With more than 1,000 kilometres of trails, hiking in Tenerife is the best option for exploring the island’s nature on foot. In addition, every year, hikers from all over the world come together to celebrate the Tenerife Walking Festival – a fantastic opportunity to participate in a great hiking event and get to know Tenerife in a different way. But if you want to hike on your own and do not know where to start? Then read on carefully, because in this blog post we give you some tips that will be very useful.
When can you go hiking in Tenerife?
In Tenerife, our climate allows you to go hiking all year round, except when snowfalls prevent access to the Teide trails in winter. On some days the bad weather can affect the condition of the trails. For this reason, it is important to always consult the weather forecast before setting out on the route, and to stay well informed about the paths ask the tourist information offices and visitor centres.
What do you need for hiking in Tenerife?
As in other sports, hiking requires having adequate equipment, although the difficulty is always the path itself. The essential equipment is good hiking boots and a backpack where you should put water, food and warm clothes, as well as a hat if you need it.
It is also advisable to take trekking poles if you are planning longer trips or you simply feel safer with them. You should also have a well-charged mobile phone, although there is no signal in many areas. But it can be useful if you pre-download maps or use specific trail apps.
Permits
In Tenerife there are several protected nature reserves and natural landscapes, so you will need a permit for them in order to use their trails. But do not worry because in the tourist information offices you get all the necessary information.
To access the Teide peak it is necessary to ask for a permit on the official website of National Parks, although remember that if you spend the night at the Altavista refuge and get on the peak before 9 in the morning, it is not necessary to ask for permission.
Hiking trails for beginners in Tenerife
You feel like exploring the trails of the island, but do not know yet which routes you should choose, then we recommend you to start with a low level of difficulty.
Way of the senses
It is located in the Anaga Mountains and is a very special path, as it encourages you to discover the nature of this unique environment by smelling, touching and seeing. It is divided into 3 different sections, the first is wheelchair accessible, while the third covers the previous two and leads to the viewpoint Mirador del Llano de los Loros.
Samarines, exploring the coast of Candelaria
If you want to explore the volcanic coast of the island, this small trail of only 2 kilometres is ideal. Part of the Basilica of Candelaria, as well as beaches, cliffs, native flora and other landscapes can be seen on the route, which incidentally was used in pre-Hispanic times by the indigenous people, the Guanches. It is a round trip, so you can discover the things that you might not have notised on your first trip.
Monte del Agua
To discover the landscapes in the northwest of Tenerife, you can choose the path known as “Monte de Agua”, which leads you to the hamlet of El Palmar. There are two options for the tour: the first takes you through Las Huertas and the second through Las Lagunetas. Both take about an hour and, to reach their starting point, you have to cross part of the trail between Erjos and Las Portelas.
Tenerife Walking Festival, the next step
If you’re ready to take the plunge and live an authentic hiking experience, the Tenerife Walking Festival is your event. Every year in late May, adventurers from all over the world gather on our island to explore the best trails. Join us next time!
