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Tenerife's northern coast and mountains |
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Written by Steve Andrews
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 The extreme northern coast of Tenerife offers plenty of attractions for visitors to the island and residents, from its rocky beaches up to the stunning Anaga mountain views and unspoiled forests.
Bajamar and Punta del Hidalgo are two popular northern Tenerife village resorts that more or less run into one another on the coastal road at the top of the northwest coastline. The road ends at Punta del Hidalgo where there is a small beach and walks over the cliffs signposted with details for would-be trekkers.
Bajamar offers swimming pools with natural seawater and a pleasant sea front as well as bars, restaurants and a small number of shops. There are splendid views of Tenerife’s Mt Teide if you look back in its direction.
Regular buses to Punta del Hidalgo go from Santa Cruz in the form of service 105 and the 050 goes to Bajamar from La Laguna.
If you enjoy walking it is possible to follow the trails from Punta del Hidalgo all the way to Las Carboneras and Taborno in the mountains of the north of Tenerife. The 075 bus will take you back to La Laguna from either of these places.
 On the north-eastern side Tagana and Almáciga are two more very pretty coastal villages well and truly off the beaten track but served by a road that first climbs through the beautiful Anaga mountain range. Bus number 246 from Santa Cruz will take you to these destinations as well.
There are a couple of excellent bar-restaurants but no shops in these northern villages. The coast is rocky and wild and nothing at all like any of the southern resorts.
It is possible to take the 247 bus from Santa Cruz to Chamorga or Punta de Anaga as well but this service only runs three times a day.
The mountains of northern Tenerife themselves are well worth visiting by car or bus and provide many “mirador” viewing points that look down over the sweeping valleys and up to the craggy mountain peaks.
Above La Laguna are the mountains of Las Mercedes, covered in places by “laurisilva” and tree heather forest. The road through this area continues on through Cruz del Carmen, Casas de la Cumbre and El Bailadero before descending down to San Andres just above Santa Cruz. Pico del Inglés is a Tenerife beauty spot you can reach from this road, as are the villages of Roque Negro and Afur.
 In many places although you are high in the mountains and forests of Tenerife’s north you can look down and see the sea below. The views are amazing but only if the weather is good. It is important to check what it is going to be like because often in winter the area gets covered in clouds and it can be wet and quite chilly so be prepared.
Just above San Andres is the beautiful and very long Las Teresitas white sand beach. This beach is very popular with tourists and locals alike and isn’t far from the Tenerife capital city of Santa Cruz with the 245 bus connecting the two places if you don’t have a car.
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Tenerife Island