LA FORTALEZA
La Fortaleza is one of Tenerife’s remarkable natural landmarks located within Teide National Park. Known for its breathtaking views, this unique geological formation stands as a testament to the island’s volcanic history. Although, there are many trails with different difficulty level leading all the way up to La Fortaleza, this guide is for an easy hike that begins in El Portillo Visitor Center and is a great intro to the diverse landscapes of Teide National Park.
LA FORTALEZA FACTS
Distance: The total distance for this hike was 14km loop trail.
Hike duration: It took us 4 hours including a lunch break to complete this hike.
Elevation gain: The total elevation gain for this hike was 400m.
Difficulty: This hike is easy. There are no difficult sections on this hike and it’s mostly flat.
Gear needed: Sun protection + enough water. If you’re unsure on what else to bring for a hike, read this guide.
My Strava map upload + GPS file: LA FORTALEZA
GETTING TO LA FORTALEZA HIKE
By car: We parked our car at El Portillo Visitor Centre in Teide National Park.
By bus: Buses no 341, 342 and 348 have their stop there, you can check the current schedules here.
MY EXPERIENCE HIKING LA FORTALEZA
This hike begins in El Portillo Visitor Centre. Once we set off on a path, we were immediately greeted with the sight of the majestic Teide volcano, standing tall and proud against the sky. The first part of our journey was a gentle stroll on a flat path, offering these spectacular views that seemed to insist on being photographed.
After a short walk, we reached our first signpost. Taking a right turn here revealed an immediate surprise: a panoramic view of clouds below us, who doesn’t love being above the clouds, huh?
From this point, the path gently goes up towards La Fortaleza. We walked by this incredible rock structure made by a volcano many years ago. As we continued, we could see the clouds beneath us. I can’t get bored of the excitement whenever I see clouds below, even after all these years. Here’s where we took a short break to have some food and rest. After that, we moved on towards Montana Negra.
Among the dry environment, the red bugloss flower stood out. It’s famous for its tall, towering spikes covered in tiny, bright red flowers. This plant is especially prevalent in Teide National Park and is a popular sight among visitors. It typically blooms between late spring and early summer. In Canary Islands that would be from May to July. However, the exact timing can vary depending on the specific location within the weather conditions of a particular year. The sight of its towering red spires during its blooming season is honestly – a spectacle that brings a lot of visitors coming just to see those beauties.
Circling around Montana Negra was an experience of its own. Though it might not be the most spectacular part of the hike, the walk on sandy terrain felt almost as if we had stepped onto a beach. It was a great way to experience diverse sceneries around Teide National Park. After completing the loop around Montana Negra we reached a signpost marking our journey towards El Portillo.
CONCLUSION
La Fortaleza is an awesome spot to visit. It’s an easy hike with various, changing landscapes and a diverse flora that highlights the charm of Tenerife. I’d say it’s perfect for all nature lovers that for some reason can’t cover longer distances or elevation, it’s pretty much doable by everyone, even kids. It’s a great place to start exploring Teide National Park. I hope you enjoyed reading this guide, if you have any questions just drop a comment below.
Here’s my recommendation for some other easy hikes in Teide National Park: Paisaje Lunar, Mirador de Samara and Roques de Garcia. Some easy hikes in other parts of the island: Roque de Taborno, Barranco del Infierno, Monte Aguirre and Chinyero Volcano.
HAVE YOU SEEN MY OTHER HIKING GUIDES FOR TENERIFE?
I lived and worked in Tenerife for three months, hiking nearly every day. I’ve explored over 70 trails to bring you an ultimate guide – highlighting the Top 30 Best Hikes in Tenerife. Each guide has a detailed description including the distance, difficulty, gear needed and everything else needed to complete the hike successfully. If you happen to notice any changes on the trail that should be updated – please drop the comment below so I can keep this guide up to date.
If you prefer easier hikes that can be completed under 3 hours, check out Top 12 Short Hikes in Tenerife guide.
Safe and happy hiking my friend!
