Loop hike Acusa Seca

The hike can be started from different points, Degollada del Sargento, Acusa Verde or from Artenara doing an alternative path that leads to Degollada del Sargento. The circular route is explained from the starting point of Degollada de las Palomas where is located a parking lot but can be started from any of the points mentioned above.

Note: During the summer 2019 Tamadaba Natural Park has suffered a fire and affected probably the starting point of this hike and the summit of Altavista.

Degollada del Sargento – Altavista

At the parking lot of Degollada del Sargento has many path signals because is a point where several paths are joining. It has to be followed the path S95 direction Altavista and the path is going up and down passing by different mountains to finally go up 200m of elevation gained to reach the summit of Altavista. From this point is possible to observe almost half part of the island, being stunning the views of Roque Bentayga, and Roque Nublo. to the west is possible to see all the steep canyons with a few isolated houses in them.

Altavista – Acusa Verde

From Altavista is followed the same path it’s taken to reach the summit 1 km back to find a path that goes down to the right at the point of the mountain pass. This path is the most technical of the route due to the negative elevation change of 650m in 3km and the difficulty to find the path at the end of the canyon.

The path starts going down to the south to change in few hundred meters to the left and cross the canyon and doing few hundred meters more to cross again the canyon and follow the south direction after a few zig zags that do the path. After 10 minutes going down the path leads again to the canyon (east direction) to cross it and to follow the other canyon that after 200m will cross the canyon through a natural tunnel of river canes and is found a small lake. from this point to the south is followed the path that goes up to the road that connects with Acusa Verde.

Acusa Verde – Acusa Seca – Degollada del Sargento

In Acusa Verde there is a sand road that goes to some private fields and a narrow path, S88, starts after 200m at the left of the sand road. This path starts to show the caves where the aborigines lived since 400 AD and the troglodyte style of living was preserved until the XX century. Nowadays the caves are being inhabited by people and some of the caves are little apartments for those who want to experience how is to live in a cave. In this area were discovered mummies and is an archaeological site very well preserved.

Once is visited the archaeological site there is a path that starts from the left side of the road that goes to Vega de Acusa and from there is followed the streets of the town until the Candelaria dam and is crossed carefully to the other side where the path continues going steep up and ending sand road that will be followed until a point where a path that goes up to the left to Degollada del Sargento.

Starting from Artenara?

To start from Artenara is needed to follow the path S90 direction Agaete during 4km until arrives at  Degollada del Sargento. From here is followed the same route until Acusa Seca where is followed the S88 direction Tamadaba to end up in Artenara.

-Recommendations: 

-Avoid all kind of canyons and steep terrains in case of rain. Though the canyon can be dry it can turn into a strong river with waterfalls in seconds.

-The temperature at night above 1000m can be cold, especially during wintertime. At the summits area can go below 5ºC degrees.

-Do not drink from streams or springs, except those that are marked as drinking water.

-In case of setting up a tent to avoid the camping areas and nearby without permission and notice that is illegal to set up a tent in Spain. If it is wanted to take the risk, set up the tent in a remote place at sunset and wake up early to avoid forest rangers. During summertime there are more controls.