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Ruta del Sol: Hiking Through Western Tenerife

The Ruta del Sol is an 8-day hiking holiday through western Tenerife. During this trip, you discover a combination of coastline, mountains, volcanic landscapes and characteristic villages. The route takes you to four different places: Garachico, Los Partidos, Los Gigantes and Vilaflor. Thanks to the luggage transfers, you can hike with only a light daypack.
The journey begins in Garachico, a charming coastal town with historic buildings, lively squares and natural lava pools. From here, you explore the surrounding area on several hikes and discover the green and volcanic landscape of northern Tenerife.
You then stay in Los Partidos, at the foot of the Chinyero volcano. This quiet mountain area is an excellent base for hikes through pine forests and young volcanic landscapes.
Next, you travel to Los Gigantes on the west coast of Tenerife. One of the highlights of the trip is the hike through the Masca Gorge. From the mountain village of Masca, you descend towards the coast. At the end of the hike, you board a boat that takes you along the impressive cliffs of Los Gigantes. With a bit of luck, you may spot dolphins or whales along the way.
The final part of the journey takes you to Vilaflor, the highest village on Tenerife. Surrounded by pine forests and volcanic landscapes, it is a peaceful place to finish your hiking holiday.

What makes the Ruta del Sol special?

✅ Western Tenerife: Discover a less touristy side of the island with coastal paths, mountains, forests and volcanic landscapes.
✅ Four special locations: Stay in Garachico, Los Partidos, Los Gigantes and Vilaflor, each with its own character.
✅ Masca Gorge: Take one of Tenerife’s best-known hikes and descend from Masca towards the coast.
✅ Boat trip along Los Gigantes: Admire the enormous cliffs from the sea and possibly spot dolphins or whales along the way.
✅ Chinyero: Hike through the volcanic landscape around one of the youngest volcanoes on Tenerife.
✅ Luggage transfers: Your luggage is transported during the trip, allowing you to hike with a light daypack.

Hiking level
The Ruta del Sol is suitable for hikers with a good level of fitness. The hikes take place in mountainous terrain and regularly include elevation changes. The descent through the Masca Gorge is particularly demanding and requires some hiking experience and sure-footedness on uneven terrain.

Please note: The hike through the Masca Gorge is only possible on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The travel dates are therefore planned accordingly.

Included in this hiking holiday

✓ 8-day individual hiking holiday
✓ Overnight stays in carefully selected accommodations
✓ Luggage transfers between accommodations
✓ Boat trip from Masca to Los Gigantes
✓ All necessary passenger transfers during the hiking holiday
✓ Comprehensive Canary-Hiking travel itinerary with practical information
✓ Access to the Canary-Hiking Travel App with daily programmes, routes, GPX files and accommodation details
✓ 1 month of free use of the Canary-Hiking Komoot app from the start of your trip

Varied walks
Breathtaking views
Cozy Canarian atmosphere and delicious local food
Combination of nature and relaxation
Walking in the sunny west
Masca Kloof
Ferry to Los Gigantes

1| Arrival in Garachico – Historic coastal village
Welcome to Tenerife! After arrival you travel to Garachico, a village with a rich history and impressive lava pools. Wander through the atmospheric streets, enjoy a glass of local wine on a sunny terrace and feel the relaxed Canarian atmosphere. Overnight stay in a charming hotel in the center.

2| Garachico circular walk – Volcanoes & views
Today you will discover the surroundings of Garachico on foot. A varied route takes you through ancient volcanic landscapes and pine forests to beautiful viewpoints over the ocean. Along the way you will pass historic irrigation canals and small farms. Afterwards you can take a dip in the natural lava pools of El Caletón.

Distance: 13 km
Elevation difference: +560 up / – 570 down

3| Hike from Garachico to Los Partidos
A spectacular stage that takes you from the coast to the mountainous interior. You gradually climb along ancient paths and reach the village of El Tanque, where you can stop for a coffee. Then you walk through forests and past old agricultural terraces to Los Partidos, a mountain village where you’ll spend the night in pleasant accommodation.

Distance: 12 km
Elevation gain: +1180 m ascent / -40 m descent

4| Chinyero Loop Walk – Last Volcanic Eruption
Today you’ll take a loop walk around the Chinyero volcano, famous for the last eruption on Tenerife in 1909. You’ll walk through an otherworldly landscape of solidified lava, interspersed with green pine forests and views of Teide. An impressive journey through the island’s youngest volcanic region.

Distance: 15.5 km
Elevation gain: +420 m ascent / -420 m descent

5| King stage – Masca Gorge & boat trip to Los Gigantes
After a short transfer you reach the mountain village of Masca, spectacularly situated between steep rock walls. Here begins the descent through the famous Masca Gorge, an adventurous tour along high cliffs, narrow rock passages and tropical vegetation. After a few hours of walking you will reach a hidden beach, where a boat will take you along the impressive cliffs of Los Gigantes. Overnight stay in Los Gigantes, overlooking the ocean.

*If due to circumstances it is not possible to walk in this gorge, or there are no more permits, we offer another stage that runs to Los Gigantes.

Distance: 5 km
Elevation difference: +0 up / – 620 down

6| Hike from Taucho to Vilaflor
This day hike takes you from the quiet mountain village of Taucho to the high-altitude village of Vilaflor, right through the interior of southern Tenerife. It’s a quiet and surprisingly green route that takes you along ancient paths once used by shepherds and farmers to connect villages and fields.

Distance: 15.5 km
Elevation gain: +800 uphill / -290 downhill

7| Vilaflor circular walk – pine forests & volcanic landscapes
Your last walking day takes place around Vilaflor. A beautiful route through fragrant Canarian pine forests, past impressive rock formations and open plains with a view of the Teide. After the walk you can relax on a terrace with a locally brewed honey rum

Distance: 13 km
Elevation difference: +560 up / – 570 down

8| End of this beautiful walking trip
After a week full of impressive walks and nature, it is time to say goodbye. Our transfer will take you back to the airport.

Inclusive

Travel duration: 8 days
Comfortable accommodations with breakfast
Return airport transfer
Ferry Masca to Los Gigantes (Only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
Transfers during the walking tour
Luggage transport!
Self-guided hike with GPX and script
WhatsApp support
Travel guarantee STO Garant
Acces to our travel app

Exclusief

Flights
All meals other than breakfast
Booking fees
Single supplement
Travel and cancellation insurance

Onze bijzondere accommodaties

Distance

74 km

Difficulty

Medium

Up

3520 m.

Down

2510 m.

Can we help you further?

Non-binding and personal. We would like to help you further, via email, telephone or WhatsApp button on the site. We are available 7 days a week. During the weekend it may take a few hours before you can receive a response from us.

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.

Ruta del Sol; Beautiful Hikes on West Tenerife

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