Hiking the Canary Islands: Tenerife, Anaga & Beyond — Self-Launched
6 days · Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
G Adventures charges £780
No-markup version: ~£540 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 6-day Tenerife hiking trip: the laurisilva forests and cave village of Anaga, the ridge walk from Erjos to Masca in Teno Rural Park, the Mars-like caldera of Teide National Park, and beach time in Costa Adeje. Instead of a private vehicle and CEO, you use Tenerife's excellent and cheap TITSA bus network plus a couple of pre-booked trail transfers, sleep in hostels/guesthouses in Puerto de la Cruz and Costa Adeje, and self-navigate well-marked official trails (all routes are open-access and signposted). Costs are approximate per person, excluding flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Puerto de la Cruz
Puerto de la Cruz
Fly into Tenerife North (TFN) if you can — it's far more convenient for the north of the island. Take TITSA bus route 30 or 343 from the airport to Puerto de la Cruz bus station (approx. €3-5, ~35-45 min). Check into a hostel or small guesthouse in the old town, then spend the evening getting your bearings: Plaza del Charco, the seafront promenade and a plate of papas arrugadas con mojo. Pick up a free trail map from the tourist office and confirm bus times for tomorrow's Anaga hike.
🚌TITSA bus 30/343 from Tenerife North Airport to Puerto de la Cruz (~€4)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Puerto de la Cruz old town, private or dorm room (£22-35/night)
- →Walk the Puerto de la Cruz old town and Plaza del Charco
- →Promenade sunset stroll
- →Pick up Anaga trail maps at the tourist office
Anaga Rural Park: laurisilva forest & Chinamada cave houses
Anaga Rural Park
Bus or pre-booked shared shuttle to La Laguna, then TITSA bus 275/076 into Anaga Rural Park (or take bus 946 from Puerto de la Cruz to La Laguna and connect). Hike the classic Cruz del Carmen–Chinamada–Punta del Hidalgo route: a beautiful, well-marked 8-10 km trail through ancient laurisilva cloud forest on a ridge with views to both coasts. Detour at Chinamada to see the inhabited cave houses and stop for lunch at the tiny cave-restaurant. Finish at Punta del Hidalgo and bus back to Puerto de la Cruz. Free downloadable route notes from the Tenerife Cabildo website; alternatively book a small-group Anaga hiking day trip on GetYourGuide (~£40-50) if you'd prefer a guide.
🚌TITSA buses Puerto de la Cruz–La Laguna–Cruz del Carmen and Punta del Hidalgo return (~€8-10 total)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Puerto de la Cruz (£22-35/night)
- →Cruz del Carmen to Chinamada laurisilva forest hike (~3-4 hrs)
- →Chinamada cave house village visit
- →Optional Sitio Litre botanical gardens in Puerto de la Cruz (€4.50)
Erjos to Masca ridge hike, Teno Rural Park
Teno Rural Park / Masca
The big one. Take TITSA bus 325/363 west from Puerto de la Cruz to Erjos (roughly 1 hr, €4-5) — an early start is essential as connections to Masca are sparse. Walk the signposted ridge route from Erjos via Cruz de Gala to the Bolico summit, with huge views across to La Gomera and down into the Masca valley. Continue on to Masca village. Getting out of Masca on public transport is the tricky bit: the 355/325 buses are infrequent, so the practical option is a pre-booked shared taxi or shuttle transfer back to Puerto de la Cruz/Santiago del Teide (~€25-35 per person shared), or book a taxivan seat via your hostel. Alternatively, use a self-guided transfer service (e.g. local operators offer hiker drop-off/pick-up packages from ~£35).
🚌TITSA bus to Erjos (~€5) plus pre-booked shared taxi/van from Masca (~€30)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Puerto de la Cruz (£22-35/night)
- →Erjos–Cruz de Gala–Bolico ridge hike to Masca (~5-6 hrs, strenuous)
- →Viewpoint stops over the Masca valley and La Gomera
- →Masca village wander
La Orotava & Teide National Park, then transfer to Costa Adeje
La Orotava / Teide National Park / Costa Adeje
Morning in La Orotava — an easy bus from Puerto de la Cruz — to wander its colonial streets, wooden balconies and the Casa de los Balcones. Then head up into Teide National Park: the cheapest route is TITSA bus 342 (Puerto de la Cruz–Teide–Costa Adeje), which is effectively your transport and your day out in one. Hop off at the Teleférico base or the Samara viewpoint area and self-walk one of the marked lower trails (e.g. the Samara/Mirador de la Fortaleza area paths, 1-2 hrs, free) for the sweeping volcanic views. Continue on bus 342 to Costa Adeje with your bags, checking into a hostel or budget hotel near the beach.
🚌TITSA buses Puerto de la Cruz–La Orotava (~€2), La Orotava/Puerto–Teide–Costa Adeje on route 342 (~€9-12 total)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Costa Adeje (£25-40/night)
- →La Orotava colonial town walk
- →Teide National Park viewpoints and short marked trails
- →Optional Teide cable car, book ahead (€41)
Costa Adeje beach day / La Gomera day trip
Costa Adeje
Full free day. Relax on Playa del Duque or Playa Fañabé, walk the coastal promenade between Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos, and eat cheaply at the local cafés away from the front. If you want the La Gomera excursion: take the Fred. Olsen or Naviera Armas ferry from Los Cristianos to San Sebastián de la Gomera (~1 hr, ~€60-70 return booked online), and either do a self-guided walk from San Sebastián or join a small-group Garajonay National Park day tour booked via GetYourGuide/Klook (~€50-65) — meaningfully cheaper than the ~€170-190 the tour operator charges. Book ferry and tour at least a few days ahead.
🚌Local buses in Costa Adeje/Los Cristianos (~€2); optional ferry to La Gomera (~€65 return)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Costa Adeje (£25-40/night)
- →Beach time at Playa del Duque / Playa Fañabé
- →Coastal promenade walk to Los Cristianos
- →Optional DIY La Gomera day trip with Garajonay walk or small-group tour
Depart from Tenerife South
Costa Adeje / Tenerife South Airport
Leisurely breakfast, a last swim or a short walk along the front, then bus 111 or 450 (or the express 40) from Costa Adeje/Los Cristianos to Tenerife South Airport (TFS) — around €4-5 and 25-40 minutes. If you're flying from Tenerife North instead, allow well over an hour via Santa Cruz.
🚌TITSA bus 111/40 from Costa Adeje to Tenerife South Airport (~€5)
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Final beach walk before departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£540 | £780 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £240 per person (31%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£540
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Hiking the Canary Islands: Tenerife, Anaga & Beyond — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £540 per person for 6 days in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £780 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £540 — a saving of roughly £240 (31%) per person.
How long is the Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, culture trip through Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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