Being here overnight means we can get an early start today – which is great for our hiking plans.  Eschewing the normal Tenerife type expeditions (Mt. Teide, walking around town, visiting the coast), we are going to go hike in the Anaga Mountains.  We’ve been reading a lot about this wilderness area of the island and are really looking forward to getting out into the forests on our own.

Luckily, we could change our rental reservation to 7:30 this morning, and remembering the Tenerife was tons of fun.  We specifically went to the undeveloped wild regional parks to hike and explore – the roads are crazy narrow and windy, but Ed can do those roads like a pro – brings our his inner-road-race-driver as we climb higher and higher into the mountains, almost into the clouds that are hanging over the mountain tops.

We’ve looked at a ton of trails – some that are way beyond our capabilities – and settle on the Path of the Senses, Sendero de los Sentidos, said to be accessible to “everyone.”  Ok – we’ll start there.  We find the parking lot easily, but it is very small and all the spaces are taken. There is room along the side of the lot, but we’re a little worried about being tickted or towed, but as we are leaving we spy spaces in front of the café/restaurant so we dump the car there.  There is more parking designated specifically for the restaurant in the back, so we figure we’re safe here.

Back across the street we head to the Mirador Cruz del Carmen, with views down over the valley and out to Mt. Teide – if the cloud cover wasn’t there, that is. 

From here we hit the trail – which may be accessible, but not to all!  That’s for sure.  After a quick little flat part, the trail heads down into the forest on hard packed clay with stairs cut in to make the slope a little easier to navigate.  It is totally fun and gorgeous and we are basically all alone in the forest, but it wouldn’t be called an easy trail.  And one of the reviews we read said it was the easiest of all routes in Anaga – if that is the case, then those other trails must be brutal!  We cover Path of the Senses 1 and Path of the Senses 2 and part of 3 before turning back uphill to reconnoiter and figure out our plans.

Right across the street, past the cute little chapel that somehow we didn’t take any pictures of, is another trail system, the Bosque de Los Enigmas loop trail.  This total trail is almost 5K and should take about 2 hours according to all our info – so we figured might as well.  Once again, we start off on hard packed clay with stairs dug in for easier access – and as with the Path of the Senses, straight down!  We’re getting our calf and thigh work out today!  Here again, we are all alone in the middle of the woods, just enjoying the peacefulness of nature!

About 30 minutes in we cross the main road through the mountains and begin to descend the other side of the mountain range.  And descend we do – so much so in fact that we decide not to complete the whole loop – because what goes down, must come up! And looking at the AllTrails app, it looks like a brutal uphill climb on the other end.   We’re good with heading back – and we get some stunning views across the mountains and out to the coastline as our reward for our walk back.

As we make our way up the trail to Cruz del Carmen we start to encounter more people coming down the trail. We had been wondering if it would be crazy out here because it is the Good Friday holiday, but so far, it hasn’t been bad.  Oh – did we underestimate!  Once back at the beginning of the trail and the café, you would not believe the crowds on the road. The parking lot across the street is full to capacity – with cars parked virtually everywhere.  There are so many people and cars – you can’t get in or out of there!  We were so lucky to start early and have the place to ourselves!  We reward ourselves with an awesome cappuccino at the café – those are chocolate chips on the top! – while we reconnoiter the rest of our day.

Deciding to head straight to Bosque Encantado – the enchanted forest, but not the part we needed to sign up for access – we hit the road, winding further and further up into the mountains and wilderness.  The roads are crazy, the views stupendous!  We make a brief stop at the Mirador Los Catalanes for views across the mountain range to the sea….

…..then continue up the winding narrow roads just staring out at the gorgeous mountain scenery (me) and concentrating on the driving (Ed).  In a couple of spots you can see the road twisting and turning all the way down in the valley and on top of the ridge – we think we will eventually be there!  Totally crazy and amazing drive – forget the hiking, which is excellent as well!

We finally reach El Bosque – or at least we think we do.  There is a little pull out on the side of the road, enough for a few cars to park, with stairs leading down into the forest.  We figure what the heck?  It’s a trail. There is parking. We’re game.  So off into the forest we go. This hike is much more natural and the trail is not as managed as the others we hiked earlier. There are spots where we have to watch carefully to stay on the trail. Still, it is really fun to walk through these woods – Encantado – which means “charmed” in English – they are!  I’d go with the less literal translation of enchanted.  The trees, mostly Laurisilva – a laurel forest – are all moss covered and twisted together to form strange shapes and natural arbors. At one point there is a little braided doll figurine perched in the crook of a tree stump – a good way point to follow to keep on the trail – and know we are correctly making our way out!

The hike here is really nice – again – we are alone – and while we think there is a viewpoint somewhere, once again, it is downhill, and we decide we’d rather not hike all the way back up.  So back to the car we go – hey we get more gorgeous views on the drive – so no need to hike down to something that may not be as good!

And views we do get. The road doesn’t get any straighter – as you can see from these photos – it winds its way all the way around hilltops and cliffs.  Ed is having a blast driving his road-racing heart out and I’m having a blast taking pictures and watching as we descend these gorgeous tree covered slopes.

Making the executive decision to head back to town instead of more hiking (we’re in the middle of nowhere and it is lunch time after all!), we head back down to sea level toward Santa Cruz. There is one little town on the way – a beach town called San Andreas which has some restaurants we hope will be open today, but it is literally a one road town – with a lovely big beach promenade and no parking.  Nah. We’re heading back to Santa Cruz, turning the car in early and walking into town.

Which is the perfect choice, because as it turns out there are tons of processionals happening in town – both last night and today – for the Easter holiday.  We are lucky enough to be in Santa Cruz as the procession from the Parish of St. Fransicso de Asissi passes by – with the Virgin Mary all in black and the accompanying mourners dressed in black as well. 

After the procession passes, we wander through the streets of Santa Cruz, looking for a place to eat. There are plenty to choose from, and we know we have to choose something quick before the hordes of procession watchers descend. We settle on Mini Charcutería Café y Tapas – on a side street in the middle of town.  Scoring a table outside under the broad tarp, we settle down to order the daily special – Calamares ala Andaluza con ensalada y papas as well as croquetas pollo and Pluga pata canaria, a montadillo (small sandwich) filled with Canarian pork.  Yum.

Walking off our nice light little lunch, we meander through the old town, snapping pictures of different architecture that strikes our fancy and finally stopping at a corner café for an afternoon beverage.  Then it is back to the ship, past the Plaza España with the reflecting pond, huge memorial statue and the cool living roof of all flowers and green plants on the top of Restaurante Manglar. 

The rest of the afternoon is – well – the rest of the afternoon.  Gym, drinks, dinner – not at table #2 or #4 – this is getting ridiculous – and then an evening of balcony sitting and sailing into what the captain has told us will probably be fairly interesting seas.