The Teno Mountain Range is located northwest of the largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife. It is especially popular with tourists for its famous village of Masca, but it offers much more. There's no way I was able to walk the entire mountain range but from what I've seen, I picked out 4 of the most beautiful and varied routes of all difficulties. Just choose for yourself 😉
Whether you're preparing for hardcore Masca or an easier trip, I always recommend you equip yourself appropriately. Such equipment should include good hiking boots (ideally above the ankles), plenty of water (ideally 1.5 liters per person), snacks, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and a sweater/jacket (especially in winter). Got it? Okay, let's dive in!
1. Masca
- Difficulty: 5/5
- Distance: 8.5 km
- Elevation: 2017 m
- Estimated trek time: 5-7 hours (without breaks)
- Map: https://mapy.cz/s/bebahudate
This trek is an absolutely obvious choice for any hiking enthusiast. Or rather, for every EXPERIENCED enthusiast. The fact that Masca is no fun to hike is evidenced by the fact that the entrance to the gorge is strictly regulated - supposedly since someone killed themselves in the canyon. No, I don't want to scare you, but at the same time, it's not to be underestimated. I've had enough of seeing holiday tourists on the verge of collapse, sweaty, out of breath, sunburnt, and in completely inappropriate clothing.
The trek goes from the mountain village of Masca down to the ocean and then back again. Unfortunately, there is no longer the option of using boats to transport you to Los Gigantes, you have to climb the whole canyon back up. However, it's worth it. The canyon is magical, huge, and wild.
A more detailed description of Masca and the entire trek can be found in my previous article HERE, including information on parking, controlled entry reservations, swimming in the ocean, and anything else that might come in handy.
2. El Palmar - Punta de Teno
- Difficulty: 4/5
- Distance: 11 km
- Elevation: 1395 m
- Estimated trek time: 4 hours
- Map: https://mapy.cz/s/locudusuze
During this route, you will stray into almost all the climatic zones that the Teno Mountains have to offer. You start in the village of El Palmar, which lies in a beautiful, grassy valley lined with mountains. From here, you'll climb up to the mountain ridge, where the meadow is gradually replaced by Canarian pines. When you reach the highest point of the trail and turn in the direction from which you came (and assuming good visibility), you will see the whole valley and the towering peaks of the Pico del Teide and Pico Viejo volcanoes looming behind it.
From here you continue through the typical laurel forest (called laurisilva here) and between the fields of local farmers, gently downhill to the settlement of Teno Alto. Here you can rest and refresh yourself for the journey at a local bar/restaurant overlooking the grassy hills. You will also pass through these and continue through the steppe-like landscape. You then begin to descend quite steeply through the edge of the gorge, and cacti start to appear alongside the grass.
These will eventually become the main feature of the vegetation, at the moment when the lava delta appears below you with the lighthouse in the distance. However, it will still be about 500 meters below you, of which you will have to cover about 400 meters in about one kilometer. Then you have one last, least interesting part of the journey: walking along the tarmac road to the lighthouse at Punta de Teno. But don't worry, cars are not allowed here (with a few exceptions), and even this annoying bit is eventually rewarded with spectacular views and a small beach below the lighthouse. So don't forget to wear your swimsuit. You can get back to civilization (specifically the town of Buenavista del Norte) from here by a regular bus that runs every hour.
3. Tamaimo - Puerto de Santiago
- Difficulty: 3/5
- Distance: 9 km
- Elevation: 1450 m
- Estimated trekking time: 3-4 hours
- Map: https://mapy.cz/s/lapeludalu
It is important to mention at the beginning that parts of this trail are not official hiking trails. What does this mean in practice? If you decide to take such a trail and something happens to you, you will pay for any rescue action out of your pocket. For this trail, it is specifically the first part of the trail from Tamaimo to the mountain ridge (the trail is closed due to the danger of rockslides) and the branch from the main trail to point 2 on the map (the trail is not classified as a hiking trail and is not marked).
If you don't want to risk anything, I recommend choosing an alternative route (e.g. like this: https://mapy.cz/s/bapumozava ) however the original alternative is logistically better, more varied and more beautiful. That is, of course, if you are vigilant and avoid doing dumb stuff or bad weather that increases the risk of landslides (and by that, I mean also strong winds).
This route could easily be characterized by the popular saying in my country, Czechia: "it's longer, but it's a worse route" because it really is :D You'd get to Puerto de Santiago much easier if you didn't hike the mountains, but it would also make your trip useless because of course, the most beautiful things are waiting at the top. And those are the views of the valley in which Tamaimo lies, and the volcanoes of Teide and Pico Viejo on one side; the ocean, the neighboring island of La Gomera, and the harbor at Los Gigantes on the other. Simply beautiful.
And if you decide to go to the aforementioned port, you will be rewarded with a refreshing swim on a beautiful beach overlooking the places you were walking on just a few hours ago. And that feels very good.
4. Erjos - Los Silos
- Difficulty: 2/5
- Distance: 5.2 km
- Elevation: 894 m
- Estimated trek time: 2 hours
- Map: https://mapy.cz/s/kuzejegune
This trail is a very nice, relaxing alternative for when you feel tired and want to get out into nature, but don't want to do anything crazy or are with kids. The trail starts in the mountain village of Erjos and the first half of the trail goes through a typical forest between the hills until it almost seems like that's about all you'll see here. But the opposite is true, as the second half gives you a dramatic view of cliffs plummeting down, green banana plantations, and the blue ocean where the mountains no longer reach.
So, did I entice you on any of the trips? ;) If you're interested in more, feel free to leave me a comment or follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsmikyhere/ There's also a short clip from these 4 routes waiting for you.