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Anaga Rural Park: The Ultimate Guide!

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Home to towering peaks, mysterious cloud forests and remote black-sand beaches, the Anaga Rural Park is one of my favourite attractions in Tenerife. Despite being home to such staggering natural beauty, this park is often missed off people’s itineraries. This is down to a combination of its location in the very northern tip of Tenerife and the fact that this park is very much not on people’s radars.

In this article I’m going to tell you everything you need to know about visiting the Anaga Rural Park.

In This Guide

• What is the Anaga Rural Park?
• Are There any Fees to Enter Anaga Rural Park?
• How to Get to Anaga Rural Park
  • Anaga Rural Park by Bus
    • Anaga Rural Park by Tour Bus
    • Anaga Rural Park by Car
    • Things to Do in Anaga Rural Park
      • Walk Through Anaga’s Magical Cloud Forests
      • Enjoy Tapas and Spectacular Views at Casa Santiago
      • Visit One of Anaga’s Jaw-Dropping Beaches
      • Enjoy Fresh Fish at Restaurante El Frontón
      • Admire the Views at Mirador Risco Amogoje
    • What to Wear for Your Visit to Anaga Rural Park
    • Anaga Rural Park Packing List
    • Final Thoughts

    What is the Anaga Rural Park?

    The Anaga Rural Park is an area of natural beauty in the very northern tip of Tenerife. The park consists of sharp, jagged peaks and deep ravines. Roads wind dizzyingly around mountains with panoramic views which stretch all the way to the ocean.

    In the park you will find traditional villages set on narrow ridges above steep ravines, some of the most picturesque beaches I have ever seen in my life and rare cloud forests.

    The park encompasses most of the Anaga Massif, with a vast area of 140 square kilometres. Despite its large size, the area is sparsely populated with only 22,000 inhabitants.

    The spectacular mountains and ravines within the park formed as a result of a volcanic eruption between 7 and 9 million years ago.

    The Anaga Rural Park was classified as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2015 in acknowledgment of the fact that it is home to a vast range of endemic species.

    A hamlet nestled within the Anaga Rural Park

    Are There any Fees to Enter Anaga Rural Park?

    There are no fees to enter the park and also no parking fees. The park also has no official entrance, or boundaries.

    You do however need to apply for a free permit if you wish to hike through El Pijaral, also known as the Enchanted Forest (Bosque Encantado), and you can incur a hefty fine of €600 if you attempt to hike there without one. The permit is in place to keep visitor numbers to a minimum (no more than 45 per day) in order to cause the least amount of disruption to the area. You will need to apply several months in advance, especially if you are planning on visiting during peak season, due to the popularity of the trail.

    If applying for a permit sounds daunting to you, don’t worry, there are plenty of stunning hikes through other enchanting forests in the Anaga Rural Park which don’t require a permit. We’ll get to those later in this guide.

    How to Get to Anaga Rural Park

    Getting to the park via car is perhaps the easiest way to access the park, especially as it gives you the freedom to stop off at some of the many gorgeous viewpoints that you’ll undoubtedly encounter on your trip. The major drawback to driving is that parking can prove challenging, especially in the middle of the day.

    Public buses are definitely an option, though they do require some planning and have some limitations in terms of their routes and timetables.

    Below I’ll go through the different options of getting to Anaga.

    On route to the Anaga Rural Park – those peaks in the background

    Anaga Rural Park by Bus

    The best places to get buses from are Santa Cruz (Tenerife’s capital) and San Cristóbal de La Laguna (Tenerife’s second largest city). You can view bus timetables and prices here.

    If you are travelling from southern Tenerife, you may wish to make your visit to one of these cities on the same day as your visit to Anaga in order to break up your journey.

    The main drawback with taking a public bus is that you are limited in where in the park you can visit. If you take the bus from Santa Cruz, unless you get a bus to San Cristóbal de La Laguna and then onwards, you can only visit one side of Anaga, and vice versa if you get a bus from San Cristóbal de La Laguna.

    Still, it’s worth considering as buses are reasonably frequent, journey times are not too long and bus fares are really reasonable.

    Buses from to Anaga Rural park from Santa Cruz

    From Santa Cruz, buses to Anaga are fairly regular. You will need to take the Route 946 bus which departs from Santa Cruz’s main bus terminal. It’s roughly a 40 minute bus journey to Taganana, a gorgeous coastal town with beautiful beaches and a handful of delicious eateries and it only costs €1.25. 

    It’s worth noting that the Route 946 bus does operate at infrequent intervals. There can be anything from 40 minutes to 3 hours in between buses. The shortest intervals are in the morning.

    The bus journey itself yields some pretty impressive views as you drive through the heart of the park in order to reach your destination. Look out for the many beautiful hamlets perched at the edge of the majestic ravines and admire the weathered shapes of the peaks that surround the winding road.

    A feel for what the roads are like in the park. The views from here are incredible!

    Buses to Anaga Rural Park from San Cristóbal de La Laguna

    San Cristóbal de La Laguna is located just below the Anaga Rural Park. Getting the bus from this city is quick and convenient.

    There are several bus lines that you can take in order to get to Cruce Carboneras – an area within the park where there are numerous forest hikes – Routes 76, 77 and 275. All buses depart from Intercambiador Laguna, the main bus station in the city.

    Although the 275 bus can get to this destination, journey times can take over an hour so I’d recommend you take 76 or 77 instead. Journey times on the 76 or 77 are roughly 25 minutes. You can expect to pay around €1.25 for your bus fare.

    The journey will take you through dense cloud forests. There will be gaps in the forests where you can admire stunning panoramic views of the landscape.

    There is a bus stop at one of the best viewpoints on the route, Mirador De Jardina, which overlooks San Cristóbal de La Laguna with Mount Teide in the background. There are some hikes near this viewpoint so you may wish to stop here for an hour or so before journeying onwards to Cruce Carboneras. If you plan on making this stop, it’s advisable to do so in the morning where the buses are more frequent. You also have the option of taking either the 274, 275 or the 76 bus to Mirador De Jardina, giving you more flexibility in your journey.

    Anaga Rural Park by Tour Bus

    There are a couple of group tours that you can book on which feature the Anaga Rural Park. The benefit of tours is they enable you to see parts of the park that you may be forced to miss due to the limitations of public bus timetables. They also take out the stress of finding somewhere to park. However, tours definitely are a more expensive option and it’s debatable if you really need a tour guide to get the most of your visit to Anaga. As a rough guide, tours can range from around £30 to over £100 per person for the day. Prices may be cheaper for children.

    Several tours also include city tours in both Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal de La Laguna. These 2 city and Anaga tours are advertised as 9 hours in length so it will be quite a long day if you opt for one of these and it’s debatable how much of each place you will actually get to see.

    The view from Mirador De Jardina of San Cristóbal de La Laguna

    Anaga Rural Park by Car

    Perhaps the best balance between cost and flexibility for your visit to Anaga would be to hire a car and drive. You can even hire a car just for the day if you know that you won’t be using it much on your overall trip in Tenerife.

    Cicar is my preferred rental company in Tenerife, offering a superior service (in my opinion) to other companies. You can hire a budget car from Cicar for around €30 just for the day – more reasonable than if you were to book a group tour. Pre-booking your car isn’t strictly necessary but I would recommend it if you are in Tenerife during peak season.

    From southern Tenerife you would journey along the main TF-1 highway to the island’s north. From there you have two different routes available to you.

    Route 1: TF-12 through San Cristóbal de La Laguna

    From the TF-1 highway follow signs to San Cristóbal de La Laguna which should take you to the TF-2 highway. The TF-2 will then join the TF-5, heading north west. Exit the motorway at San Cristóbal de La Laguna, junction 8B. You would then follow the road straight up through the city (the TF-13). Exit onto the TF-12, following signs to Anaga.

    The TF-12 takes you straight into the Anaga Rural Park. Upon entering the park you will encounter a breathtaking viewpoint called Mirador De Jardina. The panoramic views overlook San Cristóbal de La Laguna and on a cloudless day you may even be able to see the summit of Mount Teide in the background. There’s ample space to park at the viewpoint.

    You can either hike near Mirador De Jardina or you can continue your drive deeper into the park where the landscape only gets more beautiful.

    This route will take you through the cloud forests. You won’t get as many spectacular views as the second route (which we go into below) but once you have passed the restaurant ​Casa Santiago, views do open up around you.

    Route 2: TF-12 through Santa Cruz

    This route starts the same way as route 1, following the TF-1 motorway to the north. Follow signs for Santa Cruz which should take you to the very end of the TF-1. Once in Santa Cruz, follow the main road (Av. Reyes Catolicos) straight through the city. You will pass Santa Cruz’s port on your right as the road becomes the TF-11.

    I personally find the views on this route just that bit more spectacular than route 1. Before you even enter the park you will see your first hamlet tucked on a narrow ledge above a ravine.

    When you reach the town of San Andrés, turn left onto the TF-12 and prepare to be amazed at how stunning the drive really is. This road takes you into the heart of the park. The drive is so spectacular that it’s actually an experience in itself.

    Which Route is Best?

    You may have realised that both routes follow the TF-12. Yes, it’s the same road but the routes simply start at either end of the road. I’d personally recommend driving into the park via route 2 (via Santa Cruz) and leaving via route 1 (via San Cristóbal de La Laguna). This way you experience both routes as they really do have their own offerings. Route 1 takes you into the magical forests whereas route 2 shows you more dramatic cliffs and ravines.

    Aganana’s gorgeous coastline

    Things to Do in Anaga Rural Park

    The Anaga Rural Park offers something for everyone. Whether you are an avid hiker, someone who likes dining in authentic restaurants or someone who’d rather hit the beach, there really is something for you.

    Let’s delve into some of my favourite activities within the park.

    Walk Through Anaga’s Magical Cloud Forests

    Cloud forests, also known as laurel forests, date back to the Tertiary period, making them prehistoric. The Tertiary period took place between 2.6 million and 66 million years ago.

    Up until 22,000 years ago, these incredible forests were found across much of northern Africa and southern Europe. Today they are not as common, though can be found on islands in the Atlantic ocean (Canary islands as well as the Azores and Madeira islands), as well as parts of Asia and Africa.

    Laurel forests occur in areas of high altitude where there is high humidity and stable mild temperatures. They have obtained their nickname of cloud forests as they are frequently within the clouds.

    The forests are easily recognisable and are quite magical in appearance. Tall, dark trees stand mystically on either side of the winding road through Anaga, their trunks twisting and coated with thin layers of green moss.

    There are many places in Anaga where you can hike through the forests but one of the most accessible places is in an area known as Cruz del Carmen. Perched upon a bend in the forest road, this area consists of a restaurant, car park and visitor centre. Cruz del Carmen houses the start to numerous hiking trails, making it a popular spot for locals and tourists alike.

    Walking through the cloud forests

    I wouldn’t rely on the main restaurant being open as unfortunately it was closed for my arrival, despite online sources stating it was open and it being a regular weekday. But if you are hungry, it’s not all doom and gloom as the visitor centre serves food.

    When I visited in mid-morning, the car park was painfully full. We took to circling it a couple of times before eventually creating our very own parking spot near to the visitor centre. As afternoon kicks in it’s quite common to see people parking at the side of the main road due to how full the car park gets. I’m not sure if the parking is regulated here but there were no road markings saying you couldn’t park on the road.

    There are countless trails that start at this spot with varying range of difficulties. I opted for a trail called Sendero de los Sentidos which translates to Trail of the Senses. The trail claims to be wheelchair friendly and access is via a wooden walkway.

    I must say, sticking to the trail was slightly challenging as so many trails seem to snake off from it. There are signs highlighting the routes but they do become infrequent at points. I knew I had definitely veered off the trail as the ground became terribly uneven and steep, not suitable for wheelchairs.

    Despite the car park being incredibly full, the walk was very peaceful. I only passed a couple of people, mostly finding myself in blissful solitude, only the sounds of my footsteps and chirping of birds keeping me company.

    The forest is definitely beautiful. Slender moss-coated trees engulfed the walkway, their branches intertwining with those of neighbouring trees as well as trees on the opposite side of the path. Their branches were like a network, combining all trees together.

    The hike really can be as long or as short as you wish. You can turn around at any point or you can join onto another trail when two trails cross paths. I spent around an hour in the forest.

    The walk is stunning at any type of year, even if you’re visiting Tenerife in winter, like I did. The walk is warmer in the summer months but there’s something refreshing about the cool mountain air that you feel when walking here in the winter.

    The cloud forests

    Enjoy Tapas and Spectacular Views at Casa Santiago

    Casa Santiago is a restaurant perched upon the spine of a mountain. The views are incredible, the service is friendly and the food is delicious and authentic.

    If you decide to eat here then I highly recommend the Papas arrugadas (Canarian wrinkly potatoes) and local goat’s cheese.

    I found that the waiters didn’t speak much English so knowing a couple of Spanish words is highly recommended.

    Casa Santiago can be found on the main road through Anaga, not too far up the road from Cruz del Carmen. It’s the only restaurant in the area so you can’t miss it. There’s a small car park out the front which fits a handful of cars.

    The view from Casa Santiago

    Visit One of Anaga’s Jaw-Dropping Beaches

    I could honestly list each beach on this northern stretch of coastline as an individual highlight in Anaga because they are all stunning but I decided to pop them together here as realistically, you probably won’t sunbathe on them all.

    Surrounding the towns of Taganana, Almáciga and Benijo are numerous black-sand beaches. Majestic craggy peaks border the beach fronts and pinnacles of pointy rocks protrude from the Atlantic ocean at frequent intervals.

    Some of my favourite beaches in the area include Playa de Roques de las Bodegas and Playa de Benijo. The beaches are next to each other and are equally stunning.

    The sea is pretty rough so swimming is not recommended unless you really know what you’re doing. It’s much safer instead (and warmer) to sunbathe and admire the gorgeous views.

    There’s lots of parking behind the beaches and I didn’t have any issues finding a spot.

    Enjoy Fresh Fish at Restaurante El Frontón

    Restaurante El Frontón is located in the village of Benijo. It’s the best recommended restaurant in the area and a visit will easily show you why. Not only does the restaurant have mesmerising views of the nearby beaches and cliffs, but the food is some of the best I’ve had in Tenerife.

    Restaurante El Frontón is a seafood restaurant so eating seafood here is a must! The fish is all fresh, caught that very morning.

    I enjoyed the fresh catch of the day that had been purchased from a local market that morning, grilled as per our waiter’s recommendation. We also selected some papas arrugadas (Canarian wrinkly potatoes) because they really are the thing to have in Tenerife!

    Fish of the day at Restaurante El Frontón

    Admire the Views at Mirador Risco Amogoje

    Mirador Risco Amogoje is one of my favourite viewpoints in Anaga. It’s located just above the town of Taganana (on the TF-134) and has a sweeping view of the coastline including all of its stunning beaches.

    In the far distance you can see Anaga rocks, huge rocky structures isolated off the coast, surrounded by ocean. In the foreground, within the ravine beneath the viewpoint are a couple of houses and further down the ravine, bordering the ocean was the tip of a village called Almáciga.

    The view from Mirador Risco Amogoje

    What to Wear for Your Visit to Anaga Rural Park

    Your clothing choice really comes down to what activities you plan on doing in Anaga Rural Park. If you want to do a bit of everything (hikes and beach) then I would recommend wearing sturdy shoes for walking and packing some flip flops and sandals for your visit to the beach later.

    The weather can be unpredictable in Anaga. Whilst it didn’t rain on my visit, it was cold and windy and so I wrapped up in leggings (or you could wear long trousers), a T-shirt and hoodie. Cloud forests are well-known for being damp so it’s advisable to bring a waterproof layer for your hike.

    My best recommendation is to check the forecast before you set off and to be prepared for all weather and that means bring several layers.

    Anaga Rural Park Packing List

    Definitely bring a backpack with you. It’s handy for keeping extra clothing layers and a change of footwear if you plan on hitting the beach later on. I’d also recommend bringing one reusable water bottle per person, especially if you are hiking. You may wish to bring snacks as, especially away from the coastal towns, shops aren’t abundant. I’d also recommend bringing sun cream (it can get quite sunny) and a camera to capture the magnificent scenes that you will witness.

    Final Thoughts

    Anaga Rural Park really is one of the most beautiful parts of Tenerife. I have no doubts that you’ll enjoy your time in the park if you are a fan of nature and scenery.

    As when visiting all nature parks, please be a responsible traveller and ensure you take nothing from the park and you leave no traces of your visit either. Follow designated trails as carving your own way causes unnecessary damage to the earth. Take all your rubbish home with you if you don’t see a bin. Beautiful places like this only stay beautiful if we work together to take care of them.

    Jungle Park Tenerife, visit one of the best theme parks of the island.

    Jungle Park Tenerife is one of the best theme parks of the island. It is located in the south, just ten minutes away from Los Cristianos by car.

    ⇓ See further description below ⇓

    DESCRIPTION

    INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARK

    Firstly we can say that Jungle Park Tenerife is one of the best theme parks of the island. It is located in the south in the area of CHAYOFA, just ten minutes away from Los Cristianos by car.

    

    As the name suggests, inside Jungle Park Tenerife there is an abundant vegetation of exotic trees and plants; in other words, walking inside the park will really be like taking a walk in nature. Many different animal species from all around the world can be seen here; we find for example many birds such as marabou storks, eagles, falcons, ibises, cranes, flamingos, parrots, macaws and many more exotic birds.

    The acrobatics of these spectacular birds can be seen in Jungle Park Tenerife in the “birds of prey show”. During this attraction the birds will carry out the commands of expert trainers who look after them with passion. Also inside the park you can walk through a gigantic cage where you will meet various species of parrots. They are very friendly and will not hesitate to jump on your finger to greet you.

    That’s not all, there are other interesting attractions at Jungle Park Tenerife! In fact, you can attend other interesting events such as feeding raccoons and penguins.

    Last but not least, you must definitely see the “sea lion show”. you will not believe your eyes when you see the stunts these animals are capable of.

    Jungle Park Tenerife hosts many primates, for instance orangutans, gibbons, marmosets, capuchin and squirrel monkeys and the De Brazza’s monkeys. Moreover it will also be possible to walk in an enclosed space reserved for lemurs where you can meet these cute animals face to face.

    Another cool thing that the park offers is driving a bobsleigh on a high-speed jungle-crossing track. Both adults and children can enjoy this fantastic attraction.

    If you intend to visit the Jungle Park together with Aqualand water park, you can buy the “two parks ticket”. This way you will get a discount on the price.

    In conclusion, we think that Jungle Park Tenerife deserves to be visited because it offers countless attractions. In addition, it is located in an area that can be easily reached from any part of the island.

    OPENING DAYS/HOURS & PICKUP SERVICE

    For Jungle Park Tenerife transport service is not available, you have to reach the park yourself.

    OPENING DAYS AND HOURS:

    The park is open every day from 10:30 to 16:30.

    So watch the video, get an idea of what the park is and book your tickets right now!

    BOOK NOW

    BEFORE BOOKING CHECK AVAILABILITY WITH US THROUGH OUR LIVE CHAT SUPPORT!

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    Dialogues about animals. Loro Park. Tenerife. Episode 30 // Watching

    Dialogues about animals. Loro Park. Tenerife. Episode 30 // Watch

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    In this issue we will tell you how the day of the zookeeper on duty goes, where and why the trees “walk” in Loro Park, what vertical flowers look like, why chimpanzees and gorillas play classical music before going to bed, and we will also go to the Teide National Park, where filming famous Hollywood films: “Million years before our era”, “Star Wars”, “Planet of the Apes” and “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”, in which Loro Park’s dolphins took part. Do not miss!

    • dogs

    • Ivan Zatevakhin

    • animals

    • training

    • trainer / tamer

    • birds

    • biology

    • animals

    • nature

    • scientists

    • the science

    • broadcast

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    Tenerife – Island Park | Stories

    Almost half of Tenerife’s territory is occupied by natural parks, with varied landscapes, waterfalls, caves, valley views and dense laurel forests. All parks have trails for hiking, you can even climb from the Atlantic coast to the crater of the Teide volcano – the highest point in Spain! For lovers of fresh air and new experiences, we have compiled a selection of the most impressive hiking and trekking trails around the island.

    For leisurely walks, even if you flew to rest with children, a 2.5-hour walk through the Hell Gorge canyon is suitable. It is located 15 minutes by car from the resort area of ​​Tenerife in the south of the island. The route is gently sloping without strong elevation changes, so it is suitable for everyone, including children from 6-7 years old. During the hike, views of the rocks of the canyon open up, the trail descends to small streams and at the end of the route leads to a waterfall.

    New route Playa del Socorro – Pico del Teide.

    Not everyone will decide to accept the challenge and conquer this route, but those who do will get an unforgettable experience for a lifetime. The route starts at El Socorro beach in Los Realjos and takes you to the very top of Mount Teide through the protected areas of Los Campeches, Tigaiga and Ruiz, the Corona Forestal and Teide National Park. To make your trip even more interesting, you can download the Open Trail Races app, which saves the GPX (data) of the route. Using the application, you will receive a certificate of completion. The ascent will take all day and is suitable for physically prepared, experienced tourists. To climb the highest part of the route to the crater of the Teide volcano, you must obtain permission in advance.

    In Tenerife, you can not only climb to the top of the island, but also explore its underground lava tunnels in the Cave of the Wind, which is located in the north of the island, not far from the city of Icod de los Vinos.

    This is the largest volcanic chimney in Europe, over 17 kilometers long, with numerous underground passages. It is the fifth largest in the world after four others located in Hawaii. Guided tours take place in groups of no more than 15 people. The tourist center is open from 9until 16:30. The tour is suitable for families with children over 6 years old. Route Garachico – Mount Chinyero

    The circular route around the Chinyero volcano is suitable for those who want to see unusual landscapes of solidified lava against the backdrop of a bright Canary pine. On the way there will be an observation deck overlooking one of the slopes of the volcano, and in cloudless weather you can admire panoramic views of Teide and Pico Viejo. The duration of the route is 7 hours, it is recommended for tourists with good physical fitness. Route Vilaflor – Lunar landscape – Vilaflor

    Route of medium difficulty with small elevation changes, duration 4 hours. Leaving the picturesque village of Vilaflor de Chasna, the trail enters the Atajo Road, part of the ancient royal road of Camino Real de Chasna, which connects the northern and southern parts of the island. The route passes through a pine forest, past the Casa Galindo, next to the Barranco de las Mesas Gorge and Los Escurriales (Lunar Landscape). Route Malpais de Guimar

    This route is circular, starting and ending in Puertito de Guimar, duration 4 hours. Malpais de Guimar is a nature reserve in the southeast of the island of great ecological importance and declared a protected area in 1987 year.