what the
main village of the municipality has to offer (see attached information),
which is a lot.
Again on the road, this now goes along the left-hand side of the Tunte
Ravine, passes by the crossroads to the by-pass, and, now on the other
side of the ravine, begins to go up on a steeper slope towards the flatland,
where cereal crops used to be grown, of El Sequero; a village (supermarket,
restaurant...) and an intersection with the local road that goes to the
hamlets of Agualatunte, La Culata and Risco Blanco (VVhite Crag), up to
Taidía, 10.5 km away.
You begin to climb again, now along the side of the crags of the Natural
Monument of the Riscos de Tirajana. Not very steep at the beginning, the
road then starts to get steeper and zigzags as you cross El Negro Ravine
(28.5 Km.) until you reach the Cruz Grande Pass (29.1 km) which is the
western door to the Tirajana basin and by which you enter the La Plata
basin and the Rural Park Parque Rural del Nublo.
It is one of the most
important intersections of roads and footpaths. The road now levels off
going along the side of La Plata Crags and from where the Chira Reservoir
can be seen, to the pass Paso de la Herradura, where it splits into roads
leading to the camping and  recreational area of Morro de Santiago 2 km
away, to the village of Cercados de Araña and to the above-mentioned
reservo ir, 8.5 km away.
The road continuas now on the flat into the rocky area of Ayacata, at the
foot of high walls and with tourist restaurants at the side of the road. The
natural surroundings of the hamlet of Ayacata (34.4 km) offer ideal
conditions for a stop to plan the rest of the trip.
The route continues now on the GC-600 road that from the intersection
next to the church, goes up towards La Goleta (a ventorrillo - lean-to selling
drinks, food, etc.), where the path to El Nublo begins, a highly recommended
hour-long walk, to stretch your legs.
Now in a forest, you pass by the
camping and recreational area of Llanos de la Pez, a much-visited place
at weekends.
At the crossroads of Llanos de la Pez (another ventorrillo) (42 km) take the
GC-134 road; from where you see a wide panoramic view of the northern
half of the island; passing by the intersection with the GC-130 road to Telde
through the hamlet of Cazadores (44.2 km) and from there, along the GC-
134, to the peak Pico de las Nieves(46.5 km) (and another ventorrillo). If
the visibility is good, which is usually the case, the sights and sensations
that can be seen from here, justify the kilometres travelled ... and the ones
that still have to be driven to get back to your destination point; either
going back the same way or, even better, through different combinations
of routes that are by no means less attractive.
COMBINATIONS OF ROUTES
The route goes past several crossroads that offer all kinds of combinations
of routes and turn-offs:
At 12.9 km away (3.2 km before reaching Fataga) the dirt road splits
off that takes you through canyon-Iike ravines to the village and
Reservoir of Ayagaures, 13 km away. From there and now on the asphaltad
GC-504 road you go past farms and fruit trees in the Ayagaures Ravine
and reach your departure poíno 16.7 Km. away. Also, from this village
you may visit Palmitos Park and go back. to the Viuda de Franco, 15.6
km away, along the GC-503 road.
From San Bartolomé you can go to Santa Lucía along the GC-65 road
and continue to Agüimes on the GC-550 and to Las Palmas on the GC-
1 (total 55 km).
From the crossroads at Los Llanos de la Pez you can go to Las Palmas
de Gran Canaria using the centre road (32.8 km), to Telde through
Cazadores (28 km) or to the Cruz de Tejeda (4.7 km).
At Cruz de Tejada, en important intersection at the Cumbre (the local
name for the top of the Island - its central, mountainous part), you
have many different ways to go to the North of the island. An interesting
option is to go to Artenara returning by Tejeda ... or combine all the
variants that the time of day and the desire to drive permit.
The GC-60 road that comes from San Bartolomé continues to Tejeda passing
by the crossroads situated outside Ayacata, where the GC-605 road turns
off that goes down to the Cueva de las Niñas Reservoir (Route 2).
From the crossroads of Paso de la Herradura, at 2.8 km from Ayacata,
you can reach Maspalomas through Cercados de Araña, the Presa de
Chira and Lomos de Pedro Afonso until you get to El Tablero. A total of
35.3 km of which 22 km are on dirt roads, not very well-surfaced, with
many crossroads, not always well-signposted, and through lonely, outof-
the way places. AII this makes this route inadvisable except for expert
drivers, in jeeps and always accompanied.
CIRCUIT
The ideal route to visit the great southern ravines and the Cumbres in
one day only is circuit "8" that leaves from Maspalomas towards Fataga
(Route 1) or through Arguineguín (Route 2) up to Ayacata. In this
mountainous village is where the circular route of 38.7 km that passes
through Pico de las Nieves, the Cruz de Tejeda, Tejeda and Ayacata
begins and finishes. From here you return to Maspalomas by a different
road than the one you went up. Total: about 122.4 km. This circuit can
be done in one direction or the other without losing any of its charm.
If the meteorological conditions are not good (heavy rain, strong winds
... ), caution with falling stones on the road. |
