06. Teror - San Mateo
GENERAL CHARACTERIZATION.
The route described below runs through the area between the municipal centers of the town of Teror and Vega de San Mateo.
This route is characterized by the landscapes typical of the windward midlands of Gran Canaria. Heavy rainfall, around 800 mm average annually, spread across winter, spring, and autumn, along with the sea of clouds of the trade winds (a phenomenon of horizontal precipitation) and the presence of thick soils with abundant organic matter, fostered the existence of a dense forest of trees, demanding abundant moisture and good soils: the monteverde. However, persistent human activity, sugar mills, housing construction, agriculture, and livestock farming, has considerably reduced the forest. With the disappearance of the laurel forest in this area, the rainfall pattern has declined significantly. Temperatures are mild and cool in winter (between 12 and 15 grados C), and the summer period is now somewhat warmer, between 25 and 30 grados C, only exceeding 35 grados C when Saharan air invades (calima).
For eight million years, Gran Canaria has been dominated by ancient basaltic lavas (Fuster Series II) and agglomerate materials from the Roque Nublo and Pre-Roque Nublo series. This type of material has formed a radial relief structure, centered on the island's summit, with deep ravines and high ridges alternating consecutively. These are narrow, deeply indented ravines with a clear V-shaped profile, where the abundant deposits in the beds have facilitated the establishment of agricultural farms, mainly in the Utiaca Ravine. These geological characteristics and abundant rainfall have fostered the existence of springs and fountains associated with paleosols or ochre.
The Caldera de Pino Santo represents a geographical feature of great interest along this route. It is an explosion and collapse crater, within which the soils from the volcano's slopes favor vegetable cultivation.
Notable among the ravines are San Mateo, La Mina, Castillejos, Madrelagua, and Teror. The most significant ridges are also El Faro, Los Lomitos, Lomo Gallego, Lomo Piquillo, and Lomo de Castillejos. The route between Vega de San Mateo and the town of Teror presents steep slopes, with constant ups and downs.
Along the route, we have the opportunity to observe abundant population settlements, both clustered and scattered; a large number of agricultural plots used for the local market and for personal consumption, as well as numerous stabled livestock farms.
Teror - San Mateo
This is the path used by pilgrims from Vega de San Mateo on their way to the Fiesta del Pino (Fiesta of the Pine), held on September 8th. Their route follows an old cobblestone path, although many sections are paved or cemented. It involves constant descents and ascents, from the ridges to the bottom of the ravine and back again. These terrain characteristics make this route inadvisable for those who are not in good physical condition.
Section 1: Teror - El Faro
The route begins in Sintes Square, just behind the Basilica of Nuestra Señora del Pino, in the municipality of Villa de Teror. We head toward the El Álamo intersection, located next to a small playground, where El Chorrito Street begins, a paved road that descends toward the ravine.
At the end of this street, we must continue along Paseo de Florián, ignoring the exits to the left and right. From our position, we can see the Basilica of Nuestra Señora del Pino, its dome, and the auditorium on the left, as we are walking. At the end of Paseo de Florián, we continue along Calle de La Ligüeña, which leads us toward the El Pedregal climb.
Soon, we come to a crossroads and must then follow the direction indicated by Arbejales and El Faro. The route now acquires a significant upward slope. We leave La Igualdad Square on our right, where a small tavern of the same name is located. This ascent leads us to a crossroads. There, we take La Era Alley, which takes us closer to the bottom of the ravine along a path that is initially cemented and later dirt, with a gentle slope.
As we descend, we take the first fork to the left, always heading towards the bottom of the ravine. When we reach the bed, we cross it and access the Cuesta Falcón trail, which will lead us to the El Faro area, at the intersection with the next ravine. This trail is marked with red paint, indicating the direction we should follow. We can see specimens of monteverde and granadillos, as well as many tederas and fennel. It takes approximately half an hour to reach the middle of Cuesta Falcón.
Leaving the trail, halfway up the hill, we enter a steep concrete track. As we ascend, we reach the first house and take the path to the right, which leads to an asphalt road. We continue uphill and take the fork on the left. At the top, we see the hamlet of El Faro. We must continue along the main road, an asphalt road, ignoring the forks to the right and left of the path. Halfway up, we come across a cross with an inscription (12-4-94) located next to the road.
At the crossroads, we head towards the houses of El Faro. In this rural settlement, there is an old diesel mill and a small "oil and vinegar"-style shop. In these rural areas, looms in houses were not uncommon, and some still remain, as clothing was made by hand.
To get here, we traveled four kilometers in an hour.
Section 2: El Faro - Caldera de Pino Santo
At the El Faro houses, located in the culvert, take the first fork on the right. Descend into the ravine along the path next to the house with a porch and a stone bench. The descent is very steep, over 20 grados. We head southeast at about 140 grados toward Lomo de Enfrente. As we cross the ravine, before beginning the ascent, we come across a bend in the Fuente del Laurear, built in 1916, next to which we see a watering trough for animals.
Along a track, we head toward Caldera de Pino Santo, passing a house with the number 4 and a pond. A few meters further on, we come to a second pond and a crossroads. We turn right, heading toward San Mateo. The path passes above Caldera de Pino Santo. From this point, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the volcanic edifice and, if the weather permits, of the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the northeast of the island.
Section 3: Caldera de Pino Santo - Cruce del Piquillo
Leaving the caldera behind, we climb up the road, coming across a ditch with a loophole. We continue until we see the Arbejales neighborhood and the Sagrado Corazón de Jesús church at a crossroads. Turning left, we access the road that leads to Lomo Gallego, in the Vega de San Mateo, until we reach a crossroads with some houses, called El Piquillo (1), a place known for the home of the "tractor drivers" family.
(1) If we take the path to the right, we can reach the Sagrado Corazón, Arbejales, and Teror.
Section 4: Cruce del Piquillo - Los Corraletes
Facing the village of Santa Brígida (heading SE), we descend a steep paved trail to the right until we reach a fork where we turn right again. At the entrance to the El Lomito area, there is a sports field. You have to pass by this sports facility to access the next ravine, La Solana.
It took us almost three hours to get here.
Section 5: Los Corraletes - La Solana
After walking a short distance, we find, on the left, the building of an old rural school, a road that cuts off our path, and, opposite, an orange house at the beginning of a descent. We are in Los Corraletes. We descend and cross the ravine. As we ascend, we reach the neighborhood of La Solana. The first thing we see when we leave the street and turn right is a neighborhood store. Going up a little further, we see the La Solana school and, adjacent to it, the small plaza dedicated to Juan Esteban Alonso Navarro, a resident of the area. We continue ascending along the main road and soon come across a turnoff to the left that leads us to Utiaca.
Section 6: La Solana - Utiaca
Along this stretch, we see citrus and potato fields extending into the La Mina ravine. We pass a cattle ranch and a house with a high wall and part of its roof made of sheet metal. About 30 meters from this, a path begins on the left, descending to the bottom of the ravine and passing near an old mill and the area known as Las Haciendas.
Section 7: Utiaca - San Mateo
We cross the ravine and ascend a dirt track that runs alongside a shed to the main road. This route leads us to the entrance to the village of San Mateo. Before reaching the San Mateo-Tejeda-Teror intersection, we find a restaurant with two side turrets and a parking lot. Opposite this structure, a track leads us to the lower part of the old Vega de Arriba, specifically to the chapel of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception. We climb Lourdes Street to the back of the church of San Mateo, which we walk around until we reach its main fachada. After walking for about five hours and covering 11 km, we conclude the route.
