Parque Rural de Teno

Parque Rural de Teno is one of the oldest and wildest corners of Tenerife — a volcanic massif at the island's northwestern tip, formed from rock between 6 and 7 million years old. Before Tenerife took its current shape, Teno was a separate volcanic island that later merged with the rest of the landmass. The park covers more than 8,000 hectares and spans parts of the municipalities of Buenavista del Norte, Los Silos, El Tanque and Santiago del Teide.

Why visit Teno?

The landscape here is defined by contrast. Along the coast, dry, spiny scrubland dominates, with candelabra-shaped plants adapted to desert-like conditions, while higher up on the humid northern slopes stretches one of the Canary Islands' most important laurel forests — the monteverde, locally known as Monte del Agua y Pasos. Heather trees here grow up to 15 metres tall, and the steep cliff faces are home to plants specially adapted to life on sheer rock.

What to see in the park?

Punta de Teno marks the westernmost point of the massif and is one of the most visited spots in the area. From its lighthouse, views stretch across the Los Gigantes cliffs and the island of La Gomera, and it's known for one of the most beautiful sunsets on all of Tenerife.

Acantilados de Los Gigantes is a coastal amphitheatre roughly 2.5 kilometres across, formed by vertical walls of volcanic rock rising up to 600 metres high. The cliffs can already be admired from the Punta de Teno viewpoint, though a boat or kayak trip offers the best perspective, seen directly from the water.

Masca is a picturesque hamlet built on the edge of a deep ravine, considered one of the finest examples of traditional Teno architecture. The trail running through the ravine stretches 5.6 kilometres and ends at a small sandy cove with views of the Los Gigantes cliffs.

From the nearby marina in Los Gigantes, operators run kayaking trips, diving excursions and boat tours — bottlenose dolphins and short-finned pilot whales live year-round in these waters, while orcas and blue whales pass through during migration season.

What wildlife and plants live in the park?

Teno's isolation has made it a refuge for endangered and endemic species found nowhere else. Its rocky cliffs shelter the last populations of the Tenerife giant lizard, which can reach up to 50 centimetres in length. The monteverde forest is home to the Bolle's pigeon (paloma rabiche) and the Laurel pigeon (paloma turqué), both endemic to the Canary Islands and tied closely to this forest type. Teno is also Tenerife's last stronghold for the osprey and the Barbary falcon.

Frequently asked questions

How large is Parque Rural de Teno? The park covers more than 8,000 hectares in the northwestern part of Tenerife.

Since when has the area been protected? Since 1987 as a Natural Park, later reclassified as a Rural Park under Law 12/1994 on Natural Areas of the Canary Islands.

What is the park's biggest draw? The combination of Punta de Teno, the Los Gigantes cliffs, and the village of Masca with its trail down to the cove — the three most-visited spots in the region.

Can you see unique wildlife in the park? Yes — including the Tenerife giant lizard and endemic bird species tied to the laurel forest, such as the Bolle's pigeon.