The 3 most beautiful landscapes for hiking in Tenerife

The Anaga Forest is a biosphere reserve classified by UNESCO in 2015. It is one of the last primary forests in Europe, and is home to around 200 endemic species. This magical forest can be visited all year round and boasts breathtaking hiking trails and viewpoints.

"El Sendero de los Sentidos", the path of the senses

This hiking trail was once part of the royal route that linked Anaga to La Laguna. It's an ideal trail for children, as it takes less than an hour to complete.

The trail starts at the Anaga Forest Visitor Centre in Cruz Del Carmen. The starting point is also a magnificent lookout point offering panoramic views of the island's highest peak, the Teide volcano.

There are 3 routes along the Path of the Senses:

Awaken your senses

This route is the simplest of the three. This wooden walkway is accessible to people with reduced mobility and families with young children.

Let yourself be surprised

This short loop takes you over a bridge and a footbridge. You're on the old Las Montañas path.

What Monteverde has to offer

This hiking loop is the most complicated of the three. It gives access to the Llano de los Loros lookout point and also passes over a high footbridge.

You can pick up free trail maps at the visitor centre. In general, the paths are very well signposted.

The hike from Benijo to El Draguillo

From the village of Benijo, set off along the moss and lichen paths of the Anaga rainforest towards the village of El Draguillo. This is a fairly popular loop, and we recommend arriving early to find spaces at the Benijo car park.

These cliffs, which measure between 300 and 600 metres, plunge into the Atlantic Ocean, offering some impressive scenery.

From the village of Masca to the beach

One of the most beautiful walks on Tenerife begins in the small village of Masca. Of Guanche origin, this village of 90 inhabitants is perched on the edge of a hill, in the middle of the mountains.

Park your car in the village and head down the path towards the coast. There, you arrive at Playa de Masca, facing the Atlantic Ocean and surrounded by the cliffs of Los Gigantes. The second part of the walk takes you back up to the village.

For this hike, you'll need to book access to cross the gorge known as the "Barranco de Masca", an area of astonishing geological shapes. This part of the island is regulated to protect both the environment and hikers.

Be warned: the climb back up is tough. We don't recommend it for everyone - only experienced hikers can embark on this adventure. Hiking boots are essential.

Volcan Teide Park boasts numerous trails for hiking enthusiasts.

Roques de Garcia trail, lunar landscapes and rock formations

There's no need to climb all the way to the Teide volcano for some great hiking. In a lunar-like landscape reminiscent of the "Valley of Fire" in the United States, this little loop at the foot of Teide is a real pleasure.

Starting from the car park at the La Ruelta lookout, take path number 3 to the Roque Cinchado, a rock formation less porous than the others, which stands proudly in the arid landscape as it resists erosion.

Recommendations

This is a very sunny walk, so it's best to venture out in the mornings or evenings. Otherwise, don't forget to cover up and/or apply sun cream.

Trekking the Chinyero volcano and its breathtaking views

The Chinyero volcano is the youngest volcano in the Teide Park. It nevertheless rises to a height of over 5,000 metres.

This hike takes you through lush forest and magnificent volcanic landscapes, all without difficulty. This loop is accessible to children and offers breathtaking scenery.

You can leave your car at the San José de los Llanos car park.

This walk can be done on foot or by mountain bike.

Find out more about the route.