Free Guided Walks in La Laguna: History, Sea and Nature This Summer

La Laguna is often reduced to its splendid old town — a UNESCO World Heritage site with colourful facades, wooden balconies and a grid layout that inspired cities across Latin America. But the municipality stretches far beyond the cobbled streets. It reaches the wild Atlantic coast, climbs into green hills and hides hamlets where life still follows the rhythm of the seasons. This summer, three free guided walks open the door to that wider La Laguna. They require nothing more than a pair of comfortable shoes, a bit of curiosity and a timely registration.

The programme, reported by Diario de Avisos and confirmed by municipal sources, runs through August and September. Each route has its own character: one follows the water in Bajamar, another traces the bond between sea and mountain in Punta del Hidalgo, and the third is a whole series of interpretive hikes under the umbrella of Turismo en Positivo. All are guided, all are free, and all demand advance booking — places open two weeks before each outing. Here is what you can expect.

Ruta del Agua de Bajamar: Where the Water Tells Stories

Bajamar is one of those places that feels both rugged and gentle. The Atlantic crashes against dark lava formations, yet just a few steps inland you find a quiet palm grove and a tiny white chapel. The Ruta del Agua — now in its third edition — weaves these elements together around a single thread: water. The walk takes you to the hermitage of San Juan, a modest but beloved landmark, then past the famous natural pools where locals and visitors swim year-round, and finally into the Palmeral de Bajamar, a coastal palm grove of real ecological value.

It is a short, easy route, designed more for listening and looking than for breaking a sweat. The guide will explain how water shaped this fishing hamlet — from the springs that fed the first settlers to the pools that today draw bathers from all over the north. The palm grove itself is a surprise: a dense cluster of Canary Island date palms right by the sea, home to birds and lizards, and a cool refuge on hot summer mornings. Registration is mandatory and opens two weeks before each date, so keep an eye on the official La Laguna tourism channels if you want a spot.

Mar, Música y Montaña: Punta del Hidalgo in Three Acts

If Bajamar is about water, Punta del Hidalgo is about the meeting of elements. This second free route — in its second edition — is built around three words: sea, music and mountain. The walk starts near the coast, where the ocean has sculpted cliffs and rock pools, then climbs gently towards viewpoints that frame the peak of Anaga in the distance. Along the way, the guide shares stories of the local fishing community, the old salt trade and a surprisingly rich musical tradition tied to village festivals.

Punta del Hidalgo feels authentic in a way that larger resorts do not. There are no big hotels here, just houses with blue-painted windows, small boats pulled up on the shore and a lighthouse that stands sentinel over the horizon. The route is not technically demanding, but it does involve some uneven ground — bring trainers rather than flip-flops. As with all three walks, the exact meeting point and timetable are not published in the general announcement; they will be confirmed when registration opens, roughly two weeks before the walk.

Turismo en Positivo: A Different Way to Explore

Turismo en Positivo is not a single route but a whole philosophy of walking. This municipal programme runs a series of interpretive hikes across La Laguna’s rural, urban and coastal landscapes, always with an eye on sustainability and community. Depending on the date, you might find yourself walking through organic vegetable gardens in the hills, cleaning a section of an old footpath, or strolling through the UNESCO-listed old town after dark with an astronomer pointing out constellations.

The programme mixes heritage, nature and local food in a way that feels genuine rather than staged. Some routes include tastings of local produce — cheese, honey, wine — while others focus on the history of the haciendas and the old trails that connected them. There is often a hands-on element, such as a short litter-pick or a visit to a community garden. The walks are free, but places are limited and they fill up fast. Registration opens two weeks before each activity, and the full calendar is published on the town hall’s tourism website.

Why La Laguna Is Worth a Closer Look

La Laguna is the only Canarian city on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and its old town deserves every bit of that recognition. The grid of streets laid out in the late 15th century became a model for colonial cities in the Americas, and walking through it today — past churches, convents and merchant houses — feels like stepping into a living museum. But the municipality is much larger than its historic core. It stretches from the Atlantic shore at Bajamar and Punta del Hidalgo up into the green folds of the Anaga foothills, taking in farmland, hamlets and forested ridges.

These three free routes are a chance to see that bigger picture. They cost nothing, they are led by people who know and love the area, and they fit easily into a morning or afternoon. Whether you live on the island and want to rediscover your own backyard, or you are visiting and looking for something beyond the usual tourist trail, La Laguna in August and September offers a quiet, grounded kind of adventure. Just remember to book early — the two-week window is short, and word spreads quickly among walkers in the know.