Tenerife North’s Anaga Mountains
In the Anaga Mountains (Photo: Public Domain)
Tenerife is a popular holiday destination in the Canary Islands with some incredible countryside, including forests, mountains, ravines and valleys that overlook the rocky and sandy beaches of the island’s coastline. One of the best mountain ranges is the Anaga Mountain range in the north of Tenerife.
It is easy to travel by bus from the university city of La Laguna up into this part of the island, or you can drive there. There are services that run to most parts of the mountains of the north, including the remote hamlets in this area, though some services run only a few times a day. The mountains and forests of the Anaga Massif, as it is also known, have many hiking trails that can be used by walkers. Many people choose to explore the beautiful scenery on foot, and not only do you get to see some amazingly picturesque locations but it keeps you really fit at the same time.
The forests that cover the Anaga Mountains are mainly what is known as “Laurisilva,” which means evergreen laurel forest. These woodlands are kept moist by the frequent clouds that shroud these mountains. They have a fascinating endemic flora and fauna and are of especial interest to naturalists. The evergreen laurel forests of Anaga are some of the only stretches of this type of woodland that remain in the world today, so are a very important habitat. One of the only problems encountered when out and about in the Anaga Mountains is that the weather can change quickly, and it can get cold, wet and cloudy. You need to consult the local weather forecast for the day, and it is wise to take suitable clothing. Also the cloud cover can spoil the views, although it is still a memorable experience being up in this part of the island whatever the weather is like!
A forest trail in Tenerife (Photo: Public Domain)
One of the main places to visit in the Anaga Mountains is the small village of Taborno, which has a rocky pinnacle that can be seen easily from other parts of the area, as it towers above the already high ground. Las Carboneras is the name of the village near to Taborno.
It is possible to walk from Las Carboneras to the troglodyte hamlet known as Chinamada where there are around 30 cave-houses where people still live. There is even a bar in a cave in this fascinating village in the remote parts of Tenerife’s north. You can carry on walking from Chinamada across the mountains and cliffs and down into Punta del Hidalgo on the coast where you come back to civilisation again and can catch a bus back to La Laguna.
Taganana is another coastal village that is below the Anaga Mountains. Other places of interest include Cruz del Carmen, Las Mercedes, Pico de Ingles, and El Bailadero. This last-named place is traditionally thought to be where local witches once used to gather. The forests and mountains of the north of Tenerife are certainly very magical places to visit!
