Table of contents
The Caves Cuevas de Majada Alta
The Cuevas de Majada Alta caves are located on the Majada Alta plateau between the reservoirs Presa de Las Niñas and Presa del Salto del Perro. They are accessible via a hiking trail featured in this walk and offer an impressive view of the surrounding landscape. Originally, the caves were used by the island’s indigenous people as dwellings, storage spaces, and places of worship.
Map
Cuevas de Majada Alta - Outlook
Indeed, some artifacts have been found in the caves, and there are supposed to be rock paintings there, although I did not see them. Perhaps I was not in the right cave or did not look closely enough at the ceiling. The caves lie in volcanic rocks and consist of many chambers connected by narrow passages. Due to their historical significance, the caves are protected.
View from the heights over to the Presa de Las Niñas and the Inagua nature reserve mountain ranges
Hike to Cuevas de Majada Alta
The hike presented here, with just over 5 kilometers and less than 200 meters of elevation gain, is actually easy. Thus, it is doable for anyone who wants to visit the extraordinary Cuevas de Majada Alta caves. You start the hike near the Presa del Salto del Perro. From above, you can take a look at this small reservoir. Then the hike continues on a canal path over the dam and around the lake.
Hiking trail below the Cuevas de Majada Alta
Briefly, you encounter the long-distance trail GR-139, then follow another path across the Majada Alta plateau to the Cuevas de Majada Alta. You can explore these at your leisure and enjoy the stunning view from the caves. Afterward, the hike returns in a large loop around Risco Grande.
Track of the Cuevas de Majada Alta hike
General Information on the Cuevas de Majada Alta Hike
Starting Point and Directions
You start your hike on Carretera El Pinar near the small lake Presa del Salto del Perro.
Access by car
From the south, you can drive here from the GC-1, taking the exit at Arguineguín and following the GC-505. In Barranquillo Andrés, the access road to Presa del Salto del Perro branches off to the left from the GC-505. From the west and north, you drive via the GC-605. Between the Presa de las Niñas and the Mirador El Mulato, the Carretera El Pinar branches off towards Presa del Salto del Perro from the GC-605. At the starting point, there is a small parking lot, but there is also enough space to park vehicles on the roadside.
Access by bus
According to my research, no bus from the Guaguaglobal bus line stops near the starting point. You might be able to reach a nearby town by bus and then take a taxi. For more information on the exact locations and schedules, visit the Guaguaglobal homepage.
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I don’t like giving time estimates, as they are quite individual. For the Cuevas de Majada Alta hike, we took just under 2.5 hours, including a thorough visit to the caves.
Elevation profile of the Cuevas de Majada Alta hike
Elevation Difference and Distance
The elevation difference is 180 meters, and the distance is just over 5 kilometers.
Requirements
The hike mostly follows good trails. To visit the caves, you need to do a bit of scrambling. For the return route, I’ll present a road option and an alternative bit of scrambling around Risco Grande.
Refreshments
There are no refreshment options along the entire hike. Therefore, please bring enough water and possibly provisions for the hike.
Track of the short hike Cuevas de Majada Alta (yellow) with neighbouring hikes Mogán- Tauro (green) and Presa de las Niñas (orange) as well as lake hike (blue). Top left light blue Los Azulejos de Veneguera
Variants
You can easily combine this hike with many other hikes in the area.
One hike that runs parallel to this hike for a short time and can be well combined with it is the Presa de Las Niñas hike. Also, the large Mogán circular hike, Tauro, is nearby.
Other tours on SiebenInseln in the area include the lake tour from Soría and the hike Azulejos de Veneguera.
Hiker in front of the Cuevas de Majada Alta
Circular Walk Cuevas de Majada
Section Carretera El Pinar near Presa del Salto del Perro to Long-Distance Trail GR-139
You start your hike on Carretera El Pinar near Presa del Salto del Perro. We initially walked up the hill opposite the small parking lot to get a view of the surroundings and Presa del Salto del Perro. You can also go straight down to the dam of the lake next to this hill. We continued a bit on the road towards Barranquillo Andrés.
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Hiking trail with a view over to Montaña de Tauro
Then we went left down from the road to the canal, to follow the canal’s course. This also leads down to the dam and past it on the other side of the lake. Now, it’s a long walk along or in the canal. This involves a very comfortable walk in the canal. You circle the hills located east of the reservoir. You walk for quite a while. Then the canal path meets the long-distance trail GR-139.
Gran Canaria – Hike Cuevas de Machada Alta – Canal PathSection Long-Distance Trail GR-139 to Cuevas de Majada Alta
From here, the hike is identical to the Presa de las Niñas hike in the opposite direction for a short time. You leave the canal and follow the long-distance trail GR-139 up the mountain to the left. A short ascent. Then the path splits, and the GR-139 leads back to the northern part of the Presa del Salto del Perro lake. However, you keep right towards Cuevas de Majada Alta. The path is still the same as the Presa de las Niñas hike.
Hiking trail on the canal
At a fork, the Presa de las Niñas hike goes to the right. However, you go left here. You are now in the area and below the Cuevas de Majada Alta. You reach these in a short time and can climb up to them to the left. These are many large caves, also interconnected. Here you can take your time to explore all the caves and perhaps find the rock paintings. Just enjoy the beautiful caves with a view.
Hiking trail behind the canal path uphill on the GR-139
Section Cuevas de Majada Alta to Starting Point
You leave the caves at about 970 meters above sea level and go back down to the hiking trail. Now follow this further north along the edge of the Majada Alta plateau. The hiking trail takes you along a small mountain range, whose highest peak is the Risco Grande at 1018 meters. To your right, the Presa de Las Niñas lies obliquely in front of you. After a while, you see some buildings in the valley to your right. A path also leads there to the Presa de las Niñas.
View from the Cuevas de Majada Alta
However, you continue straight ahead. Then a path branches off to the left uphill. The main trail continues straight ahead. Here you have a choice. You can continue straight ahead on the main trail and then reach the GC-605 in a large loop. Once there, you have to continue left along it until the Carretera de Pina junction. Afterward, you then hike the entire Carretera de Pina back to the starting point. This is the slightly longer (probably 1-2 kilometers), but comfortable road option.
Hiker on the hiking trail below the Risco Grande
The other option is to follow the path uphill to the left, which initially brings you through a small gorge. Continuing uphill, you reach the ridge. Once at the top, you can follow the ridge to the left for quite a while. The path, which runs up and down through small ravines, is not always easy to find. But eventually, you also cross the road this way. You walk down to the right onto Carretera de Pina. From this point, it is not far to the starting point. This is the wilder, but more exciting and shorter option.
View of the Majada Alta plateau
And finally
I hope you enjoyed the hike to the Cuevas de Majada Alta. Regardless of which return route you choose, the caves are definitely worth a visit. I wish you much joy on all your hikes,
Dagmar from SiebenInseln
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