Description

NB! Due to the enormous forest fire last summer, three day stages were destroyed and closed to the public until further notice. We therefore have an alternative route that we will use for the time being.

The forest fire destroyed three entire stages. The fire has even reached the lower shrubs above the tree line. Much has been burned on both the north and south sides. The video shows how the fire destroyed everything up to El Portillo. This fire last summer has caused all hiking trails to be completely closed until further notice. This could take two years or more. We therefore have an alternative beautiful route that certainly competes with the GR131!

Difficulty Level

GR131 Tenerife: Trekking to the Roof of Spain

The GR131 Tenerife is a challenging trekking holiday of approximately 90 kilometres, crossing the island from north to south. The route starts in La Esperanza and takes you through extensive pine forests and high mountain landscapes towards the impressive volcanic landscape of Teide National Park. You finish in the south of Tenerife after trekking through some of the island’s most remarkable landscapes.
The first hiking days take you through the green north of Tenerife. From La Esperanza you hike through extensive pine forests and gradually gain altitude towards the island’s mountain region. As you climb higher, the vegetation changes and the landscape becomes more open.
Above the tree line, you enter the unique volcanic landscape of Teide National Park. Lava fields, volcanic rock formations and wide high-altitude plains dominate the scenery. The highlight is Mount Teide, at 3,715 metres the highest mountain in Spain. Experiencing sunrise above the clouds is a memorable part of this trek.
After crossing the high-altitude volcanic landscape, you gradually descend towards the drier south of Tenerife. The scenery changes once again, with increasingly wide views of the Atlantic Ocean. Thanks to the luggage transfer, you can hike with only a light daypack.

What makes the GR131 Tenerife so special?

✅ Mount Teide: hike through Teide National Park around the highest mountain in Spain, at 3,715 metres.
✅ Changing landscapes: from green pine forests in the north to volcanic highlands and the dry south.
✅ North to south: cross Tenerife on foot and experience how dramatically the landscape changes along the way.
✅ Sunrise above the clouds: experience the early morning in the high-altitude volcanic landscape of Teide.
✅ Challenging trekking: significant climbs and descents make this a route for experienced hikers.
✅ Hiking with a light backpack: your luggage is transported between accommodations.

Hiking level
The GR131 Tenerife is a challenging mountain trek, suitable for hikers with a good level of fitness and experience with longer mountain hikes. The route includes significant elevation changes and several long hiking days.
The high altitude around Mount Teide can make the hiking more demanding than the distances alone might suggest. Experience with mountain terrain and a good level of endurance are therefore important.

Included in this hiking holiday

✓ Individual trekking holiday on the GR131 Tenerife
✓ Overnight stays in carefully selected accommodations
✓ Luggage transfer between accommodations
✓ All necessary passenger transfers during the hiking holiday
✓ Detailed Canary-Hiking travel information and practical itinerary
✓ Access to the Canary-Hiking Travel App with daily programmes, routes, GPX files and accommodation information
✓ 1 month of free use of the Komoot app from the start of your trip

Extra hiking days can be added if you prefer to complete the trek at a more relaxed pace.

Trekking along special views
Maximum 8 people
Walk through the ancient forests
Spend the night on El Teide
180 degrees sunrise
Spend the night in a mountain hut (if possible)

1| Arrival Tenerife

Transfer from the airport to the first accommodation in La Esperanza on Tenerife, where you will stay for two nights.

2| Forest walk
After a hearty breakfast you will start this trek. The first stage has a total distance of 16 km, and is not too difficult. A gradually ascending path, with a vicious last bit. You walk slowly up through the forest, protected from the wind, lots of shade and few views so far. You will be taken back to the accommodation.

Distance: 15 km
Height difference: +920 up / -160 down

3| It’s getting more exciting
The second stage of the GR131. Step by step you ascend towards the El Teide area. The only sound is the sound of your shoes stepping through the stones! You will encounter jumping crickets, buzzing flies, bees and wasps in the grandly scented pine forest. There seems to be no end to it. Then suddenly you come into a Halloween-like forest, beard moss in every tree, fluttering Halloween-like wisps. With fog it would be a perfect setting for a horror movie.

You conquer considerable altimeters and often the views are really spectacularly beautiful. At the end of the day you arrive at La Caldera area. With a short transfer you will be brought to your accommodation.

Distance: 14,5 km
Height difference: +380 up / -890 down

4| Valley at altitude
Ready for a new day, and you leave the nice accommodation. But don’t worry, it will be a very nice day. Today you walk further up to the Teide area.

From the starting point you can already see in the distance where you are going today. The number of kilometers is not that much, but it’s all in the altimeters. You climb up through the forest, until you reach the tree line and walk completely in the sun. With a satisfied feeling you arrive at a mountain restaurant on the Cañadas del Teide where you can drink a delicious pot of beer with a Spanish tapa. After you regain your strength, a transfer will take you to the accommodation. This will be in a Refugio on the Teide, if it is not open you go to the Parador Hotel.

Distance: 16 km
Height difference: +1150 up / -150 down

5| Village in the mountains
The next day you leave the hotel on foot. After a small rise, you come to a point where you turn around one more time to look at El Teide. You see the hardened lava flows and your mind goes back in time. If you walk further you enter one of the most beautiful varied nature areas of Tenerife where you can only reach on foot. Descending further and further to Vilaflor you slowly come back below the tree line and walk to the accommodation. Vilaflor is the highest village in Spain, at 1400 meters. You can relax completely in the cozy Spa-Hotel with swimming pool.

Distance: 24,3 km
Height difference: +420 up / -1160 down

6| Downhill
The last day of this GR131 has arrived. From Vilaflor you walk downhill towards Arona. We wind our way down between the pine trees. The journey is completed!

Distance: 17,5 km
Altitude difference: +350 up / -1140 down

7| Free day

8| End of this beautiful walking tour
A transfer takes you to the airport. If you want to stay longer, we can arrange that for you.

Including

Travel time: 8 days
Comfortable accommodations with breakfast
Overnight in luxury hotel Parador at 2100m altitude
Return airport transfer
Transfers during the walking tour
Luggage transport!
Permit Pico del Teide 3715m
Selfguided hike with GPX and script
Whatsapp support
Travel guarantee STO Garant
Acces to our travel app

Exclusive

Back and forth journey
All meals out of the program
Booking costs
Single room supplement
Travel and cancellation insurance
Mountain sports insurance recommended

Our special accommodations

Distance

89,5 km

Difficulty

Medium/Heavy

Up

3512 m.

Down

3775 m.

Can I help you further?

Non-binding and personal. I would like to help you further, via e-mail, telephone or whatsapp button on the site. We are available 7 days a week. During the weekend it can take a few hours before you can get a response from me.

Additional information

Program	1, Arrival Tenerife Transfer from the airport to the first accommodation Refugio Maria in Tenerife. Lovely restaurant available. 2, La Esperanza to Torre de la Caitero (16km) After a hearty breakfast we start our walking week by leaving the Refugio for La Esperanza, the start of the GR131 in the north of Tenerife. We go to the start with a transfer. Total distance is 16 km. This route is not too difficult. A gradually ascending road, where the tail is on the last stretch. We walk slowly up through the forest, protected by the wind. The tour is mostly through the woods, lots of shade but no views so far. Then there is the tension because we are crossing El Teide! Everyone who goes to Tenerife does this by car or coach. We do it on foot! When we have arrived at your end point of this first day, we will go back to our Refugio. 3, Departure Torre de la Caitero to El Portillo (20km) We leave the Refugio to go to the end point of the previous day. The second stage of the GR131. Step by step we are reaching the highest point. The only sound is the sound of your shoes stepping through the stones! We encounter jumping crickets, buzzing flies, bees and wasps in the large pine forest. There seems to be no end to it. Then suddenly we come into a Halloween-like forest, beard moss in every tree, waving wisps that make it a little creepy. We walk this tour with the necessary altimeters and often the views are really spectacularly beautiful. In one word “great”. Fortunately, after this trip we have the Refugio where we are pampered. The restaurant really deserves a Michelin star! What a good cook, and what a nice accommodation. And I won't say more about this. A surprise if you want to walk this tour!! 4, El Portillo (15km) Ready for a new day, and the last day in the Refugio. But don't worry, something else nice will take its place. Today the trek comes to the top. A category that falls under heavy. We will go to our starting spot where you will see the height to be conquered. The number of kilometers is not that much, but it is in the altimeters. This trip is 15 km, which will take you quite a bit. Again through the woods, until we reach the tree line and walk completely in the sun. With a satisfied feeling we arrive at Papillon where we can drink a delicious pot of beer and possibly eat a Tapa. In any case, make sure you have a good meal. In the evening we are taken to a magical place where there is no food or drink. We almost sleep on top of El Teide. An experience you don't get often! Tomorrow we have a rest day. (During the Covid this Refugio is closed. If it is not open during the GR131, we will look for another solution). 5, Day of rest rest day. This will be your rest day you will never forget. You sleep on almost the highest point of Tenerife where you can watch the sun rise and set. You can look at the starry sky, and you can sleep 3 km above sea level in an inn. There are no separate rooms to book here and you sleep in a bunk bed. In the morning we go even further up. Take the cable car to the highest peak where you can look around 360 degrees. You see where we are going to walk the next day. But first we go to the next accommodation in Vilaflor. A Spa-Hotel with a swimming pool where you can give your muscles some rest. You will be completely pampered by the owner. Enjoy this nice day off to walk the king's stage tomorrow. Meals: Option dinner at the Spa Hotel 6, El Teide to Villaflor (16km) The crowning glory of this week is this walking tour. The top of Tenerife with a crater 16 km wide. Every kilometer you walk you get a different view of El Teide. The first part is fairly flat and you can enjoy everything. We are not quite at the top yet, there will be another climb where we will have the best view of El Teide. This point is no longer accessible by car. When we have arrived at the top you will also see the huge crater with an explanation of how everything came into being. And then we will leave this area to descend at the back of this volcano to Vilaflor. One of the most beautiful nature reserves in Tenerife, which you can only reach on foot. Descending further and further to Vilaflor we slowly come back below the tree line and we walk to the accommodation. 6, El Teide to Villaflor (16km) The crowning glory of this week is this walking tour. The top of Tenerife with a crater 16 km wide. Every kilometer you walk you get a different view of El Teide. The first part is fairly flat and you can enjoy everything. We are not quite at the top yet, there will be another climb where we will have the best view of El Teide. This point is no longer accessible by car. When we have arrived at the top you will also see the huge crater with an explanation of how everything came into being. And then we will leave this area to descend at the back of this volcano to Vilaflor. One of the most beautiful nature reserves in Tenerife, which you can only reach on foot. Descending further and further to Vilaflor we slowly come back below the tree line and we walk to the accommodation. 7, Vilaflor to Arona (19km) The last day of this GR131 has already arrived. From Vilaflor we walk downhill towards Arona. We wind our way down between the pine trees. We drive from Arona to our last overnight place. 8, End of this beautiful hiking trip
Transfers	Airport, Luggage, to accommodations when necessary
Inclusive	Organized Hikingtrip over 89,5 km Accommodations with Breakfast Lugagetransfer and service for supermarket Buff and Bottle STO Guaranty
Exclusive	Flights Travel and cancellation insurance All meals except breakfast € 20,00 booking fee Possible single room supplement (€195.00)
Avantages	Challenging Active Intensive experience Lots of freedom small scale Authentic Away from the crowd We support the local people
Overview	If you don't like to travel with a group, it is of course possible to walk on your own. If you want to walk this trip individually, take a look at the package tours GR131 Individual.

Trek GR131 Tenerife

Single supplement

Tour info

Accompanied service

Special offer

Description

NB! Due to the enormous forest fire last summer, three day stages were destroyed and closed to the public until further notice. We therefore have an alternative route that we will use for the time being.

GR131 Tenerife: Trekking to the Roof of Spain