The best hikes in Tenerife

I couldn’t write about the main island of the Canaries without dedicating an entire article to the best hikes in Tenerife. Indeed, this island is a fantastic playground for hiking enthusiasts, and there’s something for every level. I’m especially thinking of Teide National Park and Anaga Rural Park. It’s often in these two places that you’ll find beautiful trails to hike, not to mention the Masca region in the Teno mountains. The advantage in all this is that the landscapes are very different from one area to another: from lava fields to greener peaks. That’s exactly where Tenerife’s richness lies: it offers varied landscapes you don’t expect. That’s what surprised me about it, and it’s part of why I fell in love with this magnificent island.

Well, needless to say, hikes are among Tenerife’s must-sees. Even if you don’t love walking, there are trails that are perfectly accessible. Plus, some are less well known than others, so the setting is more pleasant and you can enjoy it more. I won’t keep you waiting and I’ll let you discover the best hikes to do in Tenerife. Of course, it would be complicated to do them all in one or two weeks if you’re not hiking every day. But this article should help you make your own selection, based on the ones that attract you the most.

To start, I’m sharing Tenerife’s must-do hikes — the ones that really deserve to be on your list. Some are well-known and a bit busy, others are more secret and perfect for hiking in peace. A little tip before you start: gear up properly before you set off and check the weather, because with the microclimates, it can change fast! Alright, let’s go discover Tenerife’s most beautiful trails!

It’s impossible to present hikes in Tenerife without talking about those in Teide National Park. Beyond climbing the summit of Mount Teide, there are other alternatives with landscapes that are just as diverse as each other. For your information, I’ll talk about trails inside the park, but also around it. If that’s what interests you most, we recommend staying in North Tenerife.

Unsurprisingly, we start with the most famous hike on the entire island of Tenerife. And if you go all the way up, you’ll reach Spain’s highest peak, at 3,718 meters above sea level — not bad at all. Needless to say, you’ll need to hang in there for this hike, but the route itself and the summit are worth it. You’ll cross superb volcanic landscapes. Count on 5 to 6 hours of hiking to the summit from the Montaña Blanca parking lot.

To get there, you can also take the cable car and finish on foot to the summit. It’s much easier, even though the final trail is steep. Don’t forget you need a permit to go from the cable car station to the summit. And once you’re there, simply enjoy the spectacular view. You’ll even be above the clouds while catching sight of other Canary Islands like La Palma or La Gomera.

Right across from Mount Teide, Montaña Guajara also offers magnificent panoramas from its 2,718 meters above sea level. To give you an idea, it offers a gorgeous view of Teide and the accompanying lava fields. Plus, it’s a much easier trail than the ascent of Teide. If you’re up for it, the hike starts from the Parador de Las Cañadas del Teide and gradually climbs through lunar scenery.

Plan on about half the time needed for Teide’s summit: between 3 and 5 hours round trip. There’s a bit of elevation gain, but the level remains moderate. I recommend setting off early in the morning before it gets too hot, although it depends on the season when you go. Personally, I think it’s a good alternative to Teide’s summit: it takes less time and effort, haha.

Inside Teide National Park, you can’t miss this hike, even if most visitors stop at the viewpoint. On the one hand, that’s not so bad: it means the trail is quieter, you can go at your own pace, and above all enjoy the views of Teide as well as the giant rock formations.

What I also liked is that the trail forms a loop from the Mirador de la Ruleta, right in front of the park’s only restaurant and largest parking lot. In reality, it’s more of a walk than a hike: there’s not much elevation gain. The hardest part is the heat, as there’s little shade. But otherwise, it’s very doable!

Honestly, even if it’s less known than others, it’s really worth the detour! In my eyes, it’s one of the park’s best surprises (that says a lot!). For context, it’s at the far southwest of the park and offers a superb view of Teide and Pico Viejo. Plus, it’s also a loop trail: I find that more interesting — you always want to see what’s next.

You’ll set off from the Mirador de Sámara and then cross lava flows, scattered Canary pines, and volcanic cones in ochre, black, and red hues. It’s just incredible! Plus, the trail level ranges from easy to moderate. What I love about this hike is its balance between beauty, tranquility, and accessibility. And you don’t need to be a top athlete to enjoy it: just good shoes, some water, and motivation.

We leave Teide National Park to head to its western edge, toward Chinyero. This is where Tenerife’s last eruption took place, in 1909. I wanted to do the hike that circles the Chinyero volcano, but with everything going on, I ran out of time, so I had to make choices. And when you’re on vacation, you make a little plan that you don’t always follow to the letter. In my opinion, it’s only postponed!

In any case, the landscapes you’ll cross are incredible: black lava flows, Canary pine forests, and soils that are both red and gray. It’s pretty amazing to be able to walk in the footsteps of the eruption, where vegetation is starting to come back to life.

The advantage is that the area is not very crowded: you can enjoy these settings almost on your own, or at least with only a few people. Also, if the weather is nice, you’ll be treated to beautiful views of Teide. Another bit of good news: the hike is rather easy, even moderate.

The Paisaje Lunar hike starts from the village of Vilaflor de Chasna. Literally, the name of the hike means “lunar landscape” in English. And it’s not for nothing: it really lives up to its name! The trail begins with a crossing through a Canary pine forest before arriving at the famous lunar landscapes, with rocks sculpted by wind and erosion. That’s what forms chimneys and small cones. The contrast between the light rock and the green pines is superb!

Once again, it’s a little-known hike. Before going to Tenerife, I hadn’t heard of it. At least you can walk there peacefully, and I think it enhances the wild, raw feel of the place.

I mentioned it briefly at the very beginning of the article, but Anaga Rural Park is the greenest on the entire island. It’s even considered the green lung of Tenerife. To go further, it’s classified as a UNESCO biosphere reserve. It must be said that the scenery is unlike the rest of the island: you’ll find laurel forests and subtropical vegetation. I’d heard about it, but still, I didn’t expect such a surprise!

The Sendero de los Sentidos (“the path of the senses”) is both the most accessible and most popular trail in Anaga Rural Park. For reference, it’s at the Mirador de Cruz del Carmen. There’s a large parking lot, which is quite convenient, even if it fills up quickly. As the name suggests, throughout the route, we call upon our senses: hearing, touch, smell, and sight. You’re immersed in a forest for a fairly simple but interesting walk, with all the information you learn and your senses awakened. It’s a great walk to do with family and kids.

Naturally, it gets crowded, but when I went, I was lucky to arrive after the biggest wave of visitors, so it didn’t bother me. Even temperature-wise, it’s nicer among all these trees: very pleasant. It lasts at most an hour — that’s short! I would’ve liked it to last a bit longer, haha.

Punta del Hidalgo marks the tip of the Anaga massif, where the mountain meets the Atlantic. Needless to say, it’s a special place, with cliffs, slopes, and waves, offering a spectacular setting. The hike to reach Punta del Hidalgo is considered one of the most beautiful in Anaga Park. I haven’t had the chance to do this hike yet, but the diversity of landscapes seems incredible.

Basically, you alternate between dense forests, small perched villages, and more arid areas. Imagine all the microclimates that can exist in a single part of the island of Tenerife. In any case, the arrival at the tip is really worth it! It’s a real feast for the eyes. Plus, if you feel like it, there are natural pools as a reward. Personally, I think this hiking trail really showcases Tenerife’s diversity. It’s on my list for next time on the island.

To continue with Tenerife’s hiking diversity, you can’t miss the barrancos. These are more or less deep gorges created by erosion over time. It’s very different from forest trails or volcanic landscapes. Here, they’re more like enclosed valleys — sometimes green, sometimes arid — with cliffs and rocks. Of course, I couldn’t present them all, but I made sure to pick the most impressive ones to see. So, how about it?

Barranco del Infierno means “Hell’s Ravine.” Said like that, I thought it would be a very deep, arid, and rocky ravine. But in the end, it’s rather green, well maintained, and even secured, with a 200-meter waterfall at the end, deep inside. It’s one of the most famous gorges on the island!

You’ll see a beautiful variety of scenery along the way: you go from cliffs to the dry, typical vegetation of the island’s south. It’s wild and typical of southern Tenerife!

Barranco de Masca is also very popular! It’s particularly impressive. I’d heard about it, but seeing it still left a mark on me. It surrounds the village of Masca, perched between the mountains. I think you can already see it very well from the Mirador de Masca, several kilometers before the village. However, the road to get there is already an adventure: it’s narrow and winding, with a sheer drop right beside it.

Not to mention the traffic on the road! I really recommend going around 8 a.m. to drive without stress and enjoy it more. Fortunately, at the viewpoint, there’s someone managing traffic and parking. You can even smell the fuel with all the hill starts! But aside from that, I assure you the panorama is worth it. You overlook the entire barranco, with the village of Masca perched in the middle. Even if you don’t do the hike, I recommend at least going to the viewpoint.

Barranco de Ruiz, located between San Juan de la Rambla and Los Realejos, was a lovely discovery of northern Tenerife for me. It’s a quiet little spot where there was no one when I went. Even though there was fog higher up and I couldn’t grasp the full scale of the valley, I still liked it: it gave a more mysterious vibe — a nice change.

The climb is short and simple, with a well-built staircase that lets you reach the viewpoint in just five to ten minutes. You just need to be a bit careful on a small section of the trail where the ground is less stable and presents a slight rockfall risk. But you get past that quickly, don’t worry. Another plus: the parking lot is right at the foot of the barranco, which makes access very convenient. It’s the perfect kind of quick stop to enjoy a panorama without a long hike, or to take a nature break between two visits in the island’s north.

Since Tenerife isn’t just about volcanoes and forests, let’s head to the island’s coasts, between sea and cliffs. I also enjoyed this type of scenery: it let me discover yet another face of Tenerife. There are so many! In these landscapes, you’ll mostly find seaside villages, palm trees, banana plantations, and volcanic cliffs plunging into the ocean.

Among the viewpoints not to miss, be sure not to skip Rambla de Castro. I’d already seen it on my first time in Tenerife, but that didn’t stop me from being just as impressed the second time. I think it perfectly represents the beauty of the island’s north: palm trees, black volcanic rocks, terraced banana fields, and a 180° view of the coastal landscapes and the ocean. Honestly, it was a real wow moment for me (both times!).

From the top, you can take the trail and descend gradually through the banana plantations. You could almost get lost there, but it’s super beautiful and immersive. Since it’s quite steep, you can imagine the climb back up: that’s the small downside of this hike, even if it’s part of the game. Quads and calves really burn. Allow about two hours round trip.

Let me reassure you right away: this viewpoint is very accessible from the port of Los Gigantes — even if you have to climb a little, it takes at most fifteen minutes. From there, you’ll have a magnificent view of the huge cliffs of Los Gigantes. It looks as if they were placed there in the perfect spot in the ocean. I found that from the viewpoint, you really get a sense of the immensity of those walls.

To tell you a bit more, the viewpoint is set up with large transparent glass panels that look out over the void. Below, you can see the port and the famous Playa de los Guíos. If I can give you a tip: come at the end of the day, in clear weather, to admire the sunset — it must be something!

To go further, I wanted to share other, quieter hikes that deserve to be known. At least you’ll be more at peace there. In any case, if you’re looking to get off the beaten path, this section should interest you!

This hike lets you cross Anaga and its spectacular scenery: cliffs, ocean views, remote villages, and of course, lush vegetation. The path starts from Benijo Beach, one of the wildest and most beautiful in Tenerife, and goes to Cruz del Draguillo, a small hamlet in the middle of the mountains. Just remember to check whether access to the beach is open, as it’s often closed for safety reasons. Unfortunately, that was the case when I was there… But with a bit of luck, you might be able to do this hike. That’s what I hope for you!

Another hike tucked away in the Anaga massif. This one is both wild, raw, and panoramic. Basically, the trail links the villages of Las Carboneras and Chinamada before reaching the Mirador de Aguaide, one of the most beautiful in the area. To give you a better idea of the route, it begins in a mountainous setting amid laurel-covered hills and ferns, and ends in a small hamlet: Chinamada. The place is calm and pleasant; you’ll mostly meet locals. And to top it all off, the Mirador de Aguaide is incredible, with a plunging view over the ocean and cliffs. If you’re tempted, plan between three and four hours round trip.

Still in Anaga Park (I told you it’s a hiker’s paradise), discover this superb hike. It includes the Roque de Taborno, very often nicknamed the “little Machu Picchu of Tenerife.” That sets the tone! Along the trail, 360° panoramic views follow one another, over the mountains, the ocean, and the ravines.

To give you a better idea of Roque de Taborno, it’s a huge rocky peak overlooking the entire valley. If you follow the loop trail correctly, you’ll also pass through the La Fajana barranco, as well as several viewpoints. If you’re interested, just plan between two and two and a half hours to complete the loop. It’s fairly easy to moderate, aside from a few slightly vertiginous sections — you should be fine!

As the name suggests, we’re heading for the Teno massif! This hike aims to reach the summit of Baracán. Along the way, you’ll enjoy a spectacle combining mountains, ocean, and picturesque villages. At each bend, one or more different viewpoints. Even if the path is steep, the changing panoramas help you keep going.

The route starts very close to Callejón de Teno, a small mountain village near the summit of Baracán, at over 1,000 meters above sea level. The level ranges from moderate to difficult, depending on the sections. But the landscapes are worth it: on one side, you have the Teno mountains and the El Palmar valley, and on the other, the ocean and even the neighboring island of La Gomera (if the weather is good).

Now you know all about the best hikes in Tenerife. I’m almost sure one or more have already caught your eye! In any case, that’s what I hope. It’s impossible to do them all in a single trip, but you can include a few in your Tenerife itinerary.

If you like, I also invite you to check out our article on the best hikes in Lanzarote. On that island too, there are great surprises, quite different from those in Tenerife.

See you very soon for more activities in Tenerife!

Written by Laura CALLES

Thanks to Mélanie and Sylvain, I had the chance to discover the Canary Islands, specifically Tenerife and Lanzarote, so that I could share these island paradises with you. Two real favorites of mine!

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