Which hiking areas in Tenerife are most worthwhile?

Tenerife combines high mountains, laurel forest, ravines and coast within short distances. According to Tenerife ON, the greatest scenic variety is offered by the Teide National Park with its volcanic landscapes and the highest summit route in the Canary Islands.

The Anaga Rural Park in the north-east is the counterpart: humid laurel forests, deep valleys and short trails such as the Sendero de los Sentidos at Cruz del Carmen. This trail is suitable for a first impression.

The Barranco del Infierno in the south leads through a narrow ravine in the nature reserve. For this trail, a reservation is mandatory for all visitors, as Tenerife ON states.

Further official trails are provided by Tenerife ON in individual trail profiles. There you will find route, access and permit information for each one.

Which routes in the Teide National Park are the best known?

According to Tenerife ON, the regulated trails in the Teide National Park include PNT 10 Telesforo Bravo, PNT 07 Montaña Blanca–La Rambleta, PNT 09 Teide–Pico Viejo–Mirador de las Narices del Teide, PNT 23 Los Regatones Negros and PNT 28 Chafarí.

The summit trail PNT 10 Telesforo Bravo leads to the highest point in Spain. A reservation is mandatory for it. According to Tenerife ON, permits for high-demand summit routes can be booked out several months in advance.

For PNT 07, PNT 09, PNT 23 and PNT 28, a prior reservation or individual permit is also required. According to Tenerife ON, the remaining trails in the national park are generally freely accessible without a reservation, provided no local closure or special rule applies.

On Teide, altitude, cold, wind, sun exposure and limited water availability must be taken into account. Leaving the marked route and entering the crater are prohibited.

Where do I need a permit or reservation?

According to Tenerife ON, a reservation is required for the Teide summit trail PNT 10 Telesforo Bravo as well as for PNT 07, PNT 09, PNT 23 and PNT 28. In the Barranco del Infierno, a reservation is also mandatory for all visitors.

In the Anaga Rural Park, the areas of Monte de Aguirre and El Pijaral require a permit. Additional access restrictions apply there for certain commercial or organised groups.

For the remaining trails in the Anaga Rural Park, a temporary rule applies: public and private organisations as well as active tourism companies do not require prior authorisation there to the extent stated. Individuals can use these trails without a reservation.

Reservations and permits are requested via the respective trail page on the Tenerife ON platform. The permit must be presented printed out or on a mobile device, together with ID or passport.

How do I get to the starting points?

The official Anaga Biosphere Reserve page expressly recommends arriving by public transport. In the trail descriptions, it names the relevant TITSA bus routes.

For the PR-TF 01 Las Mercedes–Cruz del Carmen, the TITSA route 270 from the Intercambiador La Laguna is intended. For El Pijaral, La Ensillada–Cabezo del Tejo, the official page names route 947 for the outward and return journey from and to Santa Cruz respectively.

For Monte de Aguirre, La Asomada–Cruz de Afur, bus routes are recommended for the outward journey and for the return via Cruz de Afur–La Laguna. The guagua (bus) is a practical alternative to your own car, especially in Anaga.

For other areas such as the Teide National Park or the Barranco del Infierno, the available official overview does not name uniform bus connections. Access there must be checked individually via the respective trail page.

When is the best time for hiking in Tenerife?

For a reliable climate representation, the AEMET climate normal values for the Tenerife Sur Aeropuerto station name the reference period 1981–2010.

According to AEMET, the average temperature ranges from 18.4 degrees Celsius in January to 24.7 degrees Celsius in August. The average daily maxima lie between 21.7 degrees in January and 28.4 degrees in August.

The average precipitation is minimal in summer: 0 millimetres in June and July, 1 millimetre in May and August. The wettest months are December with 30 millimetres and November with 26 millimetres.

These values apply to the airport in the south and are not transferable to the significantly higher trails in the Teide National Park. For hikes at medium and high altitudes, lower temperatures, stronger UV radiation, wind and rapid weather changes must be planned for. Current values and warnings: CITA weather (cita.news/de/wetter.html) and AEMET.

What should I bear in mind before and during the hike?

Before setting off, trail status, closures, permits and weather conditions must be checked on Tenerife ON. Trails requiring a reservation must not be walked without a confirmed permit.

In protected areas, the signposted trails must be followed. The respective trail profiles contain the binding instructions and permit conditions.

According to official guidance, common mistakes are: going to a controlled trail without a reservation, not carrying the permit with ID, walking outside the marked trail and entering closed trails despite warnings.

For certain Anaga permits, failure to appear without cancellation can lead to a three-month block on new applications. Leaving litter, damaging flora or fauna or using noise-producing devices are prohibited.