Oh, Tenerife! Walking its trails is always a pleasure. If you’re lucky enough to venture on to one of its GR trails, I assure you that you’ll be in for an unforgettable experience. It’s not for nothing that the Canary Islands are believed to be the Fortunate Isles of Greek mythology. It’s said that legendary heroes rested in these sunny, green paradises after their death. With this in mind, is there really anyone who wouldn't like to explore them on foot?

At just over 90 kilometres (56 mi), the Anaga-Chasna Nature Trail I present here is part of the famous GR 131. This trail runs from the northeast to the southwest corner of Tenerife and will eventually connect all the Canary Islands. Parts follow the historic Camino Real de Chasna, a trade route used by the Guanches, who were the ancient inhabitants of the island before the Spanish conquest.

The Camino Natural de Anaga-Chasna starts in the town of La Esperanza in the northeast, crosses the central part of the island and continues to the historic centre of Arona in the southwest. The route passes through a wide variety of landscapes and discovers the island’s contrasting sides: from the exuberance of the pine and laurel forests to the incredible badlands and the incredible volcanic formations crowned by the imposing Teide.

You can get to La Esperanza by car or by bus, by taking the 041 service from La Laguna. From Arona at the end of the route, there are also several public transport options. Buses 342, 480 and 482 go to Los Cristianos. From there, it’s easy to get to Adeje, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, La Laguna, Puerto de la Cruz or pretty much anywhere else on the island.

Of the six stages in the Collection, three of them end near accommodation. For the other three you need to camp, though you must first request permission from the Cabildo of Tenerife. Remember that camping is permitted on the island, apart from in Teide National Park. In any case, every stage ends with places where you can refresh yourself and enjoy a good meal.

A decent level of fitness is required for this itinerary, as well as surefootedness. Most of the stages are long and entail a good amount of elevation gain that’ll really put your legs to the test. To complete them successfully, take plenty of water (3-4 litres per person), as there are few fountains along the way. Don't forget to pack plenty of food, sun protection, a hat, windbreaker, waterproofs, sturdy hiking shoes and warm layers. Some parts of the trail are quite technical, with loose stones, pine needles and slippery sections. Therefore, I highly recommend hiking poles too.

Tenerife is famous for its mild year-round climate, so you can feasibly attempt the hike in any season. However, the best time of year is undoubtedly spring. There are plenty of daylight hours, there’s no snow at the highest altitudes, the sun is not so punishing and, best of all, you can see the famous red tajinaste in bloom. This is one of Teide National Park’s most wonderful sights! In any case, if you decide to attempt the route at a different time of the year, make sure you bring enough clothing to adapt to changing conditions.

I wish you a glorious time following in the footsteps of the Guanches on the largest of the Fortunate Islands. Enjoy the adventure!