Explore Lanzarote on foot. We run Guided Walks across the island. Join us or follow in the footsteps of our Head Guide – who outlines a great walk around the northern village of Maguez.
Starting off in the picturesque village of Maguez our walk takes us through fertile lands and a climb into one of the prettiest valleys the island has to offer. This is a very easy walk with the option to make it a little harder by climbing to the top of Los Helechos (582metres) Park by the church in the village centre.
Walk Stats
Grade 2/3 (Easy)
Duration3½hrs
Distance9.5km 31/2hrs
Acc/Des582metres F2 (optional)
Walk Instructions
Our walk starts in the centre of Maguez in front the picturesque church on the Calle Luis Morote. With your back to the church go left where you soon reach a cross roads, (mirror on corner) we turn left and start our walk up through the village passing many older style Canarian houses.
Ignoring the road that joins us from the right we make our way towards the palm trees in the near distance. As we reach the palm trees a very distinctive driven picon track can be seen heading off to the right – this is our route.
Passing the back of a number of buildings on our left we finally start walking into open countryside. The picon track heads off in an almost straight line towards the base of Montana Corona, which dominates the skyline. The open fields on both sides are extremely well maintained with vegetables and vines being grown along side one another.
As we make our way along the picon track a white house comes into view on our left. Take the next turning on the left and follow this driven track passing the white house, until we reach the main Maguez – Ye road.
Almost opposite you will see, signposted “Guinate and the Tropical Park�. We walk up this road for approximately 200 metres where we then turn left and take the driven dirt track steadily climbing uphill. Slowly we climb taking in the views across the east of the island.
Passing a track leading off to the left we can make out large lava formations slowly being covered in lichen and various plant life. As we pass between large swaths of lava rock we arrive at an area of staggering beauty. The island of Lanzarote never fails to surprise, from a very uninspiring start the landscape turns into one of the most attractive places on the island.
Our views take in the island of La Graciosa with its harbour Caleta de Sebo sitting in the foreground and the wonderfully patterned volcano of Montana Mojon (190metres) seen behind.
We continue on the dirt track up and over the rise where we are greeted with yet another surprise. A wonderful valley opens up in front of us.
The main track slowly climbs passing the Valle de Guinate off to our right with views across to the Tropical Park and the cultivated fields looking more like a patchwork quilt and the village of Guinate. After taking in the sights continue up the main dirt track till we reach a small white building.
A track drops away right down to the valley floor and into the village of Guinate, but our route continues to gently climb. Further on the track splits but stay to the left and we carry on walking past areas of bamboo growing on the hill. Away to our left a military installation building begins to come into view.
Again we are taken by surprise off to the right a view opens up to us which can only be described as stunning. Without realising it we are on the cliff edge overlooking Caleta de Famara and the El Jable plain.
If you suffer from vertigo stay on the trail but if you are a little more adventurous it’s possible to walk quite close to the edge and get that extra special photograph, but be careful. Continuing along, there are a few tracks leading off to the right, but our route takes us round to the left passing the building. Immediately to the right side of the building is the track that takes in the walk up to the top of Montaña Los Helechos, this is a optional extra walk.
If climbing Los Helechos:
Pass the right hand side of the military installation and the strange pixie ring, we steadily climb the driven dirt track crossing a distinctive picon bed and on towards a field with a green gate facing us. Continue along the left side of the walled potato field (crops may change) another 50metres further on we turn left through some bushes and continue on a now rougher track gradually climbing up towards a white building in the distance. On our left the views down through the Valle de Guinate and over to La Graciosa are just stunning.
Arriving at the white building, with care walk over to the right where we get a great view into the crater of La Pescosa and the wonderful plant life around its edges.
Our goal is quite clearly seen across the valley, starting at the rear of the white building, heading towards the almost demolished wall a pathway can clearly be seen heading down then off to the right and then ascending up passing a wonderfully covered lava landscape of lichens and grasses and the final push up to the trig point of Los Helechos.
Wonderful views in a complete 360degree circle. Not forgetting the crater below. Carefully we now make our way back down to the main tarmac road returning the way we came.
If not climbing Los Helechos
If omitting the climb up to Los Helechos, continue walking on the tarmac road, which winds its way down passing the open crater of La Pescosa. Continue to the first hairpin bend, at this point if you want to cut the corner take the pathway across the picon to the right and this will drop us down to the farm buildings below or continue down the roadway to the next hairpin bend from here we can take the track up to the volcano crater, or just continue on the tarmac road down to the farm buildings and surrounding potato fields.
Steadily we descend and soon Maguez comes back into view. When we reach the main Maguez to Ye road, turn right. Walking downhill past the telephone box towards a Y junction, take the road left signposted Arrecife continue down and this will finally bring us to the crossroads opposite the bus stop turn left here towards the church and the end of the walk.
Maguez does not have a bar or restaurant but if you walk down past the bus shelter you will find the Sociedad that sells refreshments and snacks at considerably lower prices than normal bars, and it’s a great place to meet the locals. If this is closed drive into Haria and you will find a couple of bars that are always open.
