Best Hikes in Tenerife (2026): Masca, Anaga, Teide & Which Need a Permit
Tenerife's best hikes and the rules that changed in 2026: Masca now needs a paid booking, a bus and a boat; El Pijaral and the Teide summit need permits. Routes, costs and how to get there.
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Masca aside, which now requires the bus, most trailheads in Teide, Anaga and Teno are far from the resorts and early starts are hard by bus: a car makes the hiking days work. Compare Tenerife car hire ↗
Which Tenerife hikes need a permit or booking?
Tenerife has hundreds of signed trails and the great majority are free to walk without booking anything. A handful of the most famous ones are regulated, either to protect fragile places or because of the number of rescues, and the rules changed several times between 2025 and 2026. Check this table before you plan a route around a specific day.
| Route | Booking | Cost | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barranco de Masca | Required, official site; descent only, Wed–Sat | From €40.66 + return boat | TITSA bus 355 from Santiago del Teide (no private cars) |
| El Pijaral (Anaga) | Required, Tenerife ON, up to 14 days ahead | Free | Car to La Ensillada; no organised tours inside |
| Teide summit (PNT 10) | Required, Tenerife ON, up to 56 days ahead | €15 (09:00–17:00 slots) | Teide cable car to La Rambleta |
| Montaña Blanca (PNT 07) | Required, Tenerife ON | €6 weekdays, €10 weekends (09:00–15:00) | Car to the trailhead on the TF-21 |
| Barranco del Infierno | Required, official site | €15 | Adeje old town |
| Roques de García, Cruz del Carmen trails, coastal paths | Not needed | Free | Car or bus |
Barranco de Masca: the classic, now tightly managed
Masca is Tenerife's most dramatic gorge walk: about 5 km from the hamlet of Masca at 750 m down to a cove near the Los Gigantes cliffs, roughly four hours of descent on uneven ground, steps and drops. It is also the place with the most mountain rescues in the Canary Islands, which is why access is now controlled. Bookings are for the descent only, from Wednesday to Saturday, with a ticket from the official website (from €40.66). Since December 2025 private cars cannot reach the start: park at the cemetery in Santiago del Teide and take TITSA bus 355, arriving at the stop at least an hour before your slot, because the access check at the Masca visitor centre closes 30 minutes before. You also need a return boat ticket from the cove to Los Gigantes, bought separately for no more than four hours after your slot; from Los Gigantes, TITSA lines 462 and 325 take you back to Santiago del Teide. Closed mountain boots are compulsory and a helmet is lent at the start. If the sea is too rough for the boat, you walk back up, so only go if you are fit enough for that. A guided package that handles the bus, the ticket and the boat removes most of the logistics.
Anaga: El Pijaral and the trails that need no permit
Anaga's laurel forest, sharp ridges and tiny villages are the opposite of the dry south. The best-known section, El Pijaral, is an integral reserve: entry is free but limited to 45 people a day, bookable on Tenerife ON only up to 14 days ahead, with places released on Mondays at 07:00 Canary time, and organised tours are not allowed inside. If you miss out, the rest of Anaga is open without booking: the short Sendero de los Sentidos at Cruz del Carmen is an easy introduction to the forest, and longer ridge and village routes start from the same area. Cloud and temperature change quickly up here, so carry a layer and shoes with grip, and expect limited parking at weekends. A guided hike solves the transport at both ends of a linear route.
Teide National Park without a permit
You do not need a permit to hike in Teide National Park itself; only the summit trail (PNT 10) and the Montaña Blanca ascent (PNT 07) are regulated. The Roques de García circuit is the best short walk: a loop of about 3.5 km around the park's famous rock formations, starting opposite the Parador, with a steeper rocky section on the return. Everything here is above 2,000 m, so take it slowly, carry water and sun protection, and expect cold mornings even in summer.
Barranco del Infierno: the easy ravine in the south
Above Adeje old town, this is the most accessible serious walk in the south: 6.5 km there and back, about three hours, around 250 m of climbing and graded low to medium, ending at a waterfall that varies with the season. Online booking is compulsory (€15 for non-resident adults, €5 for Canary Islands residents), a helmet is issued and must be worn throughout, children under 5 are not allowed and under-16s must be with an adult. Entry runs early in the day only: 8:00–10:30 from 1 June to 15 September and 8:30–11:30 the rest of the year. The trail closes after heavy rain or rockfall, so check its status the day before.
Punta de Teno: the lighthouse at the end of the island
The road to Tenerife's north-western tip is closed to private cars, cyclists and walkers. Access is by TITSA bus 369 from Buenavista del Norte, a ride of about 20 minutes for €1, or by taxi; from October to June the service runs between 10:00 and 19:00, and the timetable has changed during 2026 road works, so check it before you go. At the end there are short walks to the lighthouse and views along the Teno cliffs.
Safety on Tenerife's trails
Most problems come from underestimating the island: the north can be cloudy and wet while the south is in full sun, and the high trails are cold even when the coast is hot. Start early, carry more water than you think, tell someone your route and check the official status of regulated trails on the day. Regulated routes have emergency location plates along the way: if something goes wrong, call 112 and give the nearest plate number.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a permit to hike in Tenerife?
For most trails, no. Permits or paid bookings are required for the Barranco de Masca, El Pijaral in Anaga, the Teide summit (PNT 10), the Montaña Blanca ascent (PNT 07) and the Barranco del Infierno.
How do you get to the Masca hike in 2026?
Park at the cemetery in Santiago del Teide and take TITSA bus 355 to Masca; private cars cannot reach the start. You walk down to the cove and return by boat to Los Gigantes, then by TITSA bus 462 or 325 to Santiago del Teide.
How much does the Masca hike cost?
The official descent ticket starts at €40.66 for non-residents, plus the compulsory return boat and the bus fares. Tenerife residents and federated mountaineers in the Canary Islands walk free.
Is El Pijaral free?
Yes, but you must book on Tenerife ON. It is limited to 45 people a day and can only be booked up to 14 days ahead; organised tours are not allowed inside.
What is the best easy hike in Tenerife?
The Roques de García circuit in Teide National Park (about 3.5 km, no permit) and the Sendero de los Sentidos at Cruz del Carmen in Anaga are the easiest rewarding walks.
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