There are many awesome hikes in Tenerife, including an ascent to El Teide, 3700m high volcano. We rather chose the baby friendly ones in our light carrier (Manduca), and left our sophisticated Deuter at home this time.
El Teide National Park is a must see. If the weather allows, as most of the time, the volcano is covered in clouds. Expect moonlike landscape, weird rock formations, and lava trails. We wandered around Los Roques de Garcia, in a baby safe altitude. The difference of temperature up there is significant, warmer clothes and windproof jackets are definitely needed.
Anaga National Park in the north is beautiful, dense rainforest with stunning views over the ocean. Except not the day of our hike, as we were completely covered in clouds. We wanted to turn around at the parking lot, but the local guide said this weather is normal and we should consider ourselves lucky it did not rain. And so we went for a nice easy walk in the clouds near Cruz del Carmen, on the way from La Laguna to Taganana. If not the walk, the drive is definitely worth it. The views are stunning (once you get below the clouds), and the northern coast is impressive.
La Orotava Valley has forests. Lots of them, very dense and fairy tale like. We parked in La Caldera, and it would have been a great circular walk through Aguamansa, if we didn’t get lost on the way. The signs are stupid proof, I guess watching Baby on his mission to pick up every little stone he found took all our attention. It was a nice walk though, although a bit oversold in the guidebook. No goblins and no fairies on the way.
