Hiking Tenerife: The 23 Best Hikes In Tenerife

Tenerife is an underrated hiking destination. Tucked away in the Canary Islands, Tenerife is a breathtaking island with magnificent mountains and sublime coastline. Thankfully, there are many incredible Tenerife hiking trails to do that’ll help you explore this beautiful island. To that end, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about hiking in Tenerife. This will include details about the 23 best hikes in Tenerife.

Before reading this guide, feel free to watch our Hiking Tenerife YouTube video below. You’ll find many of the hiking routes described in this guide in the production.

The Best Tenerife Hikes

There’s more to Tenerife than just chillin’ at beaches and partying. Tenerife is actually bursting at the seams with mind-blowing hiking. Indeed, Beck and I implore you to take a hiking holiday in Tenerife.

When it comes to hiking in Tenerife, there are three main areas with the best hikes. These include Teide National Park, Anaga Rural Park and Teno Rural Park. In this guide to the 23 best walks in Tenerife, we’ve ordered the trails in sections under each of these destinations. This will help you get your bearings about the best hikes in each area, which should help with your trip planning. We’ve also included an Other Best Hikes in Tenerife section, which details five other awesome Tenerife walks, which aren’t located in Teide National Park, Anaga Rural Park or Teno Rural Park.

FYI: Beck and I personally completed most of the hiking trails mentioned in this guide. If you’re particularly interested in one of the hikes below and want more details about trail navigation, how to get there and what to expect, just click on the link provided in that section. That way, you’ll be able to read the individual article we wrote about that hike and all the in-depth information to go with it.

Best Hiking in Tenerife Map

Before we tell you more about the 23 best hikes in Tenerife, we recommend using the interactive map below. This map will show exactly where all the best Tenerife hikes are located. This should also really help you plan your Tenerife hiking trip.

Teide National Park

Teide National Park is the most visited national park in Tenerife. This isn’t by chance. Teide National Park, AKA El Teide National Park is famous for Mount Teide, which is Tenerife’s highest mountain. The national park is also home to many outstanding natural attractions such as Roques de Garcia and Roque Cinchado. On top of that, there are numerous hiking trails to explore. Without further ado, let’s talk about the six best hikes in Tiede National Park, Tenerife.

1. Roques de Garcia and Roque Cinchado

• Type: Loop
• Distance: 4.3km
• Time: 1.5–2 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 200m
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trailhead: Mirador de la Ruleta
• Map: Wikiloc

Located in the Las Cañadas del Teide caldera, the bizarre rock formations known as Roques de Garcia are a must-see. In particular, Roque Cinchado, which is one of the rock formations, is an otherworldly landform, which attracts many visitors. Indeed, there’s no wonder Roques de Garcia has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007.

Of course, we’d recommend hiking around the immense natural attraction, rather than just simply visiting it. This awesome Tenerife hiking loop explores Roques de Garcia, Roque Cinchado, and Mirador de la Ruleta as well as other rocky landforms located in Las Cañadas del Teide such as La Catedral, La Cascada, El Torrotito, El Burro and Roque Blanco.

Read more: Roques de Garcia and Roque Cinchado – The Ultimate Hiking Guide

2. Alto de Guajara (Mount Guajara)

• Type: Loop
• Distance: 11.15km
• Time: 3.5–5.5 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 660m
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trailhead: Cañada Blanca Visitor Centre
• Map: Wikiloc

Mount Guajara is one of the highest mountains in Tenerife at 2,718 metres above sea level. The Mount Guajara hike involves following a series of interconnected trails that lead you to the summit of Mount Guajara. From there, you’ll face opposite Mount Teide, experiencing spectacular views of Tenerife’s highest mountain. Other than summiting Mount Guajara, you’ll also enjoy an awesome hike exploring the immense volcanic landscape. By the way, the trail starts at the Cañada Blanca Visitor Centre.

Technically speaking, Alto de Guajara is just a small section of the trail that makes up the Mount Guajara hike. But, it’s the trail that leads to Mount Guajara – the main drawcard of the hike. So, that’s why the Mount Guajara hike is also usually known as Alto de Guajara.

Read more: Alto de Guajara – An Epic Hike to Mount Guajara in Tenerife

3. Mount Teide Hike (via Montana Blanca)

• Type: Out & Back
• Distance: 19.15km
• Time: 7–10 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 1,615m
• Difficulty: Very hard
• Trailhead: Sendero de Montana Blanca Car Park
• Map: Wikiloc

There are different trails leading to the summit of Mount Teide. But, the classic route to Mount Teide is via Montana Blanca. Perhaps, this trail is the hardest hike in Tenerife. That’s because you’ll gain approx 1,600 metres to reach the peak of Mount Teide. From all accounts, you’ll experience a great deal of accomplishment by reaching the summit. Albeit, it’s a tough and gruelling slog to the top on uneven volcanic terrain.

FYI – to access the crater summit, you’ll need a Pico del Teide Access Permit. A permit can be bought on the official website. But, unfortunately, permits sell out months in advance. So, you better be prepared! If you don’t have a permit, you can still walk to Mirador de La Fortaleza (La Fortaleza Viewpoint), which is near the crater summit. But, you won’t be able to proceed any further to the crater summit, which would be a disappointing end to your hike if it’s unexpected.

4. Montana Rajada

• Type: Out and Back
• Distance: 5.8km
• Time: 1–2 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 205m
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trailhead: Sendero de Montana Blanca Car Park
• Map: AllTrails

Officially known as Sendero 27 (S-27), the Montana Rajada trail involves a short and easy walk. During the hike, you’ll actually walk in between both Montana Rajada and Montana Blanca, which are two smaller mountains dwarfed by Mount Teide. By the way, you won’t summit either of these mountains. You’ll simply walk on the flat volcanic valley that sits in between the two mountains.

Read more: Montana Rajada and Montana Blanca – The Complete Hiking Guide

5. Mirador de Samara Walk

• Type: Loop
• Distance: 5.35km
• Time: 1–2 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 285m
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trailhead location: Mirador de Samara
• Map: Wikiloc

When it comes to trekking in Tenerife, many people miss the Mirador de Samara Walk. Sure, people will stop at the Mirador itself. But, they won’t explore the awesome loop trail, which is officially known as Sendero 13 (S-13). Starting at Mirador de Samara, the exhilarating walk then continues around Montana de la Botija. Along the way, you’ll enjoy incredible views of Mount Teide and Pico Viejo – Tenerife’s second-highest mountain.

Read more: Mirador de Samara Walk – Everything You Need to Know

6. Chinyero Volcano Loop

• Type: Loop
• Distance: 6.4km
• Time: 2–3 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 160m
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trailhead location: Sendero del Chinyero or Mirador de los Poleos
• Map: Wikiloc

Also known as the Chinyero Circuit (S-27), the Chinyero Volcano Loop isn’t technically located in Teide National Park. It falls just outside the parameters of the national park in Reserva Natural Especial del Chinyero (Chinyero Special Nature Reserve). But, in reality, it feels very much like part of the national park. Besides, it’s only a stone’s throw away from the Mirador de Samara Walk!

Anyway, Chinyero Volcano is the youngest volcano in Tenerife. Fascinatingly, the volcano only formed recently in the 1909 eruption. By doing this walk, you’ll explore the relatively newly formed volcanic fields. You’ll also see the brilliant red-tinged colour of Chinyero Volcano.

Read more: Chinyero Volcano (Volcan Chinyero) – Everything You Need to Know

Anaga Rural Park (Anaga Mountains)

The Anaga Rural Park was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2015. In fact, it covers most of the northeast corner of Tenerife, spanning approx. 140 km². The area is home to spectacular mountains, laurel forests and sensational coastline and black sand beaches. Indeed, if we had to choose our favourite area for hiking in Tenerife, we think it would have to be the Anaga Rural Park. So, let’s look at the best eight hikes in Anaga, Tenerife.

Read more: Insider Tips About Visiting the Anaga Rural Park In Tenerife

7. Punta del Hidalgo to Chinamada

• Type: Out & Back
• Distance: 10.5km
• Time: 3.5–5.5 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 700m
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trailhead: Punta del Hidalgo
• Map: Wikiloc

Known as PR-TF 10 and the Chinamada Trail, the route stretches from Punta del Hidalgo to Cruz del Carmen. Chinamada is actually located between these two towns. Certainly, there are many trail variations involving PR-TF 10. But, an increasingly popular option is the out and back hike from Punta del Hidalgo to Chinamada. That’s what Beck and I did. During this hike, you’ll explore a gigantic gorge called Barranco del Río, which provides epic mountain and coastal views.

Although, if time allows, we recommend doing the entire PR-TF 10 route. The typical direction of the route is from Cruz del Carmen to Punta del Hidalgo. After completing the hike in Punta del Hidalgo, it’s possible to get a bus back to Cruz del Carmen.

Read more: Chinamada Trail From Punta del Hidalgo – The Ultimate Guide

8. Playa de Benijo to El Draguillo (or to Faro de Anaga)

• Type: Loop
• Distance: 5.2km
• Time: 1.5–2.5 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 400m
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trailhead: Benijo
• Map: Wikiloc

One of the best hikes in Tenerife is the Playa de Benijo to El Draguillo hike. Basically, this hike is a shorter version of the classic Playa de Benijo to Faro de Anaga Loop Trail. The main reason you should do the Playa de Benijo to El Draguillo hike is to do a shorter walk to reach Mirador Cabezo del Tejo. We think Mirador Cabezo del Tejo is the best viewpoint in the Anaga Mountains. Otherwise, if you’re keen to explore more of the epic coastline and see the Faro de Anaga Lighthouse, then we recommend the Playa de Benijo to Faro de Anaga Loop Trail.

Read more: Playa de Benijo to El Draguillo – The Epic Mirador Cabezo del Tejo

9. Roque de Taborno Circuit Trail

• Type: Circuit
• Distance: 4km
• Time: 1.5–2.5 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 270m
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trailhead: Taborno
• Map: Wikiloc

When it comes to walking in Tenerife, the Roque de Taborno Circuit Trail is often missed. Indeed, lots of people are aware of the outstanding rocky monolith called Roque de Taborno. After all, it’s easy to see the incredibly shaped landform from many different parts of the Anaga Mountains. But, not many people hike around the legendary monolith. Other than exploring this amazing natural attraction, you’ll also enjoy brilliant coastal and mountain views along the trail. This includes awesome views from Mirador Fuente del Lomo.

Read more: Roque de Taborno – The Ultimate Tenerife Hiking Guide

10. Taganana to Playa de Tamadite

• Type: Out & Back
• Distance: 8.9km
• Time: 3–4 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 4200m
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trailhead: Taganana, Tenerife
• Map: AllTrails

Starting in the town of Taganana in the Anaga Mountains, you’ll follow the PR-TF 8 (Pista del Chorro). The trail then descends and winds its way through the mountainous coastal region to Playa de Tamadite. Certainly, Playa de Tamadite is one of the most picturesque beaches in the Anaga Rural Park. Another trail option of PR-TF 8 is a circular walk, which starts in Taganana, goes to Playa de Tamadite and then visits the town of Afur as part of the loop. Click here for information about this trail variation.

11. Igueste to Atalaya de los Ingleses

• Type: Out & Back
• Distance: 5.5km
• Time: 2 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 600m
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trailhead: Igueste
• Map: Wikiloc

Most of the popular Anaga Mountains hikes take place on the northern coastline of the Anaga Rural Park in Tenerife. But, the Igueste to Atalaya de los Ingleses hike is located on the opposite side of the peninsula, near the southern border. By doing this hike, you’ll see a less-explored area of the park. On this hike, you’ll experience sensational mountain and coastal views. Particularly, from Atalaya de los Ingleses, you’ll enjoy sweeping views of the coastline.

12. Sendero de los Sentidos (Path of the Senses)

• Type: Circuit
• Distance: 2km
• Time: 30–45 minutes
• Accumulated elevation gain: 95m
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trailhead: Centro de Visitantes del Parque Rural de Anaga (next to Mirador Cruz del Carmen)
• Map: Wikiloc

Other than the awesome mountain hikes, there are beautiful forest trails to explore in the Anaga Rural Park. One of the most well-known forest trails in Anaga is Sendero de los Sentidos (Path of the Senses). The walk is located in Cruz del Carmen and starts next to the Mirador Cruz del Carmen. Basically, there are three interconnected tracks, which explore the heart of the Anaga forest. Interestingly, the tracks follow the Antiguo Camino Real (Old Royal Road). Previous generations used this track to get between San Cristobal de La Laguna and the Anaga Rural Park!

Read more: Sendero de los Sentidos (Path of the Senses) in Anaga, Tenerife

13. Sendero El Bosque de los Enigmas (The Forest of Enigmas)

• Type: Loop
• Distance: 5km
• Time: 1–2 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 200m
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trailhead: Mirador de Zapata
• Map: AllTrails

Similar to Sendero de los Sentidos, Sendero El Bosque de los Enigmas (The Forest of Enigmas) involves another short and simple trail. During this walk, you’ll enjoy more of the splendid ancient laurel forest. Along the trail, there are many information boards, which tell you about the mystery of the forest. So, other than enjoying a relaxing walk, you’ll learn about the origin and history of the forest.

14. Sendero el Bosque Encantado (Enchanted Forest Trail)

• Type: Loop
• Distance: 6km
• Time: 1.5–2.5 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 400m
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trailhead: Bosque Encantado (La Ensillada) – El Pijaral
• Map: Wikiloc

The Enchanted Forest in the Anaga Rural Park is possibly the most beautiful laurel forest in Tenerife. You’ll find many large ferns and moss-covered trees whilst exploring the Enchanted Forest. If you arrive early and are lucky with the weather conditions, you may see a breathtaking mist that covers the forest floor. Certainly, it looks and feels enchanted!

Keep in mind that to visit the Enchanted Forest, you’ll need to book a free permit online. To conserve and protect the area, numbers are limited to 45 visitors per day. You can find permits for the Enchanted Forest here. Unfortunately, permits do book out in advance, so you’ll need to be prepared and book around 1–3 months in advance.

Teno Rural Park (Teno Mountains)

The Teno Rural Park, also known as the Teno Country Park and Teno Mountains is another spectacular natural space in Tenerife. Located in the northwestern corner of the island, the Teno Rural Park is most famous for Masca Gorge (Barranco de Masca). But, Teno Rural Park has many other great attractions to explore. With that said, let’s look at the four best hikes in the Teno Rural Park in Tenerife.

15. Masca Gorge Trail

• Type: Out & Back
• Distance: 12.6km
• Time: 5–8 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain and loss: 1,520m
• Difficulty: Very hard
• Trailhead: Masca
• Map: Wikiloc

Also known as the Masca trail and Masca hike in Tenerife, the Masca Gorge Trail is the most famous gorge walk on the island. Starting in the town of Masca, you’ll steeply descend the mesmerising gorge, finishing at Playa de Masca (Masca Beach).

Back in the day, you’d do this one way hike to the beach. You’d then catch a boat to Los Gigantes and then either get a taxi or bus back to Masca. But, recently (as of 2023), the boat service has been discontinued. Also, in recent years, the Masca Gorge Trail has been constantly closed due to landslides and track maintenance.

Currently, even if the track is open, you’re only allowed to do the gorge walk descent and ascent on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, by booking a ticket in advance here. Personally, Beck and I tried booking a ticket. But, there seemed to be no availability, at all. So, this meant we couldn’t do the hike. Hopefully, you’ll have more luck when you try to book!

16. Santiago del Teide to Masca

• Type: One way
• Distance: 8km
• Time: 2.5–3.5 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 325m
• Accumulated elevation loss: 630m
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trailhead: Masca
• Map: Wikiloc

Another hiking option involving Masca is the Santiago del Teide to Masca hike. Unlike the Masca Gorge Trail, this hike isn’t ticketed. So, accessing the trail shouldn’t be a problem. Although you won’t be accessing the gorge itself, you’ll still experience awesome views of the gorge and the surrounding coastline. Once you finish the hike in Masca, you can simply catch a bus back to Santiago de Teide. Alternatively, you can walk the remaining distance from Masca to Santiago del Teide. But, in this case, the final 5km would involve less inspiring and possibly less safe road walking.

17. Camino del Risco to Teno Alto to Punta de Teno

• Type: One way
• Distance: 10.9km
• Time: 3.5–5 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 675m
• Accumulated elevation loss: 800m
• Difficulty: Hard
• Trailhead: Barranco del Monte Car Park
• Map: Wikiloc

Located near the town of Buenavista del Norte, you’ll start this hike from the Barranco del Monte Car Park. At the car park, you’ll find the Camino del Risco trail sign. The car park is also located at the entrance of Carretera del Faro de Punta de Teno – a restricted access road leading to Punta de Teno, which is a remote and rocky headland with a lighthouse.

From this car park, you’ll complete the Camino del Risco hike (PR-TF 58) to Teno Alto, which is a small hamlet in the Teno Mountains. Then, you’ll follow the PR-TF 51 trail to Punta de Teno. At Punta de Teno, you’ll have the lighthouse to explore as well as outstanding views of the Los Gigantes cliffs. From Punta de Teno, it’s recommended to catch the bus back to Buenavista del Norte. You’ll find the bus schedule here.

18. Tamaimo to Guama Loop Trail

• Type: Loop
• Distance: 4.7km
• Time: 2–3 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 430m
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trailhead: Tamaimo
• Map: Wikiloc

Another great hiking option in the Teno Rural Park in Tenerife is the Tamaimo to Guama circuit walk. Starting in the town of Tamaimo, you’ll complete a loop trail (PR-TF 65), which involves summiting Montana de Guama. Along this walk, you’ll explore Barranco Manchas de Las Diaz. Indeed, you’ll enjoy incredible views of the mountains that make up the southern region of Teno Rural Park. By the way, it’s recommended to do this hike in an anti-clockwise direction for the best hiking experience.

Other Best Hikes in Tenerife

You’ll find other amazing Tenerife hiking opportunities outside of the main national and rural parks. Certainly, some of our favourite hikes in Tenerife weren’t in Teide National Park, Anaga Rural Park or Teno Rural Park. With that in mind, let’s look at five brilliant hikes located in other areas of the coast or in other reserves or protected areas.

19. Montana Roja

• Type: Loop
• Distance: 8.5km
• Time: 2.5–3.5 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 170m
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trailhead: Parking Montaña Roja
• Map: Wikiloc

When it comes to hiking in south Tenerife, Montana Roja should be high on your to-do list. Also known as the Red Mountain or Red Rock, Montana Roja looms large over its surrounding beaches, including Playa de Montana Roja, Playa del Médano and Playa de la Tejita. By hiking to the summit of Montana Roja, you’ll enjoy excellent views of all of these beaches. From there, it’s also easy enough to extend your walk to explore these beaches. That’s what Beck and I did and we highly recommend it.

Read more: Montana Roja Tenerife – The Ultimate Hiking Guide

20. Paisaje Lunar

• Type: Loop
• Distance: 13.5km
• Time: 3–4 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 720m
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trailhead: Vilaflor de Chasna
• Map: Wikiloc

Paisaje Lunar is an incredible natural lunar landscape. Located just south of Teide National Park, the official route (PR-TF 72) to Paisaje Lunar starts in the quaint town of Vilaflor de Chasna. From there, you’ll wind through a lovely pine forest, before reaching the trailhead for the Paisaje Lunar (Los Escurriales) 3.6km circular PR-TF 72 path. Admittedly, the views of Paisaje Lunar from the main lookout are underwhelming.

So, we recommend following an unofficial route to the base of the spectacular lunar landforms. Indeed, this is one of the best ways to explore this landscape. Overall, PR-TF 72 is easily one of the best hikes in south Tenerife.

Read more: Paisaje Lunar in Tenerife – The Ultimate Hiking Guide

21. Barranco del Infierno

• Type: Out and Back
• Distance: 6.4km
• Time: 2–3 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 340m
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trailhead: Barranco del Infierno Ticket Office
• Map: Wikiloc

Barranco del Infierno is an almighty gorge located in Adeje. Doing the marvellous Barranco del Infierno hike is hands-down the best way to experience this natural attraction. The gorge walk features many viewpoints and attractions as it meets the gorge floor. Following the riverbed, you’ll eventually reach a waterfall!

Keep in mind, you’ll need to buy a ticket online in advance in order to do this hike. That’s because the gorge trail is managed by the Reserva Natural Especial Barranco del Infierno (Barranco del Infierno Special Nature Reserve). You can buy tickets on the official website. Unlike permits for Mount Teide, it’s usually possible to book Barranco del Infierno tickets just days in advance.

Read more: Barranco del Infierno – The Ultimate Hiking Guide

22. Los Gigantes Hike

• Type: Loop
• Distance: 12.7km
• Time: 4–6 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 1,080m
• Difficulty: Hard
• Trailhead: Los Gigantes
• Map: Wikiloc

The Los Gigantes cliffs are one of the most impressive coastal attractions in Tenerife. In recent years, the Los Gigantes Hike has become an increasingly popular option. The thrilling and sketchy trail explores the cliff tops above the Los Gigantes cliffs, leading you through a series of tunnels.

Unfortunately, the tunnels are often closed without announcement. This means you can easily get stuck on the hike with no other option but to retrace your steps. We’ve also heard the hike is dangerous in sections when the trail becomes less defined. Because we couldn’t get any reliable information about tunnel or trail closure, Beck and I decided against doing this hike. Alternatively, you can simply enjoy a walk along the Los Gigantes promenade to enjoy breathtaking views of the cliffs.

23. Rambla de Castro

• Type: Out & Back
• Distance: 11.2km
• Time: 3–5 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 290m
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trailhead: Maritim Hotel (AKA Precise Resort)
• Map: Wikiloc

Last but not least is the Rambla de Castro walk. It’s a popular hiking trail in an area called Los Realejos on the mid-north coast of Tenerife. Located in the Paisaje Protegido de Rambla de Castro (Protected Landscape of Rambla de Castro), Rambla de Castro includes many brilliant lookouts. From the initial viewpoints (Mirador Roque Grande and Mirador Playa los Roques) until the last (Mirador San Pedro), you’ll enjoy superb coastal landscapes. In particular, the views of Playa de los Roques from Mirador Playa los Roques are just something else!

Read more: Rambla de Castro – The Ultimate Guide To This Epic Coastal Walk

Before You Hike Tenerife: Useful Things to Know

Now you know all about the 23 best hikes in Tenerife, let’s look at some practical tips for your visit. Below, we’ll talk through logistics regarding hiking in Tenerife. This will include information about transport, accommodation, tours, gear and bonus tips.

Getting Around Tenerife

In terms of getting around Tenerife for your hiking trip, you have two options – either driving yourself or using public transport. Let’s explore these two options below.

Car Hire in Tenerife

The easiest and quickest way to get around Tenerife is to drive yourself. If you’re visiting from abroad, you’ll probably need to hire a car.

To find out more about renting a car with Discover Cars, read our Discover Cars review and Discover Cars Insurance review.

Public Transport: Bus

​​​​​​​Hiking in Tenerife without a car is also a possibility. Thankfully, there are bus services reaching all corners of Tenerife. Indeed, you’ll be able to use bus services to get to most, if not all, of the trailheads of the hikes mentioned in this guide. We recommend using Google Maps or the official Titsa bus company website to plan your journey.

Certainly, hiking Tenerife by bus is possible. But, we recommend driving as that’s much more convenient and time efficient. Additionally, you’ll have more freedom and flexibility to explore Tenerife at your pace, without restriction.

Where to Stay in Tenerife For Hiking

Truth be told, there isn’t a best place to stay for hiking in Tenerife. It all really depends on exactly where you plan to hike. Below, you’ll find a rough guide to the best areas to stay according to which national or rural park you’re visiting.

• Teide National Park: Vilaflor de Chasna, Arona or anywhere in south Tenerife (such as El Médano, Costa Adeje, Los Gigantes, Los Cristianos and Las Americas).
• Anaga Rural Park: San Cristobal de La Laguna or Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
• Teno Rural Park: Buenavista del Norte, Los Silos, Santiago del Teide or Los Gigantes. At a stretch, you could also stay in the coastal areas of south Tenerife.

Personally, Beck and I stayed in south Tenerife (specifically, at Las 7 Islas Barranco de Adeje) when we explored Teide National Park and Teno Rural Park. We then stayed in San Cristobal de La Laguna when we hiked in the Anaga Rural Park.

Below, we’ll explore some common accommodation options when it comes to hiking in Tenerife. To avoid going overboard, we’ve simply handpicked the best budget, mid-range and luxury options for a popular destination in south Tenerife – Los Cristianos. From there, you can explore Teide National Park and even, at a stretch, Teno Rural Park. We’ll then list the ideal budget, mid-range and luxury options for San Cristobal de La Laguna and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Both of these north Tenerife locations are fantastic bases for exploring the Anaga Rural Park.

Los Cristianos Accommodation

In reality, Los Cristianos is a popular resort town for tourists. Is it the best place to stay to explore Teide National Park or Teno Rural Park? No. As mentioned, the best places to stay for exploring Teide National Park are Vilafor de Chasna or Arona. But, accommodation in those mountain towns is very expensive. By staying in Los Cristianos, you’ll find a much more affordable stay. As long as you don’t mind a longer drive to reach Teide National Park (or even Teno Rural Park), it could actually be a decent base to explore hikes in these areas of Tenerife. Of course, for exploring Teno Rural Park, a suitable coastal resort town alternative would be staying in Los Gigantes.

Anyway, here are our accommodation recommendations for Los Cristianos.

Search for other accommodation options in Los Cristianos here.

San Cristobal de La Laguna

Simply known as La Laguna, this colonial-style town is the ideal base for exploring the Anaga Rural Park. As mentioned, Beck and I based ourselves in La Laguna during our time exploring Anaga.

Search for other accommodation options in La Laguna here.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Other than staying in La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (AKA Santa Cruz) is another popular base for exploring the Anaga Mountains. Being the capital city of Tenerife, you’ll have the greatest range of accommodation options. With so many options to choose from, we’ve helped by narrowing down the list!

Search for other accommodation options in Santa Cruz here.

Best Tenerife Hiking Tours

Other than independently hiking in Tenerife, you’ll find excellent organised private and group tours. In particular, Get Your Guide offers highly-rated hiking tours in Tenerife. By doing a tour with a local guide, you’ll learn even more about the areas you’re trekking in. This will include learning information about the history of the area as well as learning about the flora and fauna.

When it comes to tours in Teide National Park, GetYourGuide’s Mount Teide Hiking Tour with Cable Car is a popular option. That’s because permits for hiking the summit crater at Mount Teide sell out far in advance. By booking an organised tour, you can secure a last-minute permit. For the same reason, the Mount Teide Summit Guided Hiking Tour is another popular tour.

We’ve also heard great things about GetYourGuide’s Anaga Rural Park Private Tour. Operated by Feel Tenerife, you’ll hike, visit remote towns and feast on local cuisine.

Otherwise, if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly hiking tour, we recommend either the Half-Day Hiking in the Anaga Mountains or the 2 Hour Hiking Tour in Anaga Forest.

Tenerife Gear Essentials

These are our gear essentials for hiking in Tenerife.

To find out more about all of the gear that we use and recommend, read our guides about our favourite hiking gear, travel gear and camera gear. Otherwise, read our comprehensive travel packing checklist.

Tenerife Hiking Guidebook

If you’re after a Tenerife hiking book, this one comes highly rated – Tenerife: The Finest Walks on the Coast and in the Mountains (Rother Walking Guide).

Other Hiking and Travel Guides For Tenerife, Spain

To easily access all of our Tenerife hiking and travel guides, click here. This is where you’ll find a list of all of the articles we have written about individual walks in Tenerife.

Travel Insurance For Hiking in Tenerife

Heymondo is one of the best budget travel insurance providers on the market. They provide comprehensive travel and medical insurance that won’t break the bank. Whether it’s single trip insurance, annual multi-trip insurance or long stay insurance, Heymondo offers affordable travel and medical insurance to suit all of your needs. Personally, we use Heymondo travel insurance and highly recommend it. To find out more about Heymondo travel and medical insurance, read our Heymondo travel insurance review.

Bonus Tips For Hiking in Tenerife

• Trail closures: it’s common for trails to suddenly close due to landslides or because of track maintenance. We recommend calling or emailing local tourist offices ahead of time to check on the status of trail openings when you plan to visit.
• Food: if you’re a shoestring traveller or you simply have a busy Tenerife hiking itinerary, then we recommend packing your own food and drinks rather than eating at restaurants. We recommend buying your groceries from Lidl, which is a franchise budget supermarket that has locations all over the island.
• Visit Tenerife outside of peak season: for cooler weather, fewer crowds and cheaper accommodation and flights, visit outside of summer. Beck and I visited in the non-peak season in February and had a great time. With that in mind, we can definitely recommend hiking Tenerife in January or other quieter months. Just make sure to pack your waterproofs if you visit in winter!

Are you planning a hiking trip to Tenerife? Bookmark this guide as your ultimate online Tenerife hiking resource.