It’s November and it’s cold and snowing in Amsterdam. A visit to Tenerife is the perfect way to avoid the winter at home. As an active traveler, Tenerife never crossed my mind to visit as it is mostly known as a sun-bathing destination. This time the island is part of my Atlantic island hopping trip, where I visit Madeira and La Palma too.
Tenerife is the largest and most populous of the Canary islands, and with 5 million tourists visiting each year, it’s the most visited island of the archipelago too.
The island is “divided” in the North and South. Where the North has the scenic landscapes, the South offers the gorgeous sun and has the majority of tourists staying here.
I used my time in Tenerife to do a combination of relaxation and sightseeing. These were my highlights in Tenerife:
Anaga Rural Park
Drive to the far North of Tenerife to venture into Anaga Rural Park. This biosphere reserve is home to robust mountains, laurel forest and wild beaches. Use a day to explore this beautiful park and visit the following landmarks.
Sendero de los Sentidos
First make a stop at the visitor center at Cruz del Carmen and walk the 1.4 km loop trail of the senses (Sendero de los Sentidos) for 30 minutes.
Mountain road TF-12 and TF-134
Drive a beautiful ride through the mountains on the TF-12 and TF-134 and enjoy the view.
Benijo beach
Looking for an alternative beach experience in Tenerife? The solitude and serenity of Benijo beach is a perfect getaway. Its rugged cliffs and beauty makes it worth the visit.
El Teide
The majestic volcano in the center of Tenerife is El Teide, with its summit rising at the altitude of 3715 meters. Anywhere on the island you can see the volcano standing proud. As the El Teide National Park is grand, there are a multitude of trails and viewpoints worth visiting.
Cable car
Take the cable car to the top of El Teide. From the station La Rambleta are the following 3 trails:
Mirador de la Fortaleza – 1.3km
Pico Viejo – 1.4km
Summit (permit needed)
Unfortunately the cable car was closed during my visit as the summit was covered in ice. It would have been an additional disappointment when having one of the limited permits to the peak.
Roques de Garcia
At close proximity from the cable car station is Roques de Garcia. A popular and easy hiking route of 3.5 km (1.5 hour). This loop trail starts and finishes at the La Ruleta viewpoint. I recommend walking the route counter clockwise. You first have an easy path with the best views of the rock formations and El Teide in the background. As you go further, the crowds diminish and you’ll wander through a stretched out valley with the cathedral as a spectacular pointy rock standing out.
Minas de San José
When driving from or to the North of the National Park, you will pass Minas de San José, a place where you definitely should park your car for a moment. This vast area with sand drifts, valleys and rock formations make you feel like you’re on a different planet.
Sendero del Chinyero
A lesser known trail in El Teide National Park is the circular trail Chinyero. This loop of 6 km takes you through the pinetree forest and along black volcanic sand and rocks around the Chinyero volcano. I was pleasantly surprised by the beauty of this two hour hike.
To find the trail, park your car at Mirador de los Poleos and start walking from there. I recommend walking the trail clockwise. Use maps.me to find the trail, along the way you’ll see signposts.
See the below map where the Chinyero loop trail is marked in red.
Puerto de la Cruz
Puerto de la Cruz is the perfect place to use as a base to discover the North of Tenerife. I personally loved the vibe of this coastal town. After spending my day out exploring, it was relaxing to wander the streets in Puerto de la Cruz. I stayed in a lovely apartment within a 15 minute walk from the town center, but also had plenty of restaurants closeby.
Los Cristianos – Playa de las Américas – Costa Adeje
These extreme popular resort towns are where most tourists visiting Tenerife reside. As the 3 towns melt into each other, you can easily get a glimpse of all. I enjoyed strolling across the never ending boulevard, grabbing some ice cream, people watching and sitting down at one of the many restaurants.
