Charcas de Erjos (Erjos´ pool)

Municipality: El Tanque
Aproximate time: 2h
Maximun Height: 1187 m (from sea level)
Minimun Height: 1020m (from sea level)
Distance (Km): 2,87 (one-way)

Area Information

We are in Teno's Rural Park. Las Charcas de Erjos (Erjos's Pools)  were extractions of arid and land between the 70s and 80s of the 20th century to be moved to the plantations of the south and north of the island. For its clayey character they have been transformed into natural warehouses of water of rain. It turns them into one of the scanty zones of interior capable of sheltering aquatic species.

Finished the extractions, about 20 years ago a great quantity of vegetable and animal species have been colonizing gradually the pools, though its presence is determined by the rains, for what the pools can remain semi-dry during long periods of time. 

On of Las Charcas (pools)

In these pools the vegetable species of major freightage is the Sauce Canario (Salix canariensis) existing others as the Tabacos (Typha domingensis), Juncos (Juncus efussus) and Carrizos(Cyperus eragrostis). Also Helechos (ferns), Zarzas (brambles), Tagasastes, etc

But undoubtedly, the most spectacular protagonists of the pools is the fauna, in it make concrete the birds tied to the aquatic way. Between them it is emphasized la Gallina Común (Gallinuela chloropus), which presence is stated from the 80s, la Focha Común (Fulica atra), La Agachadiza común (Gallinago gallinago) and La Garza Real (Ardea cinerea). Other birds related to the aquatic way which are more irregular to see  the Alpispa or Lavandera cascadeña (Motacilla cinerea canariensis), El Archibebe Claro (Tringa nebularia) and El Guincho o Äguila Pescadora (Pandion haliaetus) which can see in some occasions, especially when the evil being of the sea impedes the food search.

A Bird

It is necessary to highlight, that the pools are an obliged step of the migratory birds, which are in our lands a suitable place where to spend the raw winters of Europa's north.

Description of the Path

The drop of the Path

Elevation of Charcas de Erjos

Elevation of Cumbre el Bolico

Before explaining the tour, saying that in the map, the green route passes across the pools, and the red route goes towards Cumbre el Bolico (Bolico mountain top).

We begin the route in the entry that is opposite the bar (a solitary bar in all this section of road that it connects with Santiago del Teide, next to same it is a bus stop (The treatment with us was of antipathetic), the line is 360 (from Icod to Puerto de Erjos).To come to the same one, it is possible to come with public transport and with own car. The parking is scanty, but there are zones of the road  where it expands and it is possible to stop. (The parking of the bar, it is exclusive of these, though it stops parks who they wanted).

The Path

The path is partially put up signs, since in the same pools it is possible to take several routes of paths and estimate them from different points of view. Though it does not have a loss, since the way is well delimited.

In this case we did the route that connects with the path of  Monte del Agua and moved back towards same.

Then we took the path that is going to give to Cumbre el Bolico, where it is possible to see the set of Las Charcas (the pools)  with the Teide of bottom. On having finished this path in constant ascension, we come to the place from where we can estimate Santiago del Teide.

El Teide

 On having finished we go out to the same site, since the return was for the same route.

It is possible to do the route of  Las Charcas (the pools) only visiting the same ones, or it is possible to accede across several paths that go across for the zone.

This time Las Charcas (the pools) were full enough, since the rains during great winter part have been abundant. As for the vegetation it was slightly scanty, since still the zone is recovering of the fire happened in 2012.

Las Charcas de Erjos