The path of Siete Cañadas

Municipality: La Orotava
Aproximate time: 5-6 H
Maximun Height: 2.239m (aprox)
Minimun Height:   2.050m (aprox)
Distance (Km):  16Km(aprox)

Area Information

We are in the National Park of the Teide. This route, that of Siete Cañadas, belonged to Chasna's way, former road link of the north and the south of the island (with Vilaflor). This place has been used, not only for los Guanches as a place of shepherding, but also by many shepherds until the year 1956 (this practice is prohibited in Las Cañadas in order of the Government, and especially when a site is declared National Park there exist many restrictions of the human activity in this place, in order that it does not harm the flora and fauna of the zone).

The National Park of the Teide was declared as such in 1954, whereas in 2007 it obtains the title of World Heritage of the Humanity with the category of a Natural Place for the UNESCO. Las Cañadas form a gigantic caldera (It is a great depression, different from a crater, caused by different factors) with 17 km of diameter (approximately).

Guajara mountain

Being in this place of the island, we find many endemic species, both of flora and of the fauna. Inside this route we find the tajinaste rojo (Echium wildpretii). Also, we find codesos (Adenocarpus viscosus) and retamas (Spartocytisus supranubius).

Among the fauna, there are also endemic species, as the  lagarto tizón (lizard) and the pinzón azul (bird). Also, we can find perenquenes (a kind of lizard), rabbits...

It is a tour in which we find several geological formations, emphasizing the black basalt, and material washes more yellow (acid magmas emitted by violent eruptions).

Cañadas

And, to which there owes the name of  Siete Cañadas? Since in that part we have found seven little mountains and Cañadas means "space between two heights or slightly distant mountains between  them" "natural way for the step of the cattle " (some of the meanings of this word). In this zone we find seven, the name are:

Cañada del Capricho: capricious forms of colors ochres, that have been eroded and climbers' place.

Cañada de la Mareta: in Guajara's base and it emphasizes the white piroclastos (Any solid fragment of volcanic material expelled across the eruptive column).

Cañada del Montón de Trigo: mound of white sand.

Cañada de la Grieta a plain surrounded with (volcanic) walls, which gives the name of the mountain is the vertical one that crosses a crack.

Cañada de la Angostura: narrow mountain.

Cañada de las Pilas:  basaltic washes.

Cañada de Diego Hernández: it takes the name of the last shepherd of Las Cañadas.

The image is taken of Google Maps, it can see the zone for  the path. It has put on the name of the different mountains, to have an idea wherefrom they are (rather the order, since it has not put in the exact situation of each one).

Description of the path

The drop of the path

We initiate the path from el parador nacional, on having been inside the net of paths of the National Park, this path is put up signs and to say that it is the number 4.

To come to the zone, it can take different means of transports: as the Bus, which from Puerto de la Cruz is the line 348. From Coast Adeje, line 342. Also, we can go in the car, having a zone of parking near the Parador or near the visitors' center (depending wherefrom it is chosen to start). We take for the road TF-21 (for La Orotava or for Vilaflor); TF-24 (for La Laguna); and TF-38 (Boca Tauce-Chío).

Path

The tour does not have difficulty, since it  is relatively flat (there are some zones with some slope but without problem). On having been inside the paths of Las Cañadas del Teide, it is put up signs, (for the numeration before above mentioned), and also from the same one, they come and divide other paths, for what in these crossings we can continue without problems. Also emphasize the comfort of the same one to walk since it is broad enough.

Due to this fact (the comfort; small inclination; few vegetation), this one is one of the famous paths to do during the full moon, since it illuminates enough. Though if one enjoys the full moon, it does not appreciate the stars; so it is a motive for enjoying the path in different moments.

In this case, it was realized the route beginning in el parador and ending in the visitors' center (but it is possible to choose in that direction to do it). So the mountains  before mentioned, we will see them in the same order.

Teide

The route was begun from el parador, at all time we have to our right the walls of the Circus or interior walls, here we find Las Cañadas (of what some theories say that Las Cañadas belonged to a former volcano. This one would be the biggest, that due to the scanty insular, it shelf would be unstable and it ends up by disappearing in one or several earthquakes). On the left side the Teide is, and different washes and malpaíses (It is an accident of the relief characterized by the presence of rocks little eroded of volcanic origin in an arid environment).

Finally, we finish the tour in the Visitors' Center, in El Portillo, place of obligatory step, since it is better where they inform us about the successive eruptions, endemic species, etc, and it is possible to enjoy a movie - documentary on the formation of the island, especially Las Cañadas (to see schedule). 

Cañadas

It is necessary to bear in mind, that this tour is high, though the path does not have any difficulty, we meet the inclemencies of the time, especially the Sun, since it does not arrange of shade; also in winter to rely on the rains and the snow. It is possible to realize in any time of the year, but one advises to do it at the end of the spring, and summers beginning , since it is when retamas y tajinastes flourish. 

Also to say that the time that lasts the route is an approximation, it depends on the person, on the stops, on the time of photos, etc. 

Sign