Walk 10 - Pajarito and the Olsen Hut walking and hiking route
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Walk Instructions
A fine high level circuit, partly in Laurisilva and pine
forest but with open sections giving great views of the
upper reaches of the Benchijigua Barranco, including
the Agando rock. In clear weather Mt Teide, on Tenerife,
is visible. Easy walking, mainly on broad, unsurfaced
roadways, with just one short section of narrow path, with
steps. No prolonged or severe gradients. The ‘Olsen Hut’
is rather puzzling; at the appropriate place on the map an
insignificant building with a communications mast is the
only structure.
Start Point
Car park by roadside at Pajarito junction. Drive past
Alajero and pass the junction with the road to Chipude.
Next is the Pajarito junction, where a left turn leads to
Laguna Grande and Valle Gran Rey and bearing right
continues to San Sebastian and Hermigua.
Refreshments:
None on the route of the walk. Several bars at Alajero.
Leave the Pajanto car park past the information board down
a broad track signposted ‘Los Roques 3.9km’.In about 300
metres look carefully for a narrower path on the left signposted
‘Los roques’.
1. Turn left here to follow this path as it rises quite steeply
throught the forest, with flights of steps. Emerge at a mini
summit, which is a lovely viewpoint. Continue along a well
made path passing a Parque National sign and descending
steeply in places towards the main road. Gomeran marguirites
are prominent among the wildflowers bordering this path.
2. After 1.1 km from the start descend to a broad unsurfaced
track but do not go as far as the road - instead turn
immediately sharp right down the unsurfaced track, which
descends gently. shortly you come to a lone Eucalyptus tree
on the left: from here are good views of Mount Teide, Roque
Agandgo and in the distance Playa Santiago. The track is now
high on the wall of the Benigijigua Baranco. Ignore a track on
the right by a signdipicting the Parque National limit.
3. You reach a sharp right bend with signs for ‘Imada 1.4’
straight on and ‘Ruta 16’ to the right. Follow the Ruta 16 sign
and the track descends. Below left is a tributary barranco
which the track crosses and then rises uphill on the other side.
A change in vegetation now has some cacti and canarian pines
ahead. The village Imada nestles a long way down the steep
side of the main barranco and now comes into view on the left.
The track continues along the side of another tributary
barrano, very much in the pine forest. Bear left to cross the
bed of this barranco and then rise up the far side to a junction
in a clearing.
4. At a major junction turn sharp left to head for ‘Pajarito
3.9, Igualero 2.9’, passing a chain barrier. In 200 yards the
track forks; go left ‘Parajito 3.5, Igualero 3.4’, soon circling
easily round the southern flank of the mountain. A view of
the Fortalezza and the path which provides the easiest ascent
of that mountain should remove any latent ambitions in that
direction. The track rises a little through laurisilva and areas
rich in wild flowers and butterflies. Stay with the main track as
it bears to the left at a corner, now heading east. There are
pine trees as it contours beautifully above a deep valley.
4. Turn sharp right uphill following the sign ‘Pajarito 2.4kms’
ignore a track on the right and keep straight on through
attractive countryside until you come to a junction with a sign
to ‘Pajarito 0.7km’. Take this turning to the right. The track now
narrows to a path and curves to the right and follow it uphill to
a sharp left bend. The path now levels out and passes the path
taken at step 1 to lead back to the car park.
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Disclaimer: This route was correct at time of writing. However, alterations can happen if development or boundary changes occur, and there is no guarantee of permanent access. These walks have been published for use by site visitors on the understanding that neither HPB Management Limited nor any other person connected with Holiday Property Bond is responsible for the safety or wellbeing of those following the routes as described. It is walkers' own responsibility to be adequately prepared and equipped for the level of walk and the weather conditions and to assess the safety and accessibility of the walk.
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