Rambla de Castro
This is one of my favorite walking trails located near Puerto de la Cruz, and it never gets old for me. The views are breathtaking, and the colors of the ocean and the vegetation on the cliffs are different every time.
The trail runs from the western border of Puerto de la Cruz (the entrance is near the Maritim Hotel) to Mirador San Pedro. The path then connects with trail 0.4.0 (Playa del Socorro – Pico del Teide). This four-kilometer route mostly follows the cliff, offering stunning views. A large part of the trail passes through a protected area of the same name. The trail is very easy – you can even walk it with young children. The entire route is located in the Los Realejos municipality. The trail crosses two large ravines, and along the way, you will find historical buildings. If conditions are favorable, you can refresh yourself with a swim at one of the beaches below. On the cliffs, you might encounter falcons, Barbary partridges, and even wild rabbits.
The trail is named after the Castro family, one of the most famous families in Tenerife. Hernando de Castro was a merchant of Portuguese origin who, as compensation for his services to the Castilian crown during the conquest of Tenerife in the late 15th century, received extensive lands in a water-rich area. The land was fertile and suitable for growing sugar cane and vines. It is believed that Hernando Castro was the first to introduce grapevines to Tenerife. Wine quickly replaced sugar as the island’s primary export product and became the basis of its economy. The most valued Canarian wine was Malvasia. The main market for Canarian wines was Great Britain – until the English imposed an embargo in the late 18th century. In the heart of his estate, Hernando Castro built an impressive hacienda and established gardens that were admired by visitors. The Castro family also had their own port, protected by a small fort with a battery of cannons. The descendants of Hernando Castro held many important positions not only in Tenerife but also in the Spanish Empire. For example, Marcos Francisco de Bethencourt y Castro, born in Icod de los Vinos in 1663, served as the governor of Venezuela from 1701 to 1707.
Playa de los Roques
A beach characterized by three large rocks located a short distance from the shore. During the summer months, the beach is frequently visited by locals. At low tide, a wide expanse of black sand is revealed, and the water near the shore is very shallow. However, during high tide and in the winter months, the beach becomes less suitable for swimming. There is a path from the trail that leads down to the beach. (Note: For several years now, due to the risk of falling rocks, the trail has been rerouted to bypass Playa de Los Roques. However, locals still eagerly use both the path and the beach itself…)
Ruins of the Gordejuela Water Pumping Station
In 1904, a water pumping station powered by a steam engine was built. Its purpose was to pump fresh water from springs flowing out of the rocks near sea level up to a height of about 200 meters to irrigate banana plantations. At the time, it was considered a significant innovation on the island. Today, it is a picturesque ruin featured on many postcards from Tenerife. Access to the ruins themselves is currently closed, but they can be admired from the path and the bridge over the ravine (Barranco de Palo Blanco). During periods of heavy rain, a rapid stream flows through the ravine, creating a beautiful waterfall near Gordejuela.
Fortín de San Fernando
A tiny fort built in the 18th century with the purpose of protecting the coast and port from pirate and privateer attacks (a privateer is essentially a licensed pirate who paid taxes 🙂 ). The building in its current form was completed in 1808 by Agustín de Bethencourt y Castro. Originally, the fort had a battery of five cannons, three of which have survived to this day.
La Casona
Surrounded by a palm grove, this was once the residence of the Castro family. The first hacienda was built in 1535 by Rodrigo de Júsar y Castro. The building in its current form dates from the 17th and 18th centuries. In the past, the house hosted many famous personalities – nowadays, it gives the impression of having fallen into a bit of disrepair. 🙁
Playa de Castro
Not far from La Casona, there is a path leading down to Castro Beach, which, like Playa de Los Roques, is a rocky beach where, during the summer months and at low tide, a wide stretch of black sand is exposed. On the left side of the beach, there is a beautiful small waterfall that can serve as a natural shower after swimming in the ocean. On the right side of the beach is the El Camello rock, also known as The Camel. There is a local legend about this rock, telling the story of the tragic love between the beautiful Guanche princess Guayarmina from the kingdom of Taoro and a young man from Fuerteventura who arrived in Tenerife on a winged camel. The rock is said to be the enchanted camel, turned to stone by evil witches. Playa de Castro at high tide, with the El Camello rock visible – the camel.
Mirador de San Pedro
Heading up from La Casona, one encounters the Ermita de San Pedro Apostol, or the Hermitage of Saint Peter the Apostle. The building dates from the first decade of the 17th century and replaced an earlier one destroyed by a landslide. Nearby, there is also a massive ficus tree with beautiful aerial roots. The Mirador de San Pedro itself is simply a viewpoint located at an altitude of 200 meters above sea level, offering a fantastic view of the entire area. There is a very good restaurant of the same name on-site. We have eaten there many times, and each time both the food and service were impeccable. It is one of the best places to watch the sunset.
