Moon Rocks

Walk One

You will be challenged by this walk but it is an opportunity to experience the contrasting landscapes of the mountains.

The first part of the walk is the most strenuous as you climb the Caldera Ridge to 2400 m/7874 ft by the side of Montana Guajara, which is the island's fourth highest peak. The reward under a usually cloudless sky is a panorama of the glorious lunar landscape of the Las Canadas, the plateau and crater at the foot of Mount Teide.

You sense the eerie beauty of a place where a massive volcano exploded in on itself some 300,000 years ago forming Pico del Teide, which can be seen today on this walk in all its majesty. It is a land of bizarre rocks sitting in sand and lava with wonderfully contrasting colours reflected by the bright sunlight. You may also see the peaks of the neighbouring island of Gran Canaria.

After the climbing, this walk can be described as one of the great hikes of the island as you find your way down through beautiful pine forests and along the donkey paths towards Villaflor (Spain’s highest village at 1446m/4744ft). Towards the end of the walk you will encounter the famous natural phenomenon of the “Moon Rocks”, an area of eroded lava.

It is amazing how the rocks formed naturally to form light beige towers, resembling minarets growing out of both sides of the Barranco de las Arenas, with the light green Canary pines contrasting beautifully.

It is a long walk but will be appreciated especially by experienced hikers.