THE TABURIENTE CALDERA

There are three routes to visit it.

La Cumbrecita. This is where the access is made. A compulsory authorization is obtained at the El Paso Visitor Center, located on the road that leads to it.

You must stop at the Los Roques viewpoint and the Las Chozas viewpoint. On one side, the view extends to the northern wall of the caldera, covered with pine trees and jagged, bare rocky peaks. The view extends westwards to the barranco of Las Angustias.

Las Angustias. The road crosses the barranco to climb above its northern bank, but you will need to park in the taxi service car park. A good tip for those who are not Paris-Dakar drivers: take the shuttle bus (a pick-up truck) that goes up to the end of the trail, to the Los Brecitos viewpoint, at the entrance to the national park and 12 km from Los Llanos.

The ridge road. This is the most winding and steepest, as it passes through El Roque de los Muchachos. On the west side, it takes 1 hour to reach this point. Check the number of the road "LP-1032" when you come from Puntagorda towards Garafia, after the place called Briestas. On the east side, count 1h30 from the left fork in the road between Santa Cruz and Punta Llana, after the place called Mirca.

On the way, from west to east. Stop at the Los Andenes, Pico de la Cruz viewpoint to admire the caldera from other angles. If you have time, park on the descent before a series of sharp turns (PR LP3 is indicated) to climb to Pico de La Nieve.