Santiago del Teide: Volcano Trails and Canarian Culture

Santiago del Teide has a network of hiking trails stretching for nearly 60 kilometres.

When comparing a holiday apartment in Santiago del Teide, you can check travel dates, category and cancellation conditions on the listings page. For your planning, you can also compare different hiking distances, cultural sites and coastal towns.

Hiking and Volcanic Landscape

The PR-TF 65 hiking trail from Santiago del Teide to Puerto Santiago is 19.8 kilometres long and is listed as taking 7 hours and 20 minutes. Part of it follows the former Camino Real through several population centres in the municipality of Santiago del Teide.

The PR-TF 43.3 Ruta Circular de Chinyero circular hike is 6.44 kilometres long; the stated duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes. The route passes through pine forest, fields of solidified lava, volcanic ash areas and places where vegetation is gradually returning.

The different trail lengths and time estimates help you compare the desired scope of your hiking plans. The SL-TF 60 hiking trail connects Santiago del Teide and Arguayo over a distance of 9 kilometres.

Nature and Coast

The Reserva Natural Especial del Chinyero nature reserve lies partly within the municipality of Santiago del Teide and has signposted trails through a volcanic landscape.

Teide National Park can be reached from Santiago del Teide via the hiking trail network. Mirador de Los Poleos offers a view of Tenerife’s north-western ridge, where most of the island’s more recent eruptions occurred.

From Mirador Valle Santiago, you can look out over the Dorsal de Abeque, considered Tenerife’s most volcanically active zone.

Playa de La Arena is characterised by black volcanic sand and generally has moderate waves, visitor services and good accessibility.

When kayaking in Santiago del Teide, the route runs along the Acantilados de Los Gigantes, whose sheer walls are more than 600 metres high. Boat trips along the coast below the Acantilados de Los Gigantes allow you to view the geological formations and observe the local marine fauna.

Culture and History

The Centro de Visitantes Chinyero is located in the centre of Santiago del Teide and uses multimedia and interactive displays to present the volcanic history of the municipality and the island of Tenerife. The main exhibition examines the 1909 eruption of the Chinyero volcano from a geological and social perspective.

The Templo Parroquial San Fernando Rey stands in the centre of Santiago del Teide; the parish was established in 1678, founded by deed in 1679 and opened with the first parish mass in the same year. A distinctive half-dome is located above the main chapel.

The Casa del Patio in Santiago del Teide, built in the 17th century, is designated as a Bien de Interés Cultural. Traditional Canarian architecture includes wine presses, grain stores and a cistern.

In Arguayo, around five kilometres from the centre of Santiago del Teide, the Centro Alfarero y Museo Etnográfico Cha Domitila is housed in a restored traditional Canarian dwelling. Cha Domitila demonstrates the entirely handcrafted production of clay vessels using an indigenous technique and traditional natural materials such as clay, water, volcanic sand, red ochre and a little oil.

The Museo El Pescador in Puerto De Santiago presents the region’s traditional fishing through panels, photographs and objects. Santiago del Teide and Guía de Isora were affected by a volcanic eruption.

Further destinations: Tamaimo, San Juan De La Rambla, Costa Adeje, Los Realejos, La Sabinita, Las Cruces, Arafo.

Getting Around

TITSA provides an extensive bus network on Tenerife; the Ten+ Móvil app lets you view routes, stops and timetables in real time.

For the higher-level travel overview: Tenerife.