Roque de Taborno: The Best Hike in Tenerife

Roque de Taborno: The Best Hike in Tenerife

If you are looking for the best hike in Tenerife, then look no further than the Roque de Taborno hike in the Anaga Mountains. The roque is a 50 m high volcanic plug in the Anaga Rural Park on the northeast end of the island of Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands. The park is replete with coastal mountains, misty laurel forests, and tiny rural hamlets.

The hike is a lasso-shaped trail that circumnavigates a towering basalt pillar starting near the tiny town of Taborno. Panoramic views of the wild coast and steep mountains along the trail are otherworldly. This is a hike in Tenerife you don’t want to miss.

Related post -> Kayaking and Snorkeling with the Amazing Sea Turtles of Tenerife

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How to Get to the Roque de Taborno Hike

The easiest way to get to the Roque de Taborno hike is by car. In fact, the best way to get to most of the amazing hikes on Tenerife is by driving. However, Tenerife has a reliable bus system, so you can take a bus from San Cristóbal de La Laguna or Santa Cruz de Tenerife to within about 5 km of Taborno. You have an hour’s walk to start the hike.

The drive to Taborno is an experience itself, winding up and down a twisting paved road on the Anaga peninsula. The views from turnouts are some of the best on the island so make sure to stop. You can see the pinnacle of the Roque de Tarborno as you approach, adding wonderful anticipation to your adventure. Parking is tight in tiny Taborno so pull off at the first parking spot you find coming into town.

If you rent a car, don’t get a super tiny one as driving on Tenerife, especially the north side, demands a vehicle with some power to get up the hills. I rented a compact and it was perfect. My favorite car rental facilitator is Discover Cars which hooked me up with the nicest rental car people I’ve met in a long time. They work with reputable rental agencies and offer reasonable rates.

Of course, if you don’t want to drive, there are some excellent tours to Anaga Rural Park for hiking. This one will take you specifically on the Roque de Taborno hike.

Where to Stay for the Roque de Taborno Hike

La Laguana is considered the cultural capital of Tenerife with a UNESCO World Heritage historical center. It’s a great base for hikes in the Anaga mountains.

Casa Del Casco Historico is close to the historical center and has a kitchen for cooking your own meals.

La Laguna Gran Hotel is a beautiful property with a pool and an excellent on-site restaurant.

Roque de Taborno Hike Description

The Roque de Taborno hike is a 4 km circuit. There are several places along the way with significant exposure but the trails are wide and flat enough to be secure. However, I would not advise doing this hike in windy and rainy conditions. With good conditions, this is an amazing half-day adventure.

Once you arrive in Taborno, walk to the end of town to the terracotta-colored church. The hike starts to the right of the church.

The trail is paved at first and wanders up the hill through town with the start of excellent views.

Soon you reach a junction with a water spigot. The water here is good so fill up.

Facing the water tap you will see a trail to the left that goes back to the village. You can take that one on your return.

The trail for the pillar circumnavigation goes to the right of the water spigot. Admire the goats on the hill of the small farm as you walk around their pasture. The trail soon splits and heads uphill to the left. There is a sign indicating Roque de Taborno but it’s high on a tree so I missed it at first. If you start going downhill on a trail marked dangerous, you are going the wrong way. A local man walking up for water said the marked dangerous trail goes all the way down to the beach.

The left-hand trail continues uphill until it opens onto a view of the spectacular valley. Continue through a gate onto a ridge with huge drops on either side. Don’t worry, the trail is wide here but the exhilaration of seeing the ancient carved valleys so far below is high.

Continue to the left out on a spur for more glances at the sandcastle-dripped mountains next to the turquoise sea. I recommend doing a clockwise circumnavigation of the crystal-shaped mountain. The left side has slightly less exposure so you can get comfortable with the trail slowly.

On the backside of the pillar is a large flat balcony overlooking the ocean. This halfway point on the hike is an excellent lunch spot with views. You can see up and down the whole north coast of Tenerife. You can pick out tiny villages clinging to the mountains and wonder how they are reached by their inhabitants.

From the far side of the roque, start your journey back by following the trail over a ridge to the left side of the mountain. The exposure here is great. The land falls steeply for thousands of feet. Fortunately, the trail is secure and mostly flat. Concentrate on your footing and you’ll be fine. Enjoy the panoramic view.

Pass by some caves in the volcanic rock formally used by animals or human inhabitants. A stone house with a clay tile roof is along the return path. There are also many species of cactus. The prickly pear cactus has edible fruit.

After the exposed section, the trail will retrace the ridge and continue through the goat gate back toward the town. At the water spigot, you can bear left to take an alternative trail back to town or continue back on the partially paved one to the right.

Refer to the excellent hiking map here.

Wrap Up of Roque de Taborno Hike in Tenerife

While visiting Tenerife, make sure to take time away from the beaches for some awesome hiking. The Anaga peninsula will fill your dance card with a wide variety of hikes. While the Roque de Taborno hike in Tenerife was my favorite, check out these other hikes in the Anaga Mountains here.

And if you are looking for a different adventure, find out how to snorkel and sea kayak with the sea turtles of Tenerife.

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