01. Siete Fuentes - San Mateo
GENERAL CHARACTERIZATION.
This route begins within the perimeter of the Cumbres Protected Landscape, an area particularly notable for its rich flora and home to unique endemic species.
In the Hoya del Gamonal area, located southwest of San Mateo and one of the headwaters of the Guayadeque Ravine, are the cockscomb (Isoplexis isabelliana) and the woody mayflower (Pericallis hadrosomus). The woody mayflower was designated in 1984 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as one of the twelve most endangered species of flora and fauna in the world. It is a shrubby plant almost two meters tall that only grows on the most inaccessible cliffs of Tenteniguada and in the Gamonal and Camaretas basins. The special climatic characteristics of this area, with the presence of the trade winds, linked to its orography, favor a permanently cool environment, even during the summer. Thus, a particularly lush laurel forest existed in the Hoya del Gamonal, thanks to these conditions of continuous humidity and the significant rainfall in the area—an annual average elevation of 782 m is recorded.
These climatic conditions have favored the alteration of the existing lava flows, facilitating edaphogenesis (soil formation) and thus creating a reddish, crumbly soil.
A large part of the land crossed by this route is publicly owned, with ownership shared between the Vega de San Mateo city council and the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria city council. The latter collects part of the water that rises in the Siete Fuentes area. At the beginning of the 20th century, an English company extracted water to meet the city's growing water supply needs. The water from these springs was carried through iron pipes from the Hoya del Gamonal to Llano de las Brujas, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, passing below the brewery.
In these peak areas, the "neveros" (snowmen) carried out their work, developing what is perhaps the least-known craft in Gran Canaria. This name was given to both the workers who occasionally visited the "snow wells" to collect and compact the snow, the muleteers who brought the load down to the Cathedral, and the person in charge of selling it at the ice cream parlor. Many of these men came from the municipalities of Vega de San Mateo, Camaretas, and Hoya del Gamonal.
For much of our tour, from high above, like a lookout, we can see the Cruz del Saucillo, also known as the Cruz del Navegante (Navigator's Cross). It is located 1,800 meters above sea level, on the border between San Mateo and Valsequillo. This landmark hides a legend that takes us back to the 18th century, when some sailors, in payment for a promise, after surviving a storm, decided to place a cross on top of this hill. It is said that on June 8, 1884, a massive celebration was held there to place a new cross to replace the original one, which was already badly damaged.
After passing a fenced pond, we reach the Degollada de La Bilandra, a natural viewpoint from which we can contemplate the village of San Mateo, Montaña Cabreja, and the peaks of Montaña de Troya. After a few more minutes of walking, we reach the Camaretas hostel.
Section 1: Degollada de La Capellanía - Albergue de Camaretas
The trail begins at Degollada de La Capellanía, right in a clearing located to the left of the GC-130 road, which connects Los Pechos with Telde. 600 meters from the junction, on the road known as "Los Marteles," to the left (towards Telde) is a flat area where a track begins. We take this dirt track, which, between pines and heading northeast, moves away from the road and leads us into the pine forest.
After crossing a clearing, we find a beautiful chestnut tree, which indicates that we are on the right path. Two minutes from this tree, we discover a cobbled path that starts from the right of our path. Caution: This entire section, until reaching Hoya del Gamonal, can be very slippery. This section of the trail connects with a wider one that ends at an old ruined house. Leaving this path to the left of our route, we see a somewhat cobbled path that zigzags down through pines, chestnut trees, apple trees, and brooms. If we look up, we see the Cruz del Saucillo, and to the northeast, an excellent panoramic view of the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Straining our ears, we can hear the sound of water flowing down the ravine to our left, in a channel invaded by yellow brooms and ferns. The ancient stone walls remind us of the past of a place closely linked to agriculture.
As we reach the hamlet of Lomito Blanco, we find the first houses on the road, where the color of the road changes, and we enter a dirt track. A few meters further down, on a curve that turns to the right, the path descends to the left, first among pines, then among brooms, and further on, among eucalyptus trees. We leave one of the headwaters of the La Higuerilla Ravine on the left and connect with a forest track (heading NE) that takes us to Las Casillas. Regarding the geology, the presence of the Roque Nublo volcanic breccia stands out in this section.
The first section ends at the well-known Cruz del Gamonal, clearly marked by three wooden crosses located next to a corner stone, a hydraulic architecture from the past, used for water distribution and as a drinking trough. In this section, we have covered approximately 1,400 meters from La Bodeguilla or approximately 3,300 meters if we start from Vega de San Mateo.
Section 2: Albergue de Camaretas - San Mateo
Upon reaching the Camaretas hostel, we continue along the dirt track. We turn right (heading E-SE) and, about fifty meters further down, we turn left again (heading N), which affords us splendid views of the entire Vega de San Mateo.
The path is well marked by information posts. We leave the Camaretas Ravine on our left; upon reaching a fenced property, and ignoring the fork on the right, we continue straight ahead, leveling out, until the path narrows slightly and begins to descend. From here, the trail fades, although it is easy to follow, alternating views of the La Higuera Ravine on the right and the Camaretas Ravine on the left.
When we see the path fork, we continue to the right: this is a more convenient shortcut that runs in the shade of the pine trees. We continue descending the Lomo de Los Ingleses until we reach the paved road to La Lechuza. From here, we walk along this path for another 600 meters, passing a house with a hipped tiled roof and an exterior wall clad in volcanic rock. After 80 meters, we reach a signposted path that runs along the northern slope of Montaña de Troya. The landscape reveals human presence, as homes and crops, mainly fruit trees, potatoes, millet, and some vegetables, interspersed.
When we reach the paved road again, we must continue to the right of our route (NE-E direction), from where the well-marked street leads us between old farms, ponds, and homes, to the main road that connects San Mateo with Valsequillo. From here, we continue descending for about 150 meters (heading east) until we connect to a shortcut on our left (opposite is the Cuatro Caminos corner). After following this, we cross the road again and continue descending along the path (heading north-ne). Finally, crossing the road again, we continue along a paved road that leads us, without getting lost, to the town of San Mateo.
