(41) Playa San Juan Clifftop Trail Return (Guia de Isora)
This is a very short cliff-top walk from the pleasant harbour and beach area of Playa de San Juan, which is always an enjoyable place to visit. Good views and a couple of interesting diversions on the route … 
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/R49rGm , 30th June, 2017
When the Dust Settles …!
Puesta del sol – sunset – and, we hope, the last of the dusty, calima skies … 
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/c4i1FE , 27th June, 2017
Calima Walk!
We’re experiencing the first proper calima of the summer here (to my folks back home that means stifling heat – like being in a sauna – and very poor visibility because the air is full of minute particles of sand….) so our walk today needed to be short and coastal. Playa San Juan came up with the goods …
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/UzbWS5 , 24th June, 2017
Clearly Different…!
What a difference a day (or two) and a calima makes! The first photo – weather situation normal – was taken earlier this week. The next one is in the same town today but in the midst of the calima. I know which I prefer …
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/DCeAW9 , 24th June, 2017
Beach Bums Welcome…?
Our cliff-top walk today from Playa de San Juan took us close to the “Ritz-Carlton, Abama” 5 star hotel and golf complex. With its lush gardens, exotic African and Chinese fusion architecture, Michelin 2 star restaurant, and frequented by the likes of Bill Clinton, it is clearly not at the budget end of Tenerife tourism! Before our walk, we visited the Abama hotel beach by car, and, near the main road that passes the 
hotel, we encountered a small crowd of local families getting off the Titsa public bus, weighed down by all the beach gear they could carry. Although the beach area has clearly been improved by the hotel, including imported yellow sand from the Sahara, and has its own little funicular railway for guests, the hotel cannot make the beach private. In Tenerife, the public have an absolute legal right of access to all beaches …
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/3dQR6p , 24th June, 2017
Walk (40) El Varadero-Arena-Puerto Santiago Return (Guia de Isora/Santiago del Teide)
An interesting and enjoyable stroll around the linked residential and tourist areas of El Varadero, La Arena and Puerto Santiago. Good coastal views, and excellent vantage points for views of La Gomera and the Los Gigantes cliffs …
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/2TZ3X8 , 24th June, 2017
Thank You Granadilla Council!
Congrats, Alison! One of her recent photos of Charco del Pino has just been re-posted by the Ayuntamiento de Granadilla de Abona …
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/K4vmon , 23rd June, 2017
A Walk on the West Side
A 6 km mostly town walk yesterday took us around El Varadero, Playa de La Arena and Puerto Santiago in the west. A nice easy walk and beautiful views …
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/RCb1Gz , 18th June, 2017
Pop Up Art!
On yesterday’s walk around the holiday resorts and residential areas that shelter under the Los Gigantes cliffs, we came across this sculpture of a fisherman with his catch at the little beach in Puerto Santiago. We recognised it immediately as the work of the Italian artist, Luigi Stinga. Apparently, Luigi came to Tenerife on an Erasmus scholarship and has made it his home. One of the mediums he works with is wood kindling, 
and, over time, we have happened across his creations in Puerto de la Cruz, Garachico, San Miguel, and now here in Puerto Santiago. I imagine that the fisherman sculpture will be burned, “straw man” style on the eve of San Juan on 23rd June when bonfires are set all over Tenerife, particularly on beaches. That is certainly to be the fate of the Neptune figure, with trident, pictured on Fañabe beach. Perhaps, the Minotaur pictured in reflective mode, resting in a back street in Puerto de la Cruz, had a more peaceful end …?
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/FCSXKW , 18th June, 2017
Acantilados de La Hondura (Cliffs of La Hondura)
So our first go at an “under 5km because it’s summer” route [near Las Eras] didn’t quite go as planned today … We were way over 5 kilometres and went “off piste” a couple of times! The views were great, though, and the sun shone (does it ever not, I wonder) on that wild eastern coast …
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/ZUnStB , 15th June, 2017
Salt Loving Lass!
I’m a salt pool geek. What’s not to love …?
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/zDBRGX , 15th June, 2017
Sitio de Interés Científico de Los Acantilados de La Hondura
We enjoyed a short but bracing walk by the sea today at the Acantilados de La Hondura (Cliffs of La Hondura), near Las Eras on the east coast of Tenerife. The area is designated as a “Sitio de Interés Científico” by the Canarian government – a place that includes natural elements of high scientific interest. Sadly, we didn’t spot one of the defining 
elements for this particular site, the rare and endangered Sea Pineapple plant …
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/ljhFGA , 15th June, 2017
Cerveza Vegana!
A much-needed jarra (large beer!) after this morning’s hike. Awaiting some take-away veggie delights at this lovely wee place [in Abades]. That’s supper sorted …!
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/jLyPv1 , 15th June, 2017
Walk (38) Granadilla-San Miguel Linear (Granadilla)
This linear walk from Granadilla to San Miguel largely follows the old “camino real”. There are great open views to be had all along the way but particularly at the commanding Chiñama viewpoint. Be prepared for some rough walking and some energetic ups and downs as you negotiate the barrancos between Charco del Pino and San Miguel … 
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/FdaxCH , 15th June, 2017
Feasibility Study
El Jaral, high up in Guia de Isora municipality, was today’s destination – just a quick check on start and end points for a future short (now summer’s here…!) walk. How pretty it was …
Facebook post: , 11th June, 2017
Our Summer Season?
We have a plan to put together a series of (even!) shorter self-guided walks now that the summer heat is beginning to set in. Today we checked out a candidate walk, a circular route from the delightful west coast hill village of El Jaral. Not exactly flat, of course, but at under 5 km it should be manageable … with the right precautions … ! 
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/Za3GFi , 11th June, 2017
The Old King’s Highway
We took the 464 guagua (bus) from San Miguel to Granadilla today and walked the old Camino Real (royal road) back to San Miguel where the car was parked. It should have been an easy one, mainly downhill, but the super-hot day made it a wee bit more of a challenge than planned …
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/1tK9iv , 10th June, 2017
Great Granadilla …!
Granadilla, with her history and a backdrop to make you cry, has to be one of my favourites pueblos in the south. She was looking good today …
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/NkPLNF , 10th June, 2017
Love Life!
Gotta love plants …!
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/TsyzEr , 10th June, 2017
Papas Antiguas
On our walk today we came across this sack that had brought seed potatoes here from Northern Ireland. King Edward, a traditional British variety, is the most popular potato grown here. Potatoes are an important aspect of Canarian cuisine and Tenerife is famous for its “papas antiguas” (old potatoes), direct descendents of the first varieties brought here in the 15th century from America. There are up to 40 varieties, many unique now to Tenerife, grown mainly in the Medianías level
all around the island, at an altitude of between 400 meters and 1,200 meters above sea level, probably the least known part of Tenerife to tourists. Azucena, bonita blanca, colorada, negra, melonera, torrenta are just some of the names given to the old potatoes grown on Tenerife, all of which are very small in size, with a sweet taste and compact texture. These specialities command very high prices, hence the dominance of the King Edward for day-to-day use …
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/GwnGSQ , 10th June, 2017
Walk (37) Santiago del Teide-Valle de Arriba Circular (Santiago del Teide)
This is a varied walk in the hills above Santiago de Teide with an initial section on the quiet road to the village of Valle de Arriba, passing many vineyards, fields and the village church along the way. The winding ascent on an old rocky “camino” from the village is rewarded with spectacular views of Mount Teide, eventually arriving at the El Calvario 
de los Baldios shrine which marks the place where the flow of lava from the Chinyero eruption stopped in 1909. The downhill return route, passing many fig and almond trees, provides wonderful views of part of the Teno mountain range and the fertile valley of Valle de Arriba …
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/mBpFpx , 9th June, 2017
Walk (36) Montaña Sámara and Volcanoes Circular Walk (National Park)
Easily accessible from the southern resorts in less than an hour, this short walk provides an excellent opportunity to get “up close and personal” with one of Tenerife’s most exciting volcanic landscapes There are tremendous views of the towering mass of Mount Teide and close neighbour, Pico Viejo. You follow the course of two solidified rivers of lava and have a direct view of their source volcanic vent. The 
starkness of the volcanic landscape is softened by areas of open pine forest and hillsides ablaze with patches of colour from shrubs and flowers that have colonised the rocky terrain …
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/5LUUoq , 7th June, 2017
Cloud Watching
Up above Santiago del Teide and Valle de Arriba today, a far from uncommon sight – the cloud creeping over the hills from the north side of the island …
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/5ZSCLU , 6th June, 2017
Top Valley!
Valle de Arriba, the “Top Valley”, is exactly that. Also beautiful, green and fertile …
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/C0mi3e , 6th June 2017
Pics of Pico del Teide
Some photos from today’s walk above Valle de Arriba featuring Mount Teide. It’s 3,718 m (12,198 ft) summit is the highest point in Spain. If measured from the ocean floor, it is, at 7,500 m (24,600 ft), the highest volcano in the world from base-to-peak outside of the Hawaiian Islands. Interestingly, the native Guanches believed that Teide held up the sky!
It last erupted in 1909 from the El Chinyero vent close to where we were today on our hike. The last summit eruption from Teide occurred about the year 850 AD. Worryingly, a scientific study in 2009 concluded that Teide is similar to Vesuvius and Etna and will probably erupt violently in the future …! 
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/a0YC1H , 6th June, 2017
Walk (35) Boca Tauche-Chavao-El Cedro Return (National Park)
Only an hour’s drive from the beaches on the south coast of Tenerife, this is a hugely satisfying walk surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery. Above you there is an almost Alpine aspect, with steep hillsides peaked by rocky precipices, covered with open sections of Canarian pine, billowing grasses, and flowering plants and shrubs. If you do the
walk in May/June you will see a number of majestic Tajinaste Rojo plants in full flower, their blossoms covered in honey bees …
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/K9sEhe , 5th June, 2017
Every Cloud … !
The walk we’d planned from Santiago del Teide in the west of the island turned out to be in cloud today. No cloud is great, under cloud is fine but IN cloud means it’s damp and you can see no further than the end of your nose …!
So, instead, we carried on up through the cloud and found another cracker in the National Park. It’s the first time I’ve walked so close to the huge lava fields. They’re beautiful. Who knew …!
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/V4NoOS , 4th June, 2017
Mar de Nubes
More of Alison’s “sea of clouds” photos from today’s walk. In each one you can just make out the twin peaks of the island of La Palma on the faraway horizon …
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/LGMYRj , 4th June, 2017
Bonny, Blue and Breezy
Rough, rough seas on the coast between Costa del Silencio and Amarilla Golf today. As stunningly blue as ever though …
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/bt4SIq , 3rd June, 2017
Walk (34) Amarilla Golf-Los Erales-Guargacho Circular (San Miguel)
A very varied walk from a popular developed location taking in lush green golf course views, a contrasting open volcanic scrub and barranco environment, abandoned farmland, a typical Canarian small town, great 360° views from the top of a volcanic cone, and a pretty beach area …
Facebook post: https://goo.gl/yXY5Zw , 3rd June, 2017
Walk Tenerife Sur: Under 10 km 