Net of Natural
Trails
SL FV 27: Vega del Río Palmas - Presa de las Peñitas
Description
Among Granite Walls
Path SL FV 27 detours from the main trail in section 5 near the Palmas river canyon, and goes through a magnificent granite gorge along the bed of the ravine toward the dam and the shrine of Las Penitas; it is a short route that runs along scenery of great beauty where the presence of palm trees is reminiscent of a small oasis.
Rio de Palmas was the name given by the conquistadors to this region because of the amount of palms (palmas) and water springs in it. Initially, Vega de Rio Palmas was a settlement independent from Betancuria, the first town founded by the Norman conquerors in 1404. La Vega, however, was a farming area that fed the population of the historic capital. It only became a stable population center at the beginning of the seventeenth century.
The local trail SL FV 27 detours from the main road near the river Palmas, and, from that point on, it continues along a dirt path that will lead us to the banks of the river, which – even though the river is dry during part of the year – has luxurious vegetation, mainly in the shape of many palms (Phoenix canariensis) and tamarisks (Tamarix canariensis), along the route.
The trail passes through a magnificent granite gorge on the right bank of the cliff at Las Penitas. After a short walk, we find a sign-posted path to the right that takes us – parallel to the dam of Las Peñitas - to the shrine of the same name. In the place where this shrine is situated, we can find the oldest geological materials of this island and of the entire Canary Islands; these materials constitute also a place of shelter for different species of birds of prey.
Profile
Harshness of natural environment- 1. The environment is not risk-free
- 2. There are more than one risk factors
- 3. There are various risk factors
- 4. There are quite a lot of risk factors
- 5. There are many risk factors
Guidance along the route- 1. Well defined trails and crossings
- 2. There is a clearly marked trail and signage
- 3. Requires the identification of geographic features and cardinal points
- 4. Requires off-path navigation
- 5. The trail is interrupted by obstacles that have to be gone around
Route difficulty- 1. Walking on a flat surface
- 2. Trails with different types of path
- 3. Walking on stepped paths or irregular terrain
- 4. The use of hands or jumping over the terrain is necessary
- 5. The use of hands is required to progress
Amount of effort needed- 1. Up to 1 hour of continuous walking
- 2. Between 1 and 3 hours of continuous walking
- 3. Between 3 and 6 hours of continuous walking
- 4. Between 6 and 10 hours of actual walking
- 5. More than 10 hours of continuous walking
Highlights
Further information
Shrine of Las Peñitas
Vega de Rio Palmas has become a very important place of Christian devotion, since its chapel houses the image of the Virgen de la Peña (Virgin of the Rock), patron of the island. Every third Saturday of September, devotees come to the shrine in pilgrimage from all points of the island to worship their patron.
This tradition has been recorded since 1497, when the first faithful came to worship the image at the original shrine: Las Peñitas shrine. According to popular tradition, this is the place where the virgin of Nuestra Señora de la Peña appeared: in the ravine of Las Peñitas, a little after the dam, in the area known as Malpaso.
Legend has it that the Virgin of the Rock appeared in this place before two Franciscan friars: fray fray Diego de Alcalá and fray Juan de San Torcaz, who glimpsed a strange glow on a nearby rock where, after digging, they found a small statue of the Virgin.
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