The Best Trail Running Routes in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The lava landscape surrounding Montaña Chinyero makes for an out-of-this-world loop. The remnants of Chinyero's last eruption, in 1909, sculpt a landscape reminiscent of moonscape. With only a little over 400m of vertical ascent and a soft floor of pine needles and black larva rock, the route is ideal for an easier day or afternoon shakeout run before or after taking on big brother “Teide....

An icon of Tenerife, the Roque Cinchado is a volcanic rock formation that sits 1700 metres below Mt. Teide. The 27 metre high pillar, composed of volcaniclastic sedimentary rock layers, is so distinct that it made it onto a Spanish bank note in the peseta days – you'll run straight past it on this short and sweet loop....

Beyond the sandy beaches and everlasting sunshine in the southern portion of Tenerife lies steep mountainous terrain. The near constant cloud cover over these peaks gives an air of mystery to the range that lies beyond the beach....

This loop takes the cake for must-do’s on Tenerife. Start from the Parador de Las Cañadas del Teide, where the dramatic landscape transports you to another world as soon as shoes hit the dirt....

The Calzada de los Antiguos lies in a spectacular pocket of Tenerife. With multiple ‘barranchi’ – narrow winding gorges – all pointing towards the ocean, it’s easy to pick a trail and know it will be a winner....

The beginning of this loop is a hard slog and totally worthwhile for the sublime DH! With the sea below and to your back, climb high through pine and laurel forests....

It seems only just to honour the highest mountain in Spain with a sunrise summit. That, and the fact that by ascending during the cool hours before dawn, you can take full advantage of the sulphur vents on top of the volcano to keep warm....

The Ruta 0-4-0 is an epic sea to summit fastest known time that finishes with an arrival back on the black volcanic sands of Playa del Socorro, after bagging the highest peak of Spain – Mt....