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Secrets of Tenerife Walk
Day 1: Arrive in Tenerife
We meet you at the airport and take you to the hotel (1hr 40mins) in time for dinner.
Day 2: El Volcan Negro 7.5mi/12km/5hr
A short drive brings us to Arenas Negras (black sands), where the fresh air smells of pine resin on our ascent to spectacular El Volcan Negro – a jet-black hill of carbon - framed by vivid yellow Teide broom, azure blue skies and scarlet poppies. With ocean views we continue past coal black Montanade Chinyero, before relaxing with a picnic in the pine trees. Then through giant flows of solid lava offering perfect views of Mount Teide, before returning to the hotel for dinner.
Day 3: Degollada de la Mesa Ridge Walk 6mi/9km/4hr
Ascending past small lakes bright with butterflies we reach ancient, rare and intensely atmospheric laurel forest. Then into sunlight once more, to begin an unforgettable ridge walk along a series of limestone peaks, offering stunning viewpoints of the jagged Masca Gorge, the island of La Gomera, and a patchwork quilt of fields and terraces in the valley below.
Day 4: Las Canadas and Mount Teide 7mi/11km/4hr
Much of Tenerife’s appeal lies in its soaring volcanic cliffs, snow capped Mount Teide and fertile valleys abundant with cork and splashes of yellow mimosa. Today’s circular - and almost entirely flat walk takes in all such highlights as we skirt the Caldera of Mount Teide - at 7000ft it’s the second largest in the world. A mecca for geologists - look out for lava flows in vividly contrasting colours, pummice and obsidian. Back to the hotel in time for a swim before dinner.
Day 5: Free Day
In the morning perhaps explore the lava rock pools and narrow streets of Garachico, with its 16C churches with beautiful vaulted ceilings. Lunch in the pretty square then it’s just a 5 min walkthrough banana plantations to the sea or just laze by the pool - you’re on holiday after all!
Day 6: Masca Gorge 4.5mi/7km/4hr
We begin in Masca, decked with pink oleander, shady palms and enjoying ocean views from its village square, where the whitewashed houses teeter on the precipice. Descending past verdant terraces, flowering cacti, bamboo thickets and sparkling rock pools, soon awe-inspiring sheer cliff walls soar 1000m above us - before we finally emerge at the sea. We return by boat to Los Gigantes, sailing below the most spectacular sea cliffs in the archipelago, then a short minibus transfer back to the hotel.
Day 7: Baracan Ridge Walk 7.5mi/12km/6hr
From the El Palmar valley, we follow shady forest paths with tantalising glimpses of ocean to the hamlet of Teno Alto. After a picnic by the tiny church and sampling village goats cheese from the local bar, we pass swaying terraces of golden barley and remote homesteads as we descend barranco sthick with vivid yellow flowering cacti. It’s then a gentle ascent up onto the ridge where we round off our walking week with stunning 360-degree views out across the Med to La Gomera, Mt Teide framing the horizon.
Day 8: Return Home
We take you to the airport for flights home.
Walking Details:
This is a 2 boot guided holiday walking mainly on well marked paths and trails. You should be a sure footed walker. Some of the ridge walks may be difficult for extreme vertigo sufferers.