Las Peñitas Arch

_Start:_On the road leading down to Ajuy, turn right towards Buen Paso. Just before the end of this small road, take the track which rises slightly to the right. Park in the car park at the end of the track.

(S/E) Go downhill along a property track towards the valley bottom. Cross the stream (which is usually dry) and go up to the right, following the green-white markings for a few hundred metres.

(1) When the signposted path bends to the right, continue to the left, following the main track in a generally North-North-Easterly direction. The slope gets steeper as you go along, and you'll need to use your hands a few times.

(2) After a tricky section, you'll see a large rocky spur slightly to your left. Go around it to the right, as the arch is at the top.
Descend slightly to the left to reach a passageway that leads to a few metres below the arch. Once again, take a few easy climbing steps before reaching the arch.

(3) Cross the arch, passing underneath it to obtain a very photogenic angle and a lovely view of the valley.
For the descent, in order to avoid de-escalation, take a track that goes off to the left on the mountainside. After a few slippery passages, you'll reach the tricky part just before you access the arch.

Continue downhill on the trail you came up on, then quickly fork left to join the marked path (Vert-Blanc) a little further down. Follow it to the left as it gradually rises towards the Barranco de Malpaso. The trail then follows an old water conduit, passing above the Ermita de la Peña.

(4) A staircase leads down to the right towards this small chapel. Ignore it and continue in the direction of the "barrage de las Peñitas" dam.
Climb the few steps to the top of the dam to discover the alluvial plain, surrounded by dense vegetation. Follow the path a little further for a more interesting viewpoint, and you'll be able to make out the viewpoints on the surrounding mountain tops for which this part of the island is famous.

Then retrace your steps to the stairs leading to the Ermita de la Peña chapel.

(5) Go down the stairs to the chapel.

For the return to the starting point, especially when it's raining hard, we strongly advise you not to continue as the itinerary is particularly difficult.Prefer to follow the path you've already taken, see "Practical information".

Descend past the chapel. Follow the stream over the large boulders on the left bank and emerge at a small irrigation channel. Walk along the narrow edge of the canal for a few metres, __with great caution, especially with children!
Then find a more comfortable path that gradually rises to the left.

Keep to the left to bypass a property (the same as at the start of the hike) and return to the starting point (S/E).

_Start:_On the road leading down to Ajuy, turn right towards Buen Paso. Just before the end of this small road, take the track which rises slightly to the right. Park in the car park at the end of the track.

_Terrain:_⚠️This hike, although short, is classified as difficult due to several passages where climbing steps will be required.
Beware of the heat, and walk to be avoided in heavy rain (risk of gullying or slipping on the rocks, not to mention the rising waters in the Barranco de Malpaso.

_Alternative return walk:_Follow the Green-White signposted path in the return direction as far as intersection (1). Then turn left down the same path as at the start of the hike to return to the car park (S/E).

It is possible to do this walk with children (6/7 years old minimum), but only if they're careful and helped by an adult.

_Facilities:_The Ermita de la Peña may serve as a temporary shelter.

The Arco de las Peñitas alone is worth the detour.
The Barranco de Malpaso, with its air of a Moroccan oasis, is not without interest either.

And for the kids, there are plenty of Barbary squirrels to be seen on the way to the Arco de las Peñitas (beware, they're an invasive species on Fuerteventura, so don't feed them).