Sunny Walkers 171021: Garganta Prior y Mirador Hoya Don Pedro y Garganta del Capitán

Route through the Alcornocales Natural Park that runs through the Canutos del Arroyo Prior and the Garganta del Capitán in the Sierra de la Palma. The Arroyo Prior is born in the Cerro del Amarguillo in the Paraje de la Albarda, and the Arroyo Botafuegos in the Corchadillo in the Sierra de Luna. Both streams surround Mount Hoyo de Don Pedro, and join in the Colada de la Caba before flowing into the Río Palmones or de las Cañas.
We start the route at the official start track of the Captain's Throat trail. Soon we deviate to the right and by footpath we connect with the Carril de las Corzas that comes from the Botafuegos Prison
We leave the Carril de las Corzas and join the Vereda del Mesto, reaching the stream of Arroyo Prior where there is a small dam. Here we leave the path and take the old road from Ojén to Los Barrios that runs along the left bank of Arroyo Prior.
The path is uphill, steeper and steeper as we gain height. After passing a well and a spring, we come to a well-marked path. We turn right to go to a natural viewpoint on a rock, from where we will see beautiful views of this gorge. We retrace our steps and continue this path until we connect again with the Carril de la Corzas, which will take us to the Hoyo de Don Pedro Viewpoint with views of the Strait and the Campo de Gibraltar and later to a second viewpoint.
We arrive at a gate that we do not cross, we leave the lane and continue to the left in a steep descent and without a path until we connect with the old Camino de Tarifa a los Barrios, parallel to the Arroyo Botafuegos through the interior of the Garganta del Capitán, today partially hidden by undergrowth, causing slow and complicated progress. Recommend taking a pair of secateurs to clear your path of the brambles in places.
We leave the road and descend until we reach La Chorrera del Capitán, a very charming corner. From there we cross the stream, walk along its other bank and head to Llano de las Tumbas, Tomb of the Captain and following the river bank, to Molino de las Cuevas and Molino San José.
Moderate route especially at the junction of the two joints due to its difficulty in moving forward and because at times the GPS is essential.