Chinamada - Punta del Hidalgo

Chinamada is an ancient indigenous hamlet, where about thirty caves are still preserved in a very good condition, these caves are of great ethnological interest and they are inhabited at present.
1The track starts on the left of the recently built hermitage of Chinamada, along a path with a sign which says "La Punta del Hidalgo" (PR TF-10). The path goes down smoothly from the start over the Tomadero ravine, a very rugged one. On its first stages, the path goes through terraced fields, where the locals still grow potatoes and pumpkins, and then goes on through a landscape which is always rugged, even harsh, combining different types of volcanic stones, rocks and caves. It is here where you may find the deepest caves, which can be used as shelter to rest or to have something to eat.
In the last part of the path, you reach El Roque de los Dos Hermanos, over Los Troches beach, from this rock you may admire some of the most beautiful sights on the coastline of Anaga.
2Then the path starts an abrupt descent in a zig-zag on the southern slope of the Rock towards the mouth of the El Río ravine, from where you go straight to Punta del Hidalgo, following an uphill rural road.

Interesting details

Anaga

After Tinerfe, the last great "mencey" (king), died, Beneharo, his youngest son inherited the kingdom of Anaga. During this time, Anaga was extremely rich in water and pasture, and the Guanches had enough to live on. When the conquest ended by 1495, the process of pacification and colonization started, and Anaga was divided among the Spanish conquerors, the Adelantado (governor of new territories appointed by the Crown) Don Alonso Fernández de Lugo gave the lands in the traditional "repartimientos de tierra" (land divisions). The first settlement of this area, Taganana, was founded in 1501. Taganana would become later the centre of jurisdiction. The driving force behind Taganana´s colonization process and its economic development was sugar. One of the most urgent necessities was to open new roads and to break the isolation of the area. The network of paths and roads used by the indigenous people proved to be absolutely insufficient, hence other and better roads had to be built, e.g. the Camino Real de las Vueltas (Royal Road of the Bends).

Flora

Spurges.

Values

El Tomadero ravine. El Rio ravine. Roque Dos Hermanos.

Heritage

Troglodite hamlet of Chinamada.

Protection

Inside the rural Park of Anaga. Useful telephone numbers Rural Park Informatión Centre 922 633 576 La Laguna Local Police 922 601 175 Red Crosst 922 259 626 - 922 281 800 City/Highway Police 922 259 416 TITSA (Bus company) 922 531 300

Route details

Position	Borough of La Laguna
Start point	Chinamada
End point	Punta del Hidalgo
Distance	4,7 Km. approx.
Duration	2 h. 15 min
Difficulty	Medium
Accessibility	TITSA bus routes