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The Anaga Rural Park is one of the green areas with the greatest biodiversity and with the most spectacular landscapes in Tenerife. With its more than 15,000 hectares, Anaga, which covers the northeast of the island along three Tenerife municipalities, La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Tegueste, is a canvas of laurel forests and steep peaks often caressed by the mist, cut by ravines that go down to the coast.
Diving on foot into the kilometers of laurel forests, those forests that date back to El Terciario and that are a very well-preserved natural relic on the island, is a privilege within everyone’s reach. Laurels, lichens, sanguine, heather, willows and mocanes are part of the more than twenty species that make up the magical decoration of these forests, as well as wild orange, viñátigos and fayas.
A special place for hiking
In the past, when cars were not abundant on the island and the roads had an anecdotal presence, the inhabitants of Anaga moved on foot. Many of these trails are preserved today and the best way to discover the park is through its paths. In this way you can enjoy the flora and fauna, in addition to the impressive landscapes.
A good trail to start in Anaga is the Sendero de los Sentidos. This path, which in its day was part of the royal path that linked Anaga with La Laguna and which has now been reconditioned, can be completed in less than an hour and is ideal to do with children.
The trail starts from Cruz del Carmen, the same place where the visitor center is located, and has three clearly differentiated variants. The first, the path known as Awaken your Senses, is accessible to people with reduced mobility as it consists of a wooden walkway. The other two alternatives are circular routes with varying degrees of difficulty, but the longest is completed in less than two hours and allows access to the Llano de los Loros viewpoint.
The popularly known Sendero del Bosque Encantado, which is actually called La Ensillada – Cabezo del Tejo trail, is another relatively easy option to discover the park. It is a circular route that starts from the Pijaral Integral Natural Reserve, in the old recreational area of La Ensillada, and that is completed in just over four hours. It is important to wear suitable footwear since the path is usually muddy due to the fine rain, which is common in the area.
This trail allows you to discover the wonderful natural wealth that the Anaga forests house, which really looks like an enchanted forest from a fairy tale. Due to the fact that the trail is located in an area of the park that enjoys the highest degree of environmental protection, it is necessary to request a visit authorization in advance. This procedure is free.
During the visit, it is worth stopping to look for the Anaga violet, a beautiful flower endemic to the area, as well as not to miss the imposing Roque de Anhambro, a vertical needle over 800 meters high.