A variety of landscapes between El Teide and Montaña Guajara

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An easy hike on a good path. You’ll enjoy superb views of El Teide and the surrounding area. Then you’ll encounter rugged, eroded rocks in a variety of shapes and colours as you approach Montaña Guajara (alt. 2,717 m), the highest peak in the vast caldera. Towards the end of the route, you’ll see viper’s bugloss, those tall plants endemic to Tenerife that bloom red (in the right season). As a bonus, there’s a safe car park.

Details

n°67343204
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.13 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 150 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 152 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,275 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,130 m
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Photos

Another view
Uneven terrain
El Teide
Along the path

Description of the walk

Car park at the “Centro de Visitantes de Cañada Blanca”, not far from the cable car up to El Teide, via the TF-21.

(S/E) Head up the small road towards the TF21. After about a hundred metres, a signpost indicates Sendero 19 Cañada Blanca Mujua to the right. Follow this good path for about 3 km. In places, the ground is a bit sandy.

(1) As you approach Montaña Majua, a “large hill” rising to 2,316 m, leave the marked path which veers off to the left. A few metres further on, leave the path climbing straight ahead to follow the track which heads almost at a right angle to the right. You will soon reach a good path.

(2) Follow it to the left until it joins Sendero 16, which comes from the TF-21.

(3) Turn right.

(4) Carry straight on, ignoring the path coming from the left. You’ll reach another fork.
(5) Turn left, staying on Sendero 16, and reach the junction with another signposted path.

(6) Follow Sendero No. 4, signposted ‘Cañada Blanca parador’, turning right. The path zigzags downhill before coming out at a four-way junction.

(7) Turn right onto S4 and head back to the start car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 2,148 m - Cañada Blanca Visitor Centre
  2. 1 : km 3.26 - alt. 2,258 m - Leave the marked trail
  3. 2 : km 3.39 - alt. 2,264 m - Wide path
  4. 3 : km 3.96 - alt. 2,265 m - Junction S16, turn right
  5. 4 : km 6.11 - alt. 2,202 m - Crossroads, straight ahead
  6. 5 : km 7.44 - alt. 2,209 m - Signposted S16 on the left
  7. 6 : km 7.81 - alt. 2,200 m - S4 junction, turn right
  8. 7 : km 10.33 - alt. 2,131 m - S4 on the right
  9. S/E : km 11.13 - alt. 2,149 m - Cañada Blanca Visitor Centre

Notes

Use OpenStreetMap World rather than IGN Topo to view the marked trails. They are marked in white and yellow on the ground.
For once, you don’t park at the side of a busy road. The track leads directly to the Centre, which also has a car park.
No shade on the route.

Alternative route suggested by a hiker, which avoids part of the wide path (Sendero 6): at (2) turn right and continue through a small canyon. Join the main route at (4). 
From (3), don’t forget to turn around to admire the scenery, particularly towards El Teide. The scenery becomes increasingly impressive as you move further away from El Teide on the one hand (you’ll clearly see the latest lava flows), and as you approach Montana Guajara on the other (rugged rocks).
If you fancy a bit of a climb, at (1), carry straight on towards Montana Majua and head back down towards the S16.

Worth a visit

- From this same car park, to the west of the access road, you’ll find the famous Catedral, the Roque Cinchado, etc.
- Two visitor centres to visit: the one at the start of the route and the one at Portillo further north on the TF-21: please note it closes at 4 pm in December. 
- The El Teide cable car is nearby.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 4 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
User 7003640

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

If you can't park at the start, park near the cable car, but in this case you'll end up with the least pleasant part: walking in the sand

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piccolopripri
piccolopripri

Jean-Bernard’s route (February 2025), detailed in the ‘Practical Information’ section. It reduces the amount of walking along the S6, which those who prefer narrower paths might find monotonous. Thanks to Jean-Bernard

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blancd47
blancd47

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Some lovely walks with views of Mount Teide; we went in April and there was hardly anyone else on the trail – beautiful, moon-like scenery
Easy to park in the car park. Best done in the morning to avoid the heat…

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Laurent Lapedra
Laurent Lapedra

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk through a lunar landscape, with Mount Teide looking down

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Jean-Bernard
Jean-Bernard

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike; I took a detour by turning right at point 2, continuing through a small ravine and rejoining the main route at point 4. Each view was more stunning than the last, with Mount Teide always watching over you. Thanks to the author.

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