Description

Difficulty Level

Canary Contrasts: Trekking Through Tenerife & Gran Canaria

Canary Contrasts is a 14-day trekking holiday that combines two very different Canary Islands: Tenerife and Gran Canaria. You start on Tenerife with the impressive volcanic landscape of Teide National Park and then travel by ferry to Gran Canaria, where mountains, forests and valleys shape the landscape.
On Tenerife, you hike through the high-altitude landscapes around Mount Teide and discover the different sides of the island. From volcanic paths and open mountain landscapes to Canary pine forests and quiet mountain villages, the hikes offer a completely different perspective of Tenerife than the well-known coastal resorts.
After crossing to Gran Canaria, the landscape changes again. Here you hike through the mountainous interior, past traditional villages and along old hiking paths. The route introduces you to a greener and more rugged side of the island, with beautiful views of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean.
During the trek, you stay in different locations, from mountain villages to coastal towns. Luggage transfer is included, so you only need to carry a light daypack while hiking. The transfers and ferry between the islands are arranged for you, allowing you to focus on walking and discovering the islands.

What makes Canary Contrasts so special?

✅ Two islands, one trek: combine Tenerife and Gran Canaria in one active hiking holiday.
✅ Mount Teide: hike through one of the most impressive volcanic landscapes in the Canary Islands.
✅ Mountainous Gran Canaria: discover the central interior with forests, mountains, valleys and traditional villages.
✅ Island hopping: travel by ferry from Tenerife to Gran Canaria and experience both islands from a different perspective.
✅ Hiking with a light backpack: your luggage is transported between the accommodations.
✅ Local atmosphere: stay in different locations and experience the landscapes, villages and local cuisine of the Canary Islands.

Hiking level
This 14-day trekking holiday is suitable for hikers with a good level of fitness. You regularly hike through mountainous terrain and encounter significant elevation changes. The hikes on Tenerife and Gran Canaria vary in character and difficulty.
Experience with longer hikes and walking in hilly or mountainous terrain is recommended. The consecutive hiking days also require sufficient stamina.

Included in this hiking holiday

✓ 14-day individual trekking holiday through Tenerife and Gran Canaria
✓ Overnight stays in carefully selected accommodations
✓ Luggage transfer between accommodations
✓ Ferry crossing between Tenerife and Gran Canaria
✓ 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

El Teide National Park
Masca, Teno & Anaga
Combination trip
Green valleys
Roque Nuble
Authentic villages
Nice ferry
Luggage transport

1| Arrival Tenerife
Transfer from the airport to the first accommodation in Santiago del Teide on Tenerife, where we will stay for two nights.

2| Hike Santiago del Teide to Masca area
The first stage has a total distance of 11 km. This route is not too difficult. You walk a gradually ascending road towards the Masca valley, you walk on paths with spectacular views. A nice day trip to acclimatize.

Distance: 12,8 km
Elevation difference: +420 up / – 420 down

3| Santiago del Teide – Los Partidos
The second stage of this tour we walk to Chinyero volcano. The Chinyero volcano is the youngest volcano on the island and last erupted in 1909. The area surrounding this volcano offers an intriguing mix of volcanic landscapes and vegetation. Step by step you walk towards the Teide area. You will spend the night in one of our special accommodations.

Distance: 16.6 km
Elevation difference: +660 up / – 420 down

4| Los Partidos– Los Narices
Ready for a new day. You leave this nice accommodation. You walk further up to the Teide area. From the starting point you can see in the distance where you are going today. You walk a long route with the necessary elevation gain. You climb up through the forest until you reach the tree line. When you have reached the end point of this day, you will be taken to Vilaflor.

*Optional you can stay an extra day in Parador to go to the top of El Teide with or without a guide. Ask about the possibilities.

Distance: 16,3 km
Elevation difference: +950 up / – 40 down

**| On an expedition to the top of El Teide at an altitude of 3715 meters (Optional as an extra day in Parador)
Alone or with a guide. With an 80 meter large crater, the highest point in Spain. And the view… unforgettable!

5| Vilaflor to El Portillo
If we continue via Vilaflor we enter one of the most beautiful varied nature reserves in Tenerife, El Teide, where we walk through the most beautiful parts. You first walk from Vilaflor to Parador, a part where you can only reach on foot. Walking further and further across the barren plains of Las Cañadas del Teide, you end up in El Portillo where you can take the city bus to La Laguna.

Distance: 25 km
Elevation difference: +1150 up / – 540 down

6| Cristobal La Laguna
This beautiful old colonial town is your last stay before the crossing to Gran Canaria. but first you get a day of hiking in the Anaga Mountains. There are different distances you can walk.

Distance: 11 km
Elevation difference: +670 up / – 670 down

7| Ferry to Gran Canaria
With the city bus you can easily reach the port for the crossing to Gran Canaria. About a two-hour boat ride you will arrive in Agaete, the nice fishing village in the northwest of this island

8| Day off
Possibility to visit the coffee plantation in the Agaete valley.

9| Departure Puerto de las Nieves to Artenara
From the port you leave for Artenara via the Tamada nature reserve. An area that has been declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. You will see the fabulous natural indigenous Canarian pine forests on the mountain tops, the dizzying steep cliffs of the almost inaccessible coast and the rich biodiversity of the ravines. Today you ascend to 1300 meters. The first 8 km go to 1200 meters. A spectacular walk up, to walk towards Artenara. Artenara is a small mountain village. Here you will find several cave houses that have been inhabited to this day and the chapel built in a cave in honor of the Virgen de la Cuevita. You will stay in a cave house with a view over the middle point of Gran Canaria. This is a unique experience! Be surprised.

Distance: 20 km
Elevation difference: +1660 up / – 440 down

10| Artenara Tejeda, Extra stage
This is an additional stage. Tejeda is one of the nicest villages in Gran Canaria. On the way from Artenara to Tejeda you walk through Cruz de Tejeda, take a look at the stalls and take a moment of rest here. In terms of weather, it can be cold and foggy, or sunny and warm. The journey for today is not very long. You arrive at the accommodation in Tejeda. Tejeda has been chosen as one of the most beautiful villages with many food and drink options. This village is also known for the sweet snacks that you will encounter several times in the main street.

Distance: 11 km
Elevation difference: +570 up / – 740 down

11| Tejeda extra circular walk and/or rest day
Tejeda has been declared one of the most beautiful towns in Spain. That’s why you get two nights here. You can use the extra day as a walking day or you can use this day as a rest day. We will give you an extra walking route to explore the most beautiful area.

Distance: 10 km
Elevation difference: +580 up / – 580 down

12| Departure from Tejeda to San Bartolomé de Tirajana
You continue to the highest point of this trek. The town of Cruz de Tejeda is on the route, where you can take a break before continuing the journey to San Bartolomé de Tirajana. a very nice trip with a spectacular descent. The change in weather, the sheep walking everywhere, the silence, and the beautiful views. A tough journey but a very beautiful one! From 1700 meters to 900 meters. The overnight stay is in a Casa Rural in the middle of San Bartolomé. There is a wonderful bakery in the center that is open very early and where you can eat the tastiest sandwiches.

Distance: 19,5 km
Elevation difference: +780 up / – 960 down

13| Departure San Bartolomé de Tirajana to Arteara or Ayagaures
This stage largely goes downhill towards Maspalomas. From San Bartolomé you walk to Arteara, a relatively short stage, or you walk the original route to Ayagaures. Because we depend on the accommodations, we check which ones are available when booking.

Distance 1: 10 km
Elevation difference: +90 up / – 630 down

Distance 2: 17 km
Elevation difference: +430 up / – 1030 down

14| Departure for Maspalomas
The last leg of this journey is mostly downhill to Maspalomas. We walk through the barranco towards Maspalomas. A long descending road, with a bit more activity. The end point of this route is at the lighthouse, in Maspalomas in the middle of bustling tourism. A nice accommodation awaits you here where you will stay for 1 more night.

Distance: 18 km
Elevation: +164 up / – 458 down

15| End of your journey
You have to say goodbye to these beautiful islands. You will be dropped off at the airport with a transfer.

Inclusive

Nice accommodations, most with breakfast
Return transfer airportTransfers during trek
Script with GPX files
Luggage transport
Permit Pico del Teide 3715 mt (Must be applied for in time.)
WhatsApp support
Ferry crossing
Acces to our travel app

Exclusive

There and back journey
All meals other than breakfast
Booking fees
Single supplement
Travel and cancellation insurance
Mountain sports insurance recommended

Distance

225 km

Difficulty

Heavy

Up

7600 m.

Down

7600 m.

Picture of Mauk and Jeanne owners Canary-Hiking

Can I help you further?

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

Canary Contrasts Tenerife & Gran Canaria

Different options

*Would you like to coordinate the trip personally?

Tour info

Accompanied service

Special offer

Description