Las Mercedes – Anaga Trails and Canarian Festival Tradition

Las Mercedes is considered the most important gateway to the Anaga Rural Park. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment in Las Mercedes can view nature, trails, history and festival culture as distinct aspects of the area.

Nature and hiking trails

The Mirador de Jardina is located at the beginning of the Anaga Rural Park, where the Monteverde starts. The PR-TF1 Las Mercedes–Cruz del Carmen hiking trail connects Las Mercedes with the visitor centre of the Anaga Rural Park via Monte de Las Mercedes. It starts at Plaza de Las Mercedes, leads through the Monteverde to Llano de los Viejos, with its recreation area, and then climbs to the Llano de los Loros viewpoint. Along its route, the trail crosses the TF-12 road twice.

The approved, moderately difficult, linear PR-TF 10 hiking trail from Cruz del Carmen to Punta del Hidalgo also runs through the Anaga Rural Park near Las Mercedes, covering 10.4 kilometres. The trail types, starting points and destinations mentioned provide clear criteria for comparing options when planning your own day trip.

History along old routes

The preserved Camino de las Lecheras connects the valleys of La Laguna with Santa Cruz. Las Mercedes was one of the historic milk-producing areas from which milk was transported to the urban centres. The Camino Viejo de Las Mercedes leads from the historic centre of La Laguna to the PR-TF1 hiking trail.

After descending from Pico del Inglés, Route 3 reaches Las Mercedes and then continues towards La Laguna along the Camino de Las Mercedes, also known as Camino de Las Peras. Historic trails and named connections thus offer different perspectives on the area without forming a single continuous route.

Culture and festival tradition

The Romería de Las Mercedes, held in honour of San Isidro Labrador and Santa María de la Cabeza, is a festival tradition that has existed for more than half a century and brings locals and visitors together. The romería features decorated floats, rondallas, traditional Canarian dance groups and herds of livestock.

During the patron saint festivities of Las Mercedes, the procession route begins at the Church of Las Mercedes. In pre-Hispanic Tenerife, the area itself was used by the Guanches as a cultivation area.

Regional cuisine

Restaurants and guachinches along the road towards Cruz del Carmen offer visitors grilled meat, regional cheese, Escaldones de Gofio, Garbanzas Compuestas and wines from Anaga. The dishes and products mentioned give the local cuisine a distinctly Canarian character.

Getting there and accommodation

TITSA bus route 270 connects the Intercambiador with Las Mercedes via Las Canteras.

This information helps you compare different accommodations side by side according to the conditions that are important to you.

Other places in Tenerife

Other places in Tenerife: Buzanada, La Zarza, Guía De Isora, Las Cañadas del Teide, Trevejos, Oroteanda Baja, La Matanza De Acentejo, Arafo

For the overarching travel overview: Tenerife.