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
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).
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.
CAMP SITE · THE HEART OF TABURIENTE
The best way to experience the National Park is to spend at least one night in the only designated camping area (between the Roques Salvajes and Roques de la Brevera Macha).
The campsite is located on the left bank of the Barranco de Taburiente ravine, next to a willow grove and near a swimming area (known as Playa de Taburiente). The area has suitable spaces for setting up tents, as well as tables, benches, and a small service center with restrooms and first-aid supplies.
Camping permits can be obtained for up to two nights at the El Paso Visitor Center (see the section on Information Points) or online at www.reservasparquesnacionales.es. Applications must be submitted at least one week in advance and are free of charge.
INFORMATIONS POINTS
The Park has a Visitor Center, three information booths, and a campsite for organized groups. Here you will find a description of their location and functions.
The National Park has several information points, the most important of which is the El Paso Visitor Center. This is the perfect place to pick up maps, tips, and up-to-date information on trail conditions. It also features an interesting and regularly updated exhibition with videos and explanatory panels about the Park’s natural features, as well as a relief model of the island. In its garden, you can see some of the rarest plant species, which are extremely difficult to spot in the wild.
The Park also has information booths at La Cumbrecita, Roque de los Muchachos, and the Lomo de Los Caballos to Los Brecitos trail. It is advisable to stop at each of these booths to gather the latest information on trails and paths, as well as weather forecasts (essential when accessing the park from La Cumbrecita). Access to the Cumbrecita viewpoint is regulated during specific hours (between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.), which must be requested at www.reservasparquesnacionales.es.
Finally, the park also has the El Riachuelo Nature Camp and Classroom (located on the road to La Cumbrecita, about 2 km before the parking area). It has seven cabins, each with 11 beds, intended for schools and organized groups whose purpose is to learn about and enjoy nature. To use the facilities, it is necessary to request a permit at the Visitor Center or at www.reservasparquesnacionales.es and pay a deposit to cover any potential damages.
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.
