Sendero Charca de Tahodio

📍Santa Cruz
👣12.5 km
🏋️Moderate
⏱️Estimated time: 4h30m
📈Total elevation gain: 610m
⬆️Maximum altitude: 631m
⬇️Minimum altitude: 13m
🅿️Parking nearby: Yes
🌥️The route is mostly sunny
ℹ️There is no information point nearby
🗺️Easy to follow
⚠️It has very exposed sections, risk of vertigo and falls from great heights. Not to be undertaken in adverse weather conditions or on slippery ground.
📸Birdwatching, views, viewpoint, landscape, water reservoir
🌲Tabaibal - Cardonal, wetlands
🏔️ Rural Park declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2015
📋No permit required

The trail leading to the Tahodio Pond is one of the most surprising routes due to its proximity to Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Just minutes from the city center, this path transports visitors to a completely different environment, where silence, greenery, and the murmur of water prevail. The route begins in the Valleseco neighborhood and ascends gently along a well-marked path, skirting old terraces and rural houses that recall the area's agricultural past.

As you progress, the landscape changes. Ocean views blend seamlessly with the verdant hillsides, a mix of spurge, pines, and heather, creating a striking contrast that makes this hike a truly enriching experience. The trail culminates at the Tahodio Reservoir, a small valley nestled within a valley that seems frozen in time. Fed by the ravine of the same name, this spot offers a serene scene: the reflection of the sky on the water and the sound of the wind rustling through the pines.

The area is a popular meeting place for local hikers and photography enthusiasts, especially at dawn and dusk, when the light highlights the textures of the rock and the nuances of the green. Although the route is accessible, appropriate footwear is recommended, as some sections can be slippery after rain.

Historically, the Tahodio Reservoir was built to store water for the crops on the southern slopes of Anaga. Today, in addition to its hydraulic function, it has become a small natural refuge, a reminder of how humankind and the landscape have coexisted in balance for generations.

Walking to the Tahodio Pond is to rediscover the most tranquil and natural side of Santa Cruz: a nearby and perfect route to disconnect without leaving the city. A place where time seems to stand still and nature reveals itself with a simple and authentic beauty.