Arco de Tajao (translates to Arch of Tajao in English) is a sensational underrated natural attraction in the south of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Located in Tenerife’s San Miguel de Tajao, near Playa de Tajao, you’ll find this incredible natural arch.
In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about visiting Arco de Tajao. Other than describing this attraction and showing you photos of it, we’ll detail its location, how to get there and talk about other things to do in the area.
We hope you find this guide helpful. For information about other awesome natural attractions in Tenerife, read our guides about Roques de Garcia and Roque Cinchado, Paisaje Lunar and Roque de Taborno. Otherwise, have a look at our huge Tenerife Hiking Guide.
Table of Contents
A Trip to Arco de Tajao in Tenerife: Location
Admittedly, we hadn’t seen too many images of Arco de Tajao or seen much information about it prior to our trip to Tenerife. I’d managed to stumble upon the natural attraction, whilst looking at a map of the south of the island. On the final day of our Tenerife trip, Beck and I decided we’d visit Arco de Tajao, near San Miguel de Tajao and
Playa de Tajao. And, we’re very pleased we did! Arco de Tajao is a phenomenal natural attraction, located here in the Tajao ravine. After parking here, you’ll find a short and steep trail leading down to the natural arch.
Arco de Tajao (Arch of Tajao)
For such an amazing natural site, it isn’t hugely popular and well-known to tourists. Sure, locals do know about it. And, we did encounter some tourists during our visit. But, overall, it seemed a bit odd that the natural attraction was so quiet, given its beauty.
Basically, Arco de Tajao is a natural structure that was formed from volcanic eruptions around 150,000–700,000 years ago. Over time, natural erosion has carved out incredible shapes into the existing volcanic mound. Essentially, parts of the volcanic rock would have collapsed and buckled over time, leaving us with an astonishing natural arch.
Arco de Tajao Sits Within An Epic Coastal Landscape
Arco de Tajao is located near the coastal town of San Miguel de Tajao in Tenerife. Indeed, from the natural arch, you’ll enjoy far-reaching views of the sensational Tenerife coastline. Although, the arch itself is positioned in a very barren and desolate area of the coast.
Other Things to Do in San Miguel de Tajao, Tenerife
Let’s look at other things to do in the area before or after a visit to Tenerife’s Arco de Tajao.
Arco de Tajao Hike
If you want to explore Arco de Tajao as part of a longer adventure, then consider doing this hike, starting in La Maretas. The hike explores the coastline, visiting La Caleta, Las Arenas, Playa de Tajao and San Miguel de Tajao, whilst also visiting the natural arch. Just be warned, we’ve heard the trail isn’t well-defined and can be easily lost.
- Type: Loop
- Distance: 6.9km
- Time: 2 hours
- Accumulated elevation gain: 1405m
- Difficulty: Easy
- Trailhead location: La Maretas
- Map: AllTrails
Playa de Tajao
The most popular beach in San Miguel de Tajao is Playa de Tajao. Certainly, after exploring the natural arch, you’ll have worked up an appetite for a swim at the nearby Playa de Tajao. It’s a pebble beach, featuring amazing sandstone rock formations across its shoreline.
Other Things and Tours to Do in Tenerife
Of course, there are many exceptional natural attractions in Teide National Park. We highly recommend hiking and checking out other attractions at this national park. If you don’t have your own set of wheels, it may be best to do a tour to experience the best of the area. We’ve heard awesome things about GetYourGuide’s Tenerife: Teide National Park Full-Day Scenic Tour. Certainly, it’s a highly-rated tour with glowing reviews.
How to Get to Arco de Tajao
The simplest and quickest way to get to Arco de Tajao in San Miguel de Tajao, Tenerife, is to drive there yourself. If you’re visiting from abroad, then you’ll need to hire a car. We recommend using Rentalcars.com. You’ll find a wide variety of cars on Rental Cars, which are easy to book online. We easily picked up and dropped off a car from South Tenerife Airport. The free and flexible cancellation policy is also an added security, just in case.
Public transport: it’s possible to reach Arco de Tajao by bus. Depending on which direction you’re coming from, you’ll alight from either this bus stop or this one. From there, you can simply walk to the natural arch (it’ll take around 10–15 minutes). We recommend using Google Maps or heading to the official Titsa website to play your journey.
Gear Essentials
These are some gear essentials for exploring Arco de Tajao in Tenerife.
- Merrell Moab Mid Gore-Tex Hiking Boots: it’s not a long walk to explore the natural arch, but hiking boots will come in handy. That’s because you’ll be walking on dusty, rugged and steep terrain.
- Osprey Skarab 30L Day Backpack: a great adventure backpack, which has plenty of space to store your gear.
- Columbia Convertible Trousers: a great pair of lightweight convertible trousers, which are perfect for protecting your skin from the sun.
The weather conditions in Tenerife are usually very dry and hot. So, make sure to pack plenty of water and wear long sleeves, sunscreen and a hat.
If you’re interested in a longer hiking gear list, then read our 66 Travel Items You Must Travel With. Additionally, for a list of everything else you’d need for travelling, read our Packing Checklist.
Bonus Tips
- Visit the Canary Islands outside of peak season: sure, swimming at Playa de Tajao will be a tad cooler. But, for milder weather, fewer crowds and cheaper prices, visit Tenerife outside of summer. Beck and I visited in the non-peak season and had an absolute blast!
- Hotel recommendation: if you’re looking to avoid the tourist areas, but you still want to stay relatively close to both Teide National Park and Arco de Tajao, then consider staying in Adeje. Both Apartamentos Barranco del Infierno and Las 7 Islas, Barranco de Adeje are great Adeje-based accommodation options. Both are located at the foot of Barranco del Infierno, which is another place you have to visit!
- Best time to visit: with the hot weather in mind, it may be best to avoid visiting during midday, when the sun is at its strongest. Either visit early in the morning or late afternoon.
Did you enjoy visiting this epic natural arch? Leave us a comment below, we’d love to hear from you!
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