Casa de Teresme – a remote location above La Quinta
Casa de Teresme is an abandoned farmhouse situated high above La Quinta on the main hiking trail from Adeje to Las Lajas. Originally, this partially brick-paved path connected the coast to the central region. However, to visit Casa de Teresme, you don’t necessarily have to start from the coast; you can also hike directly from La Quinta. Casa de Teresme is an old Canarian building with rural architecture, featuring dry stone walls and outbuildings. When visiting Casa de Teresme, you can observe how the various houses and sections are arranged around the patio. During my visits, I always tried to imagine how people lived here in the past.
In this article, I will show you various ways to reach Casa de Teresme and optionally combine it with a beautiful circular hike to the nearby Galería de Nuestra Señora Rosario. If you prefer a longer hike, you can start from Adeje and/or hike up to the Las Lajas resting place. Many beautiful hiking trails pass by Casa Teresme, and I will outline several options for you.
General information about the circular hike to Casa de Teresme
Starting point and access
The starting point for the hike is the church square of La Quinta..
Arrival by car
If coming from the south, take the TF-1 and then continue on the TF-82; if coming from the north, use the TF-82. At Los Menores, turn towards Taucho. The road ascends through numerous switchbacks to Taucho. From there, continue on the main road to the starting point of the hike in La Quinta. If coming from the south, you can also ascend via La Moraditas towards La Quinta. Parking is available on the church square in La Quinta.
Arrival by bus
There is no bus connection from Adeje or Los Menores to Taucho or La Quinta. Alternatively, you could take a bus to Los Menores or Adeje and then take a taxi. For more information on bus connections in Tenerife, visit the Titsa website.
Time
I hesitate to provide general time estimates for hiking tours, as times can vary greatly. With various hiking companions, the round trip with ample breaks and visits to Casa Teresme and Galería took approximately 5 hours. However, if you choose to hike from La Quinta towards Las Lajas, expect about 7 hours with ascents and descents. The tour from Adeje to Casa de Teresme is correspondingly longer. Detailed descriptions of variations can be found below.
Elevation gain and distance
The route is just under 14 kilometers long, with an elevation gain of 630 meters (Circular tour La Quinta – Casa de Teresme – Galería Rosario – La Quinta). If you ascend further towards Las Lajas from La Quinta, you’ll reach at least 1200 meters in altitude and cover 22 kilometers (round trip).
Requirements
You will be hiking the entire time on well-maintained trails. However, due to the length of the tour and the elevation gain, good physical condition is a prerequisite.
Rest stops
There are no dining options along the way, so be sure to bring enough water and, if necessary, snacks.
Variants
In this article, I describe the circular hike, which can be undertaken in both directions.
If you prefer a shorter route, you can visit only Casa de Teresme or just Galería Rosario.
This hike can also be combined with the Grand Circular Hike La Quinta, where I have presented additional variations.
To extend the hike, continue uphill from Casa de Teresme towards the Las Lajas resting place. However, if you plan to ascend and descend, considerable elevation gain and distance will accumulate. The track to the main trail below Las Lajas is available in the download section.
Finally, you can also connect this hike with the Adeje – Ifonche Hike. In this variant, you ascend from Adeje and simply follow the main hiking trail straight ahead (without turning right towards Ifonche). This will also lead you to Casa de Teresme.
In a somewhat “wild” variation, you can reach Casa de Teresme via Taucho and descend again via the main hiking trail.
In the following description, I cover some of these variations.
Circular Hike Casa de Teresme
Section La Quinta to Hiking Trail PR-TF 71
Start your hike at the church square in front of the old threshing circle in La Quinta. Then hike left past the threshing circle, always straight ahead. Initially, the hiking trail takes you on the right side along Barranco de la Quinta, passing by some houses. At the end of the small path, you reach Calle La Serrería. Follow this road left uphill. It quickly takes you past some houses, meadows, and fields uphill. Eventually, you reach a barrier prohibiting further passage for vehicles. You can continue on foot.
The road mostly ascends past individual farms and cultivation areas. On the road, you walk through Barranco Hoya del Agua. Upon reaching the top, the road turns right. Houses become less frequent, and the road eventually turns into a dirt road that takes you uphill through the forest. The path merges with the main hiking trail PR-TF 71 above a farm with large cultivation areas. Continue left uphill.
Section Hiking Trail PR-TF 71 to Casa de Teresme
After a short time, you pass an area with many caves. The most famous cave is Cueva de Sveta. In a few steps, you can take a detour from the trail to peek into the caves. Be cautious not to accidentally fall into the cave openings from above. You continue straight uphill through the forest for a long time. After a while, the hiking trail branches off to the left from the main path. Following the fork, you are led in a large curve from behind to Casa Teresme. However, you can also continue straight and turn left at the next fork.
Whichever path you choose, do not miss the opportunity to explore Casa de Teresme.
Variant: Alternatively, you can start in La Quinta and descend on the first staircase to the road to Taucho. On the road, hike to Taucho, and from there, hike uphill for a long time on Calle la Capellanía. At the end of the road, you can turn right onto Barranco de La Quinta and then reach Hiking Trail PR-TF 71, which you can follow uphill to Casa Teresme. If you prefer a more “wild” variant, you can hike along small paths along the edge of the barranco and eventually reach Casa de Teresme from the left side.
Section Casa de Teresme to Galería Rosario
After visiting Casa Teresme, continue uphill to the left on Hiking Trail PR-TF 71. The trail is signposted to the Las Lajas resting area.
Variation: If you have excellent fitness and enjoy ascending, you can simply continue straight on PR-TF 71. Pass by Montaña Teresme (1650 meters) on the left. Later, circle around Montaña Colorada. After another ascent, descend through a barranco. Eventually, the trail leads you up to the Las Lajas resting area.
If you prefer to follow the circular hike, shortly after Casa de Teresme, turn right onto the first branching path. This path takes you through the forest downhill into Barranco de la Fuente (Barranco de Padilla) and to Galería Rosario. This gallery, hidden in the narrow barranco, is exciting to explore. You will find some old buildings, tools, and a long sealed tunnel with the image of Señora Rosario above the entrance.
Section Galería Rosario to Hiking Trail PR-TF 71 above Cueva de Sveta
Once you have seen everything, the path continues steeply in long switchbacks on the other side of Barranco de la Fuente (Barranco de Padilla) uphill again. Several times, you will pass over large pipes. Upon reaching the top, ignore paths branching to the left and right and continue straight, crossing a mountain ridge and a small gorge. On the other side, you will encounter a hiking trail that leads you gently downhill along the mountainside to the right.
Finally, you will reach a fork in the trail, where you keep to the right. For a while, the trail continues – sometimes over stones – downhill back to Barranco de la Fuente (Barranco de la Padilla). Just before reaching the bottom of the barranco, a trail to Ifonche branches off to the left. However, continue straight and cross the barranco. On the other side, hike uphill. Upon reaching the top, you can go left or right. Both paths ultimately lead back to Hiking Trail PR-TF 71 above Cueva de Sveta.
Section Hiking Trail PR-TF 71 above Cueva de Sveta to La Quinta
On the hiking trail, continue downhill to the left for a while. Eventually, you will reach a fork.
Variation: Hiking Trail PR-TF 71 turns left downhill, leading you in a large curve around Barranco del Aserradero. This way, you can visit the charming houses of Aserradero. Years ago, this area housed a sawmill, as the name suggests. The wood was sawn using water power and then transported downhill to the coast.
A shorter route is straight ahead, leading you on small paths over Barranquilo Valdés, further downhill. After a steep descent, the trail rejoins PR-TF 71. Follow it to the right. Soon after, you will return to Calle La Serrería, where you hiked uphill earlier. Cross the road and follow the same path above Barranco de La Quinta. This will bring you back to the starting point, the church square of La Quinta.
And finally
I hope you enjoyed this diverse hike around La Quinta to Casa de Teresme and Galería Rosario, with the opportunity to visit caves. It can be easily combined with many other hikes found around La Quinta and on the SiebenInseln. Wherever you hike, I wish you beautiful and safe adventures,
Dagmar from SiebenInseln