Hiking Highlights of Tenerife

Trip Details

This 9-night Hiking Highlights of Tenerife trip offers a wonderfully unique hiking experience, taking in the best parts of the GR131 (long-distance trail) with fantastic views of El Teide, the highest mountain in Spain at 3700 metres, along the way.

Our tour also incorporates some stunning walks in the Parque Rural De Anaga in the North of the island, an area with spectacular mountains and dense laurasilva cloud forests in the north of the island, offering some of the best walking on this diverse island.

The walks are on average 15 km per day through wonderful terrain including volcanic ash, fascinating rock formations, stunning cliffside paths and barrancos, with varying ascents and descents

The accommodation we offer is of good quality in a variety of hotels and apartments. (Some modern and some authentically Canarian and 5 of the nights include hotels/apartments with a swimming pool).

We start and finish our Hiking Highlights of Tenerife tour in the lovely coastal village of El Médano which is close to the south airport for the convenience of our clients, but also offers a low key friendly and super cool beachside village atmosphere.

El Médano has a variety of excellent restaurants and bars and offers the opportunity to partake in various water-sports including windsurfing and kite surfing, or walk up the easily reached Montana Roja which sits in a prominent position on the edge of the village, or you can just simply relax on the beaches and enjoy the views.

What`s included

• 9 nights accommodation
• 8 fully guided walks
• Backup Car for the whole trip
• Baggage transfer to each day finish point
• Taxi/Van transfer where applicable
• One or two experienced and friendly guides (qualified mountain leader)
• 2 dinners and 4 breakfasts

What`s not included

• all meals other then specified
• Travel insurance (highly recommended)
• Flight to Tenerife & Return

Dates

• 21/02/2024 – 01/03/2024
• 06/03/2025 – 15/03/2025

PRICE

• £1299 pp Hotel/Apartments
• Single supplement £240
• Discounts available when booking for 3 or more people

AT A CLANCE

• Group size: 4 – 12
• 8 days walking
• Difficulty:
• Deposit: £200
• Start: Tenerife South Airport
• Finish: Tenerife South Airport
• Earlier arrival possible
• Extension possible

ACCOMMODATION & MEALS

• 9 nights Hotel/Appartments
• 4 breakfast
• 2 dinner

Day 1 – Arrival and transfer to El Medano

After arriving into Tenerife south airport, we transfer you to the village of El Medano.

After checking in to our hotel, depending on flight times there is time to explore this lovely low key village, maybe with a short hike up Montana Roja, or try some kitesurfing, stand up paddling, or just relax and enjoy the beachside cafes.

We will have an informal introduction to the week ahead before our group dinner in the village.

Day 2 – Ifonche to Vilaflor

Today we transfer to the village of Ifonche, where we begin our first exciting day of walking.

It’s a fairly strenuous but very enjoyable climb up as we pass old cultivation terraces, cross fantastic rugged barrancos and hills.

We continue on fine paths through pine forests, with some simply amazing views along the way, before arriving at our accommodation for the night in the quaint little mountain village of Vilaflor.

Walk details: 12 km/ 7.5 miles | approx. 4 – 5 hours | ↗ 750m/2450ft | ↘ 350m/1150ft

Day 3 – Vilaflor to Parador at El Teide

A lovely walk today taking in some of Tenerife’s best scenery with simply spectacular El Teide views, sea views and very varied terrain underfoot.

Another reasonably strenuous route takes us through pine forest, passing dramatic lunar landscapes and surreal slopes of volcanic ash.

We finish our walk at the Parador de Las Canadas del Teide, which offers fantastic views onto El Teide and the surrounding rugged landscape. Dinner in the Parador is included on this night.

Walk details: 15.5 km/ 9.5 miles | approx. 5 hours | ↗ 1150 m/3775 ft | ↘ 375 m/1230 ft

Day 4 – Parador to El Portillo

An easier section of the Hiking Highlights of Tenerife trip today with less up and down! We begin from the Parador on an undulating track which is flanked by dramatic and rugged terrain either side.

There are pinnacles and rock buttresses to feast our eyes on along the way as well as an abundance of beautiful Tajinaste, a stunning flowering plant endemic to the Canary Islands and found mainly in this area.

Once we reach El Portillo, we have a refreshment in the bar here before transfer to our accommodation in the vibrant town of La Orotava

Walk details: 17 km/ 10.5 miles | approx. 5 – 6 hours | ↗ 200 m/655 ft | ↘ 200 m/820 ft

Day 5 – El Portillo to La Caldera

Today we head back to El Portillo where we pick up our walking route to La Caldera. This lovely stretch is mostly downhill within the Parque Corona Forestal.

We descend through luxurious pine forest, crossing several barrancos and often through Laurisilva (subtropical forest) before eventually arriving into the recreation area of La Caldera.

From here we transfer you to our accommodation for the next three nights in the small coastal town of Bajamar lying at the western edge of the spectacular Anaga mountains.

Walk details: 13 km/ 8 miles | approx. 4- 5 hours | ↗ 300 m/985 ft | ↘ 1100 m/3610 ft

Day 6 – Transfer from La Oratava to Anaga Mountains

On this day, we transfer you from the accommodation in La Oratava to the Anaga Mountain area.

After arrival at our accommodation, you are free to relax on this rest day, alternately we can offer an optional short walk in the area.

Walk details: optional

Day 7 – Cruz del Carmen to Punto del Hidalgo

After a short transfer to Cruz del Carmen, we begin our walk which descends all the way down to Punto del Hidaglo.

We pass the tiny village of Chinamada where there are wonderful cave-houses as well as Guanche caves. It’s a beautiful walk with some fantastic views and breathtaking landscapes.

Once back in Bajamar there is time to relax at the apartments and explore the village and perhaps take a dip in the amazing Piscina Naturales de Bajamar (safe natural pools).

Walk details: 10 km/ 6.25 miles | approx. 3 – 4 hours | ↗ 50 m/165 ft | ↘ 1000 m/3280 ft

Day 8 – Anaga circuit: La Cumbra, Afur and Taganana

This is a classic circuit within the majestic Parque de Anaga mountains, with a dramatic Barranco descent, superb rugged coastal balcony path and steep paths up through Laurisilva woods.

We pass the delightful hamlet of Taganana where we have a lunch stop on the route. The lovely whitewashed village houses are tucked within the emerald folds of the Anaga mountains.

All in all a great day of diverse scenery in the north of Tenerife.

Walk details: 14 km/ 8.5 miles | approx. 5 – 7 hours | ↗ 1000 m/3280 ft ↘ 1000 m/3280 ft

Day 9 – Pico del Ingles to Santa Cruz

The Mirador Pico Del Ingles is one of the loveliest viewpoints on Tenerife. On a clear day, you have the vast areas of the north as well as a view over to Gran Canaria.

This route takes us along an old mountain path from the Anaga main ridge down to the Capital Santa Cruz. A lovely half-day walk, still allowing enough time to enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the village of Medano at the end of this memorable week.

We will spend the last dinner to reminisce about our wonderful journey together in one of the many restaurants and tapas bars within the village.

Walk details: 7 km/ 4.5 miles | approx. 3 hours | ↗ 30 m/100 ft | ↘ 960 m/3150 ft

Day 10 – Airport transfers

It’s time to say goodbye to everyone you started to know very well on the Hiking Highlights of Tenerife trip. We offer transfers to the airport throughout the day from El Medano.

Please see additional information below for extending the trip to include an exciting guided ascent of Spain’s highest mountain El Teide at 3700metres!