Hike in the Barranco Azuaje

(A) Start out on the trailhead. After some short distance on rough and sometimes slippery cobble stone you find "Fuente Santa", a holy spring, which supplies the Canarians with iron-rich waters. A bit later you find the ruins of the abandoned spa hotel Balneario de Azuaje - it used to have three stories. A bizarre view!

(B) A bit later you arrive at a nice resting spot - ideal for your pick-nick. You continue on into the denser and more slippery jungle. You find many beautiful flora along the gurgling stream and underneath the impressive cliff walls. You'll have to cross the stream a couple of times which is not too hard as there are plenty of big rocks to step on. The forest on the bottom of the gorge keeps changing as you step in and out of the dense forest. Little waterfalls and pools along the way complete the hike. Two times steep and slippery ascent and descents are supported by ropes to hold on to. Nothing serious at all, but simply watch your step and take your time. Nothing for toddlers though!

(C) & (D) Sometimes the trails are really hard to find. Don't wander off over a very swampy patch of the creek, or too far on the dead-end trails into the bamboo forest. Look at a seemingly split of the trail to your right. There you need to climb up almost onto a rock wall. The path to the left is the dead-end (which you have to walk kinda far in order to realize it).

(E) After walking in the open uphill, with great views across the valley, you find one of the few (two) trail signs. Follow the trail leaving to your right going downhill; signs towards Moya.

(F) Another trail split. Stay to your right. Going to the left you'll arrive at an abandoned house and shack - this is when you're sure you went too far. The ruin of the house and surrounding garden setting is very pretty though. The (correct) path to the left leads first down a bit and then continuously uphill. Soon you'll walk past the abandoned Fincas and orchards that you saw from the other side of the valley. 

(G) Easy walk uphill past more Houses. Eventually the trail flattens out and after the top you continue walking on a paved road. Continuously you'll enjoy amazing views into the valley. Beware some of the houses there are guarded with free dogs. Maybe don't leave those hiking poles in the car.

(H) Here you'll have to take a right turn down to the abandoned hotel and the parking lot again. There is a narrow, grown-over path and a wider driveway-like one. Both end up being the same trail which leads you down into the valley. Nice vistas accompany your descent. You'll also see a water-filled pool belonging to the old hotel, occupied by ducks.