Tenerife Walking Holiday

Let’s begin our adventure hiking in the Canary Islands! We will fly to Tenerife, the largest and most captivating of the Canary Islands. Renowned for its more than 1,000 kilometres of hiking trails and breathtaking national parks, Tenerife offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore the island's natural beauty on foot.

Upon arrival, we’ll head to our charming hotel located in the heart of Puerto de la Cruz, a picturesque Spanish town on the island's north side. Known for its stunning architecture, vibrant shops, delightful restaurants, and unique volcanic black beaches, Puerto de la Cruz will be our home for the next 7 nights.

Let’s explore Tenerife! Today’s hiking adventure will take us to the iconic Teide National Park. In the shadow of Mt Teide, Spain’s highest mountain, this national park is without a doubt one of the highlights of Tenerife, showcasing some of the world’s most extraordinary volcanic scenery. We will start today’s hike at the El Portillo Visitor Centre as we embark on a trek climbing up the border of the Cerrilar mountain. This rugged terrain, shaped by volcanic eruptions in the 1500s, offers a fascinating glimpse into Tenerife’s geological history. As we hike through alternating scrubland and barren sandy areas, let's marvel at the tenacity of the plant life thriving in such harsh conditions.  As we will reach the top of the trail, let’s admire the stunning views over Mt Teide and the vast expanse of Teide National Park. From here let’s descend on a steep serpentine decent, passing by the volcanic black sands which this hike gets its name before returning to the visitor's centre. 

Difficulty: Moderate / Distance: 7.6 km / Ascent: 369m / Descent: 356m / Duration: approx 3 hours

Let’s discover a different side of Tenerife today as we venture into the enchanting Teno Rural Park. Located on the island’s northwest side, this hidden gem boasts dramatic green landscapes, rolling hills, rugged cliffs, and breathtaking views that exemplify Tenerife’s natural beauty. 

Our trek begins with an invigorating uphill climb through the lush laurel forest, where glimpses of the Atlantic Ocean peek through the trees. This scenic ascent leads us to the charming town of Teno Alto, renowned for its delicious cheese. From Teno Alto, let's continue our climb, with panoramic views unfolding over the verdant valleys below. As we reach the top, we can start to see views of La Gomera before continuing along the Sendero de Baracan ridge offering spectacular vistas as far as the eye can see as we hike along the edge of the mountain. Our adventure concludes with a descent into El Palmar, navigating a rocky path through picturesque fields before returning to our starting point. 

Difficulty: Moderate / Distance: 10.5km / Ascent: 653m / Descent: 653m / Duration: approx 4.5 hours

Today, let's continue our exploration of Tenerife’s diverse beauty with a visit to Anaga Rural Park on the island’s north coast. Known for its towering peaks, mystical cloud forests, and secluded black-sand beaches, Anaga Rural Park is a must-see highlight of any walking holiday in Tenerife.

Our hike today follows the historic Las Vueltas Footpath, which once served as the primary communication route between the villages of Taganana, Santa Cruz, and La Laguna. Let's ascend through dense thickets of faya bushes and heather, discovering caves along the way. As we climb through laurel forests dotted with natural springs, keep an eye out for the original cobblestones along the famous bends – local lore says there are as many bends as there are days in the year. Nearing the peak, the forest clears, revealing stunning coastal views. We’ll descend towards Taganana, passing local farms before finishing in this charming town, renowned for its traditional architecture and status as one of Tenerife's oldest settlements.

Difficulty: Moderate / Distance: 9.3km / Ascent: 730m / Descent: 730m / Duration: approx 4.5 hours

Today you will have the day free to explore more of Puerto de la Cruz, why not explore the great selection of bars, restaurants and café sit has to offer, or head down to the black sand beach for a swim, the choice is yours!

Our adventure continues as we delve more into the volcanic landscapes that Tenerife is famous for as today’s trail leads us to the crater of Samara. We’ll hike through lava flows and take in impressive panoramic views of several volcanic cones, including Teide and Pico Viejo. This trail also offers views of the lush Canarian pine forest, thriving amidst the recently active volcanic terrain. The ground along the trail is composed of dark tephra (lapilli and scoria), creating a striking lunar landscape. Our hike concludes at the Boca Tauce lookout, offering breathtaking vistas before we return to our starting point.

Difficulty: Moderate / Distance: 10km / Ascent: 386m / Descent: 386m / Duration: approx 4.5 hours

Today’s hike begins at the Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de La Esperanza in the town of Las Vegas. Let's traverse mountainous terrain on well-defined, narrow paths through the eastern slopes of Tenerife. Our route takes us upwards over light sandstone, passing through pine forests. Along the way, we’ll discover cave dwellings of Tenerife’s indigenous inhabitants, cross water channels, and see old stone walls and rock cliffs used by local climbers. Our hike concludes with a descent back to the town of Las Vegas.

Difficulty: Moderate / Distance: 12.85km / Ascent: 663m / Descent: 663m / Duration: approx 4 hours

As our incredible journey comes to an end, we bid ‘adios’ to the beautiful island of Tenerife. Our local expert guide will accompany us to the airport for our flight home, leaving us with fond memories of our walking holiday in Tenerife.