ROQUE DEL CONDE & ROQUE DE LOS BREZOS + GUANCHA CAVES

Although Southern Tenerife isn’t popular for hiking as Teide National Park or Anaga Mountains, you can still find a few hides gems in the area. In this guide, I combined a few different trails and came up with this awesome adventure featuring two summits of Roque del Conde (1001m), Roque de los Brezos (1108), stunning Barranco del Rey Ravine and on top of that – the fascinating archeological area of mysterious Guancha Caves. These caves hold the secrets of the indigenous Guanche people, who sought refuge within these sacred chambers.

ROQUE DEL CONDE & ROQUE DE LOS BREZOS FACTS

Distance: The total distance for this hike was 12km for a loop trail.

Hike duration: This hike’s duration was a little over 3,5h. Adding break for food or pictures this hike should take no more than 5h.

Elevation gain: The total elevation gain for this hike was 702m.

Difficulty: This hike is moderately easy. There is no real danger on the trail except for a few sections with some exposition.

Gear needed: Although Tenerife is warm all year round, you should always remember to check the weather forecast. Sun protection, comfortable hiking shoes and a wind breakers are a must. If you’re unsure on what else to bring for a hike, read this guide.

My strava upload can be found here: Peaks of Arona Hike

GPS route to follow on your watch or a smartphone: Peaks of Arona.gpx

GETTING TO ROQUE DEL CONDE & ROQUE DE LOS BREZOS HIKE 

By car: This hike begins in Arona town. You get there by car driving from Adeje. Parking should be possible here.

By bus: You can take a bus 342, current bus schedules can be found here.

MY EXPERIENCE HIKING ROQUE DEL CONDE & ROQUE DE LOS BREZOS

The beginning of this hike starts between two houses not too far from car park. The terrain is mostly flat at first, but soon I found myself descending into a barranco (ravine) before climbing back up again. Moving next I came across the first sight of some house ruins, here’s where the journey begins!

After the ruins, the trail becomes steeper while climbing to the first viewpoint. Here’s where I got some first views of Costa Adeje and the surrounding areas. Around 30 minutes later, I arrived to the top of Roque del Conde (1001m).

The descent towards the next part of the trek can be a little tricky, with a few sections where I needed to use my hands to navigate the rocky terrain. But the views of the Barranco del Rey are well worth the effort. Be careful here!

The trail then continues to the right, leading towards the Roque de los Brezos (1108m). During the trek, I came across the Guancha Caves, which are thought to have been inhabited in ancient times. The history of these caves is fascinating, and I couldn’t stop wondering how were the people who once lived there. I hanged around there for a longer while, exploring each and single cave.

PS Those caves are quite deep so definitely not recommended for claustrophobic people.

After the caves, the trail continues to the left of a water channel and through the barranco. On a clear day, it’s possible to see both Sombrero de Chasna and Alto de Guajara, No pictures since I wasn’t that lucky during that day. From here, after a strenuous walk I reached the summit of Roque de Los Brezos. Here’s where I stopped to rest and have a snack while appreciating great view on Roque Imoque infront of me.

The descent is a beautiful trail overlooking the town of Arona. From here, it’s just a short walk to the street and a place called La Granja de Arona, where you can grab some food before completing the last kilometer on the road back to the beautiful town of Arona.

CONCLUSION

Hiking Southern Tenerife isn’t as spectacular as Teide Park or Anaga Mountains but Roque del Conde and Roque de los Brezos are definitely worth exploring. Adding Guancha Caves – the whole package makes it an awesome adventure. Although challenging, this rewarding route is probably one of the best hiking experiences on that side of the island.

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!