A trek across the Canary Island of Tenerife settles the age-old question, "Mountains or sea?" once and for all. This small piece of land, just 2,034 square kilometers in size, is actually the highest peak in the Atlantic (7,500 meters from the ocean floor) and one of the summits of a vast mountain range along the African coast. So, even stepping onto the shores of Tenerife turns you into a mountaineer. An Atlantic mountaineer, no less! This is something you can't miss!
During our week-long trek with tents, we will climb the highest point in Spain – the Teide volcano, standing at 3,718 meters. We'll learn a lot about volcanology and the formation of planet Earth; hike through 28 microclimate zones; marvel at the pristine starry sky in the volcanic caldera and practice astrophotography; spend a night in a mountain refuge; swim in the ocean, and feast on fresh fish and seafood on the black surfer beaches of the green, misty Anaga massif, which seems to remember the days of dinosaurs. Join us on a trek across Tenerife!
You may also be interested in other hiking options on the islands:
We do not cancel or reschedule groups. If the manager has given permission to buy a ticket, you can buy it with confidence. There will be no cancellation through our fault.
The program is rich, varied and quite unusual - some uncomplicated mountaineering, some trekking, some sci-fi, some gastro-touring, some astrophotography.
Because your team leader is a professional photographer, so you will have great pictures and videos to remember after the trip.
You will be accompanied by a professional photographer and an experienced mountain team leader, with 10 years of trekking experience in the Canary archipelago and an unusual hobby of volcanology. Languages of communication are Ukrainian and English.
During the hike we will use not stewed meat and condensed milk, but interesting and delicious products from local farms.
Add another achievement to your mountaineering record or start your climbing career – summiting Teide is excellent preparation for tackling more challenging peaks in Nepal and Latin America!
More than 25000 participants have already been with Kuluar and 97.8% were satisfied. We're sure you will, too!
Typically, people start their acquaintance with the island in Santa Cruz, the island's capital. But we won't be that predictable – what can a Mountain Person find exciting in a big city? (Besides, on the southern part of the island, unlike the north, you can swim in the ocean even in winter.) We'll meet at a hostel in the small town of Los Gigantes in southern Tenerife. For those arriving in the morning, there’s an extra bonus: either a sea excursion to watch dolphins or, for the more experienced, a warm-up on the breathtaking "Skywalk Trail" – a narrow, ultra-scenic path along cliffs above the Atlantic Ocean.
We ascend 1,500 meters along a mountain serpentine, moving closer to the center of the island. Our first stop is Vilaflor, the highest settlement on Tenerife, renowned for its massive ancient pine trees. Following that, we'll embark on a 7-kilometer trek to the so-called "Lunar Landscape," where one of the scenes from "Star Wars" was filmed. We'll have a photoshoot here and set up camp for the night in tents.
Total distance: 7 km. Elevation gain: 600 m. Hiking time: about 3 hours.
We'll start our morning in a pine forest with a cup of coffee. After breakfast, we'll ascend higher to the edge of the island's main volcanic caldera, Las Cañadas, offering dizzyingly beautiful views of the surrounding mountains, sprinkled with colorful volcanic ash. From the 2,400-meter pass, we'll enjoy a wide panorama of the Atlantic, other Canary Islands, and catch our first glimpse of Mount Teide – the main goal and hope of our journey. We’ll then continue our ascent to the summit of Mount Guajara (2718 meters), the third-highest mountain on the island, where we'll set up an acclimatization camp for the night.
Total distance: 7 km. Elevation gain: 930 m. Hiking time: about 3.5 hours.
It's time to descend into the caldera (down to about 2,000 meters above sea level) and stroll through the "Martian" lava fields. We'll descend from Mount Guajara via another pass, with the opportunity to take a break at the only café in the caldera, where we can enjoy some tea, a snack, and use a proper restroom. After our rest, we’ll drive to the northern part of the caldera, towards Montaña Blanca, where we'll begin our ascent of Teide, passing by the enormous volcanic bombs known as the "Eggs of Teide." We’ll camp near the Altavista mountain refuge (3,260 meters). At sunset, we'll witness the epic sight of Teide's shadow slowly covering the entire island, stretching over the ocean, and reaching the neighboring island of Gran Canaria.
Total distance: 15 km (6.2 km before lunch and 8.7 km after). Elevation change: 200 meters descent before lunch and 940 meters ascent after. Hiking time: about 8 hours.
Physically challenging, but the most beautiful day of our hike in Tenerife. We leave the Alta Vista refuge while it is still dark. The ascent to the peak of Teide follows a winding path among boulders of solidified lava. Along the way, we warm our hands with the steam escaping from the fumaroles — holes in the dormant but still active volcano. It smells of sulphur. Here, you can already feel the altitude.
We will meet the dawn at the summit, which offers a 360-degree panorama not only of the entire island, but also (in clear weather) of the entire western part of the Canary Islands.
We will take amazing photographs and, when dawn breaks, we will walk around the crater.*
After the ascent, we descend into the caldera by lift, have breakfast and move to the Anaga mountain range. But be prepared to descend on foot if the wind is too strong - the cable car does not operate.
If we go on foot, we will have another day's hike ahead of us, descending the slopes of the second highest volcano on the island, Pico Viejo, whose crater is simply breathtaking, measuring 800 metres in diameter!
The additional transition will be about 8 kilometres long with a height difference of 1 kilometre.
We drive our own car to the north of the island to take a break from the volcanic wastelands in green Anaga. Overnight stay in a mountain hostel with a shower and a small restaurant.
Total distance: 2.3 km if, as planned, we descend by cable car, or 12.3 km if we descend on foot (2.3 km climb to the summit and 10 km descent via Pico Viejo).
Elevation gain: 420 m to the summit and 1,700 m descent via Pico Viejo. Walking time: approximately 7 hours.
P.S.: Currently, the Altavista shelter is under renovation, so we are staying a little higher up at the official bivouac, which means a longer trek on Day 4 and a shorter one on Day 5.
Well-deserved relaxation by the ocean in the Anaga Natural Park, where the laurel forests are listed as UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. We'll swim and stroll along the black-sand surfer beaches and admire the green mountain ridges. We’ll visit the photographer's favorite – the most beautiful beach on the island, Benijo. The local small villages still remember Columbus. We'll enjoy fresh fish, taste local wine, and learn a lot about the island's indigenous people, the Guanches, and their way of life. As the sun sets on the beach, we’ll return to our hostel a bit higher up in our car for the night.
Today we have a surprise – an introduction to the local Canarian version of canyoning, known as "barranquismo." The name comes from the local word "barranco", meaning "gorge". Volcanic canyoning differs from the usual experience – lava forms a stunningly exotic, multicolored rocky landscape. But the activity itself remains the same – we start at the top of the gorge and rappel down towards the ocean. We alternate between hiking and rappelling down chutes and vertical rock faces. Barranquismo is completely safe and incredibly exciting, but it is not recommended for participants with a strong fear of heights. We provide all the necessary equipment, so you don't need to worry about a thing.
The total distance depends on the chosen canyon, but the activity usually takes around 8 hours.
Today is the final day of our Tenerife adventure and the end of the program. We'll have breakfast together, and then those who aren't flying out in the morning can enjoy a group trip to the island's capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and a leisurely walk around the city.
According to the weather conditions, condition and general wishes of the group, the teamleader has the right to make changes to the itinerary.
To visit Spain, the citizens of Ukraine must have a biometric passport. The period of validity of the passport must be not less than 6 months after the end of the trip.
To participate in the tour, you must not have any diseases from this list.
* Important: Please note that the Spanish government is very careful about the safety of visitors to the Teide National Park, avoiding all risks. Therefore, if there is snowfall or strong winds, the access to the summit of Teide and the cable car may be closed. In this case, we will change the program and continue the hike around the caldera to allow you to enjoy the surroundings of the volcano as much as possible, or postpone the ascent to another day.
As always, we recommend that you buy your tickets in advance. You should buy tickets only after we confirm your participation in the trip.
You can find our recommendations on flight selection services in this article.
We will stay overnight not only in hostels, but also in tents, and climb to an altitude of 3,718 meters, where most people already experience mild symptoms of mountain sickness - headache and, sometimes, lack of oxygen. If you do not have such experience, to take part in this tour you must be well aware and adequately assess the capabilities of your body and not have serious cardiovascular disease.
Tenerife's climate is extremely mild and pleasant, on the coast the average daily winter temperature is +20°C, but in the mountains the temperature is much lower: about +5°C at the caldera and about 0°C at the peak of Teide (which may feel lower because of the strong wind). Make sure you buy (or rent) and bring enough clothing and equipment to feel comfortable and enjoy the adventure!
What to do if you flew in a few days early, or want to stay after camping for a few more days?
Fresh fish and local subtropical fruits, legendary Canarian potatoes with sauces, goat stew, wine from local grapes growing on volcanic lava. Chestnuts, chorizo, gofio, turon, fresh and smoked goat cheese, local almonds, figs, oranges, tuna, gazpacho, avocados.
This is not a complete list of what we will try on our trip. We believe that food is as integral to getting to know a new place as trekking or climbing the highest local mountain!
In the mountains and on the trek, we will be sampling hot food cooked on a gas burner. Cheeses, sausages and vegetables and goodies from the local farmer's market for snacks. And in the small local villages of Anaga we will try local traditional cuisine - fresh fish, goat stew, Canarian sweets, wine.
For participation in the program, you need insurance that will cover active tourism in Spain at altitudes up to 3715 m. Please do not neglect this point. It has saved some participants thousands of euros. Our recommendations for insurance can be found here: "Insurance for Kuluar Hiker".
Minimum group for this program: 5 participants. We have calculated the costs for a smaller number, but increased them slightly. So as not to be in the red ourselves.
So we can confirm the date earlier, and you will have the opportunity to buy tickets and plan your unforgettable trip!
The total amount of obligatory expenses, which are not included in the price, will be about 100 euros for food in the cafe (depends on your appetite). But we recommend having on your card from 200 euros for souvenirs and possible extra expenses.
If the amount of prepayment is too much for you at the moment, but you still want to book a place, write to the consultant and he will break it down into comfortable parts.
👉 Check out: payment methods and refund conditions in case of cancellation or departure from the route
Dear friends, please don't take 500 euro banknotes. There are always problems with them when settling payments with partners in Europe. Thank you for your understanding!
*Please note: the consultant will help with the selection and search for air tickets, recommend an insurance company, but it is not his task to purchase them. Participants do it themselves or contact our partners, all contacts are in the article: tickets, hotels and insurance
