Paisaje Lunar is an amazing natural lunar landscape in Tenerife. Situated next to the town of Vilaflor de Chasna, the mindblowing rock formations at Paisaje Lunar can be easily reached via the official walking route from town. There’s also a shorter version walk that we’ll discuss in this guide. To that end, this guide will tell you everything you need to know about visiting the incredible Paisaje Lunar in Tenerife.
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The Journey to Paisaje Lunar in Tenerife
When it comes to natural attractions in Tenerife, Paisaje Lunar is up there with the best of them. Translating in English to ‘lunar landscape’, Paisaje Lunar is one of those unbelievable places you just have to visit. But, they require some effort to reach.
Located deep in a pine forest, on the edge of Teide National Park, you’ll have to clock up a few kilometres of hiking to visit them. Being avid hikers, Beck and I were thrilled at the opportunity to visit this natural attraction via a proper hiking trail. Although, the relatively long walk to access this landform does put some people off. This means fewer people visit this natural attraction compared with more easily accessible attractions on the island. So, if you’re a keen hiker, like us, you’ll cherish the fact that they’re not easily reachable. This means a quieter hiking trail and fewer people gawking at the fantastic natural site once you arrive.
FYI – Paisaje Lunar is also known as Paisaje Lunar de Vilaflor and Vilaflor Lunar Landscape.
Read our guides about Barranco del Infierno, Rambla de Castro and the Roque de Taborno circuit trail
Paisaje Lunar (Los Escurriales) PR-TF 72: An Official Trail
The hiking trail involved with accessing Paisaje Lunar is an approved trail. So, what does this mean? Well, approved trails are signposted and have an authority in charge of the maintenance of the track. As part of the Tenerife Footpath Network, there are three types of trails. These include long-distance footpaths, known for having red and white colour signage and the letters GR. There are also short footpaths, signalled by yellow and white colour signage and the letters PR. Finally, there are local footpaths, which are represented by green and white colour signage and the letters SL. Sometimes, a trail can be a combination of these trails and this is the case with this hike.
As mentioned, there’s a longer (official) and shorter route version for walking to Paisaje Lunar in Tenerife. Personally, we did the longer route from Vilaflor de Chasna to Paisaje Lunar. By doing so, you’ll initially follow a combination trail – GR 131 (Camino de Chasna AKA Camino Natural Anaga – Chasna) and PR-TF 72 from Vilaflor de Chasna. You’ll then arrive at the trailhead of the Los Escurriales (Paisaje Lunar) 3.6km circular PR-TF 72 path. In terms of the shorter version, you’ll simply start the walk near this trailhead by parking here. We’ll discuss this short route option in more detail in the section below.
For now, we’re going to tell you about the walk that we enjoyed – the longer and official route to Paisaje Lunar, starting in Vilaflor de Chasna. Before we talk about the trail itself, please find some stats and a link to a GPS-guided map of the walk below.
Vilaflor de Chasna to Paisaje Lunar: Stats and Map
- Type: Loop
- Distance: 13.5km
- Time: 3–4 hours
- Accumulated elevation gain: 720m
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trailhead: Vilaflor de Chasna
- Map: Wikiloc
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The Official Route: Vilaflor de Chasna to Paisaje Lunar (Long Route)
The official route to Paisaje Lunar starts in the quaint town of Vilaflor de Chasna. Road parking can be quite limited, particularly in summer. So, we recommend arriving early. Personally, Beck and I arrived in Tenerife from Manchester at around midday on a Thursday in February. After stopping in a bar cafe for a yummy cortado and very average ham and cheese toastie, we headed straight for Viraflor de Chasna. Arriving at around 2pm, even in the off-peak season, parking was quite limited. But, luckily, we managed to find a park near the trailhead.
After a brief spell of road walking in town, you’ll soon arrive at the GR131/PR-TF 72 trailhead. The initial stages of the walk are quite steep, heading up and out of the town. After an early wake-up for our flight, Beck and I were pretty buggered and lacking the usual gusto. But, the excitement of arriving and hiking in Tenerife spurred us on.
You’ll pass farmland and eventually arrive at a beautiful pine forest. The trail winds through the forest, dipping in and out of shade. You’ll then ascend sets of steps. Eventually, you’ll arrive at the trailhead for the Los Escurriales (Paisaje Lunar) 3.6km circular PR-TF 72 path.
Arriving at the Trail Intersection For Accessing Paisaje Lunar
Once you arrive at the trailhead, you can either follow the circular path in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. Personally, we followed the trail in an anti-clockwise direction (turning right) for no particular reason. Either way, the trails leading to Paisaje Lunar are surrounded by volcanic rock fields and tall pine trees. From the trailhead, it’s around 4km to reach a viewpoint overlooking the incredible lunar landscape. At the viewpoint, you’ll find a small bench where you can relax and take in the views.
The Awesome Lunar Landscape in Tenerife
Admittedly, the viewpoint is set back quite far from Paisaje Lunar. Although not part of the official route, we recommend taking the unofficial trail leading to the base of the epic rock formations. Along this unofficial route, you’ll enjoy increasingly better views of the natural attraction.
Arriving at the base of the lunar-like structures really highlights their magnificence. The natural rock structures stand amazingly tall and thin – they’re certainly otherworldly. The first lunar structures you’ll arrive at are the ones synonymous with the area. Indeed, these formations are the main attraction. But, don’t just stop there! We recommend following the slope down and heading around the corner to the right. Soon, you’ll arrive at more of these lunar rock structures.
After feasting your eyes on this wondrous attraction, it’s time to retrace your steps to the viewpoint. From there, you’ll complete the circuit walk to arrive back at the initial trailhead. Along the way, you’ll reach the highest point of the walk, which is just under 2,000 metres above sea level. Once you arrive at the initial trailhead, you’ll then retrace your steps back to Vilaflor de Chasna to complete the official trail.
The Shorter Route to Paisaje Lunar
- Type: Loop
- Distance: 8km
- Time: 2–3 hours
- Accumulated elevation gain: 315m
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trailhead: Los Escurriales Trailhead
- Map: Wikiloc
As mentioned, there’s a shorter route to Paisaje Lunar in Tenerife. Instead of starting the walk from the town of Vilaflor de Chasna, you’ll simply park near the trailhead for the Los Escurriales (Paisaje Lunar) 3.6km circular PR-TF 72 path.
If you’re keen on a shorter walk then this is a great option. But, keep in mind that the road leading there from Vilaflor de Chasna is mostly unpaved. Specifically, you’ll have approx. 4km of unpaved road to contend with. We’ve heard reports of flat tyres along this trail. Personally, we didn’t want to take the risk with our car hire. Certainly, that’s one of the reasons we chose to do the walk from the official starting point in Vilaflore de Chasna.
How to Get to the Lunar Landscape In Tenerife
In terms of accessing this hike, you have two options – car or bus.
By Car
The easiest and quickest way to get to Vilaflor de Chasna or to near the Los Escurriales trailhead is to drive there yourself. If you’re visiting from abroad, you’ll want to hire a car.
Car Hire
If you don’t have your own car, you should hire one using Discover Cars. Personally, we use Discover Cars and highly recommend them for finding your ideal car hire at an affordable price. Booking online is super easy and the free cancellation policy is great.
To find out more about renting a car with Discover Cars, read our Discover Cars review and Discover Cars Insurance review.
By Bus
Otherwise, it’s possible to reach Vilaflor de Chasna by using public transport. Buses go to Vilaflor de Chasna fairly regularly. We recommend using Google Maps to figure out your best route option using the Tenerife bus service. Please note, that if you’re using public transport, you’ll have to do the longer route from Vilaflor de Chasna. Public transport doesn’t access the unpaved road leading to the Los Escurriales trailhead.
What to Expect By Visiting Paisaje Lunar
By visiting Paisaje Lunar, you’ll experience one of Tenerife’s most unique natural attractions. Below, we’ve highlighted some of the best things to know before doing this hike.
- Weather: particularly in summer, the temperatures in Tenerife are usually very hot! So, make sure to pack plenty of water and snacks and wear long sleeves, sunscreen and a hat! The walk from Vilaflor de Chasna takes 3–4 hours, so you’ll want to have adequate supplies for that time to avoid dehydration.
- Trail terrain: the trail is well maintained, but you’ll be walking on many uneven and rocky surfaces. Bare this in mind if you’re not an experienced hiker or have dodgy ankles or knees.
- The viewpoint of Paisaje Lunar is underwhelming: this may be true, but you can explore the base of the rock formations. By doing so, you’ll experience the very best of this attraction.
- Popularity: given the effort to reach and the location (it’s not located in the heart of any national park), visitors to this attraction are relatively low. This means quiet trails!
- Signage: although we’ve provided maps, you’ll hardly need them. There’s plenty of signage on this walk, which makes navigation fairly straightforward.
FAQs About the Paisaje Lunar In Tenerife
Below, you’ll find the most frequently asked questions about Paisaje Lunar in Tenerife.
Is the Hike to the Paisaje Lunar Difficult?
We’ve rated the longer (official) route from Vilaflor de Chasna as moderately difficult. Given the hot weather and approx. 725 metres of elevation gain, this hike is physically demanding. But, the trail isn’t technical and navigation is fairly easy, so we think the hike is moderately difficult. Of course, if you’re doing the shorter version from the Los Escurriales trailhead, the hike will be easier and quicker.
Can You Do The Hike to Paisaje Lunar in Winter?
Yes, Beck and I did the hike in winter without any problems. The location of the attraction isn’t high enough to see any snow. So, the trail is open and safe to do all year round.
Why Should You Do the Shorter Route to the Paisaje Lunar?
If you want to do a shorter and easier walk, then the shorter route will be the perfect option. But, that’s if you’re willing to drive your car hire on an unpaved road for 4km to reach the Los Escurriales trailhead.
Is Paisaje Lunar Worth Visiting?
Yes, absolutely, it’s a beautiful natural site. Of course, exploring the Tenerife mountains is a must also. The nearby Teide National Park should be high on your to-do list. If you don’t have your own set of wheels, we’ve heard great things about GetYourGuide’s Tenerife: Teide National Park Full-Day Scenic Tour. Otherwise, you can drive to Teide National Park yourself and do some epic Tenerife mountain hikes there.
Hiking Essentials
These are some of our hiking gear essentials for hiking to Paisaje Lunar in Vailaflor de Chasna, Tenerife.
Osprey Skarab 30
The Osprey Skarab 30 is our go-to hiking backpack for day hikes. This well-designed unisex backpack is comfortable and spacious, so you’ll have plenty of space to pack everything without feeling the strain on your upper back.
Osprey Ultralight Raincover
A waterproof backpack cover is an absolute must when you’re adventuring outdoors. The Osprey Ultralight Raincover Medium is a high-quality waterproof cover that’ll keep your backpack bone dry.
GRAYL Reusable Water Bottle
The GRAYL GeoPress is the best water filter bottle that allows you to purify 710mL (12 ounces) of water. This bottle will make water safe to drink wherever you’re hiking.
BUFF Original Ecostretch
The BUFF Original Ecostretch is a great option when it comes to multifunctional headwear. We use the Ecostretch as a neck gaiter to keep the sun off our necks and it helps us keep warm in cooler climates.
Sony Cybershot RX100 VII
Capture epic photos and videos with the Sony Cybershot RX100 VII. This is hands-down the best compact camera. We love using this simple point-and-shoot camera when we’re hiking as it’s lightweight and durable.
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.
Bonus Tips For Visiting Paisaje Lunar
- Watch your step as you walk around the base of Paisaje Lunar: the terrain at the base of these landforms is steep and slippery. I nearly rolled my ankle as I ventured down the slope to explore the various rock formations. The loose and fine rock makes for a challenging surface to walk on!
- Visit the Canary Islands outside of peak season: for milder weather, fewer crowds and cheaper prices, visit the Canaries outside of summer. Beck and I visited in February and had an absolute blast!
- Hiring a car is easiest for hiking in Tenerife: certainly, hiking Tenerife by bus is possible. Buses visit most parts of the island. But, there are some trailheads which buses don’t go to. With that said, a car will give you the ultimate flexibility and freedom to explore and hike Tenerife.
Have a look at our Tenerife Hiking YouTube production. Otherwise, read our Tenerife Hiking Guide.
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