One of the main reasons travellers and tourists alike love Puerto de la Cruz in Tenerife is because of its amazing coastline.
The Rambla de Castro coastal walk is one of the most scenic coastal walks on the whole island of Tenerife along with the Mirador de Las Breñas hike near Puerto.
Every bend and turn you take along the hike will open your eyes to more and more breathtaking views that didn’t even seem possible.
We knew Puerto de la Cruz was known for its walking trails and wasn’t too far away from some amazing hikes like the Tamaimo-Guama Loop trail and the Mount Guajara hike and even the best sunset spot in Tenerife.
But we had no idea that we’d be blessed with trails right in town like the Rambla de Castro where you can essentially just walk to the starting point right from downtown Puerto.
Throughout this post, you can find all the information about how to get to the Rambla de Castro starting point, the best time to go, along with all the information about the trail and the great views you’ll see along the way.
This coastal walk is our favourite walking trail in Puerto de la Cruz and the fact that there’s a (good) restaurant at the end with the best views gave us even more of a reason to do this walk multiple times.
One of the many things we love about Puerto and Tenerife, in general, are all the hikes and coastal walks that can be done so close to where you’re staying.
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Everything you need to know about the Rambla de Castro Coastal Walk
The Rambla de Castro coastal walk is an awesome activity to do in Puerto de la Cruz with a fantastic restaurant at the end. We didn’t eat there the first time we did this coastal walk because it was too busy but we made sure the second time around we stopped by. And friends, it was delicious.
It’s an easy to moderate walking trail that starts in Los Realejos which is a part of Puerto de la Cruz. The trail is an in and out trail that will take you along a part of the northern coast of Tenerife which is just absolutely breathtaking.
You’ll enjoy watching the waves crash along the beach, great cliffs, banana plantation, and even an abandoned water tower.
We stayed right in town so we just walked to the Maritim Hotel which is the starting point of the hike (click here to see the map on Google). If you’re not staying right in town or simply don’t want to walk to the start of the coastal walk then down below you can find all the details on how to get there by car or bus.
Renting a car is quite cheap in Tenerife and worth it if you want to visit some of the more remote parts of the island. Especially if you rent from one of the two airports. If you do that, you can rent a car and explore the whole island quite easily. There is a lot of parking close to the trailhead for the Rambla so you don’t have to worry about the parking near the Maritim Hotel.
Once you’re at the hotel, you’re at the trailhead and you’ll instantly start to see some of the amazing views we’re talking about. We’ve absolutely loved hiking in Spain and Tenerife in specific and are excited to share this coastal walk in Puerto with you.
Practical information about the Rambla de Castro Coastal Walk
Distance: 8.8 km return / 3.54 miles return
Elevation: 536 m / 1758 ft. elevation gain
Type: In and out
Length: 2 – 2.5 hours (taking your time and taking pictures)
Difficulty: Easy (walking trail)
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Route Directions
Step #1: Starting at the Maritim Hotel in Puerto
The Rambla de Castro Coastal Walk can be started from multiple points but we don’t want you to miss the beginning which is actually one of our favorite parts of the whole coastal walk.
Even right before the Maritim Hotel there’s an awesome viewpoint where you can get some amazing pictures of the waves crashing into the shores. You’ll be way above the cliffs and have an aerial view of the ocean and the coast which is absolutely breathtaking.
Once you take in the views you can walk towards the hotel and that is where the hike starts.
This section of the hike may seem like it’s closed. (March 2021) but lots of locals and tourists were on the trail so we went as well. You’ll have to walk through this big hole in a fence to get down to the path and then you’ll be walking along the coast with Puerto behind you and the ocean on your right.
The first viewpoint is the cool looking rock (Roque Chico) which will be visible for this first part of the coastal walk. You’ll just continue from there until you reach the first checkpoint: Mirador Playa Los Roques.
Click here to see point 1 to point 2 in MapyCZ.
Step #2: Mirador Playa Los Roques to Salida Rambla de Castro
Once you’ve walked around the little loop at the Playa Los Roques viewpoint you will start walking to what people consider the actual starting point of the hike.
It may seem like you’re on the wrong path but there’s actually a small section that takes you through a neighborhood where you’re walking in front of some houses. Feel free to walk on the paths between their houses (as long as you are respectful of course) where you can get some epic views of the ocean. We even found a house where they had some cute little turtles outside relaxing by a little pond.
This section has a bunch of signage on the streets. So just follow the signs that point towards Salida Rambla de Castro. You’ll basically just be walking in front of someone’s house and out of nowhere the hike will begin.
Click here to see point 2 to point 3 in MapyCZ.
Step #3: Rambla de Castro to La Gordejuela
Honestly the whole hike is beautiful and this section where the Rambla starts is no different. It is absolutely gorgeous. You’re so high above the ocean that you just get these incredible views that stretch out for days.
You get to see long stretches of coastline while zig-zagging on the coastal trail. You’ll see tons of locals running this trail or walking their dogs so it seems like it’s a very popular trail among the locals as well and tourists alike.
As you’re on the trail you will come around a corner and see La Gordejuela. At first, we had no idea what it was. Abandoned hotel or house? Or maybe even a farmhouse for the workers long ago? With a little bit of research, we figured out it was actually a water elevator!
And if you look at all the surroundings you can see that there’s tons of vegetation and flora in the area so it kinda makes sense. Back in the day the farmers would use La Gordejuela to pump up water into the fields. Quite fascinating!
It’s too bad it’s not open anymore as it does look quite restored compared to lots of the other buildings along the Rambla de Castro walk. Either way it’s still a great spot to take a few pictures.
Click here to see point 3 to point 4 in MapyCZ.
Step #4: La Gordejuela to Restaurant Mirador San Pedro
This is the last stretch of the hike that will take you through some local vegetation. There are tons of banana farms in the area and you walk between the different farms as you go along.
There are a few different trails on this section but as long as you keep following the coast and the signs that say “Mirador San Pedro” you will find your way to the restaurant.
Like we mentioned before, the first time we did the hike we ended up at Restaurant Mirador San Pedro but all the seats were full so we decided to turn around and walk back.
We didn’t make the same mistake the second time around and actually sat down and enjoyed the view with some food and drinks. Dom had a freshly pressed orange juice and the soup of the day while Jo enjoyed the spinach-ricotta tortellini and a caffe latte.
We only have good things to say about the restaurant. The service was great. The coffee and orange juice were fantastic. On top of that the pasta and soup were incredible all while enjoying one of the prettiest views.
So it makes sense why it’s usually so busy. But if you do have the time then we do recommend stopping at the restaurant for some food and drinks before heading back to town.
Click here to see point 4 to point 5 in MapyCZ.
Step #5: Enjoy the views back to the Maritim
You’re going to be so glad that you ended up stopping for some food and a nice drink before heading back where you came from. It’s totally worth it. Even if it’s just for a coffee or an OJ.
When you head back you’ll follow the exact same path as you did on the way to Mirador San Pedro. This is your opportunity to take any pictures in some of the spots that you may have missed or want to get from a new angle.
It’s also interesting doing an in-and-out trail and seeing the hike or walk differently because of the direction you’re going. Who knows, you may even like the return better than the first half of the coastal walk.
In case you feel like you didn’t get enough you can always do this coastal walk a second time like we did! 😉
I mean it’s right in town and it’s absolutely beautiful so why not!? So once you get back to the Maritim Hotel that’s the end of this awesome coastal walk and it’s hands down one of our favorite activities to do in Puerto de la Cruz.
Click here to see point 5 back to point 6/finish in MapyCZ.
Where to stay if exploring the Rambla de Castro
Thankfully Tenerife is quite a small island and it actually isn’t too far of a drive from anywhere to get to anywhere. You can get to most parts of the island in under two hours.
We walked to the trailhead because we were staying in Puerto de la Cruz at the time. We absolutely recommend staying in the city for a night or two while exploring all the hikes and coastal walks in the area.
Staying in Puerto de la Cruz
Puerto de la Cruz is the perfect place if you love nature, coastal walks, and exploring new places.
We recommend using Airbnb or Booking to find a place. If you don’t want a lot of noise and something a little quieter we would recommend staying somewhere away from the main roads and on one of the less busy streets away from the centre.
Here are a few good options:
Look for accommodation on Booking.com | Airbnb
How to get to the Start of the Rambla de Castro
From anywhere in Puerto de la Cruz
If you’re staying in downtown Puerto then we recommend walking because the walk through town the the Maritim Hotel where the coastal walk starts is beautiful.
You can also take the bus right from downtown and it will take a few minutes to get there. You can see both options for walking or taking the bus here.
If you want to take your car then we recommend parking on the main road before the hotel. There is tons of parking on the road and it’s also free.
From anywhere else in Tenerife
If you’re driving into Puerto de la Cruz for a day trip and plan on doing the coastal walk then we recommend parking here. It’s free and you can park there all day. That way you don’t have to worry about paid parking and you’re only a 5-minute walk from the beginning of the hike.
Otherwise, you can take the bus to downtown Puerto and transfer to another bus that will take you to the trailhead.
You may also like…
- The Best View of Mount Teide – Mount Guajara Hike
- Everything you Need to Know About the Tamaimo-Guama Loop Trail
- The Best Sunset Spot in Tenerife – Montaña Roja Hike
- The Gorgeous Mirador de Las Breñas Hike to Costa Acentejo – Tenerife
- How to Hike From Punta Del Hidalgo to Chinamada – Tenerife
Before you go walk the Rambla de Castro coastal walk
We first recommend checking the weather to make sure it’s not too windy or rainy. It won’t be fun hiking along the coast in bad weather. You can see the weather for Puerto de la Cruz here.
Otherwise, there shouldn’t be anything to worry about. The walk is always open and it’s free to do. The only thing that may be close is the restaurant if you do it for sunrise or sunset but otherwise, everything else is good to go!
What to bring on the trail
You’re going to be exposed to the sun throughout the whole coastal trail. Tenerife is quite warm all year around and Puerto even though it’s up North is still very warm. Even with all the wind you can get a sunburn. So please go prepared.
It doesn’t hurt to bring extra water and snacks even though it doesn’t seem like that long of a trail. Even though there’s a restaurant at the end it’s nice to bring some stuff.
So bring:
- Water! You don’t want to wait until the end of the hike to buy some.
- Sunscreen is a must when you go anywhere 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.
- 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!
We hope you enjoy this lovely coastal walk in Puerto de la Cruz. There are so many amazing places to visit and hike in Tenerife. Another great trail near Puerto is the Acentejo coastal walk which is only a short drive away. Down south you can visit the town of El Médano where you can hike up Montaña Roja and get the best sunset view in Tenerife. We hope to share some of the best places on the island and inspire you to get out and explore all these little pockets of awe around the island.
We hope you enjoy the coastal walk as much as we did! It’s fun getting away from the touristy crowds in the city to quiet trails outdoors with amazing views.
Have fun!
Dom & Jo
Red White Adventures
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