One of Tenerife's signature highlights.
4.8 (5)•Nature Area•Anaga, North Tenerife•#2 Must-see in Tenerife
Anaga packs misty laurel forest, sharp ridges, deep ravines and a black-sand coast into Tenerife's north-east corner. It is not one viewpoint or one hike: choose either a forest-led visit around Sendero de los Sentidos, a mountain drive towards Taganana, or a longer coast day ending near Benijo. Trying to do all three usually means spending more time on narrow roads than in the landscape.
The best first stop is Cruz del Carmen, where the road reaches the laurel forest and several walks begin. This ancient-looking woodland survives on moisture carried by the trade-wind cloud: fog is part of the place, not proof that you chose the wrong day. It can, however, hide the viewpoints and make paths slick, so bring a rain layer and shoes with grip even when the coast is sunny.
Anaga Rural Park covers close to 14,500 hectares and lies inside the UNESCO Anaga Biosphere Reserve, recognised in 2015. Access to the park is free, but sensitive routes such as El Pijaral are controlled and require advance booking; closures and rules can change, so check TenerifeON for the exact trail. Parking is limited at popular starts, and village roads must stay clear for residents. Pick one route, start early and let the forest or the coast be the main event rather than treating Anaga as a list of pins.
Anaga is not a box to tick. Fog, road time and viewpoint choices decide whether it feels magical or exhausting.
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7-day forecast
Blog context
Useful planning notes connected to this place: weather, transport, routes, and nearby decisions.
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A practical family guide to Tenerife: where to stay, which beaches and parks work by age, how to plan Teide and Anaga, and what to know about cars, meals and weather.
A practical 2026 hiking guide for choosing Tenerife walks by effort, booking, exposure, weather and group confidence instead of chasing the hardest route.
Traveler photos
Guest review summary
Commonly mentioned by visitors.
Visitors remember the sudden contrast with the coast: cooler air, fog, green forest and a feeling of entering another Tenerife.
The park works at several levels, from short forest walks and miradores to longer ridge and village hikes.
Cloud gaps can turn ordinary stops into dramatic ocean-and-mountain viewpoints.
Parking at Cruz del Carmen and popular trailheads fills quickly, especially on weekends.
After rain, paths can be slippery and muddy; ordinary city trainers are often not enough.
Fog, wind and rain can make both driving and hiking slower than planned.
Some sensitive routes require permits, so do not build the day around them until access is confirmed.
Recommended reviews
Desi Epicurean
Source: Google Maps
5 months ago
Gorgeous on a dry sunny day. The Visitors Center helped us select the right trail and gave useful ideas for other viewpoints and towns in the park after our hike. We hiked the Enigma trail, around 5 km, and recent rain made parts slippery.
Lex
Source: Google Maps
2 months ago
A surprisingly quick and easy hike. We expected something more technical, but this trail was well maintained and suitable for all skill levels, with views at the end worth the walk.
Tiberiu Neagu
Source: Google Maps
2 months ago
The Laurisilva forests are a rare remnant of subtropical vegetation that once covered the Mediterranean basin and North Africa. Make sure to get permits in advance for the Enchanted Forest and El Pijaral trails.
Oksana
Source: Google Maps
5 months ago
A wonderful forest walk with views of the ocean and mountains. It is a good place to cool off in the heat; while it was 28 degrees on the beach, it was 21 degrees in the forest. There was a cafe and restrooms in the parking lot.
Mario Vlahović
Source: Google Maps
5 months ago
A beautiful walk through the forest with strong views. Comfortable shoes and a light jacket were useful because it was cooler in the woods.
Weather Decides The Route
Sunny Santa Cruz proves very little: on the TF-12 ridge you can meet fog, rain and wet stone. For Anaga, check the forecast for the north-east mountains, not only the south coast.
KnowTenerife
Do Not Reduce Anaga To Viewpoints
Miradores are useful, but Anaga makes more sense when you feel the transition between damp forest, exposed ridges and villages such as Taganana or Chamorga. Even a short marked walk beats a chain of roadside stops.
KnowTenerife
The Roads Need A Calm Driver
Narrow bends, visitor traffic and sudden fog make rushing a poor idea. If the driver dislikes mountain roads, shorten the route or use a guided hike with transport.
KnowTenerife
Villages Are Not A Backdrop
Taganana, Chamorga and the other settlements in the massif are lived-in places. Do not block narrow roads, enter private land for photos or leave litter near trails and miradores.
KnowTenerife
No for the park in general. Viewpoints, villages and many trails are open, but specific protected routes need permits.
Cruz del Carmen is the simplest forest-and-route base. Taganana is better when the day is focused on the coast and villages.
Yes, if you accept a slower scenic drive with short stops. The park is better with at least one short walk.
Yes for short marked forest walks and viewpoints. Avoid wet descents, long ridge routes and permit trails unless children are used to hiking.
Shoes with grip and a light rain/wind layer. Anaga can be much cooler and wetter than the coast.
Choose short marked routes or postpone longer hikes. Fog, rain and slippery paths can make navigation and driving harder.
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