Hermano Pedro Walking Route

In April a special walk takes place along the Hermano Pedro route. The route, which has been kept alive in the collective local memory for decades, stretches from the mountain to the sea and has a length in excess of 17 kilometres. The main section runs from Vilaflor to Chasna and is the route that Hermano Pedro took several times a year when moving his herd of goats from one area to another. Since 2005, when work first began on studying and restoring the route, it has been walked by thousands of people. The walk is organised by the town councils of Granadilla de Abona and Vilaflor, in collaboration with the councils of Arico and San Miguel de Abona. It will begin at 7 am in Vilaflor and end between 12 noon and 1 pm at the Cueva del Santo. A photography competition focusing on the walk will also be held. More information can be found at www.granadilladeabona.es and at the offices of the participating councils.

The saint's route

Thanks to a new initiative that aims to make this walk part of the European network of religious routes, the fame of the transhumance route that Hermano Pedro walked from Vilaflor to the Cueva de El Médano in Granadilla de Abona will reach beyond the Canary Islands.
The initiative will highlight the exceptional religious, historical, cultural and heritage value of the route, whose length of some 20 kilometres has been traversed by thousands of pilgrims during the six years it has been open. The appropriate steps are already being taken to secure the route's inclusion in the network, and the municipal councils of Granadilla de Abona, San Miguel de Abona and Vilaflor (Arica is also expected to add its name to the proposal) are taking the necessary measures to complete the process as soon as possible.
The route will feature in pamphlets, on websites and at a range of different international events in order to ensure that this homage to the transhumance undertaken by Hermano Pedro de Betancourt, the first saint native to the Canary Islands, will become a key attraction not only for religious visitors, but also for those who wish to discover part of the region's history.
The Hermano Pedro Route begins at the church of San Pedro Apóstol in Vilaflor, then descends and crosses the municipalities of San Miguel de Abona and Granadilla de Abona before reaching the coast at El Médano, which is home to the cave dedicated to the saint. Close by the cave is the natural spring where Hermano Pedro took his goats to drink.
During the route, visitors will pass through areas of exceptional interest and importance to the region, including ancient terraces where crops were once grown. A wide variety of native flora and fauna and many Sites of Cultural Interest (BIC), such as the Casa de los Soler and Plaza de San Pedro in Vilaflor, can also be seen. The route also passes the Chiñama Ravine, spectacular lookout points, centuries-old manor houses (some dating back to the 18th century) and extraordinary landscapes such as the Sombrerito de Vilaflor. Also of particular interest is the cave of Hermano Pedro and its environs, located on the coast at El Médano.