When I first booked my trip to Tenerife I was just searching for some European winter sun. I wasn’t expecting to love it as much as I did, and I definitely wasn’t expecting to discover such a huge variety of hiking trails.
Forget the tourist resort image of Tenerife you may have in your mind, because I’m about to show you a completely different side of Tenerife. This island is home to some gorgeous natural landscapes, which you can explore on foot.
I lived in Tenerife for two months in winter 2021, and spent many of my days hiking around this stunning Spanish island. I did loads of hikes in Tenerife, and in this guide I wanted to share with you my favourite ones.
If you’re looking for the best hikes in Tenerife, you’ve come to the right place! I included hikes for all fitness levels and with a variety of landscapes, regardless of your interest or fitness, there’s bound to be a hike for you.
So without further ado, let’s discover the best hiking trails in Tenerife!
Table of Contents
Essentials to book before you read on!
Best tours in Tenerife
Teide National Park Romantic Sunset, Dinner & Stargazing
Tenerife Whale Watching Cruise
2-hour hiking tour in Anaga Forest
Best hotels in Tenerife
Budget: Banana Surf House
Mid-range: El Dorado Residence
Luxury: The Ritz-Carlton Abama
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Best hikes in Anaga Tenerife
I couldn’t write a guide on the best hikes in Tenerife and not start with the trails in the Parque Rural de Anaga. With its scenic green mountains, Anaga was my favourite part of the island for hiking.
Roque de Taborno
Length: 4km
Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
Elevation change: 150m
Difficulty: Moderate
This hike pairs cool rock formations with stunning mountain views. While it’s not a particularly long hike and the elevation change is minimal, it can still be quite challenging since the trail is quite wild.
The trail can be quite narrow at times, with overgrown plants on the side of it and a bit of a cliff drop off to the side.
I made the mistake of wearing short trousers for this hike and ended up with scratches all along my legs at the end of it!
The path starts just after the church of Taborno town, simply follow the Mirador signs and the white and yellow markers. There’s a viewpoint just before the trail starts, so that you can get a sneak peek of the views that await you.
After that the wild part of the path begins, looping all the way around the Roque de Taborno mountain. Throughout the hike you will see interesting caves and dramatic viewpoints.
The whole hike is very scenic since it loops around Roque de Taborno and has a constant view of the steep cliffs and sea.
While hiking I kept playing the theme song from Jurassic Park in my head, and once you get here it’s easy to see why!
With its gorgeous scenery the Roque de Taborno loop hike is without a doubt one of my favourite hikes, and a must in any Tenerife itinerary.
Igueste to Atalaya de los Ingleses
Length: 3.8km
Duration: 2 – 2.5 hours
Elevation change: 390m ascending and then 390m descending
Difficulty: Moderate
Starting in the small town of Igueste de San Andrés, this short hike is one of the most scenic and beautiful I have done in Tenerife. The trail starts behind the town church, search for Iglesia de San Pedro Apostol on Google Maps.
You will have to walk through a few town streets and past some residential houses before the proper trail starts. Follow the signs for El Semaforo and the white and yellow markers to make sure you’re going in the right direction.
Once you’re on the trail, it’s impossible to get lost. The hike is fairly short compared to some of the others on this list, but given the considerable elevation change it can still be quite challenging.
The path is well-marked, well tread and easy to walk on. As you hike further up the mountain you will see the white houses of Igueste de San Andres shrinking behind you, as more of the green coastline comes into view.
After about 1km of hiking on the trail you will reach a crossroad. You will see the El Semaforo trail sign pointing right, and a smaller unmarked path going left with hand painted white arrows pointing towards it.
We took the detour on the left here and honestly, it was the highlight of the hike. The trail here is narrower and a bit wilder, but still fairly easy to walk along.
It will take you to the top of the mountain, where you can enjoy epic views over Igueste, the jagged green mountains and the sea.
You can pop also to the Semaforo on your way back down, but the view from there is lower down the mountain and not as good.
Benijo to Faro de Anaga loop trail
Length: 15km
Duration: 5 – 6 hours
Elevation change: 950m ascending & 950m descending
Difficulty: Hard
Located on the opposite side of Anaga compared to Igueste, this hike is amongst the most popular ones in Tenerife, and it’s easy to see why. It was the very first hike I did in Tenerife, and part of the reason I extended my trip.
I had been to Fuerteventura before, but the green landscapes of Tenerife took me completely by surprise.
The drive to Benijo is incredible in itself, with dramatic green cliffs on every side, but once you start the hike be ready to be amazed.
This hike is very intense, but the views of the jagged green coastline make it well worth it. What amazed me most was also the variety of landscapes within the hike itself.
The trail starts in Benijo, with the initial section being a simple coastal walk to the town of El Draguillo. This part of the hike is on a small cement road along that resident cars can also drive along.
In El Draguillo you will find a sign outlining the different routes and trails you can take from here. We did a combination of a few different trails and followed this WikiLoc route.
After El Draguillo the route is still coastal with not as much elevation change. The landscape turns very barren, and you can walk along while admiring the crashing waves on your left.
The lighthouse is the mid-way point of your hike, and a good spot for a break. Especially because if you want to do the loop we did, you haven’t even reached the tough part yet.
For the next 3km after the lighthouse you will face the steepest part of the trek. This will take you from the barren sea level through a small forested area and on to the green peaks of Anaga.
After that there will be a steep descent back to Benijo, through both patches of trees and barren mountains. It’s a tough hike, but the views all throughout are spectacular.
Even though our walking time was only 4 hour 15 minutes, it took us over 6 hours to complete it since we took lots of breaks throughout. Make sure to start this hike early, as the sun was starting to set during the final stretch of our hike!
Best hikes in Teide National Park
With its 3,715 metres, Mount Teide is the highest point in Spain and one of the tallest volcanoes in Europe.
Hiking to its peak features on many Europe and Spain bucket lists, so it’s only natural that it should be in this compilation of Tenerife best hikes!
The landscapes you can admire at Mount Teide are completely different from anything else on the island, and they even vary massively from each other depending on the height and location of the hiking trail.
Roque de Garcia loop trail
Length: 4km
Duration: 1.5 hours
Elevation change: 200m
Difficulty: Easy
Sitting at over 2,000 metres, this trail has a unique volcanic landscape, which is entirely different from every other hike on the island.
Even as you drive to the starting point (search for Mirador de la Ruleta on Google Maps) you will see the landscape change massively as you gain altitude.
The trail itself is fairly easy. The path is well marked and easy to walk on, with a gradual elevation change throughout the whole hike.
It’s a loop hike that will take you to various Mount Teide viewpoints, as well as circling around cool rock formations. During the hike you will be able to enjoy the gorgeous rocky landscape from a variety of different spots.
I enjoyed this hike because it was very scenic all throughout, and it wasn’t one of those hikes where you walk for hours and only enjoy a view at the top.
It’s an easy trail that won’t take up too much time, and that you can pair with other activities or walks in Tenerife.
Montana Samara Circuit Trail
Length: 5km
Duration: 2 hours
Elevation change: 200m
Difficulty: Easy
The landscape that you will see during this hike is unlike anything I have ever seen.
The trail starts at the Mirador de Samara, from where you can enjoy a gorgeous view of the Teide summit and the surrounding volcanic landscape.
There are a variety of trails starting here so you can decide which one to do depending on how long you want to walk. The circuit trail is a good compromise, as it’s fairly easy and allows you to thoroughly admire and enjoy the landscape.
The trail is well marked and easy to follow, however it’s not always easy to walk on. You’ll be walking over volcanic rocks and at times it can be easy to stumble, but don’t let it distract you from the gorgeous scenery.
What I found particularly intriguing was seeing pine trees growing out of the black volcanic ground. As you loop around you will also be able to see all the way down to the sea and the nearby islands.
While it might not have the dramatic green cliffs of Anaga, this Tenerife hike has a unique scenery and epic views, making it a must on any Tenerife bucket list.
Best hikes in the Teno mountains
With places like Teide and Anaga attracting all the hikers, the Teno Mountains often don’t get the attention they deserve.
Located on the north-western side of Tenerife, this mountain range has dramatic green mountains similar to Anaga, as well as rocky landscapes similar to Teide.
Punta de Teno
Length: 10km
Duration: 5 – 6 hours
Elevation change: 400m ascending & 800m descending
Difficulty: Moderate
This hike is very long and can easily take all day; especially taking into account also breaks for lunch and relaxing. We did a Tenerife hiking tour with Anaga Experience for this hike as we wanted to try a guided experience.
We parked our car in Buenavista and then took a public bus to the start of the trail. Unfortunately it was very cloudy when we did it and we couldn’t see much, but the view from the start of the trail is meant to be incredible.
You will spend the first part of the trail walking along the mountain ridge, with a view of the Teno mountains on both side, as you gradually make your way downhill.
The hike starts at almost 900 metres in height and goes all the way down to the sea, meaning you will be able to see some pretty drastic changes in environment.
The plants surrounding the trail will also be very varied and interesting.
Around half way through the landscape will change from green mountains to rockier surroundings, and this is where it also gets steeper. Arriving at the Punta Teno lighthouse after walking for 10km felt simply incredible.
Here you can go for a refreshing swim in the sea (which was much needed for me!) and relax before taking a bus back to Buenavista, with the dramatic cliffs of Los Gigantes in the background.
This hike relies a lot on public transport so make sure to check the times beforehand, since the buses don’t run very regularly in Tenerife.
Other awesome hikes in Tenerife
These are hikes that aren’t part of a mountain range or national park, but which, regardless, are incredibly beautiful and worthy of mention in this Tenerife hikes bucket list.
Rambla de Castro
Length: 9.3km
Duration: 3 hours
Elevation change: 380m
Difficulty: Easy
This trail can be both a lovely coastal walk and a slightly more challenging hike. The trail is linear and takes around 1.5 hours if you do it one way, and 3 hours if you do also the return.
There are public buses that will take you back to the starting point if you choose to do it one way. There are also two different trailheads, depending on which side of the island you’re coming from and prefer to start with.
We started at the Mirador de San Pedro end of the trail, and fell in love with the views right from the start. You will walk alongside a huge banana plantation, before then proceeding to the main trail.
The trail is clearly marked and lined with palm trees. It’s part of a natural reserve, and there are many smaller trails leading to viewpoints and green areas that you can follow.
With its steep cliffs and palm trees, Rambla de Castro was giving me some serious Bali vibes. You can also walk down to Playa de Castro, a black rock beach lined surrounded by tall cliffs and with a waterfall falling directly on the beach.
Barranco del Infierno
Length: 6.5km
Duration: 3 hours
Elevation change: 500m
Difficulty: Easy
This hike is located within a natural reserve with limited access. They only allow a maximum of 300 people in per day, and you have to reserve your spot and time online beforehand.
Entrance costs 8.50 EUR for non-resident adults and 4.25 EUR for non-resident children. It can get booked up very quickly in high season, so make sure to reserve in advance to secure your spot!
At the entrance they will give you a helmet that you need to keep on for the whole duration of the hike. The hike itself is very enjoyable, with gorgeous views and an easy to walk on trail.
You will see the best views at the start of the trail, with the sea on one side and the dramatic cliffs on the other. As you go deeper into the barranco however, it becomes more unique, with the towering cliffs of the barranco on every side.
The hike ends at a waterfall at the end of the barranco, where you then turn back and return the same way. The waterfall is pretty, but if you visit in summer it won’t have a lot of water.
Personally I found walking through the steep barranco cliffs more exciting than the waterfall at the end. Overall it’s a pretty unique hike, and one that can be done even as a family activity.
Best places to stay for hiking in Tenerife
The best areas to stay in Tenerife ultimately depend on your interests.
If you’re reading this article, chances are you enjoy hiking. The best base for hiking in Tenerife is La Laguna, since it’s conveniently located close to Anaga and Teide.
However bear in mind that the distances in Tenerife aren’t particularly wide, and you can easily reach any part of the island in around one hour drive.
The north of the island can get quite chilly and wet in winter, so if you would rather enjoy some winter sun, you should consider the south of Tenerife. I lived in Las Americas for three months and loved it.
While the area is somewhat chaotic, the weather is nicer than the north, there are lots of tasty bars and restaurants, awesome surf spots,fun whale watching tours, and you can easily reach the best hiking spots by car.
I listed below some accommodation options for every budget, both in Las Americas and La Laguna.
Las Americas
Budget: Banana Surf House– This cute surf house is perfect for those looking for a cosy stay in a great location, without breaking the bank. It also has a huge rooftop with great sea views.
Click here to book your stay at Banana Surf House!
Mid-range: El Dorado Residence – I spent my first two months in Tenerife in an apartment in this residence, and loved every day of it. My apartment was spacious, in a great location (close to both the beach and supermarket) and had awesome sea and sunset views. I can highly recommend it.
Click here to see the latest prices and availability for apartments in El Dorado residence!
Luxury: Green Garden Eco Resort & Villas– If you’re looking to treat yourself, this is the perfect place to do so! With their beautiful villas, gardens and pool here you can pamper yourself while still being close to the buzz of Las Americas.
Click here to book your stay at Green Garden Eco Resort & Villas!
La Laguna
Budget: Estudio La Concepcion – Located in the heart of La Laguna, this cosy apartment is perfect for those who don’t want to break the bank but still be in a great location to explore both the historical city centre and the city surroundings.
Click here to book your stay at Estudio La Concepcion!
Mid-range: Hotel Boutique San Diego– This exquisite boutique hotel is located just on the outskirts of the historical city centre, within easy walking distance of the main attractions of La Laguna. It has a beautiful garden where you can relax after your hikes, as well as beautiful decorated rooms.
Click here to see the latest prices and availability at Hotel Boutique San Diego!
Luxury: La Laguna Gran Hotel – This sumptuously furnished hotel is perfect for those who want to treat themselves to a relaxing stay at the end of a long day of hiking. The hotel also has a gorgeous rooftop pool and is very centrally located.
Click here to book your stay at La Laguna Gran Hotel!
Final thoughts on the best Tenerife hiking tours
There you have it, the ultimate compilation of best hikes in Tenerife! Have you done other hikes that you think should feature on this list? Let me know in the comments below!
There are hundreds of hiking trails in Tenerife, if you want to look for other routes simply check the official Tenerife tourism website for all the hike details.
The ones in this guide are my personal favourites amongst the countless hikes I did while living in Tenerife for the past year.
I chose them because they’re the most scenic or unique hikes, with a good balance between difficulty and duration. Personally I don’t enjoy really long hikes with repetitive landscapes, which is why you won’t find any like that here.
I hope you find this guide useful in planning your time and hikes in Tenerife!
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