Lunar landscape on Tenerife

Check out the video from our route:

The Lunar Landscape truly seems surreal. Bizarre stone waves and polished cones literally glow against the backdrop of dark volcanic slopes, picturesque wastelands, and the blue sky. These figures have been carved by nature itself from porous light tuff, once ejected by an eruption.

For thousands of years, under the influence of prevailing winds and water, erosion of the lava rock occurred here. This is how these amazing, extraterrestrial «sculptures» were formed.

The white «pumitas» rocks, resembling termite mounds, served as the setting for several science fiction films. Today, they serve as a magnificent backdrop for photo shoots.

Many visitors to Tenerife want to see the Lunar Landscape, but not everyone finds their way to it on the first try. This place can only be reached on foot. Despite the fact that there are signs and information boards along the way, some tourists still wander around the slopes of the volcano without seeing the desired landscape.

Such unusual ecosystems, surprisingly similar to an alien landscape, exist in several places on Earth. It’s worth noting that the Tenerife Lunar Landscape is quite modest in size, which disappoints some tourists. Nevertheless, positive impressions of this unusual place and the entire hiking trail remain in the memory of everyone.

How to get to the Lunar Landscape?

There are several ways to reach the intended spot. In any case, you’ll have to climb up the slopes overgrown with cacti, mountain grasses, and rock pines. White stones with three-color markings and wooden signposts indicating the distance traveled lead to the «Lunar Landscape» site.

It’s best to go on a sunny day – in bright light, the landscape will be especially colorful. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, pack sunscreen, and warm clothes – the weather in the mountains changes quickly. And, of course, it’s worth taking care of drinking water and a light snack.

First Route – the Longest Hiking Trail

It’s clear right away that this route won’t suit everyone. Some don’t have the time, others don’t have the physical fitness, and only true nature lovers and hikers will choose the path from the village of Vilaflor itself. The Paisaje Lunar area is 9 kilometers away from the village.

Second Route

To see the Canary Island natural wonder, most tourists choose this route. You need to drive through the high-altitude village of Vilaflor and then – along the TF-21 road, towards Teide. After the village, about half a kilometer away, there’s a right turn onto a gravel road. The exit is marked with a sign indicating «Paisaje Lunar». From there, you need to continue until you reach the stairs, where everyone parks their cars and walks. The length of the winding pedestrian route is 3.7 km.

Third Route – for the Truly Lazy

It differs from the previous route in that after turning onto the dirt road, you don’t need to park the car right away. You need to drive along it for about 6.5-7 km until you reach the starting point of a 2.2 km hiking track.

It’s worth noting that the dirt road you’ll have to drive on is not easy! The winding path runs along a cliff (without any railing), with occasional significant potholes, and the surface itself is a mix of dirt and rocks, sometimes quite large and sharp.

Check out the Lunar Landscape on a map

Route to the Lunar Landscape from Vilaflor