What to do · Anaga Massif
Guided walk through the Cruz del Carmen laurel forest and lunch at a guachinche
Information
- From
- €65 per person
- Duration
- 5 h
- Season
- All year, booking 3 days ahead
- Who it's for
- Couples, friends and families; low intensity
If you want someone to tell you about the laurel forest, this is the plan. Senda Ecoway, an active-tourism company registered in the Canary Islands for hiking, organises a morning at Cruz del Carmen with an official local guide: about two hours of gentle walking through the forest and, at the end, a long lunch at a guachinche, the traditional eatery of northern Tenerife. In all it adds up to about five hours.
The two hours in the monteverde
You meet at 9:30 at Cruz del Carmen, in the heart of the Anaga Biosphere Reserve. The guide starts with an explanation at one of the viewpoints in the area and then enters the forest along a low-difficulty trail, stopping at ravines and rock formations and to look at the flora and fauna of the laurel forest. The route is done in Spanish or English. You do not need to be fit: the company classifies it as low intensity, and it suits couples, groups of friends and families who walk without hurrying.
Three hours at the guachinche
After the walk comes the other half, which lasts longer than the first: about three hours at the table. The meal changes according to the guachinche that day; the company mentions gofio, carne fiesta (marinated pork), chicharros (horse mackerel), quesillo (a flan-like dessert) and local wine, and papas arrugadas with mojo, fresh fish or chargrilled meat. The meal is optional: if you do not stay, the plan is reduced to the walk.
What is included and what is not
It includes the official local guide, the walk through the laurel forest, the meal at the local restaurant if you choose it, and carbon-footprint offsetting. Transport to Cruz del Carmen is not included: if you need it, ask by WhatsApp or email when booking. If you go on your own, Cruz del Carmen is on the TF-12, about 25 minutes from Santa Cruz by car, with parking beside the visitor centre that fills up early at weekends; TITSA buses 076 and 275 climb from the La Laguna interchange. The website gives a price from €65 per person.
Minimum four and three days' notice
- A minimum of 4 people is needed. If the group is not filled, they offer you a private tour or a change of date, and if that does not suit you, they refund everything.
- Book at least 3 days ahead.
- In general you can cancel up to 72 hours before; after that there is no refund.
- Bring comfortable walking clothes, suitable footwear, sun cream, water and a camera, which is what the company asks for.
If you prefer to go on your own
You can walk the same forest without a guide on the Bosque de los Enigmas, a self-guided circuit of about 5 km, or on the Sendero de los Sentidos, which takes less than half an hour. What you miss is the explanation and the table.
Tips
- Come hungry The walk is short and gentle; the meal is half the plan.
- Bring a rain jacket and closed shoes At Cruz del Carmen the mist wets you even when it is not raining.
- Plan your return With wine at lunch, it is better for someone else to drive or to ask for transport when booking.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the walk with lunch cost?
From €65 per person, according to the Senda Ecoway website.
Do I need to be fit for the walk?
No. The intensity is low and it is about two hours of walking.
Is transport included?
No. It can be requested separately.
Is there a minimum number?
Yes, four people.
What do you eat at the guachinche?
It depends on the house: simple Canarian cooking, such as papas with mojo, carne fiesta, fish or chargrilled meat, with local wine.
As a family
Who runs it
- Senda EcowayAnaga Rural Park: hiking and guachinche Visit their website
