Sunflower Books: Landscapes of TENERIFE: WALKS AND CAR TOURS

Tenerife, 7th Edition (2007) ; updated 02/11/08

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Update for walks and car tours (drives) on Tenerife given below supplement those provided in the guidebook. It is vital that this Update is read in conjunction with the text of the book, but note that the Update applies only to the edition stated and not to any earlier editions. (If you have an older edition of this book and want to "upgrade" to the latest edition at half price, click here.)

Information has been forwarded to us by users of the book, and Sunflower Books offers the data in good faith but cannot be held responsible for any misleading or inaccurate content in the Update. Unless indicated otherwise, what appears here has not been verified by the author or publisher, so please allow due caution when new or amended routes are suggested. Each piece of information is dated; bear in mind that some of the older observations may have since been overtaken by events or further changes. If, during your holiday, you are using the current edition of the guide and are able to provide any additional updating to add to this page, we will be pleased to hear from you. Please send information, preferably in hard copy, by post, to Sunflower Books, PO Box 115, Exeter EX2 6YU (or if you prefer, by e-mail, to mail@sunflowerbooks.co.uk).

Plan of santa Cruz: For those of you using the tram, note that the station called 'Intercambio' is incorrectly located on our plan: The station labelled 'intercambio' is called '3 de Mayo'; the 'Intercambio' is on the westerly extension of Primo de Rivera (not shown on our plan, but just south of the bus station). Sunflower, 4/08

Walk 18: Los Bolicos is now just a clearing with a notice board but no buildings... Here is an idea for an alternative walk to Masca: Follow the directions for the Alternative Walk to Buenavista, BUT at the only junction turn LEFT (NOTE the path straight ahead is marked Teno Alta and there is also a stone column with a pate "La Cancela" at this Junction). The path goes downhill and joins the Masca Road at a mirador, which has a bar underneath it. Take the Old Road on the left of the mirador and in a short distance along it Turn RIGHT onto a path going downhill, there is a waymark on a rock about 10 yds along it. Follow the path downhill; it is waymarked at all junctions and rejoin the Masca Road. Turn LEFT and follow this for about 1/2 mile to the Bus Stop. The bus to Santiago de Teide leaves at 16-15 and links up with the 460 Bus to both Playa de las Americas and Icod de los Vinos from where you can catch the 363 back to Puerto. The walk is about 7 miles long. (User, 1/08)

NB: THE COMMENTS BELOW ARE ALL SUGGESTIONS MADE BY USERS OVER THE YEARS FOR WALK VARIATIONS, ETC. THEY ARE NOT CORRECTIONS TO THE CURRENT EDITION.

WALKS
In winter the Orotava walks are at their best very early, between 08.00-11.00. After that clouds and mist hide all the views. It is often chilly and rainy, even when sunny at Puerto. In winter head for the Cañadas and coastal areas of the Anaga. Even if you stay in Puerto, pack a copy of Landscapes of Southern Tenerife and La Gomera: If the weather is bad in the north, Walks 1 and 2 in the latter book are within easy reach of Puerto and most enjoyable. (User)

Walk 1: The Bar at Bollullo Beach is now open every day. (User, 1/08) + Bollullo restaurant is closed (Possibly just for winter)... After the balconied house continue on the private track as far as you can go. Where the route is blocked by large metal gates (currently black), the route to Punta del Ancon goes through a narrow gap between two high walls to the left of the gate. The route to Cafe Vista Paraiso is marked and goes through a similar gap to the right. (User, 11/08)

Variation on Walk 6: One can continue the walk PAST the "important turn-off" mentioned on page 55. The path is similar to the rest of Los Organos in that it is on the edge of the rock face. At the beginning the path climbs slowly; in 30min it turns inland and zig zags up steeply to go round the base of a rocky spur. It then descends and reascends past a second rocky spur. At 45 min you are on a path with trees on both sides. In 50 min you cross some stones at the top of a barranco. In 1 hour you reach a bulldozed forestry track: turn left and follow it downhill. Five minutes later you reach a junction; ignore the tracks to right and left and continue straight ahead; this track curves around and descends and you should ignore all tracks going off it and continue descending. In 1h45min you arrive, after a steep descent, at Choza Almadi. The path back to Choza El Topo and La Caldera is the one on your immediate left. (several users, 2006, who say the whole walk takes about 5h). We have sketched in on the map in the book where we think these paths and tracks are, but have NOT marked the route in colour. (Sunflower)

Walk 8: Another way to start is to cross the road from the Information Centre and follow Walk 9, but fork left after 5 min onto Path No 2 and follow this path as it winds uphill. After about 1h the path swings north across a wide desolate plain (at this point Path No 2 goes right to join up with the Las Cañadas track). Towards the end of the plain the path gets fainter, but if you veer to the right, towards some bushes, the path becomes clear again and within 1min you reach a bulldozed track. Turn left (north) and follow this to the road. Turn right and within 15 mins you are at Corral del Nino. This adds 2mi/3km; 1h to the route in the book, but cuts out the boring walk up the road. (User) [Note: not all of this route is shown on our maps.]

Walk 11: Hi, there. I'm from Tenerife. I've just realised that in your book about the island, you name that vertical rock near El Teide "God's finger" but that is not correct. "God's finger" was in gran canaria until the delta storm blew it to the bottom of the sea. The one in El Teide is called "Roque Chinchado". (e-mail, 5/08) [Sunflower: He's right! Despite there being tens of thousands of references to 'God's Finger' in books and on the web, the web site for the National Park gives the correct name of Roque Chinchado...] + p73, final para: On the return to the car park, a couple of minutes after the detour to the rock, the path splits into two. Although both end in the same place, the route to the left is safer and easier, the route to the right is steep with much loose shale. (User, 11/08)

Walk 13, p78, para 2: The signpost to Roque del Peral is missing, although the metal post remains. Walk 13 (alternative): The shortcut path from the viewpoint at the end of the Canada to Degollada del Cedro was in the process of being fenced off when we visited. It will now be necessary to retrace steps all the way back to main walk, then continue on main walk. (User, 11/08)

Walk 14: I don't recommend the Mirador de Sergio as a picnic spot: there is no shade and you have to sit on the track. Chanajiga is, after all, only 10 minutes further on. (User, 5/05)

Walk 16: Since the fires the path from Las Arenas Negras has several new Finger posts pointing off of the path which can be confusing. After Los Partidos de Franquis the path now joins the Road at a Roundabout. (User, 6/08) + After the 20min-point: 150 metres up the forestry track a marked path leaves to the right. This rejoins the forestry track a few minutes below the picnic site. It is more pleasant than the forestry track, especially at weekends when the track is busy and dusty. (User, 11/08)

Walk 18: The sugested walk to Masca is good and after joining the road at the Mirador above Masca when you go along the old road on the left the path down is now marked with a Finger post. (User, 6/08) + Shorter walk 1, p89 final para: A little way after the barrier note a well signed path to the right on a bend. This is now the way back, the route given in the book has been closed. This path brings you back onto the Pista del Canal on the corner of the sweeping bend a few minutes above the picnic site. Turn Left. (User, 11/08)

Walk 30: I tried this walk on 27th March in fine weather. I arrived at the derelict chapel (1h) a few minutes ahead of schedule and found the turnoff path (1h10min) okay. Descending this path was initially clear but on reaching the riverbed the path became increasingly hard to follow and I had to backtrack several times before picking up cairns or paint markers again. I could not follow the book's route instructions, but following cairns eventually arrived at the coast still in the barranco - two rocks here were painted with signs 'Coto de Caza' (Hunting area). Clearly at some stage I should have ascended out of the barranco (as indicated following the 1h30min point in the book). (User, 4/06) + I initially had the same problem as user of 4/06, and I suggest a rewording for the text: Where the text says "You enter the riverbed at the junction of two barrancos ... just above a drop in a dry cascade", substitute: "At the point where the path you have been following turns sharp right to cross the river bed (it descends to Playa Zapata), look for your path off left, waymarked with cairns (not always easy to spot)." This is a terrific walk; pity more Landscapers don't do it. (User, 9/07)

New walk suggestion: The 'Camino de Castro' is a very interesting walk from the Mirador de San Pedro to Puerto de la Cruz along the cliffs and through banana plantations. A map and details are available from the Tourist Information Centre (the 363 bus goes past the mirador). The walk ends at the Hotel Maritim, but if you walk down the road to Loro Parc you can then walk along Playa Maritim into Puerto. (User, 2/03) + Another user (3/04) said how much he enjoyed this walk and that it complements Walk 1 nicely. (Sunflower) + The tourist office did have a photocopy for the 'Camino de Castro' walk , but this was not much help. It is called Sendero del Agua Water Path'; here is a description: Take the 363 bus to Mirador de San Petro. If the bus stops after the mirador do not go back up the busy road but go down the side road by the bus stop and turn right. You will find a new paved path climbing up under the Mirador. Keep right and you will pass the Ermita and come up onto the Mirador. To find the Path to Puerto de la Cruz cross over the car park. The path starts on the far side. The Rambla de Castro is worth exploring. There are several information boards beside the path. The ongoing path to Puerto goes uphill to Aquas de Gordejuela. Go left at the T- junction. When you come to Romantica you have to find your way through the streets to Los Roques bay. First turn left then right, and go straight on to find the continuation cliff path at Playa de los Roques. Go down to join a covered water canal. Before turning right to Puerto, turn left, passing under a small stone built bridge, through a cleft in the rock to the edge of the cliff. Follow the path round to the right, round the large rock, to a mirador. Carry on to rejoin the path to Puerto. When you reach the Hotel Maritim, walk past it then turn left down Calle Bencome (which has a narrow pavement) to Punta Brava. Turn left down steps, follow Calle Tegueste along the sea side of Punta Brava. Keep following round close to the sea, Calle Pelinor, up steps past a small chapel. Turn right down Calle Pelicar to Calle Ruiman to a small Plaza, cross this to join the walkway around the beach below Loro Park. (User, 3/05) + If you walk from Puerto de la Cruz to the MIRADOR SAN PEDRO, the 363 bus back to Puerto arrives at the bus stop on the San Vicente road just before 25 minutes past each hour. There is now a footway, fenced off from the road, from the Mirador to the bus stop. (User, 2005)