Hiking in Tenerife? Self-Guided With These Tips!

Sierd van der Bij
Sierd van der Bij
28 Feb 2024 15 min read
Hiking in Tenerife? Self-Guided With These Tips!
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Welcome to Tenerife, the Canary Island of eternal spring. Spring? Absolutely, temperatures here never actually dip below 20 Celsius. That is why everyone knows someone who regularly flies to Tenerife or one of the other Canary Islands. There is a remedy for any kind of blues in Tenerife. For you, that is in the form of the ideal walking holiday. Hiking in Tenerife including accommodation, rental car and a choice of trails that you make all your own. At Bookatrekking.com, we not only know the most popular trails but also hike the secret gems. Our trekking experts will take you to eternal spring! ¡Vamos!

From the absolute summit of Teide National Park, the matchless gorge of Masca to the family-friendly Roques de García Trail. Tenerife is too beautiful to just lie on the beach and sip cocktails for a week. Outdo your aunt and uncle's beach holiday, seek altitude and discover the island of eternal spring's most popular and best-hidden trails. In our blog post, we will introduce you to the best trails and take the first steps of your ideal walking holidays together.

Hiking in Tenerife: What and Where?

With an area of 2,034 square kilometres, Tenerife is the largest of the six Canary Islands and, with almost a million inhabitants, also the most populous Spanish island. It is about 83 kilometres long and 54 kilometres wide. Although the archipelago belongs to Spain, it is far away from the Spanish mainland, more than 1,200 kilometres. Tenerife is 'only' 280 kilometres from the Moroccan coast in the Atlantic Ocean. Topologically, the island belongs to Africa - but due to a complicated history, it is still part of the European Union. You can pay for your holidays in Tenerife with euros and your identity card is sufficient for arrival. From the UK and Ireland, you can fly to the eternal spring in say three and a half hours. If you come from overseas, it is still quite a bit of a journey, but worth it.

At Bookatrekking.com, we always have to consider the seasons when putting together our itineraries, but on Tenerife, we can stretch our legs all year round. This is quite different in Scotland, for example, or, indeed, in the Alps and the Spanish Pyrenees. Really the only thing that is a bit different in Tenerife is some time difference left or right. Other than that, you can always go to Tenerife for a walking holiday. And of course, you may also combine these with some relaxing hours on the beach. Surf 'n turf!

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Did you know that we can book all overnight accommodation for the Canary Islands for you? Check out all our options here.

The Best Season for Hiking in Tenerife

In Tenerife, it really is always spring: little rain and mild temperatures all year round. An autumn dip is out of the question. And yet there is also a best season for your hiking holiday in Tenerife. This is completely in line with the other Canary Islands and even applies to Madeira. The islands owe this fantastic climate to their geographical location and the Gulf Stream. The spring and autumn months have proven to be the best time to go hiking in Tenerife.

Because in many places it can get too hot in summer and too cold in winter, these months are less suitable for an active holiday. In spring and autumn, on the other hand, you can expect many hours of sunshine and a pleasant breeze. There are absolutely no thick rain clouds, so you can safely leave your umbrella at home. In the north of the island, however, it gets a bit chilly now and then, so a jacket or jumper is still recommended. Not bad, right?

The Best Season for Hiking in Tenerife

Hiking in Tenerife: Map and Navigation

Countless guidebooks have been written about all Tenerife's hiking options. You are certainly not the first to make your way along the fantastic trails of eternal spring. But where do you start? Further on in this blog you will find some options that you really must have done on your Tenerife hiking holiday. Below you will find an overview map of Tenerife you that will give you an idea of what is where. There are two airports in Tenerife, more on that later. In the map you can see a few key hiking destinations indicated.

Hiking in Tenerife: Map and Navigation

Hiking in Tenerife? These 5 Routes You Simply Must Do

In Tenerife, you can hike for a lifetime. Although it is "always" spring, of course there are seasons and each time of year has its own charm. Tenerife has more than 1,500 kilometres of trails, so it's pretty easy to know what you should at least have done. At Bookatrekking.com, we send you to Tenerife with a hiking guide combining the best trails as well as local secrets. Of course, we will leave those secrets out of it here. But here are a few options that your friends who fly to Tenerife every year should do but probably have never done.

Not sure yet or want to discuss your plans for the Canary Islands with one of our trekking experts? Get in touch today and turn your dreams into memories!

1. To the Summit: Pico Del Teide via Montaña Blanca

The Canary Islands are a bit of a country unto themselves, which is why it is sometimes hard to imagine that Pico del Teide is the highest peak in Spain. And yet, at a whopping 3,715 metres, it certainly is. In fact, if you measure Teide from the ocean floor, you come to a total height of 7,500 metres, making it the third highest volcano in the world. Of course, Teide is also the symbol of Tenerife and, because the mountain has such a huge presence, you just want to climb it. And you can. Teide has been climbed since the dawn of time and nowadays you can even go up by cable car.

The last push of Pico del Teide, the absolute summit does require some planning. To preserve the trails, access to the summit of the Teide is limited to 200 people per day and a permit must be applied for to gain access. The permit is 100 percent cost-free. The problem is that it is in such high demand that you have to book it several months in advance! Of course, this is a bit of a nuisance because it forces you to plan long in advance and it becomes impossible to arrange your hike in accordance with the weather. The walk up to the cable car station is also worthwhile and in all cases you can take the cable car back down and from there back to your car.

1. To the Summit: Pico Del Teide via Montaña Blanca

2. Peaceful Stroll: Roques de García Trail

A pleasant stroll, but along God's finger. What? We are talking about Roque Chinchado, affectionately called so, a rock formation that looks a lot like a finger. Roques de Garcia is probably the most visited natural attraction on the Canary Island of Tenerife. Roques de Garcia is easy to reach by car or bus, especially from Vilaflor. You are never alone in the car park, but the relatively short walk on the Roques de García Trail is definitely worthwhile.

The circuit is no longer than 5 kilometres, has barely any elevation gain and can be done just fine within two hours. Suitable for children? That too. It can also be combined well with La Guajara, a slightly less popular hike that starts more or less from the same point. More on that later.

2. Peaceful Stroll: Roques de García Trail

3. The Hidden Tenerife: Hiking Through the Masca Gorge

The Masca Gorge is Tenerife's most famous canyon or "barranco". The location of the village and the winding road to Masca alone are unique, The village is almost like Machu Picchu perched on the rocks in the rugged Teno Mountains. Directly from the village you look down on the Masca Gorge and have spectacular views as far as that other Canary Island of La Gomera and, of course, the sea. Because on the Camino del Barranco de Masca you walk down the gorge and back up again, you need to count around 5 to 6 hours for the Masca. It is about 6 kilometres and 600 metres up and down on goat paths and narrow steps with lots of stairways and treads.

Masca has long since ceased to be a secret, they know that on Tenerife too. That is why the authorities closed the trail during the height of the Corona crisis and gave the trails a major facelift. The trail has since been closely monitored and a pilot version of a permit system is active. As is often the case with permits, they are sold out weeks before your desired start date. Although, well, not quite sold out, as at the moment they are still for free. Just make sure you get there early.

3. The Hidden Tenerife: Hiking Through the Masca Gorge

4. Pirates and Bananas: Rambla Del Castro in Puerto de la Cruz

Everything is beautiful on Tenerife, which is why choosing some kind of base can sometimes be tricky. The first step is to cruise from the airport to one of the calm coastal towns as quickly as possible. A great example is Puerto de La Cruz, which in a typical Bookatrekking.com package is also always a base for, say, a hike in the Orotava Valley. There you will find the Órganos Trail, about which you will read more in a subsequent section. Quite alpine. You will find less altitude metres on the much shorter Rambla del Castro, a trail that you can basically start from the pavement of your hotel.

During a Bookatrekking.com overnight stay in fabulous Puerto de La Cruz. We won't put that lager in front of you just yet. Curious about your accommodation address? Check out our packages here.

4. Pirates and Bananas: Rambla Del Castro in Puerto de la Cruz

5. Forests and Mountains: Los Órganos de la Orotava

Just outside La Orotava and not far from Puerto de la Cruz, you'll find the Orotava Valley. Not as well-known as the Tenerife classics mentioned above, but we wanted to give you an idea of what else you can discover on the island of eternal spring. Órganos, Spanish for organs, comes from the bizarre rocks from which the trail leads with stunning views. Indeed, these resemble organ pipes with their vertical folds. And just above the organ pipes, the trail runs along a narrow path parallel to the mountainside. But on the way there and back, you not only have to overcome some altitude metres, but also some gorges in long loops. A varied walk awaits you with beautiful views of the Orotava valley and the Teide.

Compared to other options in this list, this is quite a tough hike. You can count on around 1,000 metres altitude over a distance of almost 14 kilometres. You can easily plan a day for this, especially if you also want to cool off at the beach that same day.

5. Forests and Mountains: Los Órganos de la Orotava

At Bookatrekking.com, we not only book your accommodation and luggage transport, we also send you on your way with a comprehensive hiking guide with the most important information for your Canary Islands, including interactive Komoot maps. Browse all our options here and turn your dreams into reality.

Getting to and From Tenerife

Tenerife has two airports, one in the north, aptly called Tenerife Norte (TFN), and one in the south near Los Christianos, Tenerife-Sur (TFS). The northern airport is also known as Los Rodeos, the southern also as Reina Sofia. Tenerife is a popular holiday destination and so you can fly to eternal spring with ease from any airport. From Amsterdam, you fly with TUI Fly, EasyJet or Transavia, for example. From Tenerife-Sud it's an hour to your first destination. From Tenerife-Nord 10 to 20 minutes.

Getting to and From Tenerife

Packing List for the Canary Islands

No matter where you go hiking or for how long, bringing the right equipment is of utmost importance. For your hike, the first thing you need is a good backpack. The size of it will depend on the number of days you will be trekking, the season and the clothes you take with you. If you have luggage transport, the comfort level of your daypack is most important. We have compiled a packing list with a few essential items of clothing you should bring and some extras you might find useful:
  • Essentials

  • Extras

Safety tips for the Canary Islands

Although this is far from being a trek in the Himalayas, unexpected things can always happen and you might also find obstacles on the hiking trails along the way. The Canary Islands is safe, the trails are quite straight forward and there is not an extreme difference in altitude. However, for your safety, every hike deserves a level of respect; respect for the terrain, the trails, wildlife and vegetation, local rules and regulations, and above all, your physical capabilities and safety. Therefore, for an unforgettable and safe hiking memory, please keep the following safety recommendations in mind:

  • Know your limits

    Always prepare each stage carefully to use your energy wisely, respect your physical and mental limitations, and avoid taking unnecessary risks. When ascending or descending, if applicable, always use the aids provided, such as handrails and ropes. Is this trek suitable for you? Well, familiarize yourself with the grading system and figure out if this trek matches your capabilities. If you still need professional advice you can always contact Bookatrekking.com experts.

  • Stay on marked trails

    The most important thing is to never leave the marked paths. For easy navigation we work with our trusted partner Komoot, whose interactive maps, also available offline, provide you with the necessary digital means to get from A to B in the Canary Islands. As a backup, make sure to bring a hiking guide or a paper map with you.

  • Fully equipped

    Make sure you have the necessary gear for the conditions you'll be facing, including appropriate clothing, footwear, and any necessary equipment for the terrain you'll be hiking on. Always wear clothing adapted to the weather of Canary Islands and protect yourself from cold and wetness or heat and sun. Besides, make sure you carry enough food and water for the duration of your trek. On the way, you might (or might not) be able to buy snacks.

  • Stay reachable

    If you are hiking solo or in small groups it is advisable to inform people back home about your plans, what route you are taking and when you plan to return. Even small incidents can lead to unpleasant emergencies so make sure you are available at all times. Bring a charged phone containing at least the phone numbers of immediate family members, your accommodations en route and the emergency phone numbers operating in the Canary Islands.

  • Respect for nature

    Do not litter, prevent noise, stay on the marked trails, do not disturb wildlife or grazing animals, and respect protected areas.

Where Can I Book the Canary Islands?

At Bookatrekking.com you can book the self-guided Canary Islands and many other treks. We take care of all the details for you, including arranging accommodations, organizing luggage transportation and providing you with relevant information well in advance of your trek. Find our offers here. Our easy-to-use platform allows you to browse and compare different trekking options and find the perfect fit for your interests, abilities, and budget.

If you have any questions about a specific trek or need help choosing the right one for you, our team of trekking experts is here to assist you. Simply reach out to us and we will be happy to provide you with personalized recommendations and advice to help you plan the trekking adventure of a lifetime.

Is the Canary Islands not your cup of tea and are you looking for other epic adventures? Check out one of our following blog posts:

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