The Best Hiking Routes in Tenerife

The beaches on the largest of the Canary Islands are unarguably the perfect paradise for many holidaymakers. However, this area of the Atlantic is also home to surprising volcanic landscapes, incredible cliffs and unique flora and fauna that are waiting to be discovered. So that you can explore the best bits of nature on offer, we’ve created a list of the top 10 best hiking routes in Tenerife. It’s time to put your hiking gear on and get walking!

1. Pico del Teide: The Highest Point of Tenerife

Crowning the highest peak in Spain, it’s one of the most attractive spots for many locals and tourists. Therefore, a hike up to the top of Teide has to be number one on our list of the best hiking routes in Tenerife. To reach the peak at 3,718 metres (12,198 feet) above sea level, you have two main options.

You can hike the Montaña Blanca or Pico Viejo routes, taking around 5 hours and of a reasonably high level of difficulty. Alternatively, you can take the Teide cable car, up to a height of 3,555 metres (11,663 feet) above sea level. From here, you can walk along the Telesforo Bravo path, which only takes about 40 minutes and is much less challenging. For this option, you need to get a permit from the Government of the Canary Islands website.

If you want to avoid the hassle of getting the permit, you can book an activity to the Teide cable car which includes a hike up to the peak. You can either book this tour from the north or the south of Tenerife. In both cases, you’ll have everything included so won’t need to worry about a thing.

We can’t move on from this National Park without mentioning another incredible experience on offer here. Did you know that at night, it’s possible to see the Milky Way under these clear skies? You can witness it for yourself on this night hike of the Cañadas del Teide. The lack of light pollution means that you’ll admire the stars as you’ve never seen them before!

2. Bosque de los Enigmas: Explore the Laurel Forest

The Bosque de los Enigmas is one of the best hiking routes in Tenerife. It goes through an important part of Anaga, a protected Biosphere Reserve rural park. It’s an incredibly well-signposted route, making it an ideal hike if you’re new to the world of walking. At only 5 km (3 miles) long, you can easily complete it in around 2 hours. Plus, since it’s a circular route, you can start it from various points. Nonetheless, the most common starting points are from the Zapata viewpoint or the Cruz del Carmen viewpoint.

As you start your hike, you’ll enter a stunning laurel forest. Did you know that these trees used to cover the entire planet over 20 million years ago? Today, you can only find them in certain areas, such as the Canary Islands, the Azores and Madeira. This is the perfect example that Tenerife is much more than just sun and sand.

If you want to enjoy this hike accompanied by a guide, you can book this hiking route around Anaga Rural Park. Alternatively, if you’re going to Anaga by car, we highly recommend arriving early, as parking is fairly limited.

3. Masca Ravine: One of the Hardest Hikes in Tenerife

Another unmissable hiking route in Tenerife is the Masca Ravine. It’s a pretty difficult route but it’s totally worth it to see incredible untouched volcanic landscapes. At the end, you’ll be rewarded with a huge surprise: a rocky beach with black sand, opposite the Los Gigantes cliffs. Ideal for a break to relax! Did you know that this bay was where they filmed Clash of the Titans?

The route is around 10 km (6 miles) long and includes an initial descent and final ascent. If you’d like, you have the option of hiking the Masca Ravine with a guide. Otherwise, you’ll need an official permit from the Teno Rural Park. This is required in order to protect the natural landscape and to avoid overcrowding.

Alternatively, you can make the most of being in this area of the island by exploring the hamlet of Masca, which is also the starting point of the route. It’s one of the most beautiful towns in Tenerife, as well as one of the most hidden.

4. Chinyero Volcano: Tenerife’s Most Recent Eruption

In 1909, the Chinyero Volcano began to erupt, becoming the latest important volcanic activity on the island of Tenerife. Today we can still see extensive solidified lava fields from this eruption, contrasting with the surrounding Canary pine trees. Similarly, the shadow of Teide is omnipresent throughout this entire hiking route.

This volcanic hiking route ranges from 5 – 18 km (3 – 11 miles) in length. It all depends on where you start, making it a very accessible and flexible route for all types of visitors.

5. Punta de Abona: Delve into the History of the Abades Hospital

Fifth on our list of the best hiking routes in Tenerife is perhaps one of the lesser-known. Located in the south of the island, specifically in the town of Porís de Abona, we can find a beautiful lighthouse and an abandoned town with a curious past. Fancy exploring? There are two hiking routes here that connect the Punta de Abona and Abades. In general, it shouldn’t take you more than 2 hours.

If you plan on doing the hike without a guide, we recommend starting in the town of Abades or from the lighthouse in Punta de Abona. There are areas at both sites to park your car. From here, you can start a circular route around the area, going inside buildings such as an old leprosy hospital built in the 1840s.

The hospital of Abades has a ghostly atmosphere. An unfinished church, a school, houses for the sick… It will give you goosebumps. Fun fact: it was never up and running. Medical advances and public rejection of patient isolation put an end to this project.

6. Barranco del Infierno: Search for One of Tenerife’s Waterfalls

If we’re talking about the best hiking routes in Tenerife, we can’t forget the Barranco del Infierno. This Special Nature Reserve, alongside others on this list, requires a permit to enter the area. Generally, these are limited to no more than 20 people per 30-minute slot. This allows you to do the hike without worrying about crowds.

The hike goes through the thermal town of Adeje, very close to its historic centre. It’s a total of 6.5 km ( 4 miles) in length and of low-medium difficulty. You can complete it in around 3 hours and is suitable for children over 5.

Along the route, you’ll spot thistles, tabaibas, dragon trees, palm trees and other species of plants. All of this follows the course of a ravine that narrows until it reaches a waterfall that’s over 200 metres (656 feet) high.

7. Sendero de los Sentidos: Perfect for Children

Another of the best hiking routes is found in Anaga Rural Park. Leaving from the visitor’s centre in Cruz del Carmen, it’s divided into different paths. The first is very short, only 1 km (0.6 miles) long, but is suitable for prams and people with reduced mobility. It’s another perfect opportunity to delve into the laurel forests.

The other routes along the Sendero de los Sentidos are longer and have more ups and downs, thus also taking longer to walk. However, they’re still some of the best hiking routes in Tenerife thanks to their relative ease.

8. San Andrés Bunker: A Hike Full of History

This 7 km (4.4 mile) hike starts in the fishing neighbourhood of San Andrés, on the outskirts of the capital of Tenerife. This route will take you back in time as you aim to find an old building built during the Second World War. Since it’s found in excavated rocks, we highly recommend bringing a torch with you.

Aside from the historical importance of the San Andrés bunker, you’ll also get stunning views of the mountains in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the immense Atlantic Ocean and Las Teresitas Beach, one of the island’s most popular.

Aside from the historical importance of the San Andrés bunker, you’ll also get stunning views of the mountains in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the immense Atlantic Ocean and las Teresitas Beach, one of the island’s most popular.

9. Paisaje Lunar de Vilaflor: Enter Another World

Almost 4 hours and 13 km (8 miles) long, the hiking route in Paisaje Lunar also makes our list. Despite its difficult rating of medium-high, this hike is totally worth it! Plus, you’ll start the route in Vilaflor de Chasna, one of the highest towns in Spain!

Meaning “Lunar Landscape”, this hike cuts through the Corona Forestal Natural Park and takes you to a collection of unique rocky formations. Some say they look like the hoodoo rocks in Bryce Canyon National Park, USA, while others believe they resemble modernist cathedral towers. Whatever you think, they’re truly impressive volcanic structures that have been sculpted over millions of years. You’ll feel like you’re exploring a different planet!

10. Afur – Taganana: One of the Most Extreme Routes

Last but not least on our list of the best hiking routes in Tenerife, we’re ending with one of the largest and most complicated. It’s only suitable for the most adventurous of you!

Afur-Taganana is 14.5 km (9 miles) in length and takes around 7 hours to complete. It’s a surprising circular route connecting two small towns in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, as well as combining coastal landscapes, ravines, the Anaga massif and charming hamlets. Are you up for the challenge?

And with that, our list of the top 10 best hiking routes in Tenerife has come to an end. As you can see, there are routes for all types of travellers and of all levels.

Of course, the island also offers many other things to do. The challenge is picking! From shows, cooking classes, boat rides, buggy tours, and free tours, you can find a full selection of tours and activities in Tenerife here. There are options for both tourists and locals alike. Safe travels!