Planning your visit

Thanks to this practical guide you will be able to enjoy to the maximum your stay in La Caldera

In this section of the web you will find everything necessary to programme your excursions in The Cauldron. In her we have included maps of access, suggestions of routes, information about the permissions of camped and safety recommendations.

PARQUE NACIONAL LA CALDERA DE TABURIENTE

POINTS OF ACCESS

There exist three main points of access to The Cauldron, although they all include somestretch on foot. The decision to use one or other will depend on the physical form of thevisitors.

1

FOREST TRACK LOS BRECITOS.

You can go from Los Llanos de Aridane along this track (about 45 minutes) to the point where you have to leave your car. From there to the camp site takes less than 2 hours and it is downhill all the way (200 metres descent). It is advisable, but not vital (except in winter) to use a four-wheel drive vehicle.

If you do not have one, you can resort to a four-wheel drive taxi which you will find at the bottom of the Barranco de las Angustias, right after descending Lomo de los Caballos, which is part of Los Llanos de Aridane. The alternative, and for large groups, you can also hire a mini-bus with a driver(Transportes Insular La Palma : 922 411 924 / 922 414 441 / 922 460 241 – www.transporteslapalma.com).

2

BARRANCO DE LAS ANGUSTIAS.

El Barranco de Las Angustias offers a different and more demanding route, normally used in the opposite direction, i.e., to leave the National Park. The first part of this route, and the only stretch that can be done by car, is the stetch between Los Llanos de Aridane and the bottom of the Las Angustias ravine (more or less 15 or 20 minutes by car and 1 hour and fifteen minutes on foot).

Then you walk up stream along the ravine bed for about three hours. The slope is not too steep and you only have to leave the course of the ravine occasionally to get around the odd natural obstacle. When you reach the spot known as Dos Aguas (that is, two waters, because at this point two springs, one containing rusty coloured waters and the other containing crystal clear waters, meet), you take the right fork. The climb up to the camp site is marked off to the left of the ravine a short distance further on. From here on, there is a fairly steep climb. The locals call it El Reventón, in reference to the effort required. If you decide to tackle it, it will take you about an hour and a half to two hours to get to the camp site from here.

3

FOOTPATH LA CUMBRECITA.

The last option is also the toughest and least used one. In this case, our starting point is located at the La Cumbrecita viewpoint , in El Paso . There are two paths leaving the car park, one goes to Lomo de las Chozas and the other to the camp site. The latter is only advisable for experts who do not suffer from vertigo, as it can take up to seven hours and parts of the route are very steep, although downhill. This path can be dangerous, especially in winter, because of the landslides and the mist. In any event, it is essential to follow the signs at all times and to check the weather forecast and the conditions of the path with the Park staff before setting out. Once you have reached the bottom of the ravine, Playa de Taburiente, you have to walk another kilometre to find the camp site, which is located on the left of the ravine next to a lush group of willows.

CAMP SITE · THE HEART OF TABURIENTE

The camp site is on the left of the Taburiente ravine, next to a copse of willows and not far from a bathing spot (known as Playa de Taburiente, that is, the Taburiente Beach ). The area has spaces for pitching tents and tables, benches, showers, toilets and first-aid material.

As for permits (remember: without a permit you are not allowed to camp here), you can apply for them at the La Caldera Visitors ‘ Centre (see Information Points ) or at the offices of Department of the Environment of the La Palma Cabildo (Avda de los Indianos, 20 – 38700 S/C de La Palma – Tel: 922 411583). Applications are free of charge and should be made at least one week in advance.

INFORMATIONS POINTS

The Park has a Visitors’ Centre, three information kiosks and a camp site for organised groups. You will find a description of their location and functions here.

The National Park has several information points, the most important of which is La Caldera Visitors’ Centre (Centro de Visitantes de La Caldera). This is the place to look for maps, advice and up to the minute information about the conditions of the paths. It also has an interesting exhibition of panels and videos about the Park’s natural assets, and a relief map of the island.The exhibition is changed from time to time. In the gardens, you can see some of the rarer of the plant species, which are extremely difficult to find in the wild.

On the other hand, the Park has information kiosks at La Cumbrecita, El Roque de los Muchachos and the track from Lomo de los Caballos to Los Brecitos. It is worth stopping at all of these for up to the minute information about the tracks and the paths and the weather forecast.

And, finally, the Park also has the El Riachuelo Camp-Nature School (on La Cumbrecita road, about 2 km before the car park) It has 7 cabins, each with room for 11, for schools and organised groups wishing to study and enjoy nature. To use the facilities, you need to apply for a permit at the Visitors’ Centre and pay a deposit to cover any possible damage.

ROUTES INSIDE LA CALDERA DE TABURIENTE

Although it is a wonderful experience to stay around the camp site and enjoy the water of the Barranco de Taburiente, La Caldera reserves its best secrets for those prepared to do a bit of walking.

LA DESFONDADA

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LAS CHOZAS

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LOS ANDENES

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NORMS AND ADVICES

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