On Tenerife in the Malpais de Güímar

A pleasant hike through the lava blocks along the coast. Malpaís de Güímar is a nature reserve declared a protected area. It's a unique volcanic landscape stretching from the Montaña Grande to the coast. This loop is perfect for children, as it's short and very easy.

Details

18329527
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.69 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 183 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 184 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 160 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start: Leave from the bus stop at Puertito de Guimar (Line 120 Santa-Cruz - Guimar).

(S/E) Cross the Puertito de Guimar, following the coast as closely as possible in a North-Easterly direction. Reach the junction with Calle Marques de Santa Cruz.

(1) Turn right to follow this street, which turns into a footpath a few hundred metres further on. Continue along the coast, passing Punta de Los Canarios, Punta de Guïmar and Montaña de la Maar.

(2) At Punta des los Picos, a post marks an intersection: you can turn left to shorten the hike (- 45 min). Alternatively, as described here, continue straight ahead towards the small town of El Socorro. After Punta de la Entrada, come out onto a pebble beach and walk a few dozen metres.

(3) Turn left onto a sandy path that heads inland. There are no signs: you just need to pay attention. The path alternates between sand and earth.

(4) Turn left and keep going in the same direction, skirting the volcano on your right. You'll come to the two chimneys.

(5) Turn right to pass between the chimneys and the volcano.

(6) Fork left, then right, to go straight down to Puertito de Guimar, where you join Calle Isaac Peral.

(7) Turn left, then second right into Calle Almirante Cervera. Turn left into Calle Vasco de Gama, right into Avenida Cristóbal Colón and left into Calle Almirante Gravina.
Continue straight ahead, then turn right to return to the original bus stop (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 3 m - Puertito de Guimar bus stop
  2. 1 : km 0.95 - alt. 5 m - Calle Marques de Santa Cruz
  3. 2 : km 3.32 - alt. 12 m - Crossing post, straight ahead
  4. 3 : km 4.38 - alt. 4 m - Pebble beach
  5. 4 : km 5.68 - alt. 80 m - Bifurcation
  6. 5 : km 6.33 - alt. 108 m - Montaña Grande
  7. 6 : km 7.12 - alt. 121 m - Branch
  8. 7 : km 8.79 - alt. 16 m - Calle Isaac Peral
  9. S/E : km 9.69 - alt. 3 m - Puertito de Guimar bus stop

Notes

Start: Leave from the bus stop at Puertito de Guimar (Line 120 Santa-Cruz - Guimar).

Refreshments: ⚠️NO WATER except at the start in the village.

Facilities: No shelters, the whole route is in the sun, so you need water.

_ Gears_: Headgear (hats) is compulsory - this is Tenerife!

Worth a visit

What to see:
- Between points (1) and (3): volcanic rocks of all shapes, small tunnels.
- Between points (1) and (2): small salt marshes.
- Lots of plants everywhere.
- Between point (4) and the finish: many candelabra cacti.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 15 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 13849827

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A well-signposted route. Varied, alternating between seaside and desert landscapes. Several viewing points with information about the scenery. The only tricky bit: the path to take on the left isn’t signposted once you reach the pebble beach, but it is still visible – you just need to keep your eyes peeled. A pleasant walk that took us two hours and forty minutes without children and without rushing.

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garnoule
garnoule

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful little trail that is very easy to follow.
Make sure you wear suitable footwear.

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Fridolar
Fridolar
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very nice walk, my first in Tenerife. The path isn't very well signposted but it's well used so it's easy to see! No chance of getting lost! I climbed all the way to the top of the volcano, so I deviated from the Visorando trail, but the path up is visible between points 5 and 6. It climbs steeply at the end. I wouldn't recommend the climb if you're with children, but for the rest the trail is clear and not particularly difficult! Go with good shoes, I met someone wearing trainers who broke both his ankles because the terrain is very changeable!
Otherwise, a beautiful panorama ✌️

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HACKENHEIMER
HACKENHEIMER

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very interesting insight into life as it used to be. Crowded, but not too crowded. Pleasant tour combining coast and volcano.

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HACKENHEIMER
HACKENHEIMER

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It's a lovely little coastal walk that gives us an insight into life as it used to be.

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fred09300
fred09300

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk by the sea and then off the beaten track.
Be sure to follow the GPS track when leaving the marked path.
Very beautiful vegetation in some places.

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Plane68
Plane68

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice walk starting from the bus stop number 120 at Puertito de Guimar. There is no signposting at this point, walk along the coast to the left, discover the village, walk along until you come to the end of a standard dwelling (small houses in riprap) and there you will find signposts for walks. Morning departure recommended. These are mainly lava paths, so equip yourself accordingly. A little footbath is possible along the way! The loop goes around the Socorro volcano, which rises to 267 metres. The hike proposed by Visorando follows part of a signposted local trail, which is no longer followed from point 5, which passes between 2 chimneys, so be careful. We passed in front of it and turned around at the viewpoint 200 metres further on! At point 6, it's downhill all the way. The route drops off at point 6 and climbs 70 metres over volcanic ash (lapilli) to the crater before descending to Puertito.

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Merillon
Merillon

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, easy walk, best done in the morning because of the heat. The way back is a bit difficult to follow with the Visorando track towards points 5 and 6. I'm not sure that this track offers much more than the path marked on the ground (which is simpler).

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lisabelle
lisabelle

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk between the ocean and the mountains. The walk is a little difficult because of the ground covered in lava debris. Best done in the morning to avoid the sun. Suitable for children already used to walking on uneven ground.

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SYLALA
SYLALA

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy hike in this small reserve by the sea, then return through the more arid part. Also worth doing for the vegetation.

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Nath Guillout
Nath Guillout

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful scenery, an easy walk and very few hikers at this time of year. It was great!

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Barpro
Barpro

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very well signposted route, beautiful seafront in a lava field. Inland route very instructive for the flora. The route can be done in the opposite direction to finish on the cooler side. The viso rando route is perfect. Thank you

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gs
gs

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The part along the coast is very pleasant.
As mentioned below, the path back into the Malpais is trickier to find, but there are several possible routes, and the app is a plus.
A very pleasant walk, to be recommended.

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Thomas H5.
Thomas H5.

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

We couldn't find our way back to the pebble beach. We turned back and took the shorter but well-marked alternative route. Good, but nothing more...

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Fluryjc
Fluryjc

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice little walk.
Tracked with the GPS on the smartphone. It helps a lot to stay on the right path, especially on the way back as there are no signposts.
Thanks to the person who put this route on the site.

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