The marked circular route around the lake near Los Cercados provides a specific time frame for a stay focused on hiking. Other routes offer different landscapes: paths through a ravine with cave houses, a mountain bike circuit mostly on a forest track, and the Ruta Pista de Chira in the Parque Natural de Pilancones. The routes each offer something different; compare them by activity and the route features stated for each one.

Assess the lakeside route by duration and elevation

The circular walk around the lake near Los Cercados is marked as a loop route. A tour listing from 2022 gives a total duration of 2 hours and 10 minutes. The tour is classified as technically moderate; the elevation is listed as between 927 and 1,035 metres. Duration, technical classification and elevation range answer different planning questions and can be considered separately. The duration is a tour estimate, not a reflection of your personal pace. Also check trail conditions on site before setting out.

Trails through ravines and pine landscapes

The Ruta Pista de Chira passes the hamlet of Cercados de Araña and enters the Parque Natural de Pilancones. The route description dates from 1996, so check current access and signage before planning a specific outing. The nature park includes well-preserved pine habitats with healthy bird populations, as well as endangered animal and plant species. Along the route, the named hamlet and the protected natural area serve as distinct reference points.

The Barranco de los Manantiales circular walk runs through a ravine, with cave houses on both sides. Here, the ravine and the settlement pattern shape the route description. Trail conditions may vary, so plan with the current state of the route in mind. Another type of outing is the mountain bike circuit titled “Presa de Chira – Los Cercados – Presa de Chira”. It runs mostly along a forest track; the route description also highlights spectacular views. A 2018 description of the Presa de Chira – Cruz de Agustina – Lomo Palmito hike gives its starting point as next to the Albergue de Chira. Check the condition of the trail or surface for these routes in advance.

Terraces, reservoir and settlement history

The Cadenas Agrícolas en el Llano del Corral showcase an agricultural landscape: cultivation terraces were built from local dry-stone walls and adapted to the slope. Their construction and layout show how the cultivated areas were shaped to fit the topography. Another historical landmark is the Presa de Chira, which was completed in 1964.

Cercados de Araña lies in a valley beside a pine forest. A small hill divides the hamlet into Cercados de Arriba and Cercados de Abajo; the Ermita de San Juan is in the highest part. The hamlet’s name also points to its history: it derives from early landowners with the surname Araña. The Camino de Santiago de Gran Canaria passes through Chira and Los Cercados de Araña. These place names and route alignments provide further cultural and landscape reference points for planning, without combining them into a single tour.

A square area of the Pino y Ermita de Santiago de Tunte remains, with stone layers in the lower section and cement on the surface. For those interested in the cultural and landscape features described here, this offers insights into the area’s building and agricultural history in addition to its circular routes.

Discover more destinations: Montaña La Data, Aldea Blanca, Fátaga, El Tablero, San Agustin, Playa Del Ingles, Playa Del Águila, Pasito Blanco

For the broader travel overview: San Bartolomé De Tirajana.