Round Trip Roques de García with a View of Teide

Under a clear blue sky and with quite warm weather, we embark on one of the most famous hikes in Tenerife: the round walk along the Roques de García in El Teide National Park. With a length of just 3.6 kilometers, this may seem like an easy stroll on paper, but don't underestimate this route. Especially the steep climb during the last kilometer makes the hike much more challenging than the distance suggests. The walk is marked with number 3.

The Roques de García are located in the vast volcanic caldera Las Cañadas del Teide, at an altitude of over 2,000 meters. The landscape here consists of lava fields and rugged rock formations that have attained their unique shapes due to volcanic activity and millions of years of erosion. The rocks also form a natural divide between the two large portions of the caldera. In the background, the Teide is almost constantly visible, at over 3,700 meters the highest mountain in Spain. The national park has been on UNESCO's World Heritage List since 2007 due to its exceptional volcanic landscape, among other reasons.

One of the most famous rocks along the way is the Roque Cinchado, which has become one of the symbols of Tenerife due to its striking shape. From the start of the hike, the views are already impressive, but once past the busiest viewpoints, it gradually becomes quieter. We continue walking between the rugged rock formations and descend to the plain beneath the Roques de García. Here, you get a clear view of the enormous size of the rock walls and the barren volcanic landscape in which we are hiking.

The challenge clearly lies at the end. During the last kilometer, the elevation we previously descended must be overcome again. Over a stony and, in some places, quite steep path, we climb back up towards the starting point. Along the way, we see various hikers struggling with this final ascent. Especially with the blazing sun and high temperatures, this section can feel quite heavy. The elevation above 2,000 meters and strong sunlight make the conditions here significantly different than by the coast. The official park describes the combination of high altitude, intense sun, temperature differences, and low humidity as characteristic of the area.

Therefore, take sufficient water with you and apply sunscreen well beforehand. A cap or hat is also not an unnecessary luxury on sunny days. Those who take their time for the final ascent will ultimately be rewarded with more beautiful views of the Roques de García and the imposing Teide. A relatively short hike, therefore, but certainly not a simple stroll – and precisely because of that, a beautiful and varied journey through one of the most spectacular volcanic landscapes in Tenerife.

Practical Information

• Start and end point: area of Mirador de La Ruleta / Roques de García.
• Hike route number: 3
• Distance: approximately 3.6 km (1.5-2 hours)
• Character: round walk over rocky and volcanic paths
• Altitude: over 2,000 meters
• Difficulty: average, with a challenging final climb
• Particulars: almost constant views of the Teide and impressive volcanic rock formations.
• Tip: do not underestimate the short distance. Take plenty of water with you in hot and sunny weather, protect yourself from the sun, and save some energy for the last kilometer.