Destinations: Teide National Park, Mount Teide, El Corral del Niño, El Bollullo, El Socorro, Los Patos, Tenerife.
Duration: 6 hours approx.
Pick-up time: 15.00 (or later, depending on sunset time and position)
This is a tour for the romantic or for the earnest photographer who wishes to capture the glorious Tenerife sunset colours.
Chasing the sunset is an adventure in itself, depending on the time of year and on where you are staying in Tenerife. If is from a remote cove and over the sparkling sea we can then head for a nearby inn to sample freshly caught fish. If we are in the mountains and high above the clouds we will explore the fascinating volcanic landscapes and discover how the evening sun brings out different tones in the lavas and rocks.
In the rare event of inclement weather conditions we will offer an alternative tour or attempt to
re-schedule the tour.
The prices for our excursions do not include the purchase of food and drink, souvenirs, entrance fees to museums, etc. If you are in any doubt, please contact us.
Destinations: Teide National Park, Mount Teide, El Llano de Ucanca, Roques de García, Teide National Parador, Tenerife.
Duration: 6 hours approx.
Pick-up time: 09.00 am (or another agreed time if you prefer)
This fascinating tour takes us into the extraplanetary world of Teide National Park where we will take a moderate hike around some of the most amazing volcanic rock formations and lavas you can find.
The tour takes us straight into the stunning mountains of Tenerife. Close to Teide’s National Parador we will put on our hiking shoes and begin a two and a half hour walk along a well-trodden track towards the great Teide volcano. On our way, and always to our left as we circle the Roques de García, we will come across a series of extraordinary shapes, peaks and rocks, including the famous Cinchado rock or Teide’s very own Buddha! The track then descends past La Cascada, lava shaped like a waterfall, into the vast sedimentary plain of Ucanca. The last stretch is a short but steep ascent back to La Ruleta mirador.
The circular hike is not difficult but you will require surefootedness on loose stones and there is a steep, 60º climb at the end which will make you look forward to a long, cool beer.
NOTE: THIS TOUR IS NOT FOR PEOPLE WITH HEART OR SIMILAR AILMENTS.
The prices for our excursions do not include the purchase of food and drink, souvenirs, entrance fees to museums, etc. If you are in any doubt, please contact us.
Destinations: Teide National Park, Aguamansa, San José Pumice Mines, Roques de García, Valley of Ucanca, Chio.
Duration: 6 hours approx.
Pick-up time: 09.00 am (or another agreed time if you prefer)
Nobody should visit Tenerife without experiencing the dramatic scenery in the Teide National Park, breath-taking evidence that the Canary Islands were formed by prolonged volcanic activity. Our excursion takes us deep into an amazing landscape of rock formations, giant lava flows and strange shapes and colours one could only imagine on another planet. Here, if you like, we have a chance to put on our walking shoes and meander between lava flows, feel the dry, high altitude air in our faces and spot sunbathing lizards on a walk close to the base of Mount Teide. The park was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 2007 and is one of the most visited national parks in the World. The air at this altitude is very dry and it is advisable to take some warm clothing, especially in the winter months when, if we are lucky, Mount Teide will be even more photogenic in a white coat of snow. We will make numerous stops for spectacular camera shots and on the way down from the mountains, if requested, we may take a break for a glass of wine and a typical island dish. As on all our guided tours, we will try to give you as much information as we can about the island and garnish it with one or two anecdotes and stories.
Please note: Occasionally, just after a winter snowfall in the mountains, access to Teide National Park may be closed. If this occurs we will offer you an alternative tour of your choice.
The prices for our excursions do not include the purchase of food and drink, souvenirs, entrance fees to museums, etc. If you are in any doubt, please contact us.
Destinations: Anaga Mountains, Pico del Inglés, Las Carboneras, Chinamada, Cruz del Carmen.
Duration: 6 hours approx.
Pick-up time: 09.00 am (or another agreed time)
Most visitors to Tenerife never venture as far as Chinamada. It is a remote hamlet perched high in Tenerife's magnificent Anaga Mountain range. It appears to be a different world and tells a story of a time when inhabitants were happy to live from whatever their patch of land could produce.
High above a deep gorge it is also a place for breathtaking views and for discovering wild flora. Chinamada, however, is best known for its cave dwellings, little houses carved into the red, volcanic tuff. In fact, we will take a stroll past some of these fairy-tale cottages before daring to look over the edge of the cliffs into the sea below.
This tour is very photogenic and to reach our troglodyte destination we drive through the dense Las Mercedes forest and other areas of exceptional natural beauty. If we wish to, and I highly recommend it, a halt to sample delicious local cuisine should make this a memorable adventure. An alternative would be to take a further, short walk in the subtropical laurisilva forests.
The prices for our excursions do not include the purchase of food and drink, souvenirs, entrance fees to museums, etc. If you are in any doubt, please contact us.
Destinations: Icod de los Vinos, Garachico, Viñátigo Vineyards, El Guincho, Rambla de Castro.
Duration: 6 hours approx.
Pick-up time: 09.00 am (or another agreed time if you prefer)
This tour invites us to visit two of Tenerife’s landmarks. The first is Icod de los Vinos. The second is the old port of Garachico. We can approach both either from the pine forests and agricultural highlands, through tiny villages which time have hardly touched or from the scenic northwest highway.
Icod is home to the amazing thousand year old Dragon Tree, alongside San Marcos, one of Tenerife’s most beautiful churches, rich in Gothic and Flemish art. We might take a photograph or two at La Plaza de la Pila, which many consider to be the prettiest little square on the island.
Garachico is everyone’s favourite, a beautiful old town where time appears to have stopped many years ago. This means it retains a blend of simple Canary Island charm and beautiful nobility. Narrow cobbled streets lead in and out to inviting cafes and fish restaurants at the very edge of the island’s fiercest seas. Garachico was the home of some of the richest 16th century merchants like the Genoese Ponte dynasty which made fortunes exporting Malmsey wine. Indeed, until most of the town was destroyed by a great volcanic eruption in 1706, this was Tenerife’s port. We will certainly visit the charming Santa Ana church, monasteries and the beautiful old square surrounded by historic buildings. If there is time and the sea is calm a dip in one of the picturesque natural rock pools is recommended. If requested tou might prefer to sample some delicious traditional cuisine at a charming old-time restaurant.
But for those of you who would prefer a walk along the northern coastline, a track takes us from the pretty, cliff-top enclave of El Rosario, close to the Ruiz ravine as far as the village of Las Aguas, famous for its fish restaurant, and back. An alternative, with numerous climbs and descents through palm groves, takes us in the opposite direction towards Puerto de la Cruz from the San Pedro mirador and into a protected natural area known as Rambla de Castro.
The prices for our excursions do not include the purchase of food and drink, souvenirs, entrance fees to museums, etc. If you are in any doubt, please contact us.
Destinations: Teide National Park, Teide Volcano, La Rambleta.
Duration: 6 hours approx.
Pick-up time: 09.00 am (or another agreed time)
The dramatic scenery within Teide National Park is a reminder that the island of Tenerife was formed by prolonged volcanic activity. This tour is a must for those who seek not just spectacular views, but also the excitement of taking a ride on one of the highest cable cars on Earth.
The Teide Cable Car transports us effortlessly to just 163 metres below the summit, (to a height of 11, 663 ft above sea level).
By walking along the stone tracks just under the crater this tour provides astonishing views, not just of the amazing volcanic landscapes below, but also over the north and south of the island, sometimes partly hidden by a fabulous white sea of cloud. Other Canary Islands are often quite visible.
Gliding over a geological gem of volcanoes, craters and lava flows provides us with an impressive array of colours and volcanic shapes. It is an amazing experience you won't find anywhere else in the world.
After returning to the base of the volcano we should have time to explore some of the other photogenic gems that make Teide National Park, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2007, look alike another planet.
The prices for this excursion do not include the fee for the cable car, the purchase of food and drink, souvenirs, entrance fees to museums, etc. If you are in any doubt, please contact us.
NOTE: THIS TOUR IS NOT FOR PEOPLE WITH HEART PROBLEMS OR SIMILAR AILMENTS.
Destinations: Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava, Aguamansa.
Duration: 6 hours approx.
Pick-up time: 09.00 am (or another agreed time if you prefer)
This interesting tour is for those of you who plan to stay in the northern regions of Tenerife. It is designed travellers interested in being out in the open and who would like to walk in one of the most beautiful of the island’s forests. It will take us meandering through a variety of crops and traditional farmland before entering the dense pine forests. Once we arrive close to the Aguamansa trout farm we will put on our hiking shoes and begin a gentle climb into the Canary pine forest. There are two options. One is a four hour walk with one or two steep ascents on the Candelaria pilgrimage path. The other is slightly gentler and mostly on easy walking tracks. Both takes us through the dense and enchanting forest, with lichen hanging from the pines like Christmas decorations and an interesting display of flora, and then finish in amongst small farms, chestnut trees and small fields. The landscape and scenery changes constantly in this unspoilt corner of Tenerife. At the end of the walk, if requested, we can sample some of the island’s delicious cuisine and wines.
The prices for our excursions do not include the purchase of food and drink, souvenirs, entrance fees to museums, etc. If you are in any doubt, please contact us.
Destinations: Von Humboldt Mirador, La Orotava, Orchid Gardens, Taoro Park, Puerto de la Cruz.
Duration: 6 hours approx.
Pick-up time: 09.00 am (or another agreed time if you prefer)
We call this the historic north route because we will be spending most of our time strolling through two of the most enchanting and historic towns in the Orotava Valley, Puerto de la Cruz and La Orotava, preferred destination for those early European travellers who began to visit the islands in the 19th century for artistic, scientific and health reasons. In La Orotava we will visit the old town centre and one of its beautiful churches packed with sacred art and imagery. We will also peep into the Casa de los Balcones, one of the noble homes which still belong to descendants of the island’s 15th century conquerors and is now a traditional craft centre. This is a leisurely stroll but bear in mind the steep, cobbled streets. Puerto de la Cruz is where tourism in the islands began and was frequently used as a base by 18th and 19th century European scientists who came to explore rock formations around Mount Teide or British artists like Marianne North, many of whose paintings can be found at London’s Kew gardens. It is also home to some of the first British settlers in the Canary Islands. Thanks to them we will find the lovely All Saints Church, the English Library and a number of magnificent British-built mansions like Sitio Litre, steeped in history and home to the most beautiful orchid gardens. Puerto is brimming with the old fashioned charm and colour of an old fishing harbour. If requested we recommend allowing time for sampling some typical local cuisine and wine.
The prices for our excursions do not include the purchase of food and drink, souvenirs, entrance fees to museums, etc. If you are in any doubt, please contact us.
Destinations: San Andrés, Taganana, Playa del Roque Beach, Las Mercedes, Laurisilva Forest.
Duration: 6 hours approx.
Pick-up time: 09.00 am (or another agreed time if you prefer)
If you want a taste of what the Canary Islands might have been like until not so very long ago, the Taganana Route is the one for you. Away from the speed of modern life, Taganana remains isolated and almost untouched by progress. It is hidden deep in amongst the steep valleys of the island’s oldest mountain range and the route meanders in and out of ravines, from the beautiful coastline of spectacular cliffs and beaches once used by pirates to land their treasures right up to the sub-tropical rain forest in the Las Mercedes peaks. The sights are simply magnificent and beautiful. The contrasting colours, varieties of plant and tree species and pretty mountain hamlets where electric light was a novelty even in the 1990s will keep your camera occupied almost around every corner. Taganana is an example of where people still live off what the land provides for them and where remarkable, unspoilt beaches are the perfect setting for tales of pirates and smuggling. If it is open we might be able to peep into the beautiful Our Lady of the Snows chapel with origins in the early 16th century. A stop at a local inn towards the end of the tour is always recommended if there is time.
The prices for our excursions do not include the purchase of food and drink, souvenirs, entrance fees to museums, etc. If you are in any doubt, please contact us.
Destinations: La Guancha, Bodegas Viñátigo, Icod de los Vinos, El Guincho, Hotel Rural El Patio, Garachico.
Duration: 6 hours approx.
Pick-up time: 09.00 am (or another agreed time if you prefer)
This excursion takes us deep into the scenic northwest of Tenerife. First we will visit one the island's finest, private vineyards, producer of the much sought-after Viñátigo wines. An expert guide will show us through the wine-production process and invite us to sample two or three of what we consider to be gems of the Canary Island wine industry. William Shakespeare often mentioned Canary wines in plays like The Merry Wives of Windsor, and early European merchants came to buy Tenerife's wines in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Please note: Before booking this tour please contact us first to check for vineyard availability.
If requested we will pause to sample delicious island cuisine before we visit a banana plantation. It was planted on the tongue of a volcanic lava flow and nestles by the sea under steep cliffs. We will have a chance to learn about banana growing and enjoy scenery which is simply beautiful. The original mansion on the estate is a delight. Now turned into a peaceful rural hotel, it is one of the hidden aristocratic treasures of old Tenerife and we can enjoy strolling through its vast, palmed patio.
The prices for our excursions do not include the purchase of food and drink, souvenirs, entrance fees to museums, etc. If you are in any doubt, please contact us.
Destinations: Santiago del Teide, El Molledo, Roque del Paso.
Duration: 6 hours approx.
Pick-up time: 09.00 am (or another agreed time if you prefer)
This interesting tour takes us for a moderate hike in the south west hills of Tenerife.
Once we arrive at the mountain village of Santiago del Teide we will put on our hiking shoes and begin a three hour walk which takes us up and down along an ancient track in beautiful yet shadeless country. The hike is not difficult but you will require surefootedness and there are a couple of short, steep tracks to tackle. It takes us through land which has required centuries of toil to produce anything from vines to figs and almonds. In fact the almond blossom early in the year makes this walk a photographer's dream.
It also takes us through a variety of Euphorbias, cacti and other interesting, volcanic flora with views of the great Mt Teide and the island of La Gomera in the distance.
The landscape and scenery changes constantly in this rugged, unspoilt corner of the island and we will spot lizards, birds of prey, insects and other species on our way.
At the end of the walk, if requested, we might have time to sample a cool Chio wine and some delicious local cuisine at a village inn.
The prices for our excursions do not include the purchase of food and drink, souvenirs, entrance fees to museums, etc. If you are in any doubt, please contact us.
Destinations: City of La Laguna, Museum of History and Anthropology, Tacoronte, Casa del Vino, El Sauzal.
Duration: 6 hours approx.
Pick-up time: 09.00 am (or another agreed time if you prefer)
This tour is designed for those of you who would like a closer look at the island’s history, at its roots embedded in religious culture and feudal conquest. Originally called Aguere by the ancient Guanche inhabitants, Alonso Fernández de Lugo named it San Cristóbal de La Laguna in 1496 after finally defeating the fiercely proud and brave Guanche people at La Victoria. Spanish conquests were always accompanied by Catholic missions and the city’s churches and convents, many with 16th century origins and proof of strict religious and monarchic order, are brimming with priceless treasures. La Laguna’s historic centre was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1999. It is the original capital, where the wealthy, the nobility and the administrative and intellectual classes first lived and the Palace of Nava and Grimón, the Casa Lercaro, where we might visit the Museum of History and Anthropology, is an example of a cultured past.
Our stroll through La Laguna will make us feel rather peckish so we might sit down for a delicious tapa or two at a nearby local inn. If we have time we could visit one of the most beautiful churches in the Canary Islands, Nuestra Señora de Santa Catalina, situated in the agricultural town of Tacoronte or take a pleasant stroll through Los Lavaderos, a paradise of gushing fountains and pools of water where women once did their washing. The views here across the northern coastline and towards Mount Teide can be stunning.
The prices for our excursions do not include the purchase of food and drink, souvenirs, entrance fees to museums, etc. If you are in any doubt, please contact us.