Cruz del Carmen - Las Carboneras

1The excursion starts on TF-12, after the villages of Las Canteras and Las Mercedes, at Cruz del Carmen. Here there is a restaurant, look out spot, visitor centre and an information point for the Anaga Rural Park. Here, you will find the church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, a stone wall church built in the late XIX century. The trail starts to the right of the restaurant, up some steps and then along a dirt track through the thick vegetation of Canary Island wax myrtle, tree heath and other laurel forest species. From this point, any turning off to the left must be discarded. After a gentle incline, the path gets narrower as it winds through a series of hairpin bends and steps, until it reaches a fork. You take the right fork to the Las Hiedras track, where you turn right again. The path leads to a drinking water fountain, and then continues for about 10 or 15 minutes to the TF-II45 road. After following the road for about 200 m, passing the hamlet of La Cordillera, there are some stone steps on the left hand side of the road, with a sign saying "Las Escaleras". The trail zigzags on until it divides into two. The right fork takes you to Las Carboneras 2 and the left fork to Chinamada.

Interesting details

Cruz del Carmen - Las Carboneras

After the death of Tinerfe, the last great Mencey, or King, of Tenerife, his younger son Beneharo I inherited the kingdom of Anaga. At this time in aborigine history, Anaga was a district of abundant water and grazing, where the Guanches could find everything they needed. With the end of Spanish conquest, around 1495, a process of pacification and settlement started, in which Anaga was part of the land that was shared out by the leader of the Spanish conquest, Fernando de Lugo. In 1501, the first settlement was founded in the district, the village of Taganana, which later became the district capital. Sugar was the driving force behind the settlement of Taganana, and the catalyst of the valley economy. One of the area´s most urgent needs was to open up communications and put an end to its isolation, as the paths and grazing trails used by the aboriginal Guanches were obviously going to be insufficient. That is why steps were taken to have new trails built like the Camino Real de las Vueltas.

Flora

Canary Island Ebony, Laurel, etc.

Values

Fauna: Bolle´s laurel pigeon, white-tailed laurel pigeon, etc.

Heritage

The church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen (XIX century). Cruz del Carmen Information Centre.

Protection

In the Anaga Rural Park. Useful telephone numbers Rural Park Informatión Centre 922 633 576 La Laguna Local Police 922 601 175 Red Cross 922 259 626 922 281 800 Guardia Civil La Laguna 922 259 416 TITSA (Bus company) 922 531 300

Route details

Position	Borough of La Laguna
Start point	Cruz del Carmen
End point	Las Carboneras
Distance	5,5 Km
Duration	1 h. 35 min
Difficulty	Low - medium
Accessibility	TITSA bus routes
Slope	From 1000 m. to 500 m. above sea level