Hike through the Barranco del Jurado to Pirate Bay on La Palma

The Pirate Bay – officially Porís de Candelaria – is one of the most impressive and strange destinations in La Palma: a community of cave dwellings built into the bulge of a rocky head right on the sea. Access is only possible on foot. The hike through the Barranco del Jurado gorge on the PR-LP 12.2 from El Jesús is 4.8 kilometers long, 247 m ascent, 772 m descent – moderate, but with a long, steep descent into the gorge.

The Barranco del Jurado gorge is protected because of its geological significance: almost vertical basalt walls, over 600 meters high, which were created by erosion. In the gorge, Graja (Red-billed chough), turtle dove, wood pigeon and kestrel live on the steep slopes. The valley narrows to a few meters at the bottom – at the beach it flows into the sea.

Starting point: El Jesús, a district of the municipality of Tijarafe, near the chapel Ermita del Buen Jesús. The PR-LP 12.2 is signposted directly below on the church square. Return the same way — or take a taxi/pick up from the street at Pirate Bay.

Route facts at a glance

Directions and starting point

El Jesús is located in the municipality of Tijarafe, on the LP-1 on the west side of La Palma. From Los Llanos de Aridane about 20 minutes north. Parking options on site. The Ermita del Buen Jesús is the landmark – the PR-LP 12.2 branches off directly below the church square. Signposted.

Return from Porís de Candelaria: The narrow road that leads from Tijarafe to Pirate Bay can also be reached by taxi for pick-up. If you don’t want to do a return tour, you can organize a pickup directly at the car park above the bay.

The route in detail

El Jesús to Mirador del Barranco Jurado

From El Jesús it goes steadily downhill through the impressive gorge landscape. Between isolated houses, water reservoirs and banana plantations, the path runs along the cliffs to the Mirador del Barranco Jurado viewpoint. Here you will find the rusted remains of an old material cable car – an industrial relic from the time when goods were transported from the coast to the town. From the Mirador: wonderful view of the cliffs in the northwest of La Palma. The Mirador also marks the entrance to the gorge.

The Barranco del Jurado gorge is protected because of its geological features. The basalt rock was formed by erosion into almost vertical walls – over 600 meters high, with natural stone bridges called Jurados. Birds of prey and pigeons live on the steep slopes of the gorge. The wind in the narrow passages is audibly different than above.

Descent through the gorge to Playa de Jurado

From the Mirador, the PR-LP 12.2 leads steeply down into the gorge. In serpentines it goes downhill along an old paved path to the gorge floor, where the gorge flows into the sea at the stone beach Playa de Jurado. In the middle of small weekend houses it’s worth taking a break in the shade – because afterwards there’s a tough climb waiting.

The stone beach itself is not a bathing beach in the classic sense – the surf is strong, the stone is round and slippery. But if you want to stand for a moment at sea level in a 600-meter gorge, you will find the only opening point of the Barranco del Jurado to the Atlantic here.

Climb to the pirate bay Porís de Candelaria

Following the signpost to Porís de Candelaria – steep stairs and a narrow path up from the valley. Then the narrow road that leads from Tijarafe to Pirate Bay. From there a last narrow path into the bay.

Porís de Candelaria is the destination: a community of cave dwellings built into the bulge of a large rock right by the sea. The buildings have grown into the rock structure – entrances, stairs, terraces made of the stone. From the inside: the view through the huge rock cave to the open sea. There is something unreal about the place — far from any road, accessible only on foot or by boat.

Porís de Candelaria — history and pirate legend

The name Pirate Bay is popular – the official name is Porís de Candelaria. The legend: Pirates are said to have used the hidden bay as a place of refuge. What is historically proven: the fishermen of Tijarafe used the place for their daily work. The isolation — only accessible by foot or boat — made the bay a real hideaway in earlier centuries.

The cave dwellings are not ruins, but inhabited and used. They belong to the municipality of Tijarafe. Some are rented out as holiday homes. The infrastructure — electricity, water — is there, but minimal. The address is officially in Porís de Candelaria, but mail is delivered by ship or road.

Fauna: Birds of prey and pigeons in the Barranco

The steep walls of the Barranco del Jurado are a habitat for several bird species. The Graja or carrion crow – a typical inhabitant of steep coastal cliffs on La Palma – nests in rock crevices. Turtle doves and wood pigeons live in the wooded slopes of the gorge. The Kestrel is the highest and most common bird of prey in La Palma – it circles over the ridge of the gorge and takes advantage of the thermals on the steep walls.

The Barranco del Jurado nature reserve – the section between LP-1 and the coast – also protects the flora of the lower gorge slopes: Spurge family (Euphorbia), dragon trees and Tabaibas characterize the dry coastal zone, while bulrushes and reeds grow in the moist gorge floor.

Best travel time

Accommodation: Holiday homes in Tijarafe

El Jesús is located in the municipality of Tijarafe – one of the westernmost municipalities of La Palma with cliffs, almond trees and a wide view of the Atlantic. Tijarafe has the largest selection of holiday homes on the island for this region, with over 37 available. Many of the houses are on the route to Pirate Bay or within sight of the gorge.

Holiday homes in Tijarafe can be booked directly on clariso.eu — Holiday homes Tijarafe La Palma. According to Sunhikes, Villa Piccola Stella is located directly on the way to Pirate Bay. Villa Diamante, Villa Buena Vista, Casa Pedro and others offer pool and sea views in this region.

Combinable tours

The west coast of Tijarafe offers other short to medium length hikes around the gorge and coast. If you know Pirate Bay, explore the neighboring gorge the next day or continue on the GR-130:

GPS track and 3D route planner

GPS track and elevation profile show the full course from El Jesús through the gorge to Porís de Candelaria. In particular, the steep serpentine descent to Playa de Jurado is clearly marked on the track – important on the way back in order to keep to the right turn-off.

To the route page on Sunhikes: Hike from Barranco del Jurado to Pirate’s Bay

3D route planner from Sunhikes – plan your route individually

Frequently asked questions