Tenerife: La Laguna & Anaga hike

The best part of this day is the change of scenery. You leave Tenerife’s sunny resort coast and reach the cool, often damp laurel forest of Las Mercedes, where the guide explains the plants that survived from a much older age of the islands. I like the strong contrast between this forest walk and the old streets of La Laguna. They feel like two different trips joined together.

I also like the practical price. For $64, you get return transport, a hiking guide, and an eight-hour outing without having to plan mountain roads yourself. The main drawback is time: the bus rides can feel long, and the stop in La Laguna may be too short to enjoy both the market and the city properly.

Key points at a glance

• A two-hour forest walk: Expect a guided outing in the Las Mercedes laurel forest, with attention to local plants, trees, and small forest life.
• La Laguna in UNESCO-listed surroundings: You get time to walk its pedestrian streets, though the market and shops may be quiet during siesta.
• Morning pickups from three southern resorts: Collection is at 8:30 am from Labranda Suites Costa Adeje and Hotel Best Tenerife, or 8:40 am from Sol Arona Tenerife.
• A cool and changeable mountain climate: Take a jacket and rain protection, even if the coast is sunny and warm.
• Good transport value, with a catch: The $64 fee covers the bus and guide, but long pickup and return drives can take a large part of the day.
• Best for reasonably fit walkers: This is not suitable for wheelchair users, people with low fitness, or those with certain heart or respiratory conditions.

Leaving Tenerife’s resort coast behind

The excursion begins at one of three collection points: Labranda Suites Costa Adeje, Hotel Best Tenerife in Playa de las Americas, or Sol Arona Tenerife in Los Cristianos. Pickup is scheduled for 8:30 am at the first two stops and 8:40 am at Sol Arona.

This is pickup from a bus stop or hotel meeting point, not necessarily from your own hotel door. Check the selected location carefully before booking. Once everyone is aboard, the coach heads north toward La Laguna and the Anaga Mountains.

The first scheduled drive takes about an hour. That sounds simple, but the overall bus time can stretch because the vehicle serves several southern pickup points and later returns people to them. One useful piece of advice is to treat this as a full-day outing, not a short transfer with a walk attached.

The transport is a major part of the value. You do not need to rent a car, find a mountain route, or work out where to park near the forest. The tradeoff is comfort. A past departure had no working air conditioning or fans, making the long ride hot and sticky. That may not happen every time, but it is worth keeping expectations modest about the coach.

La Laguna and the one-hour market stop

San Cristóbal de La Laguna is the cultural stop. Its old center is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the pedestrian streets make it easy to walk without dealing with traffic. You get about an hour here, with the food market included in the plan.

The market adds a local, everyday side to the day. It is not just another viewpoint or monument. If it is open, you can see the produce trade and get a quick feel for how people shop on the island. The short visit also gives you a reason to look beyond the polished old streets.

There is an important timing problem. The market can be closed by the time the group arrives, and the city may be quiet during siesta. In that case, you need to choose between wandering and eating. You are unlikely to do both comfortably in one hour.

I would not book this outing mainly for the market. Think of it as a useful extra when the timing works. The city itself is the safer reason to look forward to this stop, but even there, one hour is tight. You can take a quick walk, look at the architecture, and grab something to eat if you move with purpose. A slower visit would be better, but the mountain walk still takes priority in the day’s schedule.

The stop also depends on how much time is lost earlier. Delayed pickup has happened, and a late start makes the La Laguna portion even more hurried. If the city is high on your list, plan a separate visit on another day. This excursion gives you an introduction, not a full city tour.

A two-hour walk in the Las Mercedes laurel forest

From La Laguna, the coach continues for about 25 minutes to the Anaga Mountains. The hiking section lasts around two hours and takes place in the Las Mercedes laurel forest.

This is the most distinctive part of the trip. Laurel forest is not the dry, sunny Tenerife many people picture from the beach resorts. You should expect a cooler mountain setting, damp conditions at times, and a forest path where the guide explains the local flora.

The guide’s role matters here. This is not presented as a strenuous mountain challenge or a fast scenic walk. The focus is on the forest itself: the trees, plants, and smaller life along the route. One guide received especially strong praise for explaining the Canary Islands and their past in a clear and engaging way. The available guide languages are English, Spanish, French, and German.

You should also know what kind of walk this is. It may feel more like a naturalist’s outing than a big mountain adventure. Some people will enjoy stopping to hear why a particular tree or plant matters. If you want constant viewpoints, dramatic peaks, or a hard workout, you may find the route too gentle and too focused on botanical detail.

The supplied information does not give a distance, elevation gain, or exact trail surface. That means you should not assume a particular level of difficulty from the word hike alone. The activity is not suitable for people with low fitness, mobility impairments, or wheelchair users. It is also listed as unsuitable for pregnant women and people with heart or respiratory problems.

Wear proper hiking or sports shoes. Comfortable clothes are essential, and a jacket belongs in your daypack even if the weather is bright at the coast. The mountain climate can be cold and wet, so rain-resistant clothing is a smart choice. Bring water and food because neither is included.

Why the mountain weather deserves respect

Tenerife often gives you warm resort weather and very different conditions in the Anaga Mountains on the same day. The forest section can be cool, cloudy, or rainy. You might begin the morning in short sleeves and wish you had brought a jacket an hour later.

Pack light, but do not pack as if you are spending the day at the beach. Your daypack should hold:

• Hiking shoes with a secure sole
• A warm jacket and rain protection
• Water
• Something to eat
• Comfortable walking clothes
• Identification
• Travel insurance details, if you carry them
• A European Health Insurance Card, if you have one

Food and drinks are not included. The hour in La Laguna may give you a chance to buy something, but I would not depend on it. The market could be closed, and the stop may be shortened by a late departure. Carrying a snack is the safer plan.

What the guide adds to the day

A guided forest walk can be hard to judge from a short itinerary. The route itself may be simple, but the explanation changes how you see it. The best part of the walk is likely to be the context: why this forest is unusual, how its plants fit the island climate, and what makes the Anaga area different from Tenerife’s southern coast.

The guide also helps connect the two main stops. La Laguna shows you an old urban center, while the forest introduces a very different side of the island. You are not simply collecting two attractions. You are seeing how much Tenerife changes over a relatively short journey.

The tour is offered in English, Spanish, French, and German. Since no individual guide names are supplied, you cannot request a particular leader from the available information. Guide quality can shape this day more than the basic route, especially if you are interested in plants and island history.

There is one point to consider. A highly detailed explanation of every tree and insect may be fascinating to you, but too slow for someone who wants to keep walking. The forest portion has been described both as informative and as a little too much like a botanical expedition. Your enjoyment will depend on whether you prefer nature interpretation or scenery and pace.

How $64 measures up

At $64 per person, the price is fair if you want a guided day without renting a car. The fee includes the bus, the hiking guide, and pickup and return from the selected southern area. For a trip lasting about eight hours, that is a reasonable package.

The value is strongest for you if:

• You are staying around Costa Adeje, Playa de las Americas, or Los Cristianos
• You do not want to drive mountain roads
• You want a first look at both La Laguna and Anaga
• You prefer a guide to explain the forest
• You are happy with an introductory visit rather than a long city tour

The value drops if your main goal is La Laguna. An hour is not enough for a relaxed city visit, and the market may be closed or quiet. It also drops if you dislike long coach journeys or expect a demanding hike with wide views.

A private car or separate visits could give you more control, but that comparison depends on your plans and comfort with driving. This tour solves the transport problem and combines two places efficiently. It does not give you much freedom at either stop.

The return journey and the real length of the day

After the forest walk, the coach returns south. The listed drive takes about an hour, followed by drop-off at Sol Arona Tenerife, Labranda Suites Costa Adeje, or Hotel Best Tenerife.

In practice, the day can feel longer than the headline stops suggest. You have roughly one hour to La Laguna, 25 minutes to the forest, two hours walking, and another hour back, plus the initial pickup route and any delays. That is why the experience is best approached as an organized full-day excursion.

The return transport is useful after a walk. You can rest instead of navigating unfamiliar roads. Still, bring patience. One past outing had a pickup about half an hour late, and another account described the bus time as feeling endless because of the collection pattern. These are not reasons to reject the tour outright, but they are good reasons not to schedule an evening reservation too tightly.

Who will enjoy this Tenerife outing

I would recommend it to a reasonably fit visitor who wants to see a cooler, greener side of Tenerife and likes learning about plants. It suits first-time visitors who want a broad introduction without arranging several separate trips.

It also works well for people staying in the main southern resort areas. The included transport saves effort, and the multilingual guide makes the walk accessible to a wider range of visitors.

You may want a different plan if you need an easy-access route, have a low fitness level, or dislike uneven walking conditions. It is also not ideal if you want a long market visit, a serious hike, or several scenic stops. The schedule has a clear focus: one short urban visit and one guided forest walk.

The mixed score of 4.3 from 15 ratings reflects that split. The guide and forest setting can be the strongest parts, while the bus time and limited La Laguna schedule can spoil the day for people with different expectations. Go for the forest and island context, not for a leisurely city break.

Should you book the La Laguna and Anaga hike?

Book this tour if you want an affordable, guided introduction to Tenerife’s Anaga Mountains and you are comfortable spending much of the day on a coach. Pack for cool, wet weather, bring your own food, and wear real walking shoes.

Do not book it mainly for the food market or an in-depth visit to La Laguna. The market may be closed, siesta can make the city quiet, and one hour passes quickly. If you accept those limits, the combination of UNESCO-listed streets and a laurel forest walk makes this a useful day away from the resort coast.

FAQ

How long does the activity last?

The excursion lasts about eight hours, including transport, the La Laguna visit, the forest walk, and the return journey.

Where is pickup available?

Pickup is available at Labranda Suites Costa Adeje, Hotel Best Tenerife in Playa de las Americas, and Sol Arona Tenerife in Los Cristianos.

What time is pickup?

Pickup is scheduled for 8:30 am at Labranda Suites Costa Adeje and Hotel Best Tenerife. Pickup at Sol Arona Tenerife is scheduled for 8:40 am.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, so bring water and something to eat.

What should I wear?

Wear hiking or sports shoes and comfortable clothes. Bring a jacket because the Anaga Mountains can be cooler and wetter than the coast.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The live guide service is available in English, Spanish, French, and German.