PLAYA DE IJUANA – A HIDDEN GEM OF TENERIFE
Playa de Ijuana is a true hidden gem of Tenerife. Not only does it offer spectacular views of the Anaga Mountains and surrounding villages, but it also leads to one of the most amazing beaches I’ve ever seen. This remote black sand beach is unknown to both tourists and many locals, making it a true “hidden gem.” If you like challenges, this is definitely a “must-do” for you. The hike can be demanding, but the reward at the end is well worth the effort. Fall in love with Playa de Ijuana just like I did!
PLAYA DE IJUANA FACTS
Distance: The total distance for this hike was 11,5km out and back.
Hike duration: This hike’s duration was 5h and 15 minutes. Adding a swim/lunch break, this hike should take no more than 6-7h.
Elevation gain: The total elevation gain for this hike was 854m.
Difficulty: This hike is moderate. The reason for rating this one as moderate is an elevation gain of almost 900m on a short distance which can make this adventure demanding. The way back from the beach will require some scrambing and the trail can be tricky to follow. Some navigation skills and good fitness level is definitely required for this hike. For example I found Masca hike probably 3x easier than this.
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 as the trail might get extremely slippery. Sun protection is a must for this hike. If you’re unsure on what else to bring for a hike, read this guide.
My strava upload can be found here: Playa Ijuana route
GPS route to follow on your watch or a smartphone: Playa Ijuana. GPX
GETTING TO PLAYA DE IJUANA HIKE
By car: The starting point for this trail is in Lomo de las Bodegas village. Getting there was very easy. I drove through Anaga Mountain Road (TF-123), same road that leads to Grand Faro de Anaga Hike. Google maps pin can be found here.
By bus: There’s a bus stop for line 947 at the entrance to the village. The current schedules can be found here.
MY EXPERIENCE DOING PLAYA DE IJUANA HIKE
Playa de Ijuana hike begins in the village of Lomo de Las Bodegas. While there is only one way to reach the beach, the trail is not always obvious, so it’s a good idea to check your GPS regularly to avoid getting lost. I used mapy.cz and maps.me app to navigate, and both were very helpful. The journey begins with a short walk along a road that offers some great views of the village of Lomo de Las Bodegas.
The trail leads through the forest and is quite pleasant. After a few minutes, I reached the end of the forest trail and begin the first climb. The climb itself is not overly demanding or long. Once reaching the top, I was rewarded with some beautiful views of the Anaga Mountains.
From this point on, the trail becomes a high-mountain trail with excellent views of the neighbouring island of Gran Canaria and the beauty of the Ijuana nature reserve. I was occasionally looking at my GPS to make sure I was following the trail properly.
Can’t find a trail? look for goat droppings – the goats that live in the area know the paths very well, and their droppings can help guide along the way. Weird? Maybe, but it did save me some time :D. After a few kilometres of the trek, I reached a rocky peak from which the real fun begins – the descent to the beach. The descent can be a bit tricky, and the path can be hard to follow. Just keep looking for traces in the form of stacks of stones left by others to show the way.
TRICKY PART
The final descent to the beach can be very tricky. The terrain is very dry, slippery, and steep, so be sure to take your time and watch your step. Safety first!
And here it is – Playa de Ijuana. Majestic, unique, and only accessible by foot, this beach is by far my favourite beach of all time. The trail is so little-known that there were no traces of other people when I arrived. It was just me and the sound of the ocean. The beach’s location is perfect, with the arrangement of the rocks providing plenty of shade. t’s a great spot for a picnic lunch or a quick dip in the ocean (although the official sign warns against it, so use your own judgement).
The return trip is not the easiest. Right from the start, you’ll need to be careful to follow the correct route back up the hill. GPS can be unreliable in this area, so it’s important to make sure you’re following the same path you came down on. From this point on, the hike becomes a constant scramble all the way back to the starting point. It’s a challenging ascent, but the views along the way are well worth the effort.
As is often the case in the Anaga Mountains, the weather can change very rapidly. As I made my way back up to the top, the clouds were already approaching the valleys. I even spotted a white goat in the distance that seemed to be watching me (who wouldn’t). Overall, the hike back to the starting point can be challenging so take your time, stay safe, and enjoy the incredible views along the way.
CONCLUSION
I hope you found this guide helpful and that you’ll enjoy hiking Playa de Ijuana as much as I did. Without a doubt, this is one of my most favourite hikes in Tenerife. If you have any questions or comments, please don’t be shy to leave a comment below. 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!
