Anaga Rural Park Guided Tour

Verified content· Updated 25 June 2026

Anaga Rural Park5 hours

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2015Laurel forest, relic of the TertiaryAbout 14,400 hectares in the northeast of Tenerife

The Anaga Rural Park, located in the northeastern tip of Tenerife, covers about 14,400 hectares spread across Santa Cruz de Tenerife, La Laguna, and Tegueste, and is part of the Biosphere Reserve declared by UNESCO in 2015. Its laurel forest is a relict ecosystem from the Tertiary period, now reduced to the Canary Islands, Madeira, and Azores, which remains green thanks to constant humidity and mist. A guided tour traverses its trails among ferns, volcanic ridges, and traditional hamlets, often starting from the Cruz del Carmen visitor center, where the accessible Path of the Senses begins.

There are routes for all levels, from short walks to challenging hikes towards Chinamada or Taganana. To enter the El Pijaral Integral Natural Reserve (Enchanted Forest), a prior free permit is required, with limited daily slots.

Gallery

Laurisilva laurel forest in the Anaga Rural Park, one of Europe's finest relics of subtropical cloud forest. — Josefir Instantes (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The Roques de Anaga seen from Taganana, volcanic rock pinnacles off Tenerife's northern coast. — Unapersonaviva (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Ridges, ravines and hamlets seen from Chinamada, a cave-house village in the Anaga massif. — Omar Arzola (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The rugged Anaga coastline with its sea stacks rising from the Atlantic, within the Biosphere Reserve. — Yerie2017 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Essential information

Accessibility

Accessible by car via roads TF-11 and TF-12 (about 25-35 minutes from Santa Cruz) or by bus; there is parking next to the viewpoint and visitor center of Cruz del Carmen, which fills up quickly on busy days.

Risk Level

These are mountain trails with narrow sections, slopes, and often wet and slippery ground; appropriate hiking footwear, water, and attention to fog are recommended.