- Distance: Round trip 5.6km approx.
- Difficulty: Moderately easy, not challenging
- Terrain: Some hilly bits and some rough ground
- Risk factor: Safe
- Landscape: Banana plantations, Barranco, ocean
If you like a shortish walk that is not demanding or dangerous and you are in the north of Tenerife, then there is a beautiful walk from Puerto de la Cruz along the coast through banana plantations to the secluded beach of Playa Bollullo. The beach is not well known to most of the tourists who visit Puerto de la Cruz but is very popular with the locals.
The walk is not difficult but it is a bit hilly in places, you also need to cross a Barranco so there is also some rough terrain and quit a lot of steps to climb, you will need to be fairly fit and is not suitable if you have mobility problems.
Start of the Walk to Playa Bollullo
The walk starts from La Paz, an area to the east of the resort of Puerto de la Cruz in north Tenerife. Find the Hotel Best Semiramis on the cliff tops of Puerto de la Cruz, then keep walking east along the road keeping the ocean on your left, this leads you directly on to the foot path to Playa del Bollullo.
Walk Through Banana Plantations
The first part of the walk to Playa Bollullo starts as a well paved and flat foot path with fabulous views of the ocean, then you go through a short tunnel under the TF-31 road. On the other side the path takes you through wonderful banana plantations with banana trees on both sides of the foot path, and the ocean to your left. The walk continues mostly downhill through the plantation, then you come to the steps down into the Barranco de la Arena
Baranco de la Arena
Once you get to the foot of the steps the Barranco is of course rough terrain, but is easily walkable, you only have a short crossing at the foot of Barranco to get to the foot path up on the other side. The foot path is loose ground, but there is a barrier all the way up, so you are safe from the drop.
This path exits on to a narrow lane on the other side of Barranco de la Arena and along the cliffs above Playa Bollullo, this is the only part of the walk where there may be cars. Up here above Playa Bollullo there is the restaurant Bollullo Beach where you can enjoy a drink or lunch on the terrace with fabulous views over the ocean.
This is also where you need to make the decision whether to continue on down to the beach, down the cliff on the quite rugged foot path with lots of steps, not so bad going down, but you’ll have to walk back up as there is no alternative way off the beach
Playa Bollullo
If you are heading for the beach, there is a long foot path and steps down the cliff to the beach of Playa Bollullo. Here you will find a secluded black sand beach at the foot of the cliffs, with huge Atlantic waves where you can relax and sunbathe. There is also typical basic beach bar serving tapas, beer, wine, spirits, soft drinks and coffee. There are lifeguards on patrol but sometimes bathing in the sea is prohibited due to the large waves and strong currents.
