Between our village and La Caleta it’s about 5 km of rough terrain. From La Caleta it’s then pavement all the way along the coast to the other end of Los Cristianos, another 11 km or thereabouts.
We often do the coastal walk to La Caleta and back home via one of several inland routes, it’s a perfect Sunday morning walk, back for lunch. Today we choose to make a longer journey, so head off with lunch onboard.
Firstly walking down through our village we pass Hard Rock and other hotels, passing the Hard Rock’s beach club and then helping an Irish couple, who are trying to take their buggy down the barranco back to their hotel, by carrying the buggy for them.
We head across the next barranco and are asked about how to get to the beach by an Asian family, they don’t seem to like our answer as they do not follow us for very long, maybe the paletville township put them off?
There is a vast housing problem on the island, key workers are unable to find affordable accommodation amidst the cost of living and rent increase crisis, just like in affluent areas of the UK. Many have resorted to living in motor homes, of which there are hundreds, or probably thousands, parked all over. Others have created more permanent places out of old vans, cars, rough-hewn pallets and tarpaulins. The problem is much bigger in some areas, this one near us has been around for many years and is growing steadily – in other areas some councils have razed them, here in Adeje the council seems to accept their existence.
We continue down into El Puertito, our most favoured lunch-spot but continue past and traverse another three barrancos, each with bays and beaches, as we head towards La Caleta, the footballer’s Mecca.
La Caleta is the footballer’s choice with good reason – huge golf course, an hotel with two Michelin Rosette restaurants, two other super-exclusive hotels, cute bays and housing up to €7+ million, plus an international sports centre – says it all. Did the Beckham’s buy here? Who knows, but they recently bought somewhere on the island, we’re told.
Moving beyond La Caleta we arrive into the poshest part of Costa Adeje, firstly Playa del Duque where we used to stay at El Mirador, which nicely segues into Playa del Fañabe.
Next comes the port Puerto Colon, another regular lunch spot, where all the adventurers depart on their whale watching, para-gliding, jet-skiing or other jollies.
After a while we pass the Veronicas – multiple notorious nightclubs – not a specific area but where we imagine Playa de las Americas starts, although it’s not entirely certain. What is certain is that we will be offered dope before long, and today doesn’t disappoint. Only twice today though, as we get older we look less dope-head and more sleepy-head to the young Africans who double as handbag and sunglass salesmen.
We stop in Las Americas for our lunch, enjoying the sun whilst watching the breakers crash nearby – hardly any surfers today as the wind is furious!
As we approach Montaña Chayofita we know we’re passing from Las Americas into Los Cristianos, first through the tunnel to the port and then onto the beach were there always seems to be sports playing – today it’s five-a-side and volleyball.
The last leg takes us around Los Cristianos beach until we’re heading to the bus station to catch the 471, which will take us home after a fabulous 10 miles.
