Coastal Canary Life
Tenerife Hiking & Camping: A Weekend Inside Nature
Two days, one unforgettable night under the stars at 2,000 metres — the weekend in the wild I’d plan for Tenerife, with the real trails, the permits nobody explains, and the kit you’ll actually want in your pack.
Why a weekend in the wild?
Here’s the thing most visitors never realise: you can leave the coast on a Friday evening and, by the time the sun sets, be standing at 2,000 metres with the clouds below you, the smell of Canary pine in the air, and your tent pitched for the night. No resort, no crowds — just Tenerife at its rawest.
This is the weekend I’d put together for a friend coming over, told step by step so you can copy it. Picture it: the lunar volcanic world of Teide on day one, a night of stargazing skies you won’t believe, and the misty laurel forests of Anaga on day two. Two completely different worlds in 48 hours.
Before you go — the bit that saves your trip
Camping in Tenerife has rules — don’t wing it
Free/wild camping outside official sites is not allowed and can get you fined. The good news: the island’s forest camping areas (zonas de acampada) are free and you just need a quick online permit from the Cabildo via the Tenerife ON website — a couple of minutes, and you can stay up to seven days. You cannot camp or sleep in a vehicle inside Teide National Park itself.
Hiking permits — book ahead, it’s not optional
To reach Teide’s summit you need a free permit (trail PNT-10 / Telesforo Bravo), booked through Tenerife ON — slots open every Monday at 07:00 Canary time for the next 56 days, and they go fast. The famous Masca Gorge is now fully regulated too: book on the official site, around €40, with a compulsory shuttle from Santiago del Teide and a safety helmet. And bring real hiking shoes — rangers genuinely turn people away in trainers.
You’ll need a car
Teide’s trailheads are spread across the caldera and no bus usefully connects them — without a car you’ll manage one trail, on someone else’s timetable. Pick one up at the airport and the whole mountain opens up.
Compare car rental in Tenerife →The kit I’d pack (and where to get it)
Honest truth: the difference between a magical night up high and a miserable one is your gear. It gets genuinely cold at altitude — it can be 25°C on the coast and 5°C at Teide — and there are no shops on the trails. This is the kit I’d make sure was in the bag, and Decathlon is where I’d kit out without spending a fortune.
- Proper hiking boots — grippy, broken in (rangers check them)
- A 3-season tent that handles wind
- A warm sleeping bag (comfort rating near 0°C)
- Insulated jacket + layers for the temperature swing
- Headtorch, 2L+ water, and a small stove
- 30–40L backpack and a rubbish bag — leave no trace
Hiking boots → Tents → Sleeping bags → Backpacks →
I only suggest kit I’d genuinely take myself. (Decathlon affiliate links go in the buttons above once your partnership is set up.)
The weekend, hour by hour
Here’s exactly how I’d run it. Adjust to your pace — but this is the rhythm that makes two days feel like a proper escape.
Day 1 — Up to the volcano, sleep under the stars
Leave the coast, climb to the pines
Drive up via Vilaflor towards the Las Lajas recreational area (around 2,000 m) on Teide’s southern slope. The road winds, the air cools, and the pine forest opens up. Pitch the tent while there’s light — and remember the free Cabildo permit before you go.
Golden hour over a sea of clouds
This is the magic: from up here you’re often above the clouds, watching the sun melt into them. Easy short walks around the pine forest, then dinner from the stove as it cools fast.
One of Europe’s best night skies
Teide’s altitude and dark skies make the stargazing unreal. Lie back, let your eyes adjust, and you’ll see the Milky Way with the naked eye. Bring every warm layer you own — nights drop below 10°C.
Day 2 — From the moon to the rainforest
A morning trail in the caldera
Wake in the lunar landscape and walk one of the volcanic loops (the Roques de García circuit is a stunner). If you planned ahead and got the permit, this is summit-push territory — otherwise the lower trails are every bit as cinematic.
Pack down, drive north to Anaga
Cross the island to a completely different world: the Anaga massif, a UNESCO Biosphere of misty, prehistoric laurel forest. The contrast in two hours of driving is the whole point of Tenerife.
Walk the cloud forest
The easy, beautiful Sendero de los Sentidos from Cruz del Carmen is perfect for tired legs; if you’ve energy left, push on toward Chinamada and its cave houses. Lunch at a local guachinche seals the day.
Down to the coast, salt on your skin
End where Anaga meets the sea near Taganana — and if there’s time, a swim. Mountain sunrise to ocean sunset in one weekend: that’s the Tenerife most people miss.
Where to sleep — your options
- Las Lajas / Chío — free forest & camper areas near Teide (permit via Tenerife ON)
- Refugio de Altavista (3,260 m) — book a bunk to summit at sunrise
- Parador de las Cañadas del Teide (2,000 m) — a real bed inside the park
- Anaga zonas de acampada — to wake up in the laurel forest
Prefer four walls before or after the wild night? A central base makes the driving easy.
Hotels & mountain stays
From the Parador up high to cosy bases in La Orotava and the north.
Browse stays →Villas & apartments
Space to dry your gear and cook — ideal either side of a camping night.
Find rentals →Don’t want to organise it all? Let someone guide you
Teide & northern Tenerife grand tour
The volcanic highlights in one guided day — great if your weekend is tight.
See the tour →Teide by night — sunset & stargazing
If camping isn’t your thing, this is the easy way to catch those skies.
See the experience →Masca village — wine & tapas
A relaxed taste of the Teno mountains and the famous gorge village.
See the tour →Things I’d want you to know
- Book Teide permits the moment they open on a Monday — they vanish.
- Water at the free camper areas often isn’t drinkable — carry your own.
- Weather flips with altitude; check Tenerife ON for trail status before you go.
- Carry ID — it’s checked at the regulated trail entrances.
- Some trailhead facilities are cash only.
- Take everything out with you. These places stay wild because we keep them that way.
The full experience
Get the complete Weekend Inside Nature guide (PDF)
Everything in one downloadable guide: the full route with GPS points and maps, every campsite and permit link, my complete packing checklist, backup bad-weather plans, and the exact timings — ready to take offline on the trail.
Download the full guide →My kind of weekend
For me, this is Tenerife at its best — not the resort strip, but the night the clouds sat below the tent and the whole sky lit up. Two days, one island, two completely different worlds. Pack smart, respect the mountain, and go find your own version of it.
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you book or buy through them it costs you nothing extra and helps keep Coastal Canary Life independent. I only recommend things I’d genuinely use myself. Permits, prices and trail access change — always check the official Tenerife ON and Cabildo sources before you set off, and put your safety first in the mountains.
