El Juncal: Hiking and Rocky Landscapes
Accommodation in El Juncal
For a hiking trip to El Juncal, the time of year is an important planning consideration: the trail network in the Inagua Integral Nature Reserve is subject to seasonal rules, and various routes pass through Barranco del Juncal or head towards named destinations. So check both the route of your planned hike and the regulations that apply to it.
Hiking trails and seasonal rules
The trail network in the Inagua Integral Nature Reserve that is open from October to June includes the El Juncal de Tejeda–Las Ñameritas forest track. It is open during this period; check the current permit requirements before setting out. From 1 July through 30 September, hiking is prohibited throughout the protected area. This is because the Inagua Integral Nature Reserve is classified as an area at high risk of forest fires. The ban applies to all the protected area's hiking trails, not just the El Juncal de Tejeda–Las Ñameritas track. Before your trip, also check for current forest fire risk notices.
Separate rules apply to bicycles: using the Ñameritas–El Juncal track within the Inagua Integral Nature Reserve is permitted only with prior authorization from the relevant authorities. Since permit requirements may be updated, check them with the responsible authority in advance. When planning, distinguish between the seasonal opening for hiking and the authorization required to use this track by bicycle.
Circular routes and trail descriptions
A route description published in 2023 lists a 12-kilometer circular route in El Juncal de Tejeda and rates it as difficult. Trail conditions and difficulty may vary. The description gives two possible starting points: the parking area at the entrance to the village or the end of the paved road near the ravine. Before setting out, check local parking and road conditions rather than assuming either option reflects current conditions.
Another hiking route, El Juncal–Roque El Cofre–Taigüý–El Juncal, starts at the church in Juncal de Tejeda. Its final section follows a path parallel to the course of Barranco del Juncal back to the starting point. Trail conditions can change here too, so check the situation locally before setting out.
From the end of the GC-661, an unpaved track first leads downstream through Barranco del Juncal. It then becomes a hiking trail heading towards Taiguy or Siberio. The route description clearly distinguishes between the initial section on the track and the hiking trail that follows. If you plan this route, allow for possible changes in trail conditions.
Ravine, history and cave settlement
Barranco del Juncal runs between large, sharply cut rocky cliffs. The ravine is therefore a specific landmark for navigating the routes described. It also has historical significance: the historic path through the ravine once connected Tejeda with Mogán. This was an earlier route and should not be confused with the present-day hiking trails described here.
From El Juncal de Tejeda, the archaeological cave settlement of La Solana del Pinillo can be reached via the hamlet of Ronda and Barranco de Tajuy. Ask locally about access conditions for the upper area. This helps distinguish the historic connection through the ravine from the route to the cave settlement as separate aspects of the landscape, rather than treating them as a single route.
Festivities with a specific year reference
The 2023 festivities in El Juncal included a guided circular walk via Plaza de El Juncal, Ronda, Las Cañadas, La Empalizada, El Toscón, Degollada del Humo, Cruz del Carpio, Fuente del Perro and Juncal de Arriba. Stories told by grandparents were shared along the way. The route and storytelling program offer a glimpse of this specific 2023 festivities program.
A RomerĂa-Ofrenda in El Juncal in honor of Santa Teresita and San MartĂn de Porres was also announced for 2023. Under the program, visitors could join the festivity float for 10 euros. Participation requirements may differ at a later edition; check the relevant program.
If you choose El Juncal for a hiking stay, pay particular attention to the different seasonal rules, the specific route description and its access information. Each route has its own details about starting points, course and conditions; historic paths and individual festivities programs, meanwhile, relate to different periods.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: El Majuelo, Ojos de Garza, Arinaga, Arucas, Las Palmas De Gran Canaria, AgĂĽimes, Lomitos De Correa, Balcon de Telde
Back to the main travel overview: Gran Canaria.
