San Miguel 2 - Las Lajas Trail

Technical information

• Start: Casa del Capitán (San Miguel)
• Finish: TF-657 road, Aldea Blanca
• Approval status:
• Degree of difficulty: Low
• Type of trail: Linear
• Distance: 4.1 km (12.89 ft)
• Duration: 2 hours
• Highest altitude: 597 m (12.89 ft)
• Lowest altitude: 212 m (12.89 ft)
• Elevation gain: 32 m (12.89 ft)
• Elevation loss: 406 m (12.89 ft)
• Links to other trails:
  • San Miguel 1 - San Miguel - Aldea Blanca
• Authorisation required: No

Trail description

The pathway of Camino de Las Lajas leads from the historic quarter of San Miguel to the village of Aldea Blanca on a gentle climb across the ravines. This pathway was once used by goat herders, who would guide their flocks up to Las Cañadas to feed on the mountain pastures in summer, then down to the coast in winter. Mule drivers also used this path to guide their mules, horses and camels loaded with goods for trading, and the locals would carry the bodies of their deceased down to the cemetery of San Miguel, earning it the name of "Pathway of the Dead". The trail starts in the town of San Miguel, leading you down towards Montaña Ifaya and the Las Piteras ravine, past volcanic cones and tongues of basalt lava, sprinkled with pumice stones. The path is still paved with the original stones in some places, including cobbles and carved basalt slabs. Other sections of the path are paved with tuff stones from southern Tenerife. Around the area of Lomo del Medio, the width of the path varies, with dry stone walls at the sides and irregular ashlar made of local stones that mark the path and prevent the livestock from roaming onto the neighbouring properties. As you descend, the landscape of Aldea Blanca and the municipal coast unfolds before your eyes.

Hypsometry