Anaga Rural Park Tour

The Anaga Rural Park is the oldest geological region of Tenerife, with rocks dating back 7–9 million years, and it shelters one of the largest surviving laurel forests on the planet. Designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2015, this mountainous peninsula in the island's northeast corner feels like a different world from the sunny beaches of the south — misty ridgelines draped in prehistoric forest, deep ravines dropping to hidden black-sand beaches, and tiny hamlets where time seems to stand still.

This guided tour follows scenic mountain roads from the Cruz del Carmen visitor centre along the spine of the Anaga massif, stopping at viewpoints with jaw-dropping panoramas of both the north and south coasts. You'll walk shaded forest trails beneath towering laurels, tree heather, and Canarian holly, with your guide pointing out endemic species found nowhere else on Earth. A visit to the charming village of Taganana — nestled in a steep valley with whitewashed houses, a 16th-century church, and surrounding vineyards — offers a glimpse of traditional Tenerife life.

The tour descends to the wild northern coast for a stop at one of Anaga's secluded beaches — Benijo or Almáciga — where Atlantic waves crash against dramatic rock stacks and the black volcanic sand stretches empty in both directions. A lunch stop at a local guachinche (farm restaurant) serving home-cooked Canarian cuisine completes this immersive nature experience.

An Anaga Rural Park tour reveals a Tenerife that most beach-holiday visitors never see. This ancient mountain range, with its primeval forests and time-forgotten villages, offers the island's most atmospheric nature experience. The contrast with the sun-drenched south is extraordinary — within 45 minutes of leaving the coast, you're walking through cloud forest that looks like something from a fantasy film.

Anaga tours typically depart from Santa Cruz, La Laguna, or the southern resorts. Full-day excursions from the south include the scenic drive along the TF-1 motorway and a brief stop in the UNESCO World Heritage city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna. For nature lovers, photographers, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Tenerife beyond the resorts, Anaga is unmissable.