Igueste De Candelaria: Hiking and Heritage

Igueste De Candelaria lies at mid-altitudes, with ravines, cultivated slopes, and open landscapes shaping its surroundings. Its rural character is combined with traces of early settlement and agricultural use. When choosing a destination for a hotel stay, you can focus on two main features: hiking trails with different characteristics and the area's heritage.

Hiking trails and their different characteristics

The approximately 21-kilometre-long Camino Viejo de Candelaria connected Candelaria and La Laguna, passing through Igueste, among other places. The section through Igueste is passable but not signposted; it descends continuously and has steep sections. Both the lack of signposts and the terrain are therefore important features to bear in mind for navigation. The approximate length refers to the historic route as a whole, while these details apply to the section through Igueste.

The SL-TF 296.2 Barranco Chacorche is classified as a homologated, linear hiking trail of moderate difficulty. It starts at Plaza Dimas Coello in Igueste de Candelaria and ends at Galería de Chacorche. Along the route, it enters the Parque Natural de la Corona Forestal, a protected natural area where the Canary Island pine predominates. Its start and end points, as well as its trail type and difficulty level, give this route a different profile from the unsignposted section of the Camino Viejo.

Another named hiking trail is the SL-TF 296 La Mesa, which offers panoramic views of the Valle de Güímar. Different features help distinguish the two SL-TF trails: the trail type and difficulty level are specified for the SL-TF 296.2 Barranco Chacorche, while the SL-TF 296 La Mesa is noted for its views of the Valle de Güímar. This allows you to compare the hiking options described based on the available trail information without treating the two names as interchangeable.

Heritage between settlement and agriculture

La Jiménez is a traditional Canarian hamlet in Igueste de Candelaria, on the Camino Viejo. The hamlet is designated an Asset of Cultural Interest (Bien de Interés Cultural, BIC) in the category of “Historic Site.” This designation links the character of the settlement with its formal historic classification.

The Caserío de Pasacola is evidence of early settlement in the mid-altitudes: it was the first human settlement in this area of the municipality of Candelaria. Today, remains of former houses, a threshing floor, livestock pens, and agricultural terraces can still be seen there. The surviving features include traces of both buildings and agricultural use.

The Cueva de Añaco is a large cave in the Barranco de Afirama, next to the Camino Viejo de Candelaria. Traces have been found in the cave that attest to the former presence of the Guanches. Archaeological evidence of earlier settlement thus sits alongside the building and agricultural traces preserved elsewhere in Igueste.

The Iglesia de la Santísima Trinidad is also one of the area's historic landmarks: it was blessed in 1788 and dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The Drago de Igueste, a Canary Island dragon tree (Dracaena draco), is another notable feature. It is listed in Tenerife's catalogue of monumental trees and flora and is protected by the municipality.

The Casa de La Mesa adds to the picture of the area's agricultural history. The 19th-century building comprises a dwelling, a wine press, a stable, and livestock pens. It was used by farmers who worked the land communally. Both the individual parts of the building and the communal use of the land are therefore relevant.

The different features may be decisive when choosing your destination: the Camino Viejo links a historic route with local history, while the SL-TF 296.2 is described with clearly specified start and end points and difficulty level. La Jiménez, Pasacola, the cave, and the historic buildings each offer their own perspectives on settlement and heritage.

Discover more destinations: Las Cuevecitas De Candelaria, Malpais.

Return to the main travel overview: Candelaria.