Hi everyone!
In this post, I’d like to explain how we classify the difficulty levels of our hiking activities in Tenerife.
Distance: 4–6 km
Elevation gain/loss: up to 300 m up and 300 m down
Duration: 3–4 hours
Distance: 6–10 km
Elevation gain/loss: up to 600 m up and 600 m down
Duration: 4–6 hours
Distance: over 10 km
Elevation gain/loss: 600+ m up and 600+ m down
Duration: 6–8 hours
These categories are not something we invented; they follow a common standard used in many places.
For example, the MIDE chart (https://montanasegura.com/conocer-el-mide/calculamide/) provides a way to calculate the technical difficulty of hiking routes.
But if you don’t want to get into technical details or don’t know how to interpret these numbers, here’s a more relatable comparison:
🟢 Easy = a relaxed stroll
🟡 Moderate = you’ll break a sweat
🔴 Difficult = a real challenge (and a family adventure 😅)
| Difficulty | 🚶♂️ Distance | 🏔️ Elevation | ⏱️ Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🟢 Easy | 🔁 about 13–20 laps through the shopping center (≈ 4–6 km) | ⬆️⬇️ 10× up to the cinema level and down to the underground parking (≈ 300 m) | 🕒 3–4 hours of relaxed walking, with a coffee break ☕ |
| 🟡 Moderate | 🔁 about 20–33 laps (≈ 6–10 km) | ⬆️⬇️ 20× full up-and-down circuits (≈ 600 m) | 🕓 4–6 hours + extra challenge: shoe shopping with your partner 👠😅 |
| 🔴 Difficult | 🔁 33+ laps (>10 km) | ⬆️⬇️ 20+ full up-and-down circuits (600 m +) | 🕕 6–8 hours + extreme challenge: full grocery shopping with wife and two kids 🛒👨👩👧👦😵 |
💡 What does this mean?
At SunMall Shopping Center:
The length of the mall ≈ 300 meters
The elevation difference between the cinema and parking ≈ 30 meters
One round trip = about 600 meters of distance
One full up-and-down = about 60 meters of elevation change
Tenerife is not exactly flat — it’s rare to find completely level terrain here.
If you’re sensitive to heights, some routes might feel a bit challenging, but most hikes are perfectly safe, and the stunning views are absolutely worth every climb.
It’s also worth mentioning what officially marked hiking trails mean:
These are signposted, homologated routes listed in the Tenerife ON app (https://www.tenerifeon.es/) and maintained regularly by local authorities.
Besides these, there are smaller, unmarked paths — some restricted, others freely accessible. Locals often refer to them as “goat trails” or “rabbit paths” – and their difficulty can vary a lot.
If you’d like to hike on these narrow, overgrown trails, it’s always a good idea to go with an experienced local guide. Proper equipment (closed shoes, long pants) will make your hike much more comfortable.
Another important factor is the volcanic terrain: it can be hard on your knees and ankles, so always watch your step on uneven ground. This applies not only to hiking but also to canyoning in the island’s ravines.
Many people worry that our hikes might be too difficult – but remember, we always adapt the routes to match your group’s abilities.
In the meantime, if you’re unsure about your fitness level, just do a few laps at SunMall Shopping Center, both horizontally and vertically 😊 – and you’ll see that our hikes are much friendlier than they might seem at first!
Hegyi vezető és canyoning oktató
Técnico Deportivo en Media Montaña (TDMM) y Técnico Deportivo en Barrancos (TDB)
AEGM Socio nº: 1772, Turismo Activo number: TA-4-0026148, Intermediador turístico number: I-0005011.1
