Stage 11: Echedo-ermita Virgen de la Peña

The eleventh stage of the circular track of El Hierro continues along the northwestern side of the island and begins in Echedo, where a directional sign will show us the way to El Mocanal. Moving away from Echedo, we will leave behind us increasingly scattered houses and buildings of the village, following a path that runs along seemingly abandoned fields which have been occupied by vegetation consisting mainly of sorrel (Rumex lunaria) and tabaiba (Euphorbia sp.).

We arrive then to the village of Aguajiro and walk along its main street, flanked by white buildings, in the direction of El Mocanal. Surrounded by pastures and croplands, El Mocanal belongs to the municipality of Valverde, and is located at an altitude similar to that of the capital city. The weather there is usually quite humid, and frequently misty. A highlight of this village is the church of San Pedro - recently restored - characterized by its reddish dome and by the fact that it is something of an architectonic oddity, since it is an example of Moorish-Spanish “Mudéjar” art quite uncommon in the rest of the Canary Islands.

Further on, the trail leads us to the village of Guarazoca along beautiful paths covered by shrubs and hemmed in by high dry stone walls. Along the way, it is possible to admire the wide expanse of grasslands reaching up to the gentle slopes of the interior of the island, covered by trees.

In this village visitors can still see old wine presses, as well as the traditional El Hierro houses made of black volcanic stone, whitewashed and with roofs thatched with “colmo” (rye straw), and generally surrounded by small kitchen gardens.

The trail ascends gradually and gently to Guarazoca; having crossed the village, guided by information signs, the trail becomes moderately steeper as it goes through meadows which are increasingly close to the edge of the cliff that limits the valley named Valle de El Golfo. Nevertheless, we will have no difficulty in reaching the viewpoint and shrine of Virgen de la Peña, since the ground in this last stretch of the trail is quite firm.

The shrine of the Virgen de la Peña (Virgin of the Rock), protector of walkers in the area, is a small construction caved into the rock, with a simple whitewashed façade consisting simply of a door and a cross. In the October festival it is customary to take the image of the Virgin from the shrine to the village of Guarazoca.

Taking advantage of the location of this small shrine, nature lovers can enjoy great views of the surrounding area. In the vicinity of the shrine, about 500 m away, there is Mirador de La Peña, a viewpoint designed by architect César Manrique, which boasts wonderful views of the sea and the Valle de El Golfo. The viewpoint is located 700 m above sea level on the eastern tip of Risco de Tibaje (Tibaje Cliff). The design of the building and surrounding gardens is based on the traditional architecture of El Hierro, with some modern elements added, and materials such as stone and wood were used in its construction.