Cañadas - circular hiking tour from the Parador

Circular hiking tour of about 4 hours at the bottom of the Caldera, with wonderful view of the fantastic rock formations.
The Caldera de las Cañadas is a giant volcanic basin with a diameter of about 17km and thus it is the real crater of the eruption at that time. The Cañadas are located at a height of 2100 metres, whereas the “Pico del Teide” measures 3718 metres. The whole crater, also described as National Park, has been under conservation for about 50 years now. It is even prohibited to take a little stone with you.
The circular hiking tour starts at the Parador National. During the hiking tour, through the southern part of the Cañadas, you walk past jagged lava formations. The colouring of the black lava rocks and landscapes can be blue, green, brown and deep black. Hike unhurriedly about 1 hour, until you can see the signpost “Sendero” (an old path to the sanatorium) and follow this path for about 15 minutes. There is an old house (in Spanish: casa) which would be perfect for a break. Here, at this idyllic place, there is a bench where you can enjoy the silence and the untouched landscape.
Follow the hiking path on the “Sendero 16” towards the cable railway station. Just stay on the path which is marked with stones. Then, over the Majuelos way, you get back to Parador.

The well-known highlight of the National Park is the rock formation called “Los Roques”, opposite the Parador, which is often showed on postcards. The biggest jagged rock, the locals also call it “The finger of God”, rises 30 metres. The “Los Roques del Cañadas” are, so to speak, the second landmark of the island and a popular destination. Another reason is the sky which is bright blue almost all year round, because of the altitude. This is the perfect place to take pictures.
The circular hiking tour of the Cañadas is only one of the innumerable hiking routes in the National Park.

Useful telephone numbers:
Tourist office Tenerife 922 239 811 / 922 239 592
Office of the National Park 922 290 129 / 922 290 183

Further information
Location: National Park
Starting point: at the Parador Nacional
End: circular hiking tour
Duration: about 4 hours
Level of difficulty: easy