ROQUE DE TABORNO

Roque de Taborno is one of the coolest short hikes in Tenerife. This striking basaltic rock, rising 706 meters above sea level, is one of the most characteristic geological features of the Anaga Massif. Despite its relatively short distance of only 6 kilometers, this hike offers awesome views of the northern coast and is a great introduction to the beauty of Anaga Parque Rural. The trail is relatively easy, making it a great warm-up hike for those looking to explore the area.

ROQUE DE TABORNO FACTS

Distance: The total distance for this hike was 6km for a loop trail.

Hike duration: This hike’s duration was 2h. Adding a lunch break, this hike should take no more than 3h.

Elevation gain: The total elevation gain for this hike was 389m.

Difficulty: This hike is easy and flat. There is no real danger on this trail as long as you don’t get too close to the cliffs.

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 slippery. Sun protection is a must for this hike due to exposition. If you’re unsure on what else to bring for a hike, read this guide.

My strava upload can be found here: Roque de Taborno

GPS route to follow on your watch or a smartphone: Roque de Taborno.gpx

GETTING TO ROQUE DE TABORNO HIKE

By car: The starting point for this trail is in the Village of Taborno. Navigating is quite easy, I followed the same Anaga Road (TF-12), taking the turn right next to starting point of Barranco de Afur Hike. Google pin for the starting point can be found here. I recommend arriving in early morning or late afternoon due to limited parking spaces in the village.

By bus: There’s a bus stop for line 275 at the entrance to the village. The current schedules can be found here.

MY EXPERIENCE HIKING ROQUE DE TABORNO

The adventure begins in the center of the village, right next to the church. The trail starts on the right side of the church, and you’ll quickly begin to walk towards the first viewpoint. As making your way up the trail, you’ll be treated to some very nice views of the Anaga Mountains to your right.

We decided to skip the viewpoint for now and continued down the stairs, following the path towards Roque de Taborno. It was a short descent, and after passing by a few houses, we could see the famous rock in the distance. We continued on the trail, enjoying the views and the peacefulness of the forest.

As we approached the rock, we had to stop several times to take in those great views on both sides of the trail. This is just one of the reasons why Anaga Parque Rural is my favorite part of the island for hiking. No matter where you start your hike, you’re guaranteed to experience some truly breathtaking views.

As we approached the rock from the right side, we noticed a small path behind Roque de Taborno that led down to Era de los Cardos. We obviously decided to follow the path and check out the views there. Despite the potential for slipperiness, the views from Era de los Cardos are well worth the effort.

We then decided to approach Roque de Taborno from the other side to see the views from a different perspective. There were two major things that caught our attention on this side of the rock. First, there was an amazing cave that would be the perfect spot for a sunrise camping (don’t tell anybody). Second, there was a viewpoint called Mirador La Fajana, which offered insane views of the La Fajana beach below.

On our way back, we stumbled upon a small house built inside of a rock that was barely visible from a distance. We took a little detour to explore the house, and we realised that it was currently being used by workers who were maintaining the trail and the surrounding vegetation.

After completing a full circle around Roque de Taborno, we retraced our steps back to the mountain ridge. From there, we took a right turn to head back towards Taborno using a different path. This route offered equally nice views of the village from a slightly different angle.

CONCLUSION

Roque de Taborno is one of the best short hikes on the island (check Sombrero de Chasna hike for another short trip) If you don’t have much time or can’t walk for longer periods of time, this one is a must do. I hope you found this guide helpful and that you’ll enjoy hiking Roque de Taborno as much as I did. If you have any questions or comments, please don’t be shy to leave a comment below.

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!