Our Favorite Hikes in Spain: Day Hikes + 2-Day Treks (original) (raw)

Thanks to its island territories and vast coastline, Spain is an all-year-round hiking destination. From the volcanic landscape encircling El Teide to the limestone mountains of Picos de Europa National Park, every Spanish hiking destination feels wholly unique, both scenically and culturally.

A trail lover can never tire of hiking in Spain.

Kati and I have spent months hiking in various destinations across Spain: specifically Asturias, Cantabria, Mallorca, Tenerife, and Gran Canaria.

Below, I’ve summarized our absolute favorite hikes in Spain to date.

We hope to uncover more of Spain’s beautiful wilderness in the years to come, especially the Pyrenees, Costa Brava, Sierra de Guadarrama, and Montserrat. In the comment section, please share with us your favorite hiking trails in Spain.

1. San Pedro to Agaete Hike, Gran Canaria
2. Cruz de Tejeda to Cuevas del Caballero Caves, Gran Canaria
3. Roques de Garcia, Teide National Park
4. Benijo Circuit, Anaga Mountains, Tenerife
5. Ruta de Cares Gorge Trail, Picos de Europa Mountains
6. 2-Day Refugio Jou de los Cabrones Circuit Trail, Picos de Eurpa Mountains
7. Tossals Verds Circuit Trail, Mallorca
More Spain Hiking Trails

Roques de Garcia Hike, Tenerife, Spain

Where to Hike in Summer: Picos de Europa Mountains
Where to Hike in Spring and Autumn: Balearic Islands
Where to Hike in Winter: Canary Islands

1. San Pedro to Agaete Hike, Gran Canaria

San Pedro to Agaete hike in Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria, the third largest Canary Island, is a premier winter hiking destination in Spain. During our 3-week trip, we were impressed by the excellent trail conditions and ubiquitous trail signage across the island.

One of the most stunning hiking areas in Gran Canaria is Agaete Valley, a green oasis in the northwest.

While most of Gran Canaria is barren and arid, Valle de Agaete is lush and verdant.

This point-to-point day hike starts in the hamlet of San Pedro in Agaete Valley. Because this is a linear hike, we recommend leaving your car in Puerto de las Nieves/Agaete, and taking Global Bus 102 to San Pedro.

From San Pedro, the trail climbs up to Era de Berbique, an old threshing floor, and then gradually descends to Puerto de las Nieves, the port of Agaete.

This scenic San Pedro-Agaete trail affords sweeping views of Agaete Valley, the Riscos de Tamadaba, Roque Faneque cliffs, and the northwest coast of Gran Canaria. The views are tremendous.

Hikers who want to end the day with a swim can extend the hike to Guayedra Beach, a wild black sand beach near Puerto de las Nieves.

Ambitious hikers will love this Agaete Valley to Tamadaba Pine Forest Trail.

Trail Stats

Starting Point | San Pedro, Valle de Agaete

Ending Point | Puerto de las Nieves, or Agaete

Distance | 8.3 km point-to-point

Time Needed | 4 hours

Difficulty | Moderate

Where to Stay in Agaete | Casa Calma Yoga Guesthouse (budget), Hotel Puerto de Las Nieves (midrange), or Hotel & Spa Cordial Roca Negra (luxury)

Hiking in Gran Canaria

Hiking-Inspired Itinerary | 7-Day Gran Canaria Road Trip

Trails | Best Hikes in Gran Canaria

2. Cruz de Tejeda to Cuevas del Caballero Caves, Gran Canaria

Cruz de Tejeda to Cuevas del Caballero Caves, Gran Canaria

When planning a hiking trip to Gran Canaria, we recommend dividing your time between Agaete and Central Gran Canaria. The latter is home to the highest mountains and the most striking rock formations on the island, including Pico de las Nieves, Roque Nublo, and Ventana del Nublo.

Our favorite hike in Central Gran Canaria is the Cruz de Tejeda to Cuevas del Caballero trail, a scenic path with sweeping views of the cliffs and deep ravines of the collapsed volcanic crater of Tejeda.

This trail, which can be extended to Artenara, traces one of Gran Canaria’s restored royal pathways, which were used by the Pre-Hispanic inhabitants to move and transport goods, before the advent of roads.

Starting at the Cruz de Tejeda car park, this route follows a high trail to the Mirador Degollada de las Palomas viewpoint and then onwards to the fertility caves of Cuevas del Caballero.

The return route wraps around Montaña de Los Moriscos, following a wide track through a beautiful Canary pine forest.

Tip | Many hikers choose to stay at Parador de Cruz de Tejeda to tackle the many trails in the area including Cruz de Tejeda – La Culata Circuit.

Trail Stats

Trailhead | Cruz de Tejeda

Distance | 7 km lollipop-circuit

Time Needed | 3 hours

Difficulty | Easy

Where to Stay | Parador de Cruz de Tejeda (hotel) in Cruz de Tejeda, Hotel Rural Fonda De La Tea (B&B), or Vivienda Vacacional La Portada (apartment) in Tejeda.

3. Roques de Garcia, Teide National Park

Roques de Garcia Hike, Tenerife, Spain

Tenerife, the largest island in the Canaries, rarely needs an introduction. This volcanic island is home to the highest mountain in Spain, Mount Teide (3715 m).

The imposing volcano towers above Las Cañadas caldera, a rugged Mars-like landscape covered in petrified lava, craggy outcrops, and plains of pumice.

The most striking attraction across the vast crater floor is Roques de Garcia, a rock formation that stretches for nearly 2 kilometers between the western and eastern half of the caldera. Roques de Garcia is composed of bizarre rock towers and craggy pillars like the Roque Cinchado, known as the Finger of God.

In under 2 hours, hikers can follow a well-groomed hiking trail around the Roques de Garcia rock formation. The hike starts at the viewpoint Mirador de la Ruleta, directly across from Parador Nacional.

Given the accessibility of this trail, it’s best to undertake this hike first thing in the morning, or at the end of the day.

While visiting Teide National Park, we also recommend the Montaña Guajara Circuit Trail and the Montaña de la Botija and Montaña Samara Circuit Trail, which we described in our Teide National Park hiking guide.

Trail Stats

Trailhead | Roques de Garcia

Distance | 4.2 km circuit

Time Needed | 1:30 hours

Elevation Gain/Loss | 170 meters

Difficulty | Easy

Minimum Elevation | 2022 meters

Maximum Elevation | 2183 meters

Where to Stay in Teide National Park | Parador de Cañadas del Teide Hotel

Hiking in Tenerife

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Best Places to Stay | Where to Stay in Tenerife for Hiking

Trails | Best Hikes in Tenerife

4. Benijo Circuit, Anaga Mountains, Tenerife

Benijo Hike, Anaga Mountains, Tenerife

Much of the appeal of hiking in Tenerife lies in its diverse landscapes.

Nestled in the northeastern tip of the island, Anaga Rural Park captivates with its deep ravines, laurel forests, and unique pinnacles. In contrast to the barren interior, Anaga is layers and layers of green-carpeted mountains unfurling into the ocean.

Some hikes in Anaga lead to wild beaches and remote villages, while others lead to panoramic viewpoints and through dense forests.

There are many great hiking trails in Anaga Rural Park including Igueste to Atalaya de los Ingleses out-and-back trail, Punta del Hidalgo – Chinamada – Las Carboneras out-and-back trail, Taganana to Playa de Tamadite out-and-back trail, Roque de Taborno Circuit Trail, and Benijo Circuit Trail.

We recommend hiking all of them, starting with the Benijo circuit path that leads to Faro de Anaga lighthouse and up to Chamorga. For a complete description, read our Benijo hiking guide.

Trail Stats

Trailhead | Benijo

Distance | 14.2 km circuit (shorter variation possible)

Time Needed | 7 hours

Elevation Gain/Loss | 1432 meters

Difficulty | Difficult

Minimum Elevation | 79 meters

Maximum Elevation | 640 meters

Where to Stay in Anaga Rural Park | Montes de Anaga Hostel (budget) in El Bailadero, or San Andres Beach Apartment (midrange) in San Andres

Where to Stay in La Laguna | La Laguna Gran Hotel (midrange), or Hotel Boutique San Diego – Adults Only (luxury)

5. Ruta de Cares Gorge Trail, Picos de Europa Mountains

Ruta del Cares, Picos de Europa, Spain

Picos de Europa National Park extends across the Northern Spanish regions of Asturias, Cantabria, and León (Castile and León).

It comprises the awe-inducing Picos de Europa Mountains, a limestone mountain range composed of three massifs, rising to a height of 2650 meters.

The most celebrated hike in Picos de Europa is the Ruta del Cares trail (PR-PNPE 3), which leads through the Cares gorge from Poncebos in Asturias to Caín in León.

Here, massive limestone walls, spangled with holm pack, rise vertiginously around the Río Cares river bed. High above the river, the chiseled trail contours around the walls of the mountains.

Though there’s no technical difficulty, the hike is very long, measuring 23.6 km out-and-back. Hikers should be comfortable along wide ledges with no barriers and a sheer drop on one-side.

Trail Stats

Trailhead | Poncebos (or Caín)

Distance | 23.6 km out-and-back

Time Needed | 6:45 hours (8 hours with breaks)

Elevation Gain/Loss | 660 meters

Difficulty | Moderate

Minimum Elevation | 260 meters

Maximum Elevation | 523 meters

Where to Stay in Poncebos | Hostal Poncebos, Arcea Hotel Mirador de Cabrales, or Hotel Garganta del Cares

Hiking in Picos de Europa

Hiking-Inspired Itinerary | Picos de Europa Road Trip

Best Places to Stay | Where to Stay in Picos de Europa

Trails | Best Hikes in Picos de Europa

6. 2-Day Refugio Jou de los Cabrones Circuit Trail, Picos de Eurpa Mountains

Refugio Jou de los Cabrones to Horcada Arenera hiking trail, Picos de Europa, Spain

Picos de Europa proudly boasts nine managed mountain huts, the highest of which is Refugio Jou de los Cabrones (2034 m).

One of the best ways to experience the Central Massif of Picos de Europa is by following this demanding 2-Day Refugio Jou de los Cabrones circular route, which starts in Bulnes above Poncebos.

The route ascends the Llanos del Tornu plain and then continues up the impossibly steep Canal de Amuesa to the Amuesa mountain pasture. The trail then climbs up the La Cuesta del Trave slope and across an undulating high-alpine karst rockscape to reach the hut.

Refugio Jou de los Cabrones occupies a lonesome, but beautiful location in a depression, ringed by peaks.

The next day, the trail leads through a maze of limestone down to Refugio de Urriellu, the hut located at the base of Naranjo de Bulnes peak.

From this managed refuge, the trail descends with greater ease to Refugio de la Terenosa and the sprawling pastures around Collado de Pandébano. The final stretch leads back to Bulnes.

Trail Stats

Starting Point | Poncebos

Trailhead | Bulnes Funicular Mountain Station

Distance | 20.6 km circuit

Time Needed | 2 Days

Elevation Gain/ Loss | 1955 meters

Difficulty | Difficult

Minimum Elevation | 623 meters

Maximum Elevation | 2274 meters

Where to Stay in Poncebos Before/After Trek | Hostal Poncebos, Arcea Hotel Mirador de Cabrales, or Hotel Garganta del Cares

7. Tossals Verds Circuit Trail, Mallorca

Best Hikes in Spain, Mallorca

The Serra de Tramuntana mountain range extends across the west flank of Mallorca, the largest of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea.

This rugged limestone range entices hikers from across Europe, particularly in spring and autumn, when temperatures are cool and the weather is mostly stable.

Our favorite day hike in Mallorca is the Tossals Verds circuit trail, which widely wraps around Puig des Tossals Verds peak in the central Tramuntana Mountains.

This varied hike takes in the highest peaks of Tramuntana along with glistening reservoirs, thick oak forests, olive groves, and high mountain valleys.

To begin this Mallorca hike, drive to Cúber Reservoir, located along the scenic Ma-10 road, 30 minutes from Sóller.

Consistently marked and easy-to-follow, this circular path starts by ascending to Coll de sa Coma des Ases (saddle) with views of Cúber and Gorg Blau Reservoirs.

Beyond the saddle, the way steadily descends through a high valley towards the Torrent d’Almedra (also spelled Torrent d’Almadrà) stream.

Below the treeline, the path clings to the mountainside. A secured passage helps hikers scale the rocky step of Pas Llis (640 m).

Next, the undulating Tossals Verds path traverses rocky limestone terrain, before entering a beautiful terraced olive grove. From here, it’s a short jaunt to Refugi Tossals Verds.

From the refuge, follow GR 221 towards Ses Casses Velles. After hiking through an oak forest and along a stream, the final stretch of trail follows the Canal des Embassaments (water canal) back to Cúber Reservoir.