Cueva del Caracol

The Cueva del Caracol is the place where the shepherds of El Hierro chose to put the image of the Virgen de los Reye s. This cave is located in the area of La Dehesa, very close to the Hermitage of the Virgin (built later). It is said that a ship heading to America passed near El Hierro, on the coast of Orchilla, it could not leave the sea of Calmas, sailing in circles for several days due to a powerful storm. After this setback had to go to the island for food for the days of navigation that were left until the Americas being the shepherds left both food and water for the journey.

For this help the sailors gave the shepherds what they had of value on board, which was an image of the Virgin Mary. After this the breeze blew favorably and they set course for the New World.

The shepherds named it Virgen de los Reyes because it was January 6 the day of the image's arrival on the island. They decided to put the carving in the cave of the snail, where they venerated it, making it the patron saint of La Dehesa. Caracol Cave is considered a space of special ethnographic protection and culture.

Time later a hermitage is built in a nearby area that is currently called Insular Shrine of Our Lady of the Kings.

Every April 25 the area hosts the Festival of the Shepherds in honor of the patron saint of the island and what is known as La Bajada de la Virgen.