Benijo to Faro de Anaga Circuit Hike, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

This impressive day hike in Anaga Rural Park showcases some of the most magical and remote corners of Tenerife, Spain. You’ll see tiny coastal settlements where time stands still.

You’ll walk by dragon trees and through laurel forest. And, you’ll be treated to the most spellbinding views of the Anaga coastline.

This Faro de Anaga circular route starts in the tiny hamlet of Benijo on the north coast of the Anaga peninsula.

You could also start this hike in Chamorga, the village at the end of the Anaga Mountain Road, but there are some advantages to starting and ending in Benijo.

Update | In the last years, sections of this trail have been closed. Please reach out to the Visitor Center at Cruz del Carmen for trail updates. You can try emailing the visitor center cvisitantes@tenerife.es, but an in person visit might be more successful.

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Benijo to Faro de Anaga Hiking Tips

Tip 1 | Get an early start to secure parking at the trailhead. 

Tip 2 | This is a long hike with some tricky sections, due to slippery terrain (e.g. wet leaves). Please be cautious and wear sturdy hiking boots.

Tip 3 | Pack your lunch and sufficient water. There are a few restaurants in Benijo and one in Chamorga, but when we visited, they were all closed.

Tip 4 | This Anaga hiking trail is marked with white and yellow blazes.

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Benijo – Faro Punta de Anaga – Chamorga Hiking Map

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How to Get to Benijo

Santa Cruz de Tenerife to Benijo

Driving Time | 50 minutes

Driving Distance | 27.1 km 

From Santa Cruz, take TF-11 along the coast to San Andrés. At San Andrés, head inland on the TF-12.

This narrow and windy road cuts through the Anaga range.

After about 30 minutes (18 km), you’ll turn right onto TF-134, which you’ll take all the way to Benijo. This is one of the most beautiful roads in Tenerife. 

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La Laguna to Benijo 

Driving Time | 1:00 – 1:10 

Driving Distance | 35.3 km – 37.4 km 

The fastest way to reach Benijo is to drive to Santa Cruz and then follow the directions above. This route will also be less congested. 

Alternatively, you can take the TF-113 and TF-12 to Cruz Del Carmen and keep driving along TF-12 until you reach TF-134. Follow TF-134 all the way to Benijo.

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Rental Car

The most efficient way to get to the trailhead in Benijo is with your own car. 

We recommend using the Discovercars.com car rental reservation platform to search for and book car rentals in Tenerife. This easy-to-use booking platform compares car rental deals from 500+ trusted providers, so that you can choose the best option for your trip.

Tip: If you can only drive automatic transmission cars, as opposed to manual transmission cars (stick shift), book your can rental as early as possible.

Check car rental rates here. 

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Benijo to Faro de Anaga Circuit Trail Description

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Benijo to El Draguillo

To start the hike, head to Restaurante El Frontón and follow signs to El Draguillo along Trail PR – TF 6.

The trail hugs the coastline along a flat, dirt (sometimes paved) road. In front of you, you’ll see Roques de Anaga, two rocks thrusting out of the ocean.

Behind you, you’ll see Taganana village and the rugged Anaga coast.

It takes about 30 minutes to walk 2 km to El Draguillo. 

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El Draguillo to Las Palmas de Anaga

Soon after arriving in El Draguillo, you’ll reach a trail intersection. Follow signs to Las Palmas de Anaga.

The trail to Las Palmas continues to hug the coastline, though the path narrows significantly. Expect rocky terrain and more grade variation.

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Shorter Alternative Loop Hike

For a shorter version of this hike, you can do a mini-loop (outlined in grey in the map above).

When you get to El Draguillo, turn right and follow signs to Chamorga (instead of heading to Las Palmas).

Note: You won’t go all the way to Chamorga. You’ll hike uphill for almost 1 km (270 m elevation gain) to an intersection.

From here, turn right, and start the glorious return journey to Benijo. 

Distance | 5.1 km

Time Needed | 2:45 hours

Difficulty | Moderate

Elevation Gain/Loss | 644 m

Minimum Elevation | 79 m

Maximum Elevation | 508 m

As you hike in the direction of the remote hamlet of Las Palmas, the Anaga rocks continue to be the focal point.

Facing the monolithic rocks and surrounded by green fields, it looks like a forgotten sanctuary at the end of the world.

It takes about 1 hour to hike from El Draguillo to Las Palmas. Along the way, you’ll see a few trail signs. Always head in the direction of El Faro. 

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Las Palmas to Faro de Anaga

From Las Palmas, the trail ascends and descends along a balcony trail to the lighthouse Faro de Anaga.

Shortly before reaching the lighthouse, there’s a trail intersection indicating two different ways to Chamorga village.

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Faro de Anaga to Chamorga Trail Options

There are two ways to get to Chamorga. The shorter, but the more strenuous route is via Montaña Tafada. The longer, but the easier route is via Roque Bermejo. 

Option #1: PR – TF 6.1 Tafada (1.6 km) to Chamorga (3.0 km) – This route ascends over the Tafada hills and then descends to Chamorga.

Option #2: PR – TF 6 Roque Bermejo (1.2 km) to Chamorga (4.4 km) – This route descends past the Anaga lighthouse to Roque Bermejo village (only occupied in summer). From the beach at Roque Bermejo, you’ll walk inland via Barranco de Chamorga / Barranco de Bermejo to Chamorga.

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Faro de Anaga  – Tafada  – Chamorga

We opted for the Tafada mountain route because it was shorter.

However, It’s a more challenging route because you first have to ascend to the top of Montana Tafada via a steep and at times slippery trail, only to then descend to Chamorga.

Keep your eyes out for mountain goats, though you’ll probably hear them before you spot them. 

Chamorga is a small village located at the very end of the Anaga Mountain Road. It’s also a popular trailhead, so you’ll see more people here than any other part of the route.

Side note: You could also start your hike in Chamorga. From the village, you can hike down to Punta de Anaga Lighthouse via Mounta Tafada.

And to return, you’ll proceed to the Roque de Bermejo and follow the Barranco de Chamorga trail back to the village. 

There’s a village café called Casa Alvaro, which may, or may not be open. It was closed when we arrived. 

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Chamorga to Cruz del Draguillo

From Chamorga, you’ll follow a shady, inland trail in the direction of El Draguillo. As you follow this forest trail, you’ll hear a chorus of birds.

It’s 1.3 km to Cruz del Draguillo (basically just an intersection). When you arrive, continue straight and downhill.

The leaves make this part of the trail a bit precarious, especially after rainfall. Please take care. 

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Cruz del Draguillo to Benijo

At the next intersection, take the left trail (PR-TF 6.3), which ultimately leads back to Benijo (2.5 km). If you go straight, you’ll end up in El Draguillo.

As you emerge out of the forest, you’ll be treated to more sensational views of the Anaga coastline. 

You’ll finish this hike by descending to Benijo. 

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Best Base for Hiking around Benijo

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La Laguna 

San Cristóbal de La Laguna, or simply La Laguna, is located inland, 10.5 km from Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

If you stay in La Laguna, you’re well-positioned to reach Punta del Hidalgo, Cruz del Carmen, and the Anaga Mountain Road. You can also use local buses to reach trailheads and do point-to-point hikes, like Cruz del Carmen to Punta del Hidalgo.

Furthermore, La Laguna is one of Tenerife’s most charming cities, offering plenty of dining options amidst colonial architecture.

During your visit, don’t miss out on the city’s bustling marketplace: Mercado Municipal de San Cristobal de la Laguna.

Budget | Casa Lagunera is a newly renovated apartment-style accommodation in the quiet neighborhood of El Coromoto. The owners offer a free shuttle service from the Tenerife Norte Airport. With its small, but mighty kitchenette, you can prepare your own breakfast and lunch supplies for hiking.

Mid-Range | Casa Del Casco Historico is a centrally located guesthouse in La Laguna, walking distance to many restaurants and cafés in the historic center. Guests have access to a shared kitchen, lounge, garden and terrace. Coffee, tea, and cookies are provided. 

Luxury | Sogno Di Gio is a comfortable bed and breakfast located just 1 km from the city center (15-minute walk). A continental breakfast featuring homemade cakes is included in the room rate. Guests also love eating dinner in the hotel’s Italian restaurant. 

Book your stay in La Laguna.

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Santa Cruz de Tenerife 

Though not as photogenic as La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife feels genuine and local. Seeing the sunrise over the ocean each morning was a real treat.

Also, if you stay in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, it’s easy to access Playa de Las Teresitas (Tenerife’s most beautiful beach), the white-washed village of Igueste de San Andrés (trailhead), and TF 134 (scenic road to Taganana and Benijo).

Budget | Casa Weyler is a friendly and centrally located bed and breakfast in Santa Cruz. Guests have access to a large communal kitchen and lounge and balcony (6th floor) with mountain and sea views. 

Mid-Range | EDI Astoria impresses easily with its bright and cheerful interior. Each modern unit has it’s own fully equipped kitchen and dining space. EDI Astoria is located in the center of the city, which is very convenient, but it can also get noisy at night. 

Luxury | Monkey House (3 nights minimum stay) is the best option for a family. This gorgeous 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment is modern, impeccably clean, and well-equipped. Free private parking included.

Book your stay in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Read Next: Where to Stay in Tenerife for Hiking

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Keep Reading About Tenerife

Tenerife Travel:

• Best Hikes in Tenerife
• Tenerife Road Trip Itinerary
• Tenerife in January

Anaga Mountains:

• Best Hikes in the Anaga Mountains
• Anaga Rural Park: Escape to Tenerife’s Ancient Moutain Range 

Teide National Park:

• Best Hikes in Teide National Park
• How to Visit Teide National Park

Teno Rural Park:

• How to Visit Punta de Teno
• Hiking in the Teno Mountains

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