{"id":5099,"date":"2019-04-25T15:02:48","date_gmt":"2019-04-25T13:02:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leo-reuter.de\/siebeninseln\/?p=5099"},"modified":"2024-10-27T21:33:15","modified_gmt":"2024-10-27T20:33:15","slug":"cuevas-negras","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leo-reuter.de\/siebeninseln\/en\/tenerife\/cuevas-negras\/","title":{"rendered":"Hike to the Cuevas Negras on the northern slopes of the Teno Mountains"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Cuevas Negras, abandoned caves, ruined houses and a ghost forest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Cuevas Negras (black caves) are not all that awaits you on this impressive hike on the northern slopes of the Teno Mountains. You hike from the altitude of about 1000 meters from the small mountain village Erjos almost down to the coast to Los Silos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"old<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Beside the laurel forests of the north the tour leads you through an impressive landscape with wonderful views. On old hiking trails you pass lonely ruin buildings and abandoned hamlets like Las Moradas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Cuevas<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Cuevas Negras<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Cuevas Negras that give this hike its name will be found on the second part of the hike. They are located on the old Camino Real, which leads from Los Silos to Erjos. The Cuevas Negras are first of all unmistakably black caves, which can be seen in the high rocks along the way. The indigenous people of Tenerife, the Guanches, have already lived in them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"rocks<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But Cuevas Negras is also a small village that was later built near the caves. The Cuevas Negras gave it its name. The small village of Cuevas Negras was home to farmers who farmed and raised livestock. In Cuevas Negras there were residential houses, a school building and many houses had their own threshing floor. The ruins abandoned by the inhabitants are still preserved to the right and left of the path. In the 70s, the houses were then temporarily repopulated by some „hippies“. Even today you can find a few hermits in the houses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"ruins<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Las Moradas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Besides the Cuevas Negras, on the way from Erjos to Los Silos you will pass many other abandoned farms and ruined houses. One or two of them are Las Moradas. These farmsteads are said to have originated from the fact that Guanches originally lived there in caves. Today, Las Moradas is considered to be a prime example of traditional Canarian architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the way you will pass Las Moradas Bajo (below) and Las Moradas de Arriba (above). At both farms you can still see the houses, barns and storehouses. There is also an oven for burning roof tiles. Terraces can be found all around the farmsteads. They show that the whole area was once used for agriculture and cattle breeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Erjos\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Erjos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Erjos itself is a small village that was founded a long time ago in the northern Teno Mountains on the edge of the road. Originally a royal road (Camino Real) ran via Erjos from Icod de los Vinos to Santiago del Teide. At that time, the path led through infinitely large forest areas. Gradually, the forest was cleared and houses and agricultural land were built along the way. The first settlers in Tenerife chose places where water and fertile soil could be found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus the forest was gradually pushed back in favour of arable land. Since the middle of the 20th century, attempts have been made to reforest the severely damaged forests on Tenerife. The area around Monte del Agua is a good example of the fact that even today there are still beautiful large forests with a great variety of species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Track<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

General information about the circular walk Cuevas Negras<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Starting point and approach to hike Cuevas Negras<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Starting point of the hike is the village Erjos, which is located at the TF- 82 between Ruig\u00f3mez and Santiago del Teide. Parking is available everywhere in the village and on the roadside. If you want to get to the exact starting point of the hike right away, you can turn into a wide road at km 16 and park your car there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arrival by car<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

From the north take the TF-82 from Icod de los Vinos via El Tanque and from the south take the TF-1 via Santiago del Teide towards El Tanque.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"parking<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Arrival by bus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In Erjos the Titsa bus lines 360 and 460 stop. If you want to go only half the way and leave Los Silos by bus: there the Titsa bus lines 363 and 107 stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I don’t like to give general time information for hiking tours, because the times are very individual. For this tour I needed 5 hours myself with small breaks. More information on Titsa Homepage<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"elevation<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Difference in altitude and distance <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The difference in altitude is about 950 meters and the distance is 16 kilometers long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"elevation<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Requirement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You hike on good hiking trails that are not exposed. However, for the whole distance a quite good condition is already a prerequisite. Especially the ascent from Los Silos to Erjos is very steep and exhausting. But if the whole tour is too exhausting for you, there is no reason why you shouldn’t „divide“ the hike into two hikes.<\/p>\n\n\n

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