Route: Pico Bejenado
Area: La Palma
Date of walk: 28th January 2017
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 7.7 miles
Weather: Sunny
Standing at a height of 1844m, Pico Bejenado is not one of the highest summits of La Palma but due to its solitary location it is often dubbed as the “only mountain” of the island. Though part of the Caldera de Taburiente, and located on the crater’s southern crest, Pico Bejenado is utterly different from the higher rim summits such as Roque de los Muchachos, Piedra Llana, Pico de la Nieve or Punta de los Roques. It is separated from the remainder of the Caldera by the deep Cumbrecita Saddle and thus stands out from its surroundings by more than 500m on all sides
Thanks to this isolated position, Pico Bejenado has one of the best miradors on La Palma, according to our trusty guidebook ‘Walk! La Palma‘ and we decided to put this to the test. Getting to the start point involved an awkward drive up a very rocky dirt track and it was a relief to arrive at the mapboard and a small parking area at the start of the long ascent.
We set off along a wide track, then joined a narrow path taking us up through a forest of pine trees. The going became rockier higher up but throughout the whole walk there were no difficulties, thanks to an ingenious path with countless hairpin bends which zigzagged in and out of gullies and up the steep mountainside.
The gentle gradient of the ascent was in stark contrast to the formidable appearance of the mountain seen from lower down, and from the mapboard. Considering that the ascent is over 2,300 feet, the huff and puff factor is surprisingly low.
Eventually we arrived at the top, from where the views are superlative, and having savoured these for a while we retraced our steps back down to the start.
Click on the icon below for the route map
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Gilly studies the mapboard at the start of the walk
The mapboard - we will be folliowing the blue and black sections
We follow a track up through a lovely pine forest…
Our destination comes into view
The yellow and white waymarking keeps us on track
We leave the track to join a narrow path
A quick detour to see the ancient petroglyph
It’s behind bars to protect it against vandalism - the meaning of these carvings is unknown
Onwards and upwards
Banana plantations on the coast
Looking across the Caldera de Taburiente
Approaching the ridge of El Rodeo which has to be reached before starting the final push for the top
Looking along the ridge
The ground becomes much steeper on the final section, but numerous hairpin bends maintain a gentle gradient
Almost up to the cloud base
Not far to go now…
The Caldera again…
Summit of Pico Bejenado at 6,000 feet
Mount Teide in distant Tenerife
The summit cairn, looking across the Caldera
We start the descent - as this is a linear walk we retrace our steps
Cloud building up in the ‘cauldron’
A raven
Almost back to the start of a wonderful walk
