Island Routes

The start and finish for the entire island circuit is the ferry port at Los Cristionos on Tenerife.  Each island traverse must begin and end by the traditional dipping of a toe in the sea – so cliff tops do not count!  For time recording purposes, the start time is when the ferry for Gomera departs and the finish time is your arrival time back at the ferry port (whether by foot, taxi or bus) on or after completing the traverse of Tenerife.  The island routes are outlined below.

La Gomera (19 miles and 6248’): Valle Gran Rey – Garonjay – El Cedro - Hermigua

La Palma (41 miles and 13422’): Puerto de Tazacorte – Roque de los Munchos – Refugio del Pilar - Faro Fuencaliente.  The GR 131 must be followed throughout.

Tenerife (60 miles and 15280’): Porto Cruz de la Tenerife – El Teide – La Playa/Los Cristionos.  

Notes on traversing Tenerife

There is no direct or obvious scenic route all the way from Porto to Los Cristionos.  The lower southern part of the island is a dreary contrast to the national park that crowns El Teide.  There is a good indirect route to Vilaflor via Montana de las Lajas.  After that it is, perhaps, best just to grit your teeth, think of a cold beer and make a beeline for the sea! You may finish at any point on the south-west coast and then go by taxi, bus or foot to Los Cristionos.

The adventurous might like to explore possibilities of a route from Montana de las Lajas to Adeje and on to the coast at La Caleta - then travel to the finish at the ferry port in Los Cristionos.  

At the other extreme roads could provide the most direct traverse of the island.  This is an option but it is not recommended as a very rewarding way to spend your time on the island!!

Time Limit

Mountain Class – 7 days for all age groups

A demanding challenge requiring a focused mountain marathon type approach but with scope for a little holiday indulgence! There is an additional requirement to go from sea-level to each of the island summits in a continuous day’s climb! To achieve 7 days you will probably need to bivvy on La Palma and Tenerife or use the El Teide refuge, if open.  Note that if your ferry departs on the evening of day 1 then your 7 days is up on the evening of day 8! See below to print or view a sample Mountain Class schedule.   

Holiday Class - 14 days for all age groups

An island-hopping holiday but with scope for ensuring you can go home with the satisfaction of having achieved something you will never forget! A generous time limit offers adequate time to stay in comfortable hotels and organise public transport or taxis for each day’s start and finish point.

Additional Information

Recommended Guide: Walking in the Canary Islands: 1 - West by Paddy Dillon (Cicerone Press)

Ferries: Fred Olsen operates regular services with early morning and evening sailings  

El Teide permits: can be obtained free in Santa Cruz de Tenerife – Parque National del Teide, 4th Floor, Calle Emilio Calzadilla.  Unless you start exceptionally early it will be evening before you arrive on the summit when it is not manned.

Hotels: The H10 chain of hotels provides excellent rooms and buffet meals at very reasonable prices offering better value than B&Bs.  

Transport: Taxis can be hired on all the islands.  Bus services are available.

Season: Spring is the best time for ascending the mountains.

Registration Form and Certificates

Completions must be registered on a registration form.  Quality, coloured certificates are available free in return for a charitable donation to WaterAid – see registration form.  A certificate will only be designed and issued when donations exceed £40.  If there is insufficient demand by December 2010 your donation will be refunded.  Visit WaterAid for information on the work they do.

Print or View

Registration form - click to view/print pdf file

Mountain Class Schedule - click to view/print pdf file

Think Canary Islands and many might picture fleshpots of sun, sea and excess; tacky resorts with cheap booze and English food.  No place for the ultra-distance enthusiast then!  Well, yes.  Look inland and you will find primitive volcanic landscapes with just the right ingredients for an inspiring mountain challenge combined with an island-hopping holiday.  

The object of this OTH outing is a sea-to-summit, coast-to-coast traverse of the three western islands of La Gomera, La Palma and Tenerife by foot.  Their contrasting peaks of Garonjay (4872'), Roque de los Munchos (7959') and El Teide (12198') are all set within outstanding wilderness areas protected as national parks.  La Palma is, perhaps, the jewel in the crown.  Reputedly the steepest island in the world it rises to 7959' at Roque de los Munchos where it looks into the deepest volcanic crater on the planet.  The overall distance of the challenge is in the region of 120 miles with a formidable 35000' of ascent.