Difficult: middle
Fitness: easy
Fear of heights: easy
Surefootedness: middle
Distance: 8,43 km
Duration: 3:00 h
Heights: 339
Start/End:
Sendero 25 an TF-21
Hike 24: Fortaleza/Alternative
Climbing Fortaleza forbidden:
According to official information from the visitor centre in El Portillo, the ascent trail at the western end of the Fortaleza is prohibited. There is a fine for the ascent. The ascent is therefore not recommended.
This alternative route leads from TF-21 directly to hiking trail 25 to Fortaleza (rock fortress). Especially in the Somme, you can hike through pine forest in the shade at the beginning and end of the tour. In addition, the hike is 3 km shorter than the route from El Portillo (Tour 10). So we additionally took the ascent to the rock fortress and thus increased the fun factor of the tour.
You can easily find the start of the tour via GPS if you have already loaded the tour in your car. There is a small car park for hikers directly in a bend. After a short climb, you will quickly reach the Fortaleza. We hike to the end of the fortress and start the ascent there. Because of the ascent, I have classified the hike as moderately difficult. With a little climbing experience, you can manage it quite easily. At the top, the path leads to the Cruz de Fregel, a small chapel. There, the way back begins along the same route.
For filming my documentary, I went on this tour in February 2017 in the morning at sunrise. We started from the car park at 6:00 am. It was a special experience to start this tour in complete darkness and to experience the night sounds. Exactly at 7:00 I found myself at Fortaleza. Clouds began to gather in the east and covered the sun. It was bitterly cold around 0° and after 30 minutes I started the way back. On the way back, I was amazed at how many buses were already going up to the Canadas at 8:30.
A detailed description of the route and the GPS track can be found in the Hiking Guide Tenerife.
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