In the north-east of Tenerife there is a landscape that surprises. The Parque Rural de Anaga is one of the oldest and greenest areas in the Canary Islands, a territory of mountains, sharp ridges and humid forests that seem to belong to another era.
Here the climate changes, the vegetation becomes denser and the landscape moves completely away from the more arid and volcanic image of the island.
An ancient landscape between mountains and ocean
Anaga is one of the oldest massifs in Tenerife. Over time, erosion has shaped a complex territory of deep valleys, ridgelines and slopes that descend towards the ocean.
The clouds driven by the trade winds often settle on these mountains, creating a humid environment that has allowed the development of laurisilva, a subtropical forest that once covered much of southern Europe.
Walking in Anaga gives the feeling of crossing a suspended landscape, where vegetation envelops the trails and light filters through the trees.
The laurisilva forest
One of the most fascinating elements of the park is the laurisilva itself, a forest made up of evergreen trees, mosses and ferns.
The best-known stretch is the so-called Bosque Encantado, a trail immersed in vegetation where the branches intertwine to create a kind of natural tunnel. When mist wraps around the woodland, the atmosphere becomes even more evocative.
To access this area a free permit is required, as visitor numbers are limited to protect the ecosystem.
What to see in Anaga Park
Beyond the trails, Anaga offers several viewpoints and small villages that allow you to discover the territory.
Among the most interesting places are Cruz del Carmen, one of the main access points to the park, Taganana, a village overlooking the ocean surrounded by mountains, and the beaches of the north, wilder and less visited than those of the south of the island.
These stops make it possible to alternate walks in nature with quieter moments in the small local centres.
Walking in Anaga
The best way to experience the park is on foot. The trails cross forests, ridges and valleys, offering very different views along the way.
Some routes are simple and suitable for everyone, others require a little more attention, though none are technically difficult.
The important thing is to take time to observe the landscape: here nature changes rapidly and every stretch of trail has its own distinct character.
How to get there
Anaga Rural Park is located just a few kilometres from Santa Cruz de Tenerife and La Laguna.
It can be reached by car, following the roads that wind into the mountains, or by public transport, though with longer journey times.
The road itself is part of the experience, with views that open up suddenly around the bends.
When to visit Anaga
Anaga can be visited throughout the year, but conditions vary considerably. In the more humid months the forest is greener and the mist creates a particular atmosphere.
In the drier periods the views are clearer and more open. Both conditions have their own appeal and offer different experiences of the same place.
Laurisilva in the Canary Islands
The laurisilva forest is not found only in Anaga. This type of vegetation, ancient and now rare, exists in specific areas of the Canary Islands where climatic conditions allow the formation of humid environments.
One of the best-known examples is the Parque Nacional de Garajonay on the island of La Gomera, considered one of the finest preserved examples of this ecosystem. Here the forest extends over a vast area and offers trails immersed in vegetation, where the presence of mist is frequent.
Laurisilva can also be found in La Palma, especially in the north of the island, while in some areas of Gran Canaria small pockets of this vegetation survive.
Anaga, however, remains one of the most accessible and immediate places to experience this environment, thanks to the variety of its trails and its proximity to the main cities of the island.
