Have you explored the Anaga National Park already? Some say it’s the best place to hike in all of Tenerife so we decided to hike from Puntal del Hidalgo to Chinamada.
To say it’s one of the best hikes on the island is probably pretty fair even though there are so many amazing hikes around Tenerife.
Since the Anaga National Park is tucked away in the northeastern corner of Tenerife it’s a bit further away from other hiking areas but it’s honestly one of the most beautiful places on the island.
Punta del Hidalgo is one of the starting points if you’re planning to hike to Chinamada.
It can also be done from Cruz del Carmen on the opposite side of Chinamada as well which we’ll get into down below.
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What to expect when hiking from Punta del Hidalgo to Chinamada
Quick breakdown of your trip:
- 🚘 Rent a car for your trip through Discover Cars
- 👩🏼⚕️ Make sure your adventures are insured with SafetyWing
- 🎒 Pack a yummy lunch, sunscreen, and a power bank
- 👞 Wear waterproof hiking shoes on this trail
- 📸 Bring your camera and get Insta ready
- 💦 Stay hydrated with a LifeStraw water bottle
Punta del Hidalgo is a small coastal town in Tenerife and that’s where this hike up to Chinamada starts. It’s quite a different hike than doing it from up in the mountains from Cruz del Carmen.
You’ll have a nice flat section for the first bit walking through a stream bed and some farmland. Soon after the real fun starts and you’ll notice the hike starts ascending quite quickly through the valley.
There are so many incredible viewpoints along the way that you’re going to have plenty of places to stop and enjoy the views.
It’s quite magical because at some viewpoints you’ll get views of the ocean where at others you’ll get the mighty mountains and forest that you find in Anaga.
All in all, from start to finish the hike is incredible and worth every bit of sweat and soreness you get hiking up to Chinamada.
Practical information about Punta del Hidalgo to Chinamada
Distance: 9.2 km return / 5.71 miles return
Elevation: 627 m / 2057 ft. elevation gain
Type: Out and back
Length: 3 – 3.5 hours return (It took us around 4 hours including a picture & lunch break)
Difficulty: Moderate
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Click here to see a map of the beginning of the Punta del Hidalgo to Chinamada hike.
👩🏼⚕️ Is your trip insured?
SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance covers hiking and mountaineering up to 4500 meters 🏔️
Route Directions for the Punta del Hidalgo to Chinamada hike
One of the reasons why this trail is so popular is because even for tourists and expats it’s quite easy to get to Punta del Hidalgo by public transport.
The last bus stop in Punta del Hidalgo is actually only a few minutes’ walk from the start of the trail. Super convenient and easy for anyone who doesn’t want to rent a car in Tenerife.
Ready for some absolutely incredible views? It doesn’t take long to get into the mountains and the views on both sides really start to come to life. Soon Punta del Hidalgo will feel like a distant memory.
The mountains were formed by a volcanic eruption sometime between 7-9 million years ago.
So we can thank a volcano for the beautiful mountain range all the way along the hike. Whichever way you look you’ll see mountain peaks with beautiful lush forests.
You don’t really get anything like this anywhere else on the island. It’s what makes the Anaga National Park so special.
Chinamada
After all the ascending you’ll come to the famous town of Chinamada. The famous town up in the Anaga mountains is famous for having houses built into mountains.
Some of these look like they have been around for generations and generations. Quite an interesting town to explore.
It’s also the perfect place to stop and enjoy your packed lunch.
There is also Restaurante La Cueva in town which isn’t a bad place to stop for a drink. It’s not your typical restaurant since it’s actually built into the mountains like the local houses.
We, unfortunately, didn’t have the best experience there but a lot of people were enjoying the food so we’d say give them a chance.
We highly recommend checking out Mirador de Aguaide which is a short little hike to the viewpoint next to Chinamada.
The view of the rising mountains and the ocean down below can be seen perfectly from this viewpoint and it may be the most beautiful view on the whole hike.
Back to Punta del Hidalgo
Now the hard part: The descent! Are you ready?
In all honestly, it’s actually not that bad, and the views make up for it, but it’s definitely not easy on the knees. We feel like hiking up is always easier than going down when the trail isn’t nice and flat.
That’s why hiking boots (especially ones with ankle support) are great for these kinds of hikes. If you’re looking for a recommendation, Jo loves her Columbia Women’s Newton Ridge Plus!
The trail is obvious and easy to navigate but it is uneven at times so even hiking poles would be recommended if your knees get sore easily.
The views coming down are amazing though and Punta del Hidalgo slowly comes into view as you get further and further down the mountain.
There are at least two amazing viewpoints we can remember that really bring you out to the coast where you can see the ocean.
Where to stay when exploring & hiking in the Anaga National Forest.
Thankfully, Tenerife is quite a small island and it actually isn’t far by public transport or by rental car so you can really stay wherever and get to the Anaga National Forest quite easily.
We can recommend a few places to stay depending on what you’re looking for.
- Puerto de la Cruz in the North has much more nature and greenery and a chill vibe. Puerto is actually where we stayed for the majority of our time on the island.
- El Médano is a small city in the South and is very much a surf, holiday, party town.
Regardless of where you stay though you can get anywhere on the island fairly easily so don’t worry about that. Just pick a place where you think you’d have the best time!
There are tons of other places to stay on the island that are absolutely worth it but the two we mentioned above are places we’ve actually stayed and can recommend.
How to get to the start of the hike
From anywhere in El Médano
The Anaga National Forest is on the other side of the island but still completely manageable to go for a day trip since it’s just over an hour drive.
From El Médano we would actually recommend doing the Chinamada hike from the Cruz del Carmen side.
The directions from El Médano to Punta del Hidalgo.
From anywhere in Los Cristianos
It’s a bit further from Los Cristianos but still totally doable. We recommend that you rent a car in Los Cristianos to get to the hike.
If that’s not possible, public transport is also doable, it just takes a little longer.
The directions from Los Cristianos to Punta del Hidalgo.
From anywhere in Puerto de la Cruz
It’s a short drive by car from this northern city. We actually took the bus and it was super easy to get to Punta del Hidalgo.
Either way you’ll get to the trailhead and have the day to enjoy Chinamada and the rest of the hike.
The directions from Puerto de la Cruz to Punta del Hidalgo.
From anywhere in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
It’s just over a half hour drive from the capital so it is really close and easy to get to from here.
Busses run very frequently from Santa Cruz so it’s probably the best city to stay in if you’re exploring the Anaga Forest.
The directions from Santa Cruz to Punta del Hidalgo.
Hiking Tip: Look up the trail on AllTrails before starting your hike 🗺️. You can find important trail information such as recent wildlife sights and trail closures. Check out the free version here or get a 7-day free trial of AllTrails+ here.
Getting around Tenerife by bus
In case you don’t want to drive or rent a car then don’t worry. Busses can take you almost anywhere on the island.
The awesome thing about this specific hike in Tenerife is that the bus stop is basically at the trailhead so it’s super easy to get to the hike.
All the hikes we’ve done in Tenerife are all reachable by bus. We actually quite enjoy riding the bus around the island.
Once you’re doing the hike you may have to wait 15-30 minutes for the bus to come but it should never be longer than that.
You can see the directions from Santa Cruz to Punta del Hidalgo by bus here. All you have to do is change your initial location and the website will show you the most convenient bus route.
The bus rides take longer than renting a car but they are comfortable, convenient, and worth it if you don’t have a car. We 100% recommend getting the Tenerife Bus Pass.
You can ride the bus for 10 Euro a day, or 50 Euro for the week. If you’re doing a day trip from one of the cities, definitely get the day pass because it will save you a whole lot of money!
Renting a car in Tenerife
If you do like going on your own time and not being dependent on anyone then renting a car may be your best option. You can look at this post here about everything related to renting a car in Tenerife and the cheapest options.
We rented a car a few times and it was so nice not having to always wait for buses and able to do some of the hikes that are harder to get to by bus.
Either way, by bus or rental car, you’ll manage to get around the island and have a great time!
Also read: The Best Cheap Car Rental in Tenerife
You may also like…
- How to Hike Cruz del Carmen to Chinamada – Tenerife
- The Best View of Mount Teide – Mount Guajara Hike
- Everything you Need to Know About the Tamaimo-Guama Loop Trail – Tenerife
- The Best Sunset Spot in Tenerife – Montaña Roja
- The Gorgeous Mirador de Las Breñas Hike to Costa de Acentejo – Tenerife
Before you hike from Punta del Hidalgo to Chinamada
Before we go on any hike in Tenerife we always check the weather because it can be sunny in El Médano but crazy rainy in Anaga so it’s worth checking that out first.
Especially since you’re high up in the mountains it’s good to know if you should bring a few layers of clothing or not. You can see the weatherforecast for Chinamada here.
Also, check the timetables for the bus in both directions to plan your day.
Busses run frequently but sometimes from Punta del Hidalgo back to where you’re staying you might have to wait a while.
So it’s best to try and plan it before trying to time it with the bus so you don’t have to wait too long once you’re done with the hike.
What to bring on the hike
All we can say is expect the unexpected. So bring sunscreen even though the weather may not look great.
But at the same time bring a jacket even on a sunny day because you just don’t know how the weather will play out.
Packing list for Punta del Hidalgo:
- Water! You don’t want to wait until the end of the hike to buy some.
- Sunscreen is a must when you go hiking anywhere in Tenerife! Even if you go early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
- A camelbak (backpack full of water) is never a bad option.
- Hiking shoes with ankle support are recommended.
- Hiking poles if you find your knees get sore on longer hikes.
- Bring some food so you can enjoy along the trail
- Relax, and enjoy the views with a nice PB&J, trail mix, or whatever you like to snack on while hiking!
- Also this is a great list of hiking gear that always has some inspiration!
Recap of hiking the Punta del Hidalgo to Chinamada trail
We hope you enjoy hiking in the Anaga National Forest and enjoy the unique little town of Chinamada.
This half-day hike is a perfect outdoor activity to do on the island away from all the crowds of people. You’ll have a nice afternoon to yourself.
There are so many amazing places to visit and hike in Tenerife so you’ll definitely enjoy your time here.
Enjoy the mountains and hopefully the sun! We can’t wait to share more hikes on the island with you. Youy can also reach out to us via DM on Instagram @redwhiteadventures or drop a comment below.
Have fun!
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