A surprise at the end of the road

So far we have seen viewpoints that are easily accessible by public transport or by car. The viewpoint that we recommend on this occasion involves an effort. It has in common what almost all the trails of Anaga have in common: it will be hard, requires good physical shape and to be well prepared, but there is no risk, because the path is wide and well signposted. Our destination is ‘El semáforo‘, a building built in the nineteenth century that served to warn the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in advance of arriving ships.

There are two ways to get there: one is from Chamorga, following the PR-TF 5 trail that connects this hamlet on the summit of Anaga with Igueste de San Andrés, on the coast, and climbs 200 meters up the cliff to reach the old watchtower. This possibility is very advisable, but it implies a very good physical condition, since we are talking about 13 kilometers (about 6 hours).

The most usual and easiest way is to leave from Igueste de San Andrés, a town “friend of the mountaineers” according to the plaque placed next to the church of San Pedro. Right at this point begins our path, which follows the PR-TF 5.1 trail.

Ahead we have about 4.3 kilometers, round trip, which begin among the houses of the village, always white and usually covered with leafy fruit trees. Igueste is in a fertile valley and it shows. We will have to go towards the cemetery of the locality, in a nice walk parallel to the sea, but without reaching it because we will turn off to the left by another path, well visible and signposted. What we see at the turn-off will be the tone of the hike: always uphill, with hardly any respite.

The effort is worth it. The building is sober, but beautiful. The first thing you think when you arrive is that it should be rehabilitated and, in fact, the project is already underway and could be a reality in 2024. The installation of a weather station is planned here, as well as a complete refurbishment including the characteristic mast. The traffic light is the best of the viewpoints, that’s why it was built here, to the east we see the beaches of Zapata and Antequera, with its small peninsula, beyond is only the ocean, so you could watch the approaching ships. To the west, with dizzying views as we are on the edge of a cliff, in the foreground we observe the beach of callados de Igueste, dyed green valley by vegetation. In the background is Santa Cruz, the destination city of the signals that were once hoisted on that mast. Undoubtedly one of the best places in Anaga to see the seabirds flying, the sun shining on the water and the arid mountains of the massif behind us. A viewpoint, for better or for worse, little visited and that does not disappoint those who arrive.