LOS ORGANOS HIKE
Los Organos high mountain trail is one of my favorite hikes in Tenerife. Not very popular, yet demanding and offering some beautiful views. I was lucky enough to do this hike on a day when the clouds were chasing me the whole time. I’ve done many hikes where I’ve walked above the clouds, but this one was different – read on to find out why.
UPDATE: The trail was closed due to 2023 wildfire, check Tenerifeon.es for see if it’s reopened!
LOS ORGANOS FACTS
Distance: The total distance for this hike was 9km for a loop trail.
Hike duration: Total hike duration was 2h and 50 mins. Depending on your fitness level this route should take no more than 4 hours.
Elevation gain: The total elevation gain for this hike was 544m.
Difficulty: This hike is moderately easy. Difficulty will of course depend on your experience and fitness level but the reason behind rating this one as moderately easy is that sometimes the trail is very narrow and slippery and also climbing through the forest to reach its top can be demanding for some.
Gear needed: Although Tenerife is warm all year round, you should always remember to check the weather forecast. You should avoid this hike during storms or rainfall due to danger of rockfalls. I was fine wearing a t-shirt and shorts but I always carry additional layers in my pack. If you’re unsure what to bring on a hike, read this guide.
My Strava map + gpx file can be found here: LOS ORGANOS
GETTING TO LOS ORGANOS
By car: This trail is located in Augamansa and the starting point is in Zona recreativa La Caldera (1192m) just next to the picnic area. Google maps pin can be found here.
By bus: You can take a bus no 354 from Puerto de la Cruz (goes through La Orotava). The current schedule can be found: here
MY EXPERIENCE HIKING LOS ORGANOS
Los Organos mountain trail is not a well-known route, likely because its beginning is quite demanding and involves a steep climb through the forest. This region is also often covered in clouds, so it’s important to plan your hike for a good weather. If you’re lucky and the clouds cooperate, the race against them will be a very memorable experience.
The trail starts at the Zona Recreativa La Caldera parking area, which can be a busy spot. Finding the starting point of the trail may be a little tricky, as there are many other routes that begin there as well. Look for the PR TF35/GR131 signpost to find the right trail.
The trail is not always obvious at this point, so make sure to pay attention to your GPS. After a demanding climb, I was rewarded with beautiful views of the Teide (if you haven’t climbed Teide yet, read this guide). Seeing this duvet made of out clouds that was ‘below’ me made me realise that the steep route was worth my efforts.
The journey continued up through the forest until I reached one of the most beautiful viewpoints I could ever imagine. I took a well-deserved break on that rock to enjoy a quick lunch and admire the trees and the clouds running around them. Stunning!
Shortly after snacking, I continued my journey through the Los Organos, wondering what else the day would hold in store. The trail now descended gently, which felt great for my legs after the demanding ascent through the forest.
The following part of the Los Organos hike was truly magicla. As I continued, I realized that with every step I took, the clouds were getting closer and closer. I decided to put on a burst of speed to try and finish the hike before the clouds caught up to me. I obviously did not make it. But it was still worth trying. I love it when the weather surprises me like this, and it makes me feel like I’m in some kind of adventure film.
The end of the hike was a gentle descent through the forest back to the parking area where I started. By the time I reached the parking area, the clouds had caught up with me, and the views were unfortunately not as impressive as they had been earlier. But I still had a great time on the hike, and I’m glad I took on the challenge.
CONCLUSION
Los Organos hike is a quiet, bit demanding and beautiful trail. I hope you found this guide enjoyable and you’ll have loads of fun in Los Organos just like I did! If you have any questions – don’t be shy and leave the comment below. Wishing you happy and safe hiking!
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!
