HIKINGS
You can walk naturist quite far north and south from Charco del Palo.
But when you ar getting close to
Natural pool
1: THE RUIN
In winter, when the temperatures are a bit lower, it’s a great time to go walking. As everyone knows, you can walk in different directions from Charco. Close to our village you can walk nude, and nearer to other villages you simply put something on.
For me, the walk to “the Ruin” above Charco is a favourite, especially at the end of the day when the fading light turns everything a warm orange.
Route: Continue along Calle Osa Major (the first road to the right coming from Mala), and after the last house on the right take the dirt road uphill. After some time—about one kilometre—you’ll see the Ruin. There’s a special atmosphere there, and you can easily imagine how people once lived here for many years. Each year more stones disappear or crumble. It’s also a beautiful place to take photos.
From there it’s only a short distance to Guatiza. In the village you’ll find El Bulin, a bar that’s open from early morning until late at night for a drink, or after five o’clock you can eat at La Sociedad: Taiga (behind the church), where you can get a simple but good meal at a low price.
Walking back over the hills in the dark is a very special experience.
2: THE RUIN THROUGH THE FIELDS
From Charco you can also reach the Ruin by crossing the surrounding fields off-road, which often leads to surprising views and discoveries. Sometimes the fields are full of small but colourful plants or strikingly coloured rocks.
Route: Start again from Calle Osa Major (the first road to the right coming from Mala). Opposite Calle Orión, a path goes uphill to the right near Casa Luisa. It’s called Calle Estrella Polar. Follow the path uphill and, just past the last house, turn left behind the wall. Continue uphill; you’ll see several small paths. Cross a number of plots to the left—there are stone walls everywhere. Keep the location of the Ruin in mind; you’ll see when you simply need to walk straight up. Just before the Ruin there is a path that leads directly to the site.
There are beautiful views over Charco and the sea, and after rain the fields are full of colourful flowers. You’ll always find paths and openings in the walls that separate the plots. Besides going to the Ruin, you can head in many other directions. Everywhere it’s possible to walk, climb and scramble; in the end you’ll always reach a main path.
3: THE DUNES
The area north of Charco, towards Mala and Arrieta, is a beautiful dune landscape. You can walk there nude for endless stretches if you wish. Because there is sand almost everywhere, you can walk barefoot—pure bliss for your feet. I’ve been doing this daily for a while and it’s wonderfully relaxing. Even running is possible; I only bring shoes for the rockier parts.
Walking barefoot is excellent for releasing stress and reconnecting with the earth, and this area is perfect for that. The wind around your head, the ocean at your feet, the sun on your face—what more could you want?
Along the way you can add a stone to the spiral or take a dip in the sea pool in Mala.
Route: Walk along the coast or take one of the many sandy paths—it doesn’t matter. Walking to Arrieta along the coastline takes about an hour and a half.
4: LOS COCOTEROS / COSTA TEGUISE
Walking along the coast to Los Cocoteros (30 minutes) or Costa Teguise (about 3 hours) is always a delight. A short walk to Los Cocoteros is lovely at any time. Make sure you wear good walking shoes, as the path is covered with lava stones.
Route: Walk south along the coast. This path takes you up and down while you continuously encounter the force and breathtaking beauty of the waves crashing against the rocks. To your right are the hills; to your left, the ocean.
You’ll pass a caldera or charco, a place where seawater flows in and out, sometimes with a tremendous roar. People swim there when the sea is calm, though the climb down is quite challenging.
Just before Los Cocoteros there is a renovated house with a beautiful landscaped garden. In the village you’ll find a sea pool and a community house, the Teleclub: El Riadero Restaurant, which is open almost every day from 5 p.m. except on Mondays, and from 12 p.m. on weekends. On Sundays it closes at 8 p.m.; on other days it stays open as long as there are guests. The food is good, simple, and inexpensive.
If you want to continue the longer walk to Costa Teguise, follow the coastal path. You’ll pass the Salinas, a salt extraction area just south of Los Cocoteros, managed by Juan. After that, turn right to walk around a bay. Then follow the coastline over hills and valleys.
After about two and a half hours you’ll reach the outskirts of Costa Teguise, followed by a beautiful promenade full of cafés
