Tenerife island is not just about the beach or the sun. There are also many other impressive corners. Would you like to enter a fairytale forest? Or maybe, listen to the sound of the wind through the trees? Then you will not be able to stop coming to visit Anaga.
Anaga is the largest and least populated district of the island. Much of its territory is located in the Macizo de Anaga, translated as ‘massif’, and one of three volcanic formations that gave rise to Tenerife. It is highly appreciated and recommended by anyone who visited this stunning landscape.
Deep valleys and ravines reach the sea and form numerous beaches where you can take a good dip. In addition, it houses the highest density of endemism per square kilometre in Europe. Something like an island within an island.
Almost the entire district is in Anaga Rural Park, a protected natural space that was declared a Biosphere Reserve by Unesco, belongs to the municipalities of Santa Cruz, La Laguna and Tegueste. If you are lucky enough to visit it, you will understand why many people still believe in witches and spells, because it looks like a great enchanted forest.
Ir owes its beauty to mainly, many impressive trees and the typical laurel forest that invades the place. You will be able to practice a lot of outdoor activities: hiking, enjoy the views or enjoy the beautiful beaches, as well as, admiring Anaga’s Violet, a truly unique place.
But a visitors center in Anaga cannot be missed, like the one from Cruz del Carmen. It has two main functions: give information about hiking trails in their small tourist office and an exhibition hall that tells all aspects of the park such as its flora and fauna, customs and traditions of the few inhabitants of the district. If you want to know the place a little more, do not hesitate to visit it.
We will share the best activities you can take part in Anaga below.
The viewpoints
Mirador de Jardina. From this place, you can enjoy the best views of the city of La Laguna and its green landscape. It is located at the beginning of the park and, in the distance, you can admire the greatness of Teide. Feeling how the wind hits your face and enjoying the silence will fill you with energy to continue visiting the park.
Mirador Pico del Inglés is one of the most visited viewpoints. It can easily be accessed by car and bus, or ‘guagua’ as the Canaries say, but it does not have accessible access for people with physical disabilities. From its large balcony, you can admire the deep ravines, Los Roques de Anaga, Santa Cruz or La Laguna. You will feel like Rose in the Titanic.
Mirador de la Cruz del Carmen. Within the laurel forest you will find a view similar to Jardina’s viewpoint, with Teide and La Laguna in the background, but from another point in the park. Highly recommended both for the views and for the unforgettable beauty of the surroundings. Next to the viewpoint, you will find a restaurant, a visitor centre and a street market. From here many roads lead you to start to discover the inside of Anaga.
Mirador Bailadero. It is located in almost the heart of Anaga Rural Park, but your visit will be worth it. You can enjoy an excellent view of the Anaga massif and the town of Taganana on the foot. There are two hostels where you can stay during your visit, as usually a single day is not enough. When you come, you will understand.
Interestingly, the name of «El Bailadero» comes from a legend about the witches of Anaga. It says that in that place the witches danced around the fires at night seeking curses and witchcraft.
Hiking
Sendero de los Sentidos. This is one of the most requested trails by park visitors. It is located a few meters from the visitor centre of Cruz del Carmen with a small parking lot to leave the car. It has 3 variants with different difficulties, but all of them can be experienced with the five senses. You have to stop at each panel to enjoy the effect. In addition, the first level is adapted for people with motor or sensory disabilities.
There are audio guides in the visitor centre and be very careful with the slippery mud due to the humidity of the place. Leave the «cholas» (flipflops) for the beach and wear mountain shoes when exploring.
Sendero del Bosque Encantado. This place will take you to a fairytale forest where magic and elves exist. You can find one of the most impressive ferns: the píjara plants which can grow up to 3 meters in length. It is located in the Integral Natural Reserve of El Pijaral so you have to book a visit for this space (for free).
During the journey, You will enjoy views towards the north coast of Anaga. But we recommend you to bring warm clothes, enough water and shoes with a fairly thick sole because, although it has low-medium difficulty, it is better to prevent injuries.
Apart from the views, you can enjoy Roque Anambro that will attract your attention because of its large size. Legends says “it was from this rock where Beneharo, Mencey de Anaga, threw himself into a vacuum after fleeing from the conquerors. When his body fell on an acebiño his blood was spilt on the fruits, for that reason, the acebiño has red fruits ”.
Also, the Piedra Jurada that was used to make charcoal, or the viewpoint Mirador del Cabezo del Tejo which will show you where the return point is, along the forest track.
Sendero Pista de las Hiedras. On this route, you will continue to enjoy the same picture that you have seen before: laurisilva. It runs along a flat forest track with slight ups and downs. You will find a wellspring turned into a stone fountain as well as a carved cave into the rock. The tour ends at the small hamlet of El Río.
The previous trails are just some of the ones you can enjoy in Anaga. For more information, do not hesitate to enter the following link.
Beaches
Playa de Taganana or Roque de las Bodegas. This place is what you have been asking for, for a long time: tranquillity and disconnection. What differentiates this beach from others nearby is that it is the most accessible, since you can park very close after spending a day touring the park. The restaurants around it will make your visit more interesting. Who would say no to an octopus and some wrinkled potatoes with mojo?
Playa de Almáciga. Just 5 minutes distance from the first beach is the Almáciga, a key place for surfers. Obviously, it has black sand and maybe, without realizing it, 5 minutes later you are taking a nap. But don’t worry. Many people take advantage of their peace of mind to do so. With the view towards the Roques de Anaga and the Atlantic Sea behind you will want to visit that place every day.
Playa de Benijo. We are not going to lie to you. Benijo has no parking. But you must understand that it is not a beach like the ones you will find in the south of the island, but a natural place. With black sand, it is a wild beach that you will access after 15 minutes walking along a path by the road.
We recommend you do not go deep into the sea and to be careful as it can be dangerous due to the currents. Remember that it is an open and natural beach and the sea can be unforgiven. Do not leave without seeing one of the best sunsets you will experience in Tenerife.
Anaga, next to the massif and its Rural Park, are natural the beauties of Tenerife. Sea, mountain, nature, ravines. You will not be able to say that you know Tenerife without having visited this place.
How to get
Its access will not be a problem, since you can easily access it by car, from Santa Cruz, on the TF-11, which connects Santa Cruz with San Andrés, and then the TF-12 to Igueste de San Andrés and El Bailadero, and from there the TF-134 to Taganana, Almáciga, etc. Or from La Laguna taking the Las Mercedes Road (TF-113) where you will find a sign that says: Anaga Rural Park.
The bus will also be an option. From Santa Cruz on lines 946 and 947, although it will only leave you in the villages of Almáciga and Taganana or El Bailadero, respectively. For this reason, we recommend going from the La Laguna Bus Station, from where you can reach the National Park thanks to lines 076, 077, 273, 274 and 275. For more information, click here.
Where to stay
Anaga is also the perfect excuse to lose yourself in nature. And what could be a better way than to spend a night among trees? You can do it at the Montes de Anaga Hostel, a place hidden among the mountains that has 9 rooms. It is located on Carretera El Bailadero, in Chamorga, and has everything you need to enjoy your stay.
For a price of 15 euros per person per night, you will enjoy the magic of being “lost” in the great Anaga Massif. For more information and reservations, click here.