We’d hoped to leave Tenerife on November 16th so we would have some play time in Cape Verde before our crew arrived on the 29th. We actually did leave on the 16th but we aborted about 15 miles in due to the heavy winds and unfriendly waves (neither of which were predicted).
Thankfully, there was an anchorage a short distance from us so we tucked in there. We ended up staying three days, leaving on the 19th.
We caught the 7:00 a.m. ferry from La Gomera to La Palma. We arrived at our hotel shortly before noon. We were happy to see that the hotel – H10 Taburiente Playa – was a lovely resort with several swimming pools, pool tables, and air hockey. We paid for half board, so breakfast and dinner were included with the price. The variety of food was quite good; we didn’t go hungry.
Here are some pictures of the resort:
We returned to Seahike (from our Tenerife road trip) mid-afternoon on November 4th and left the next day for La Gomera, a neighboring island to the south. To get to La Gomera, we first had to take a bus to the southern end of Tenerife then catch a ferry to La Gomera. Unfortunately, the bus was late so we missed the ferry. We waited several hours (maybe five?) for the next ferry. It was fine, though. Island time!
When we arrived in La Gomera, we rented a car, drove to the hotel, and went out to eat. As per usual, there was beautiful scenery on La Gomera.
I took a beautiful morning hike on the last day of our road trip: Barranco del Infierno: Heavenly hike in Tenerife’s Hell’s Gorge
Description: A somewhat unfortunate name for an idyllic haven: The Barranco del Infierno Nature Reserve, located in Adeje might well come with an intimidating name. But don’t let that put you off! It’s a haven of stunning beauty and diversity. The name comes from the steep slopes of the rocks and ravines, but the Barranco del Infierno is more heaven than hell: an oasis of unspoiled nature that will take your breath away. Journeying through the altitudes: You’ll go from 350 meters above sea level to an altitude of 1,300 meters, giving you the chance to take in constantly evolving panoramic views. The path narrows as you enter the ravine, leading you to an impressive 200-meter waterfall. To witness the waterfall at its most impressive, consider visiting during the island’s times of higher rainfall, typically between November and April.
A unique ecosystem: The Barranco del Infierno is home to a huge variety of flora and fauna, boasting more than 456 different species. You’ll come across native species such as ‘cardones’ (giant cacti), ‘tabaiba’ (a native species of Euphorbia), Canary Island dragon trees and ‘espineros’ (Rhamnus crenulata) in the thermophilic forest. And when you’re 600 meters above sea level, you’ll also get great views of the majestic Canarian pine trees. As for the fauna, you may well catch a glimpse of ravens, sparrowhawks, and even owls at sunset.
One of the nice things about this trail is that you have to register to hike it. They only allow groups of 20 or fewer to hike at a time. I was in the first group of the day (you don’t walk together, you just start together) and there were probably about 10 of us.
Stats:
Distance = 6.07 km
Duration = 2 hrs 53 m
Elevation = 990 meters
Route = Out and back
Map:
I will say more about the “impressive 200-meter waterfall” later, but let’s get right to the pictures.
Continue readingOur first stop of the day was Garachico. We thought we might have had time to visit it the day before but we didn’t. No biggy!
This is our map for today’s journey:
Garachico
Nestled below a 500-meter cliff on the northern coast of Tenerife lies the sleepy beach town of Garachico. Cobbled streets invite visitors to explore the pretty seafront town and discover one of the best preserved historic districts in the Canaries. With a rich and ancient heritage, it was founded in the 15th century and was an important trading port. The town was almost destroyed after a volcanic eruption in 1706, the Church of Santa Ana was one of the places where the locals took refuge. After the eruption, the town’s busy trading port came to a sudden halt.
Among the town’s attractions are sea water rock pools teeming with tropical fish, a 16th-century fortress named Castillo de San Miguel, and the Iglesia de Santa Ana, which houses a wealth of artistic heritage.
The 1706 volcanic eruption, which buried the old port forever, formed the arm of the sea known as El Caletón (the cove) in a capricious way. Its “charcos” (puddles), Las Viejas (the old ones), Los Niños (the children), Los Chorros (the jets), etc., create a set of natural pools, with acceptable conditions for bathing and an excellent promenade.
Continue readingMichael and I stayed at Marina Rubicon until October 24th. I worked quite a bit on this blog (I am always behind, it seems!), we went for walks, and pretty much chilled.
We sailed overnight to Tenerife on October 24-25. We took a few days to plan our road trip then left on November 1st. Little did we know just how beautiful Tenerife would be!
We took two beautiful hikes today. The first one was Sendero de los Sentidos.
The Sendero de los Sentidos is a natural treasure that runs through a laurel forest and will delight walkers thanks to its biodiversity, unique in Europe. At one point the path descends to the Mirador del Llano de los Loros (an observation deck), where you can enjoy views of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the Barranco y Presa de Tahodio (Tahodio dam ravine). The Path of the Senses is conceived as a sensory journey in which you can enjoy nature in all its fullness not only with sight, but also with smell, touch and, why not, hearing. . .
Stats:
Distance: 1.4 km
Duration: 32 minutes
Elevation: 79m rise
Route: Circular
Map:
I was reminded somewhat of the UK with all of the green!
Continue reading