Sendero siete cañadas

If you've ever dreamed of walking through a landscape from another planet, the Las Siete Cañadas trail is for you. This route runs through the heart of the Teide National Park, right at the foot of the volcano, between lava fields, surreal rock formations and an imposing silence. It's like walking on Mars, but with views of Teide all the way.

The trail connects El Portillo with the Parador Nacional (or the other way around) and is about 16 kilometres in total, so it's not short, but it has no major climbs or descents, making it perfect for a long, leisurely hike. The hardest thing, if anything, is the sun and the altitude, as you're more than 2,000 metres above sea level. That's why it's important to bring water, sun protection, a hat and comfortable clothes, because the weather in the Cañadas can be dry and harsh, even in winter.

During the route you will pass through wide ravines (hence the name), lunar landscapes, solidified lava flows, areas of high mountain scrubland and spectacular rock formations such as Los Azulejos or the cliffs of La Fortaleza. And if you go in spring, you may come across the flowering of the red tajinaste, a total spectacle.

It is a route that is best enjoyed if you go at a leisurely pace, with time to stop, take photos, sit and look at the landscape and simply let the surroundings embrace you. It is not as famous as the trails that climb Teide or Pico Viejo, but it has a unique charm.