Anaga: Cruz del Carmen to Chinamada

This linear trail from the Cruz del Carmen visitor centre to the cave village of Chinamada crosses the heart of the Anaga Rural Park, one of the oldest and most biodiverse areas in the Canary Islands. The route threads through ancient laurisilva (laurel forest) draped in mosses and ferns, then descends to Chinamada — a hamlet where several families still live in houses carved into volcanic rock.

The forest is often mist-shrouded, creating an ethereal atmosphere quite unlike the rest of Tenerife. Navigation can be challenging in dense cloud — download the offline trail map. Arrange a taxi from Chinamada or walk on to Punta del Hidalgo (add 1 hour).