Walking in Tenerife
£15.00
80 long and short walks and 5 car tours
by Noel Rochford
A guidebook to walking in Tenerife in the Canary Islands, featuring 80 of the best long and short day walks. This book is focused on Puerto de la Cruz, so is the best choice for those staying in the north of Tenerife.
For those who tour Tenerife by car, the drives range all over the island. Walks cover the Orotava Valley, Las Cañadas (El Teide), and the Teno and Anaga peninsulas. (Walks in the south of Tenerife are featured in our La Gomera and southern Tenerife book).
We show trekking routes of varying difficulty, all of which are mapped in detail. Many of the hikes are circular, including both coastal and inland routes.
This guide also features five car tours, a touring map, plans of Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz and free downloadable GPS tracks.
When to go: The best months for walking in Tenerife are from October to June.
★★★★★ amazon review ‘Very useful walking guide to Tenerife. I always use Sunflower Guides on my walking holidays. This guide includes a wide selection of walks covering a wide area of Tenerife. The descriptions are clear and points out if there are any vertiginous sections (usual for me). It includes public transport information so most walks can be completed without a car. The free GPX tracks are useful for downloading to your mobile to use with mapping apps.‘ Andrew K
Printed book: £17.99 / PDF ebook: £15.00
This was the first ever guide for walking in Tenerife, but in recent years the island has become the most popular of all the Canaries among walkers. And for good reason.
Tenerife has something for everyone: country lanes for strolling, nature trails for hiking, and mountains to be scaled — including El Teide, the highest in all Spain.
The profusion of wild plants and flowers makes the island a botanical treasure.
If you are taking a package tour, aim to stay in Puerto de la Cruz, from where the excellent bus connections bring most of the walks within easy reach. If you are not tied to specific accommodation, you may like to spend a couple of days at the peaceful Parador de las Cañadas or you could use hotels in La Laguna or Santa Cruz for ease of access to the superb walking in the Anaga Peninsula.
5 car tours, 80 long and short walks, 30 picnic suggestions
176 pages; touring map; plans of Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz; large-scale (1:50,000) topo maps
11th ed, Nov 2024; ISBN 978-1-85691-562-5; UK retail price £17.99 / USA retail price $23.00
Table of contents:
Preface 5
Publisher’s note; Acknowledgements; Useful books 6
Getting about 7
Plans of Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz 8
showing city exits and bus departure points
Picnics and short walks 10
Picnic/short walk suggestions 11
TOURING 19
THE OROTAVA VALLEY AND LAS CAÑADAS (TOUR 1) 20
Puerto de la Cruz • La Orotava • Las Cañadas • Los Gigantes • Guía de Isora • Adeje • Playa de las Américas • Playa de los Cristianos • Vilaflor • Las Cañadas • Puerto de la Cruz
THE RUGGED ANAGA PENINSULA (TOUR 2) 25
Puerto de la Cruz • Cruz del Carmen • Pico del Inglés • Roque Negro • El Bailadero • Chamorga • Taganana • Almáciga • Benijo • San Andrés • Igueste • Puerto de la Cruz
SPECTACULAR NORTHWEST SETTINGS (TOUR 3) 29
Puerto de la Cruz • San Juan de la Rambla • Icod de los Vinos • Garachico • Punta de Teno • Teno Alto • Santiago del Teide • Icod el Alto • Puerto de la Cruz
QUIET CORNERS OF THE ANAGA (TOUR 4) 34
Puerto de la Cruz • Tacoronte • Bajamar • Punta del Hidalgo • Batán • Las Carboneras • Taborno • Pico del Inglés • La Laguna • Puerto de la Cruz
THE SUN-BAKED SOUTH (TOUR 5) 37
Puerto de la Cruz • La Laguna • La Esperanza • El Portillo • Güimar • Arico • Candelaria • Puerto de la Cruz
Walking 40
Grading, waymarking, maps, GPS 40
Where to stay 42
Weather 43
Nuisances 45
What to take 46
Country code 46
Advice for walkers 47
Spanish for walkers 48
Organisation of the walks 49
THE OROTAVA VALLEY AND LAS CAÑADAS
1 Two coastal walks from Puerto de la Cruz 50
2 Aguamansa to Chasna 56
3 Aguamansa • La Caldera • Choza Chimoche • Lomo de los Brezos • Aguamansa 59
4 Aguamansa • Pinolere • La Florida 62
5 La Caldera • Choza El Topo • Choza Almadi • Pino Alto • La Florida 64
6 The Organos ‘high road’: La Caldera • Lomo de los Brezos • Aguamansa 69
7 The Candelaria Trail: La Caldera • La Crucita • Arafo 72
8 El Portillo • Corral del Niño • Choza Chimoche • La Caldera 76
9 Las Cañadas 79
10 El Teide 84
11 Roques de García and La Catedral 88
12 Montaña de Guajara 91
13 El Portillo • Piedra de los Pastores • Galería La Zarza • Chanajiga • Palo Blanco 94
THE NORTHWEST
14 Icod el Alto • La Corona • Chanajiga • Palo Blanco 97
15 Icod el Alto • El Lagar • La Guancha 100
16 La Montañeta • Las Arenas Negras • Los Partidos de Franquis • Erjos • Los Silos 107
17 Erjos • Las Lagunetas • El Palmar 112
18 Restaurante Fleytas • Montaña Jala • Los Bolicos • Degollada de la Mesa • Restaurante Fleytas 115
19 La Tabaiba • Teno Alto • Buenavista 119
20 La Montañeta (El Palmar) • Teno Alto • Teno Bajo • (Faro de Teno) • Buenavista 122
21 Los Silos • Talavera • Los Silos 126
THE ANAGA PENINSULA
22 Punta del Hidalgo • Batán de Abajo • Bejía • Punta del Hidalgo 130
23 Punta del Hidalgo • Chinamada • Las Carboneras 133
24 Las Carboneras • Taborno • Roque de Taborno • Casa Carlos 136
25 Casa Carlos• Afur • Playa de Tamadiste • Afur • Roque Negro • TF12 139
26 Pico del Inglés • Barranco de Tahodio • Santa Cruz 143
27 Taganana • Afur • Taborno • Las Carboneras 145
28 El Bailadero • Chinobre • Cabezo del Tejo • El Draguillo • Roque de las Bodegas 149
29 Chamorga • Roque Bermejo • Faro de Anaga • Tafada • Chamorga 152
30 Igueste • Barranco de Zapata • Playa de Antequera • Barranco de Antequera • Igueste 155
Bus timetables 159
Index 164
Some bus and tram information 168
Fold-out island map inside back cover
Drawings of island flora 24, 28, 129, 135
Geographical names comprise the only entries in this index. For all other entries, see Contents, page 3. A page number in bold type indicates a photograph; a page number in italic type indicates a map (both may be in addition to a text reference on the same page. ‘TM’ refers to the large-scale walking map of the Anaga Peninsula on the reverse of the touring map. See also Bus timetable index, page 159.
Adeje (Ah-day-hay) 20, 23
Afur (Ah-foor) 17, 26, 139, 140, 141, 142, 145, 147, 148, 159, TM
Aguamansa (Ah-gwah-mahn-sah) 20, 56-7, 59, 60, 62, 65, 69, 70, 159
Alcalá (Ahl-kah-lah) 23
Almáciga (Al-mah-see-gah) 25, 28, TM
Anaga Peninsula (Ah-nah-gah) 25, 34-5, 130-158, TM
Arafo (Ah-rah-foh) 72-3, 75
Arico (Ah-ree-koh) 37
Arona (Ah-roh-nah) 24, 159
Bajamar (Bah-hah-mar) 34
Barranco (Bah-rahn-koh) river, ravine
Afur de Tamadiste (Ah-foor day Tahmah-dees-tay) 140, TM
de Antequera (day Ahn-tay-kay-rah) 155, 157, TM
de Bucarón (day Buh-kah-rohn) 127, 129
de Guarda 140, TM
de Igueste (day Eeg-west-tay) 156, 158, TM
de la Arena 51, 52
de la Madre del Agua 64, 65, 66, 70
de las Cuevas (day lahs Koo-ay-vahs) 122-3, 124, 125
de los Llanos (day lohs Lyah-nos) 11, 60, 72-3, 78
de Roque Bermejo (day Roh-kay Behr-may-hoh) 153, TM
de Taborno (day Tah-bor-noh) 137, TM
de Tahodio (day Tah-hoe-dee-oh) 17, 143, 144, TM
de Valle Luis (day Bahl-yay Loois) 143, TM
de Zapata (day Thah-pah-tah) 155, TM
del Agua (dayl Ah-gwah) 42-3, TM
del Río (dayl Ree-oh) 131, 133, 134, TM
Seco 132, TM
Barranco Ruiz 30, 53, 54-5, 105, 106
Barrio de la Alegría (Bah-ree-oh day lah Ah-lay-gree-ah) 144, TM
Batán de Abajo (Bah-tan day Ah-bah-hoh) 14, 34, 130, 132, TM
Bejía (Bay-hee-ah) 130, TM
Benijo (Bay-nee-hoh) 25, 28, 149, TM
Benijos (Bay-nee-hohs) 56-7, 58, 159
Boca Tauce (Boh-kah Too-say) 22
Buenavista (Boo-ay-nah-bees-tah) 14-5, 30, 114, 115, 117, 119, 121, 122-3, 125, 127, 159
Cabezo del Tejo (Kah-bay-thoh dayl Tay-hoh) 149, 151, TM
Café Vista Paraíso 50, 51, 52
Camino de las Crucitas (Kah-meen-oh day lahs Croo-thee-tahs) 61, 69, 70
Cañada (plain of sedimentary rock) (Kahn-yah-dah)
Blanca (Blahn-kah) 82-3
de la Grieta (day lah Gree-ay-tah) 80, 82-3
de las Pilas (day lahs Pee-lahs) 80, 82-3
de los Guancheros (day lohs Goo-an-shay-rohs) 12, 76-7, 94, 95
Canal Vergara (Kah-nahl Vair-gah-rah) 107, 108-9, 110
Candelaria (Lah Kahn-day-lah-ree-ah) 37, 72-3, 38-9
Candelaria Trail 11, 72-3, 74
Casa Carlos 26, 34-5, 136, 138, 139, 140, 159, TM
Casa Forestal de Anaga 145, TM
Chamorga (Shah-more-gah) 17, 25, 27, 149, 152, 153, 154, TM
Chanajiga (Shah-nah-gee-gah) 12, 56, 94, 96, 97, 98, 99
Chinamada (She-nah-mah-dah) 16, 36, 133, 134, 135, TM
Chinobre (She-noh-bray) 149, 150, TM
Chio (She-oh) 22
Choza (shelter) (Show-thah)
Almadi 64, 65, 68
Bermeja 76-7
Chimoche (She-moh-shay) 11, 56-7, 59, 60, 62, 63, 70, 72-3, 76-7, 78
Cruz de Fregel (Crooth day Fraygayl) 94, 95
Cruz de Luis 98
El Topo 11, 64, 65, 70
Enrique Talg 98
Inge Jua 64, 65, 70
Pedro Gil 60, 61, 65, 69, 70, 76-7
Perez Ventoso (Pay-rayth Behn-toh-soh) 62, 64, 65
Piedra de los Pastores (Pee-ay-drah day lohs Pahs-toh-rays) 94, 96
Corral del Niño (Koh-rahl dayl Neenyoh) 76-7
Costa Adeje 23
Cruz de Hilda 116-7
Cruz de las Lajitas (Krooth day lahs Lah-hee-tahs) 65, 68
Cruz del Carmen (Krooth dayl Kahrmayn) 25, 26, 35, 41, 159, TM
Cuesta de la Villa (Koo-ays-tah day lah Beel-yah) 52
Cueva del Hielo (Koo-ay-vah dayl Heeay-loh) 82-3, 86
Cuevas de los Roques (Koo-ay-vahs day lohs Roh-kays) 88, 89
Cuevas Negras, Las (Lahs Koo-ay-vahs Nay-grahs) 108-9, 111
Cuevitas de Limón (Koo-ay-bee-tahs day Lee-mohn) 76-7
Degollada (pass) (Day-gohl-yah-dah)
de Guajara (day Goo-ah-hah-rah) 91, 93
de Ucanca (day Oo-kahn-kah) 92, 93
del Cedro (dayl Say-droh) 94, 95
de la Mesa (day lah May-sah) 115, 116-7, 118
El Cabezón (Ayl Kah-bay-thohn) 94, 95
El Draguillo (Ayl Drah-geel-yoh) 28, 149, 150-1, 152, TM
El Lagar (Ayl Lah-gahr) 13, 100, 101, 102-3
El Palmar (Ayl Pahl-mahr) 31, 32-3, 112-3, 114, 159
El Pijaral 24-5, 27, 150, TM
El Portillo (Ayl Poor-teel-yoh) 12, 20, 37, 38, 41, 76-7, 82-3, 84, 94, 95, 96, 159
El Rincón (Ayl Reen-kohn) 52
El Tanque (Ayl Tahn-kay) 33
El Teide (Ayl Tay-ee-day) 22, 35, 43, 58-8, 67, 78, 82-3, 84-5, 87, 88-9, 159, cover
El Turrón 115, 117
Erjos (Air-hohs) 13, 14, 33, 107, 108-9, 111, 112, 114, 116-7, 116-7, 159
Faro (lighthouse) (Fah-roh)
de Anaga (day Ah-nah-gah) 152, 153, 154, TM
de Teno (day Tay-noh) 122-3, 124, 125
Fasnia (Fahs-nee-ah) 39
Forestal Park 37
Galería (water gallery) (Gah-lay-reeah) 44
Chimoche 56-7, 60, 70, 72-3, 76-7, 78
La Fortuita 56-7, 58
La Puente 60, 70, 72-3
La Zarza 94, 96
Las Moradas 114, 127, 128
Pino Soler 56-7, 58
Vergara Alta 108-9, 110
Garachico (Gah-rah-shee-koh) 29, 30, 31, 43
Guía de Isora (Gee-ah day Ee-soh-rah) 20, 23
Güimar (Gwee-mahr) 38, 38-9
Icod de los Vinos (Ee-kod day lohs Bee-nohs) 29, 30, 33, 43, 159
Icod el Alto (Ee-kod ayl Ahl-toh) 29, 33, 54-5, 97, 98, 100, 102-3, 104, 105, 159
Igueste (Eeg-west-tay) 17, 25, 28, 155, 156, 157, 158, TM
La Caldera (Lah Kahl-day-rah) 12, 20, 56-7, 59, 60, 63, 64, 65, 69, 70, 71, 72-3, 76-7, 78, 159
La Catedral (Lah Kah-tay-drahl) 88, 90
La Cumbrilla (Lah Koom-breel-yah) TM
La Ensillada 150, TM
La Esperanza (Lah Es-pay-rahn-thah) 37
La Florida (Lah Floh-ree-dah) 62, 63, 64, 65, 68
La Fortaleza (Lah For-tah-lay-thah) 94, 95
La Guancha (Lah Gwan-shah) 33, 100, 102-3, 104, 105, 159
La Laguna (Lah Lah-goo-nah) 7, 34, 36-7, 43, 159
La Montañeta (Lah Mohn-tahn-yay-tah) 13, 16, 107, 108, 109, 119
La Orotava, La (Lah Oh-roh-tah-bah) 20, 159
La Siete (Lah See-ay-tay) 14, 31, 119, 120-1
La Tabaiba (pass) (Lah Tah-bye-bah) 14, 31, 110-1, 112, 114, 115, 117, 119
Las Aguas 53, 54-5
Las Arenas Negras (Lahs Ah-ray-nahs Nay-grahs) 13, 107, 108-9
Las Bodegas (Lahs Boh-day-gahs) 155, TM
Las Cañadas (Lahs Kahn-yah-dahs) 12, 20, 21, 22-3, 45, 80-1, 82-3, 92-3, 159
Parador (Pah-rah-door) 22, 43, 79, 81, 82-3, 91, 93, 159
Visitors’ Centre see El Portillo
Las Canteras (Lahs Kahn-tay-rahs) 34
Las Carboneras (Lahs Kahr-boh-nayrahs) 34, 36, 133, 135, 136, 137, 145, 146, 148, 159, TM
Las Casillas (Lahs Kah-seel-yahs) 17, 27, 155, TM
Las Lagunetas (Lahs Lah-goo-nay-tahs) 112, 114
Las Lajas (Lahs Lah-hahs) 20, 24
Las Moradas 112, 114, 127, 128, 129
Las Palmas (Lahs Pahl-mahs) TM
Las Raices (Lahs Rah-ee-thays) 37
Llano de Ucanca (L-yah-noh day Oo-kahn-kah) 82-3, 88, 90
Lomo de los Brezos (Loh-moh day lohs Bray-thos) 59, 60, 69, 70, 76-7
Los Bolicos (Lohs Boh-lee-kohs) 115, 116-7, 118
Los Cristianos, see Playa de
Los Gigantes (Lohs Jee-gahn-tays) 20, 23, 159
Los Hermanos 130-1, 133, TM
Los Lavaderos 112, 114
Los Organos (Lohs Ohr-gah-nohs) 60, 69, 70, 71, 72-3
Los Partidos de Franquis (Lohs Par-tee-dohs day Frahn-kees) 107, 108-9, 111
Los Realejos (Lohs Ray-ahl-ay-hohs) 33, 54-5, 98, 159
Los Roques de García (Lohs Roh-kays day Gahr-thee-ah) 12, 22, 82-3, 88, 88-9, 90, cover
Los Silos (Lohs See-lohs) 30, 107, 108-9, 126, 127, 128, 129, 159
Masca (Mahs-kah) 31, 32
Mirador (viewpoint) (Mee-rah-door)
de Aguaide 16, 133, 134, 135, TM
de Baracán (day Bah-rah-kaan) 14, 31, 32-3, 116-7, 119, 120
de Chimague 37
de Chipeque 37
de Garachico (day Gah-rah-shee-koh) 33
de Pico Viejo (day Pee-koh Bee-ayhoh) 79, 82-3
de la Fortaleza (day la For-tah-laythah) 79, 82-3
de la Paz (day lah Paath) 8, 51, 52
de la Ruleta (day lah Roo-lay-tah) 88, 90
de las Chamucadas (day lahs Sha-moo-kah-dahs) 27
de San Pedro (day Sahn Pay-droh) 30, 53, 54-5
El Asomadero (Ayl Ah-soh-mah-dayroh) 97, 98
El Bailadero (Ayl Bye-lah-day-roh) 25, 26-7, 27, 43, 149, 150, 159, TM
El Lance (Ayl Lahn-thay) 98, 104, 105
Fuente del Lomo 137, TM
Jardina (Har-dee-nah) 35
La Corona (lah Koh-roh-nah) 13, 97, 98, 99
La Crucita (Lah Kroo-thee-tah) 11, 12, 37, 58-8, 72-3
Las Escaleras (Lahs Ays-kah-lay-rahs) 16, TM
Minas de San José 22, 82-3
Montaña Grande 37
Ortuño (Or-toon-yoh) 37
Pico del Inglés (Pee-koh dayl Een-glays) 25, 34, 36, 143, 159, TM
Piedra La Rosa (Pee-ay-drah lah Roh-sah) 56-7, 57
Montaña (mountain) (Mohn-tahn-yah)
Baracán (Bah-rah-kahn) 116-7, 119
Blanca (Blahn-kah) 82-3, 84, 85, 86, 87, 159
de Atalaya (day Ah-tah-lye-ah) 157, TM
de Guajara (day Goo-ah-hah-rah) 81, 82-3, 91, 92-3, 93
de Guamaso (day Goo-ah-mah-soh) 76-7
de las Arenas (day lahs Ah-ray-nahs) 11, 72-3
de Limón (day Lee-mohn) 76-7
de Majuá (day Mah-hoo-ah) 79, 82-3
Jala (Hah-lah) 14, 115, 116-7, 118
Mostaza (Moz-tah-thah) 80, 82-3
Negra (Nay-grah) 107, 108-9, 110
Montañeta, La (near Icod de los Vinos)
(Lah Mohn-tahn-yay-tah) 13, 16, 107, 108-9, 159
(near El Palmar) 112, 114, 115, 117, 119, 122-3, 127, 159
Observatorio de Izaña (Ee-thaanyah) 38, 82-3
Orotava Valley 20, 45, 56-7, 58-9, 67, 71
Palo Blanco (Pah-loh Blahn-koh) 56, 94, 96, 97, 98, 99, 159
Pico (mountain, peak) (Pee-koh)
Verde 116-7, 118
Viejo 79, 82-3, 87
Piedras Amarillas (Pee-ay-drahs Ahmah-reel-yahs) 12, 79, 80, 81, 82-3, 91, 93
Pino Alto (Pee-noh Ahl-toh) 64, 65, 68
Pinolere (Pee-noh-lay-rees) 62, 63, 63, 64, 65
Playa (beach) (Ply-yah)
de Antequera (day Ahn-tay-kay-rah) 155,156, 157, TM
de Benijo (day Bay-nee-hoh) 17
de las Teresitas (day lahs Tay-ray-seetahs) 18, 28
de los Troches (day lohs Tro-shays) 16, 30-1, TM
de Tamadiste (day Tah-mah-dees-tay) 26, 139, 142, TM
del Bollullo (dayl Boh-you-yoh) 50-1, 52
de las Arenas 14-5, 122-3
Playa de las Américas (day lahs Ah-may-ree-kahs) 20, 23, 159
Playa de los Cristianos (day lohs Kreest-yahn-ohs) 20, 23
Playa de San Marcos (day Sahn Mahr-kohs) 30, 43
Puerto de Erjos (Poo-er-to day Airhohs) 14, 33, 115, 117
Puerto de la Cruz (Poo-er-to day lah Krooth) 6-7, 20, 25, 29, 34, 37, 42, 50, 51, 52, 54-5, 159
town plan 8-9
Puerto de Santiago (Poo-er-to day Sahn-tee-ah-goh) 23
Punta (point of land) (Poon-tah) de Teno (day Tay-noh) 15, 29, 30, 122-3, 124
del Fraile (dayl Fry-lay) 15, 30, 122-3
Punta del Hidalgo (Poon-tah dayl Hee-dahl-goh) 34, 130-1, 132, 133, 159, TM
Rambla, La 13, 53, 54-5, 106
Rambla de Castro 54-5
Ramón Caminero 12
Restaurante Fleytas 14, 107, 108-9, 115, 116-7
Roque (rock) (Roh-kay)
Bermejo (Behr-may-hoh) 152, 153, 154, TM
Chiñaco 122-3, 125
Chinchado 88, 88-9, cover
de Anambra (day Ahn-am-brah) 151, TM
de Taborno (day Tah-bor-noh) 136, 138, 146, 147, TM
del Peral (dayl Pay-rahl) 76-7, 82-3, 94, 95
Roque de las Bodegas (day lahs Boh-day-gahs) 28, 149, 151, 152, 159, TM
Roque Negro 25, 26, 139, 142, 159, TM
San Andrés (Sahn Ahn-drays) 25, 28
San José de los Llanos 108-9
San Juan de la Rambla (San Hu-an day lah Rahm-blah) 29, 30, 53, 54-5, 54-5, 105, 106
Santa Cruz (Sahn-tah Crooth) 7, 43, 144, 159, TM
town plan 8-9
Santiago del Teide (Sahn-tee-ah-goh dayl Tay-ee-day) 29, 31
Taborno (Tah-bohr-noh) 16, 34, 36, 136, 137, 139, 145, 148, 159, TM
Tacoronte (Tah-koh-rohn-tay) 34
Tafada (Tah-fah-dah) 152, 154, TM
Taganana (Tah-gah-nah-nah) 25, 26-7, 28, 139, 145, 146, 159, TM
Talavera (Tah-lah-bay-rah) 126, 127
Tamaimo (Tah-my-moh) 23
Tegueste (Tay-gwest-tay) 34
Tejina (Tay-hee-hnah) 34
Teno Alto (Tay-noh Ahl-toh) 29, 31, 115, 117, 119, 122-3, 125
Teno Bajo (Tay-noh Bah-hoh) 122-3, 125
Vilaflor (Beel-yah-floor) 20, 24, 159
Tenerife, 11th Edition (2025); updated 17/11/2024
Updates for walks and car tours (drives) on Tenerife given below supplement those provided in the 8th edition of the guidebook. It is vital that this Update is read in conjunction with the text of the book, but note that the Update applies only to the edition stated and not to any earlier editions. (If you have an older edition of this book you can “upgrade” to the latest edition at half price.)
Information has been forwarded to us by users of the book, and Sunflower Books offers the data in good faith but cannot be held responsible for any misleading or inaccurate content in the Update. Unless indicated otherwise, what appears here has not been verified by the author or publisher, so please allow due caution when new or amended routes are suggested. Each piece of information is dated; bear in mind that some of the older observations may have since been overtaken by events or further changes. If, during your holiday, you are using the current edition of the guide and are able to provide any additional updating to add to this page, we will be pleased to hear from you. Please send information, preferably by e-mail, to info@sunflowerbooks.co.uk.
NEW 11TH EDITION, JANUARY 2025, IS NOW AVAILABLE (NOVEMBER 2024)
Buses: In September the Sunflower team took a lot of buses! We can only praise Titsa: for their website, their buses, and the organisation and timely departures from the stops and stations (intercambiadores). (Sunflower, 9/24)
General: In August 2023 Tenerife suffered the worst wildfires in 40 years. The fires started in the Arafo/Candelaria area but quickly gained the island’s spine and jumped to the north. At the very least, Car tour 5 and Walks 2-9 will be badly affected. (Sunflower, 9/23)
There’s also been a fire in October 2023. We could see that beyond Aguamansa it roughly follows both sides of the road up to El Portillo and even in patches across Las Canadas up to Montana Blanca (which we think was closed to walkers). La Caldera walks are badly affected, many tracks closed including to Pedro Gil, though it is obvious that some walkers and cyclists ignore the barriers and warning notices. (User, 12/23)
Sunflower is just back from Tenerife, concentrating on the Orotava Valley, where some walks were badly affected. As the previous correspondent says, walks from La Caldera are badly affected: walk 35, including all its variations is closed (though, as that user said, ‘some walkers and cyclists ignore the barriers and warning notices’). On the other hand, had you not seen the the island’s spine before the fires, you might not notice anything amiss: in the intervening year, the forestry workers have done a splendid job of cleaning up, and the greenery is regenerating. So Car tour 5 is worth doing! See individual walks for closures. (Sunflower, 9/24) In the meantime, these walks were blocked because of the fires:
Walk 3: Blocked at Chimoche (User, 9/24)
Walk 4: The main walk is okay; the Alternative is blocked at Chimoche (Sunflower, 9/24)
Walks 5 and 6: Both are blocked at Pedro Gil (Sunflower, 9/24)
Walk 7: Blocked from Pedro Gil to La Crucita; Short walk: Blocked at Chimoche.
Walk 8, Short walk: Blocked at Chimoche.
Walk 12: I did the walk in reverse to the guide – ascending from Canada del Capricho – good path & rock ledge path to Degollada de Ucanca where Walk 12 meets official waymarked route 31 – the ongoing climb is quite demanding but there is a clear route to the top. The return route – which I opted to walk via Degollada de Guajara is a gentle well marked descent back to the Parador. (User, 2/23)
Walk 13: At the start there was notice ‘trail 1 closed Monday Wednesday Friday culling mouflon’. Big fire June or July 2022. From point 3 downwards to the right of trail 29 all is damaged by fire. The ‘fire break’ at 4 is now a track. At Choza Piedra de Los Pastores all Chanajiga signs burnt, but metal poles remain. The “beautiful old woodland path” is now an unpleasant descent underfoot, strewn with burnt out trees and dislodged rocks. Walking poles would help. (User, 11/22) [Sunflower: this will have regenerated by now; 9/24]
We walked to La Fortaleza and back. Due to the recent fires part of Trail 1 is closed from Canadas Visitor Centre. Staff there advise alternative is to get off bus at El Portillo Alto, walk 200m back down the road past the cafes and restaurant and take Trail 24 (it’s marked yellow in book) to open section of Trail 1. Or walking from Visitor Centre use Trails 4 and 4.1 to El Portillo Alto which adds half hour to the walk. (User, 12/23)
All walks in the National parks are said to be open according to the important tenerifeon.es website, the website of the Cabildo (local government) (Sunflower, 9/24)
Walk 14: We walked up to Mirador El Asomadero. The fire break surfaces were very eroded and slippery due to recent rain. Feeling we’d had enough of almost vertical climbing we descended on PR TF40. It was even more vertical but at least it was downhill! A beautifully constructed staircase through lovely woods. Bus stop and cafe when reaching the main road. (User, 12/23)
Walk 15b: At the tiny chapel at waypoint 3, la Vera, Google says the path down the barranco to the road is temporarily closed’. It isn’t. We did it. No problem. (User, 11/22)
Walk 15b: The path down into and across the Barranco de Ruiz is still closed. I get the impression, speaking to some locals, that it will remain closed for the foreseeable future due to likelihood of rock falls of very large rocks. The path beyond la Vera into the barranco down to the main road ( which is the end of the 15b walk) is open and good underfoot. (User, 1/22)
Walk 16, new alternative: San José de los Llanos – El Volcán Negro – San Juan de la Reparo – (Garacico).
3 Hours (4 hours to GARACHICO)
This is a similar grade walk to Walk 16 covering the same diversity of landscape. Instead of getting off the 360 bus at La Montañeta go to the next village higher up at San Jose De Los Llanos. The bus drops you off in front of the church. At the front of the church is a big trail map covering the area featuring the TF43 which covers most of this region. Directly opposite the church is a lane with a yellow and white TF43.1 sign to Chinyero which we follow for the first 45 minutes. The lane makes a very short climb before subsequent signs guide you right, then left at junctions. On the edge of the village 50 yards down from the final T junction the path heads off into the pine forest. It’s a steady gradual climb through the forest of about 40 minutes on a path lined both sides with stones, pine needles cover the path. You cross a couple of minor tracks and pass a shrine. Near the top the stones lining the path become more sparse but the path is well used and easy to follow. The crunch of feet on volcanic ash rather than pine needles signals you are near the top at El Volcan Negro on the main walk where the tree line disappeared. At Volcan Negro the path needlessly zig zags the last couple of minutes up to the track following the canal used by Walk 16. It’s clear that most people ignore the zig zags and just head stright up to the TF43 sign on the track suggesting you have come 2.9 Kms from the start, a climb of about 100m. At the track turn left and follow it parallel to the canal in the opposite direction to Walk 16. You leave the TF43 behind for the time being. At about 10/15 minutes along the track you come to the barrier. A few yards past and the TF43 crosses the track. Turn left here and follow the TF 43 down for about 10 minutes to Las Arenas Negras. Towards the end of this section the Pista de Canal track used to ascend by Walk 16 parallels the path to the right. The path joins the Pista Canal but just a few yards before this junction rather than ascend the last few steps up to the track continue down the natural gulley with the track up on your right. Almost immediately you are in Las Arenas Negras picnic site with a very well maintained toilet block on your left. Continue down through the picnic site to the large trail map identical to the one at the start. You now go down the track in the reverse direction of the start of Walk 16. We took about 35 minutes for this section. Almost immediately after the picnic site a 4 wheel drive circuit joins the track from the right. At the first major T junction the main track we are on bends left and a fainter track comes in from the right. Go down neither but go straight ahead down a trail opposite. The trail recrosses the track and eventually comes to the main road, just go down, ignoring all minor turnoffs. Across the road the path becomes a track for about 150 yards where you turn right. A prominent white stone marker by the path about 50 yards down reassures. It is labelled MP17 and you will come across several similar stones later. You come to the Ermita San Francesco about 1 hour 45 mins into the walk, this is the start of Walk 16. The TF43 has reappeared and the path down to the coast is signed San Juan de la Reparo 3.4 Kms, Garachio 6.2 Kms. The path is very well engineered, a gradual continuous descent. The path has been cleared through an otherwise impenetrable volcanic rock field with pine forest your path is either a layer of pine needles oe the crunch of volcanic stones. Apart from the very beginning and end at San Juan de la Reparo there is no sign of civilisation except for a brief stretch of track and a couple of canals. Going through a tunnel underneath a new road signal San Juan de la Reparo after about 75 minutes from La Montenata. Although there are 3 bus routes 325, 392 and 460 down to Icod and in the case of the 325 to Puerto you may have quite a wait. You can continue following the TF43 down to the coast at Garachio down a very steep descent compared to the rest of the walk of tabout an hour. Garachio is a very nice place and it’s almost a pleasure to just miss your bus to Puerto. (User, 9/12)
Walk 22: Brilliant walk. At waypoint 2, the ‘waterhouse’ is now almost invisible from the barranco until you’ve risen above it, and the cairn at the nose of the rocky ridge described in the book is no longer there. We met an elderly local gentleman who told us the waterhouse building was in fact a place used for wine making from the vinyards which covered the upper valley, dating back to about 1738. Next to the building is a large rock with stone wall attached and it was there that the grapes were mashed by foot to extract the juice. The alpine path was cut by the wine merchants to take the wine by foot up to Batan de Abajo for distribution, in heavy packs on their backs. He pointed out the start of the alpine path which takes a bit of finding on the first rocky nose on the right after the dam. At waypoint 4 there are new yellow/white waymarkers on the right before descending the road, which take you down a narrow path through Bejia, avoiding walking on the road, bringing you back to the road before the waymarked route on the left after a blue house with dogs. (User, 1/22)
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