Contrasts of Tenerife Walk
Experience Overview
This self guided walking holiday takes you to the very heart of Tenerife to discover its traditional towns, wild hidden valleys, spectacular coastline and impressive volcanic landscapes. The walking is both spectacular and rewarding and with a car it is easy to discover what the island has to offer.
You begin in 'Isla Baja', where terraced fields and abundant wildflowers form a colourful blanket over deep valleys and plunging ravines, and traditional farms still produce goat's cheese for which the area is renowned. The region's authenticity is fiercely protected and the town of Garachico has won awards for its preservation. From here, head to the UNESCO recognised Teide National Park, with its lava fields, beautiful volcanic chaos and iconic Mount Teide scratching the sky at over 3700m above sea level.
We provide fully detailed route notes with a choice of easier or more challenging circular walks daily, so you can tailor your day's walk to your current energy levels - but with all the walks highlighting the stunning landscapes of this remarkably diverse island.
Profile
— 7 nights twin centre accommodation in 4* hotels — Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent — Route directions and maps — Car Hire essential (included when booking a flight-inclusive package) — Transfers instead of car hire available, quote trip code W07TT - contact us for prices
At a Glance
— 7 nights twin centre accommodation in 4* hotels — Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent — Route directions and maps — Car Hire essential (included when booking a flight-inclusive package) — Transfers instead of car hire available, quote trip code W07TT - contact us for prices
Trip For You
Walking ConditionsClassification: Self-GuidedAverage daily distance: 12km (7.5miles). No. of days walking: 6Terrain and route: This self-guided walking holiday follows mainly well marked paths and trails. You should be a sure footed walker. Some sections of the ridge walks require a head for heights. This holiday is self-drive so all walking transfers are also self-guided with directions provided to the beginning of each walk and return to the hotels at the end of the walks. Some of the roads on Tenerife are windy with lots of hairpin bends. Car Hire is essential (included when booking a flight-inclusive package).
Eating Drinking
Canarian dishes tend to be simple and elegant, owing much to sun-ripened tropical fruits such as paw-paw, prickly pear and bananas, local vegetables such as sweetcorn and potatoes and fresh fish such as moray and snapper.Specialities include conejo al salmorejo (slow cooked rabbit with garlic, paprika and chili); rancho canario (a chickpea meaty soup), ropa vieja (chicken, pork and or beef stew); chocos (cuttlefish); and crema de puerros y bubangos (cream of leek and prawn stew). The most popular fish are members of the sea bass family - cherne, cabrilla or merluza are common, and you may find grilled swordfish (espada a la plancha), as well as calamares (squid), gambas (prawns) and pulpo (octopus).
Joining Instructions
Alternative Air TravelAlternative flights can be arranged from most UK airports. If you would like to use one of the many 'low cost' airlines, we can book these on your behalf (£30 admin fee per person). We can also book UK shuttles to connect with your onward flight, please call for details and prices. If you wish to upgrade the standard car hire please enquire at time of booking.
Transfer Details
Air prices include our standard flights:British Airways Heathrow to Tenerife South Reina Sofia 08:40/13:05 and car hire (Cicar). Drive to hotel, 1 hr 10 mins. Return: Drive to airport, 35 mins then British Airways Tenerife South Reina Sofia to Heathrow 13:55/18:25. Car Hire is essential (included when booking a flight-inclusive package). Directions to each hotel and to/from the walks will be provided.
Weather Information
In Tenerife the weather is superb year-round. The sun shines here for more days of the year than most other places in the world. The weather does depend on the time of year and also the parts of the island that you visit. The south is always the warmest and sunniest with the least cloud, the west also enjoys its fair share of great weather too. The north is also very warm, although there can be more rain and cloud her compared with the rest of the island. Also, the closer you climb towards the Mount Teide National Park, Tenerife’s volcanic region and location of Spain’s highest peak El Teide, the more changeable the weather becomes. The weather cools as the altitude rises and at certain times of the year there is some snowfall here while the coast remains sunny.
Spending Money
— You will need money for lunches (or picnic provisions) and the evening meals that are not included. There is a good choice of restaurants in Garachico or you can decide to eat in the hotel's room service menu. Lunches will cost between €5-15 and dinners between €20-50 per person, excluding any drinks.
Highlights
— Mount Teide and its UNESCO National Park — Lunar landscapes, lava fields, dramatic volcanic mountains, rugged barrancos, far reaching ocean vistas — Superb for ornithologists, botanists and geologists — Choice of easier or more difficult circular walks daily - all within easy driving distance from the hotel
Trip Details
Product Code: 22805
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport:
Guide Language: English
Tour Operator:
Exodus Travel
Supplier Code: W07TN
Starts: Garachico, Canary Islands
Finishes: Garachico, Canary Islands
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Average
Includes
— 7 nights accommodation — All buffet breakfasts and 3 evening meals — Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent — Car Hire essential (included when booking a flight-inclusive package)Accommodation
HotelsYour accommodation is special on this trip. Your first 4 nights are at the Hotel Quinta Roja, a beautifully restored 17th century nobleman's mansion, superbly located next to the main square in the traditional old port town of Garachico. Next stop is the Hotel Spa VillAlba, sitting on the edge of the sleepy village of Vilaflor - the highest in Tenerife - and a short drive from the UNESCO recognised Teide National Park.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $2,615 ($327 /day)
Itinerary
Arrive in the perfectly preserved coastal town of Garachico and your elegant hotel set in a beautiful 17th century mansion. You stay at the Hotel Quinta Roja on a B&B basis
Start the day with a short drive through the banana plantations of La Isla Baja to Parque Rural de Teno. Then set off on foot from the village of El Palmar to the mountain ridge and the Mirador de Baracan. There are superb views of deep barrancos snaking down the cliffs to the coast and you can even see as far as La Gomera on a clear day. Continue past abandoned terraces, stone circles and traditional farmhouses. Overnight at the Hotel Quinta Roja on a B&B basis
Visit the Ecomuseo del Tanque to see how the islanders lived in times gone by, then follow the Canal de Vergara to La Corona Forestal, the green lungs of Tenerife and home to masses of birdlife, including the endemic pinzon azul (Canary blue chaffinch). The landscape changes to black sand and rocks as the Arenas Negras volcano looms into view through the trees. Return across the Chinyero lava field, with its contrasting rich green lichen. Overnight at the Hotel Quinta Roja on a B&B basis
From the tranquil village of Erjos, head to Monte del Agua, a treasure trove of richly diverse flora and birdlife. At Casas de La Cumbre, views over deep ravines spread out before you before you’re rewarded with the sight of snow capped Teide. The last descent takes you to the Charcas de Erjos ponds where local and migrant birds can be spotted. Overnight at the Hotel Quinta Roja on a B&B basis
Today you set out on your discovery of the Teide National Park – comprising of several volcanoes including mighty Mount Teide. Climb to the summit of Samara for an outstanding panorama over the volcanic chaos of Montana Reventada, the archaeological Guanche remains of Cuevas Negras and Pico Viejo, Tenerife’s second highest volcano. It’s a short onward drive to your hotel in the village of Vilaflor - the highest village on Tenerife and famous for its almendrados or almond biscuits! Overnight at the Hotel Spa VillAlba on a half board basis
An exhilarating walk today follows the Camino Real de Chasna – an ancient shepherds’ path connecting the north with the south of the island. Pass through protected pine forest to Los Escurriales, or the Moon Landscape, a fragile geological formation carved over centuries by wind and water erosion. Overnight at the Hotel Spa VillAlba on a half board basis
Savour the best vistas of Mount Teide’s caldera and its ochre coloured palette of lava flows along the Siete Canadas trail to the summit of Mount Guajara. With views as far as Gran Canaria and La Palma on a clear day, it’s a fantastic ending to a week’s walking. The easier option today takes you to Teide's caldera and the Roques de Garcia (3.5KM/2MI/2HR) Overnight at the Hotel Spa VillAlba on a half board basis
Make your way back to the airport in time for your flight home.
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Tour Operator
Exodus Travel
It’s all about adventure That is what Exodus was founded upon 50 years ago, and what the company is still all about. Discovering countries, cultures, environments, cities, mountain ranges, deserts, coasts and jungles; exploring this amazing planet we all live on. At Exodus, we know what makes you tick when it comes to holidays. It’s a desire shared by so many others. A yearning to visit new places and come home with a real sense of what they’re all about. This means delving into local traditions, cultures, cuisine, lifestyles – anything that contributes to its unique identity. At the same time, we always remember that we are only guests. So we travel courteously and respectfully, in smaller groups to minimise our impact, to ensure that every Exodus holiday is a beneficial experience for everyone involved. This is a philosophy we take with us around the world, helping you reach some incredible destinations on 500 itineraries across over 90 separate countries. We also strive to provide as much flexibility and choice as we possibly can, making it simple for you to experience a very different holiday. Exodus started life on 4 February 1974 when two friends got together to provide an overland truck to travel to the Minaret of Jam, deep in the heart of the Hindu Kush, the most inaccessible of the world’s great monuments. See our history page for more details about how we began and how we have grown over the past 50 years. Never travelled with Exodus before? Visit our New to Exodus page for some useful, first-timer information.
In Business Since 1974
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