Tag: PR-TF 35 Tenerife

PR-TF 35 La Caldera – Mamio – La Caldera is a gentle forest route that mixes broad forestry track, cultivated slopes and Canarian pine without committing to a high-altitude Teide day. This is one of the routes I choose when I want forest atmosphere without the scale, exposure or logistics of a summit hike.

I use the current Turismo de Tenerife route sheet as my technical baseline because trail status, closures and management advice can change. The official sheet currently lists 5.7 km, 2 hr 30 min, low difficulty and no as the permit requirement. I still check the page again on the morning of the hike rather than assuming a saved article is enough.

Quick route facts

Why I like this route

PR-TF 35 gives me a useful middle ground between a paved viewpoint and a serious mountain objective. The route starts high enough to feel cool and forested, but it never asks me to manage extreme altitude. The gentle forestry track at the beginning also gives me time to settle into the day before the path becomes more varied around Mamio and the cultivated slopes.

The wider setting is La Orotava and the upper Orotava Valley. I plan the hike as part of that region, not as an isolated pin. Useful companion articles on this site include Orotava Valley guide Corona Forestal guide La Orotava travel guide GR-131 La Caldera to El Portillo guide. That gives me backup options if cloud, wind, heat or a closure makes the original route a poor choice.

How the route unfolds

1. The easy departure from la caldera on the mamio forest track

At the beginning, the easy departure from La Caldera on the Mamio forest track. I deliberately start slower than my normal walking pace while I check the waymarking and how the ground feels. Tenerife trails can change from lane to stone path to forest track in a short distance, and the first ten minutes are the best time to correct a navigation mistake.

2. The casa del agua area, where several signed routes meet

Next, the Casa del Agua area, where several signed routes meet. This is where I pay more attention to junctions. I do not follow another group automatically; people on the same path may be doing a different branch. I compare the painted PR marks, official map and the direction I saved before leaving.

3. The descent toward mamio through a more agricultural landscape

Higher or farther along, the descent toward Mamio through a more agricultural landscape. The change in altitude usually becomes more obvious here through temperature, vegetation and views. I take a short food and water break before I feel tired rather than waiting until energy has already dropped.

4. The climb beside barranco de los llanos and the return through forest

For the final section, the climb beside Barranco de Los Llanos and the return through forest. I keep enough time and energy for the finish. A route is not complete when the best viewpoint is reached; it is complete when I am safely at the planned endpoint with transport still available.

Navigation: what I trust

I treat official waymarks and the current route description as primary. A phone map is useful, but downloaded user tracks can contain shortcuts, old closures or private crossings. Before setting out I save the official page, an offline map and the names of the start and finish in Spanish so I can ask for help clearly if needed.

At ambiguous junctions I stop rather than walking “just another ten minutes” in the hope that a marker appears. Ten wrong minutes downhill can become thirty tiring minutes when I have to climb back. This habit matters especially in laurel forest and cloud, where landmarks disappear quickly.

Weather and microclimates

Tenerife is small on a map but not climatically simple. I check the forecast for the actual altitude of the route, not only the nearest beach resort. North-facing forests can be cool and wet under trade-wind cloud while the south coast is sunny; exposed Teno ridges can be windy even when villages below feel calm.

I also take calima seriously. Dust, heat and reduced visibility can turn an otherwise moderate route into a poor choice. After heavy rain, stone paths and steep descents deserve extra caution. When an official warning or closure is active, I change the plan instead of trying to “beat” the conditions.

What I carry

• Water with a reserve rather than the exact amount I expect to drink.
• Food that is easy to eat in small portions while moving.
• Closed hiking shoes or trail shoes with useful grip.
• Sun protection even when the start is cloudy.
• A light windproof or waterproof layer.
• Offline map, charged phone and a small power bank on longer routes.
• Basic first-aid items and any personal medication.

I adjust the load to the route. A short two-hour trail does not need expedition gear, but a long day with major elevation deserves more water, insulation and contingency planning. I never let a light pack become an excuse to omit essentials.

Transport and linear-route logistics

Because this route is circular, logistics are simpler: I can normally return to the same parking or bus area. That does not mean parking is guaranteed. I avoid blocking rural entrances or forest gates and I arrive with a backup place to park legally if the obvious spaces are full.

TITSA timetables can change, and a route that looks easy on a map may involve infrequent rural services. I use my Tenerife bus guide for the system basics, then confirm the current timetable on the official operator site on the day of travel.

Safety on stone paths, descents and exposed ground

My main rule is to manage the descent as carefully as the climb. Loose gravel, polished stone and tired legs are a bad combination. I shorten my stride, keep space between hikers and never rush because someone behind me is faster. Trekking poles can help on long descents if I already know how to use them.

I keep away from cliff edges and do not climb walls, roques or unstable volcanic features for photographs. If the signed route passes a road, I assume drivers may not expect hikers. I cross only where visibility is good and I do not stand in the carriageway while checking my phone.

Nature and cultural landscape

I try to read the route rather than treating it as exercise only. Tenerife paths often pass old terraces, water infrastructure, stone paving, pine forest, monteverde or volcanic terrain that records how people adapted to steep land. I leave walls, stones, plants and abandoned structures exactly as I find them.

Protected status also affects behaviour. I stay on the route, do not pick flowers, do not stack stones and carry out every piece of rubbish. If I hike with a dog, I check the specific protected-area rules first rather than assuming the same rules apply everywhere on the island.

Photography without slowing the route too much

I prefer a few planned stops to constant phone checking. Wide views usually work best from signed viewpoints or safe open sections; forest scenes benefit from looking for layers, trunks and changing light rather than a single dramatic panorama. In cloud, I protect the phone or camera from moisture and keep moving if the temperature is dropping.

I never step beyond a barrier or onto a fragile slope to remove foreground vegetation. The trail itself often gives a stronger sense of scale in the photograph, and keeping people on the path protects both the landscape and the image from becoming another invitation to trespass.

Who I think this route suits

The official difficulty grade is a starting point, not a guarantee. I compare it with distance, accumulated ascent and descent, exposure, altitude, surface and my recent activity level. A “low” difficulty route can still feel hard in heat; a “medium” route with large descent can punish knees; and a very high difficulty route needs specific endurance rather than general holiday fitness.

For families I also consider whether every child is comfortable with the terrain and duration. I never use age alone as proof that a route is suitable. If the group is uncertain, I choose one of Tenerife’s shorter easy hikes and save the bigger trail for another day.

My realistic day plan

I eat before the start, arrive with water already filled and spend a few minutes confirming the first waymark. I walk the first third conservatively, take a short break before the main climb or descent, and keep the final third free of unnecessary detours. If I am ahead of schedule, I use the extra time for a safe viewpoint or café after the hike rather than extending onto an unsigned path.

After finishing, I change out of wet clothing if needed, drink, eat something salty or substantial and only then decide whether another stop makes sense. Hiking days are better when the second half is flexible. A town walk or early dinner usually adds more than another rushed trail.

Where I would stay

For an early start I prefer a base in the same part of Tenerife rather than driving across the island before dawn. That reduces fatigue and makes it easier to react to local weather. I compare accommodation around La Orotava, Tenerife when this trail is one of the main reasons for the trip.

Official information I check before leaving

The route page I use is Turismo de Tenerife’s official PR-TF 35 La Caldera – Mamio – La Caldera page. I check it again for status notices and then look at current Cabildo or Tenerife ON information if the route crosses a managed protected area. A blog article is useful for planning, but live access information always wins.

Common mistakes I avoid

• Starting late because the distance looks short.
• Using a coastal forecast for a mountain or forest route.
• Assuming a linear trail will have easy transport at the finish.
• Following another hiking group instead of reading my own waymarks.
• Underestimating descent and knee fatigue.
• Leaving the signed path for a photo or shortcut.
• Depending on mobile signal instead of saving the route offline.
• Ignoring a closure because an older GPX still shows the path.

Frequently asked questions

How long is PR-TF 35 La Caldera – Mamio – La Caldera?

The current official route sheet lists 5.7 km and an estimated 2 hr 30 min. I use that time only as a planning reference and add margin for photographs, navigation, weather and the pace of the slowest person in the group.

Do I need a permit?

The current official route sheet lists no general hiking permit for this route. I still check for temporary closures, fire restrictions and protected-area notices before setting out.

Can I do it in ordinary trainers?

I prefer trail or hiking shoes with grip. Tenerife paths can include loose volcanic gravel, wet forest soil, stone paving and steep steps in the same outing. Footwear does not need to be heavy, but smooth soles make the route less forgiving.

What if the weather turns?

I use a predefined turnaround point and a local Plan B. If visibility, heat, rain or wind makes the route materially less safe, I turn back or switch plans. Finishing a particular trail is never more important than keeping enough margin to return safely.

Final thoughts

This is one of the routes I choose when I want forest atmosphere without the scale, exposure or logistics of a summit hike.

What I value most is not ticking off another PR number. It is understanding a different layer of Tenerife—forest, old roads, volcanic relief, rural settlements or the transition from mountain to coast. With current route information, sensible pacing and a flexible finish, this hike can add far more to a trip than a rushed list of viewpoints.