Walk statistics - Stage 2

Tunte – Degollada de Cruz Grande
- Tarmac road: 0,83 km
- Path or track: 3,00 km

Degollada de Cruz Grande – Llanos del Garañón
- Tarmac road: 0,21 km
- Path or track: 5,78 km

Llanos del Garañón - Cruz de Tejeda
- Tarmac road: 0,40 km
- Path or track: 4,95 km

Second stage total: Tunte - Cruz de Tejeda: 15,17 km
- Tarmac road: 1,44 km
- Path or track: 13,73 km
Total for second stage arriving at Tejeda: 18,80 km

Dificulty: Medium – High

Approximate Duration: 6 hours

Stage 2 Map- Download [PDF]

Circular Tejeda (Cruz de Tejeda - Tejeda) Map Stage 2 - Download [PDF]

Stage 2: Tunte – Llanos del Garañón - Cruz de Tejeda

Our second stage kicks off in the main square in Tunte. Leaving behind the main door of the church, we turn left to backtrack over our steps that brought us into the village. Once we have climbed the cobbled streets, we leave behind a sharp curve to the left and another to the right. After this zig zag we carry on straight ahead until we get to the cemetery main door. Over to our right after a zebra crossing and to the left along the edge of the road, we come across the path that will lead us to the Road to Santiago up to the Degollada de Cruz Grande. The uphill path cannot be missed, until we get to a tarmac road. We go right, taking care crossing the road, as there is a blind bend at our backs and keep left on the road for a few metres until we reach the continuing uphill path which goes to the left. After passing a private house, it goes up to one of the most breathtaking, grandest points of the whole route, the Paso de la Plata.

Having negotiated the ramps at this important pass, we reach the Llanos de Pargana. The passing of time, along with its continual usage by businesses and farmers, have etched a path in the rock, giving it a worn-out appearance, perceptible even on a clear night with a little light, or if there is a full moon.

The pines and grassland which accompany us have left their imprint on the toponyms of the area, this being fairly flat, not counting the ascent from the Degollada de la Cruz Grande.

In Degollada de los Hornos, the path crosses with another which, to the right, opens up to the peaks of Campanario and Las Nieves (1949m), mountain tops of the Island. We continue to move on, however, straight ahead, on a slight downward slope, towards the Garañón plains.

As we near the end of this leg of the walk, we come to a signpost with the words “Camino de Santiago”. After a wide path formed by tyre marks on the ground next to the Reduced Camping Area of Llanos de Bailico, the path allows us to avoid the main road.

At the end of the walk, we cross the main road towards Llanos de Garañón, in whose campsite there is a fountain with drinking water.

The path which leaves Llanos del Garañón is straightforward and leads us to Cruz de Tejeda, a crossroads for the whole Island and an obligatory passing place for the traveller. Leaving Garañón, after 100 metres of dirt track situated to the right of the green fence of the campsite and following a slight ascent and a small pinewood, we cross over another dirt track which takes us to the Camping Area of Corral de los Juncos. Here, we find two paths going down. The one on the left continues over a bed of pine needles onto a stony path which in turn leads us to cornice from where we can view the Caldera de Tejeda. The crater, hewn out of steep ravines, is crowned by two of the geological symbols of the Island: the Roque Nublo and the Roque Bentayga.

The origin of the Roque Nublo is in the volcanic paroxysms that destroyed entire mountains in the middle of the Island. The avalanches of mud and lava dragged along and built up fragments of rock and vegetation in its path. The Nublo is the eroded remains of one of those gigantic slabs. This “volcanic paste” covers, with a unique blanket of colour and appearance, 30% of Gran Canaria.

From this point, we start our descent down to the Montaña del Andén del Toro. In this stretch, a path of white earth which leads to a metal pipeline, we should take care not to slip over. At the bottom of the descent, we reach a crossroads, on whose right is the main road GC-150 and, on the left, the path which leads right up to Degollada de La Cumbre. A further 15 metre walk on, we take the path to the right, which runs over red earth.

This path descends to the Degollada de Becerra, viewpoint of the Cuenca de Tejeda which has an interpretation centre. From here starts the stony path on the left hand side of the main road which takes us to Degollada de Los Molinos. After a stretch over tarmac, we get back onto the path and we go around the right hand side of the Montaña de La Huerta. Over the ledge which leads up to the Morro de la Armonía, or Montaña de la Almagria, we go around the western slope, and along a pathway, come out into Cruz de Tejeda.

Cruz de Tejeda is the location of the Parador Nacional, as well as restaurants and small stalls. This an ideal place to stop for a rest. The village of Tejeda is to be found a few kilometres below. If strength allows us, we might go back on ourselves again, and reaching the first fork in the road, go down on the right along a track which, after crossing the main road several times, arrives at Tejeda, a beautifully maintained town where it is well worth spending the night. To enjoy this picturesque location is a priceless experience. Another option would be to use public transport (taxis or buses) to be found nearby.