Lanzarote Walk - Haria to El Bosquecillo

Starting point: Plaza de la Constitución, Haria		Map I have found this to be the best map for both walking routes and driving, from Discovery Walking Guides Ltd Lanzarote Tour and Trail Map 1:40,000 scale
Distance: 5 miles
Traffic light rating:   (For explanation see My Walks page) More great Lanzarote Walks	Click the PDF logo above to give a printable version of this walk without the photos.

Introduction: Haria is a lovely peaceful, white painted town, set in a valley, basking in the title of “Valley of Ten Thousand Palms” - or “Thousand”, depending on your reference source! I did not count them but there are quite a lot! Together with the general greenness of fertile fields, they make this an attractive area which contrasts with the more arid nature of much of the island.

This walk takes you via one amazing viewpoint, Mirador Montaña Ganda to another at El Bosquecillo, often referred to as Lanzarote’s only forest. “Forest” is stretching things a bit. Well, quite a lot actually. The “trees” are more shrubs and it looks as though many have been destroyed by fire and the remnants chopped off. Nevertheless, it is a pleasant spot, with fabulous views hundreds of feet down the very steep drop to Famara, where you can clearly see the paths described in my Famara walk and across to the islands of La Graciosa and Isla Montaña Clara beyond. There are picnic tables and built BBQ points.

I found one of the best aspects of this walk was the final section to El Bosquecillo, up a stretch of barranco and the return down its entirety, all the way back to Haria. Here is a myriad of plants, many in flower, the extent of which I have not seen elsewhere on the island.

I describe this walk from the Plaza de la Constitución in the centre of Haria as I do not know exactly where you might choose to park. There is a free car park, if you can find it! It is off the road to Maguez, along Calle Encarnacion Rodriguez, no more than two hundred yards from the centre. The entrance gate is easily missed and the ramp down to it is very steep.

The going is easy for the most part with just a slight climb for the last quarter of a mile or so. Nothing which warrants more than a green traffic light. The return to Haria is all downhill.

There are no refreshment opportunities en route but it is definitely worth taking picnic to enjoy on one of the picnic tables at Mirador Bosquecillo.

I came across a YouTube video from a James Flemming filmed whilst doing this walk. You can see it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9xQ3hlH2zg

When I originally publicised this walk, I set a little competition to see who could be first to send me a photo from this walk, which proved conclusively the saying; “Many hands make light work”. I am pleased to say that Maggie Redfern of Cumbria was first and her photo is now below.

Start: The walk starts from the Plaza de la Constitución, by walking along the road next to it. According to maps, this is Calle de Longuera but I did not notice a clear street sign and a local I asked did not know it. I have indicated the start of the route on the first photo.

Pass the library. At a cross roads, go straight on, following the sign for Colegio y Instituto and César Manrique Museum.

At a junction where the Colegio y Instituto and César Manrique Museum signs point left, go straight on. This is the Calle Rincón de Aganada.

The tarmac ends at a ruined house. Bear slightly left here along the gravel track – it looks almost as though you are going over a bridge.

When the track divides, take the right hand fork. Fork right at the next split too. This is recognisable by the large stone in the wall.

You leave the dwellings behind and around a quarter of a mile further on, pass a cultivated area with a circular stone structure in the middle, built to protect some shrubs/small trees. Montaña Ganda, with its communication masts is behind it.

Continue along this track until it bends sharply left. You are obviously near the edge of the cliffs here and if you go through the gap in the wall, there is a fabulous view down to Famara. Beware of the steep drops.

Returning to the track (turning right from the gap), continue to follow it as it circles Montaña Ganda, passing some farm buildings below you to the left. The yard was full of goats when I passed. There are good views along here down to Haria

Ignore any turns off this track until you get to the point roughly level with the hairpins on the main LZ-10 road, which is across the valley. Here, the track bends acutely left (to join the road) and on the right, on the apex of this bend in the track, you will see a path heading up the barranco (ravine). This is just to the left of a broader track which was chained off when I did the walk.

This broader track is tempting, as an easier passage but it peters out further on so be sure to take the narrower ascending footpath along the “upper” barranco section.

Climb until you reach a cross roads with a broad track. Go straight on here up the narrow path between the stone walls.

You pass some picnic tables which indicate you are getting close to the Mirador Bosquecillo. Stay on the broad track which becomes cobbled. Follow this left. After a few yards there is a broad track on the right. Here are more picnic tables, built BBQs and a children’s play area. There is a radar installation away to the left.

Looking over the wall nearest the cliff edge, there is a view down to Famara with the tracks used on my Famara walk clearly visible. To the right are views to La Graciosa and Isla Montaña Clara.

The return journey starts with retracing your steps to the apex of the broad track, referred to above. Cross the track and take the narrow footpath beyond, down the “lower” barranco section. The start of this can be a little difficult to spot but it is to the left of the gabions (the wire baskets full of stones). Once you get started, the path is easy to follow, along the bottom of the barranco.

As you get closer to Haria, the path joins a broad track which leads into a field to the left. You turn right.

Pass and ignore a broad track off to the left (chained off at the time).

The track becomes a tarmac road. Follow it down, past the football ground. Go straight ahead at the road junction.

Follow the road until it joins the road you walked along at the start of the walk. Turn right back to the centre.

If you need to buy any hiking equipment/clothing before your trip see the Hiking Store

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