In Las Mercedes, hiking routes, the Anaga landscape and a festival tradition spanning more than half a century come together. For planning purposes, it is worth considering the trails and connections, festival dates and places to eat separately: each offers a different starting point for a stay and calls for checking the trail status, timetable or programme in question.

Hiking Trails and Connections

The PR-TF1 Las Mercedes–Cruz del Carmen connects Las Mercedes with the visitor centre of Parque Rural de Anaga via Monte de Las Mercedes. The trail starts at Plaza de Las Mercedes, passes through the Monteverde forest to Llano de los Viejos, which has a recreational area, and from there climbs to the Llano de los Loros viewpoint. Along the way, it crosses the TF-12 road twice. Before setting out, check the current trail status on the official Tenerife ON portal.

The area is also crossed by the certified, moderate, linear PR-TF 10 hiking trail. It runs for 10.4 kilometres through Parque Rural de Anaga, from Cruz del Carmen to Punta del Hidalgo. This is a separate route with different endpoints from the PR-TF1. It is also advisable to check the official status of this trail before setting out.

The Camino Viejo de Las Mercedes connects the historic centre of La Laguna with the PR-TF1. Another trail of historical significance is the preserved Camino de las Lecheras, which connects the valleys of La Laguna with Santa Cruz. Las Mercedes was one of the historic milk-producing areas from which milk was taken to urban centres. Route 3 reaches Las Mercedes after descending from Pico del Inglés and then continues towards La Laguna along the Camino de Las Mercedes, also known as Camino de Las Peras. Road conditions may change.

For travel by bus, TITSA route 270 connects the Intercambiador with Las Mercedes via Las Canteras. Check the timetable directly with TITSA before travelling. When choosing a hotel, you can use your planned routes, a potential festival date or this bus connection as a starting point, then compare the specific hotel location with your daily plans.

Festival Traditions and History

The Romería de Las Mercedes is celebrated in honour of San Isidro Labrador and Santa María de la Cabeza. This tradition, which dates back more than half a century, brings together locals and visitors. Its recurring features include decorated floats, rondallas, traditional Canarian dance groups and herds of livestock. Participation, dates and the programme may vary from year to year, so anyone wishing to attend the Romería should check the latest festival information.

Routes through the area also feature in the patron saint festivities: a procession route described for 2025 begins at the Church of Las Mercedes. Dates and routes may change. Looking further back takes us to Tenerife’s pre-Hispanic history: the area of Las Mercedes was used by the Guanches for cultivation. Together with the history of dairy farming and the Camino de las Lecheras, this reflects the local connection to the use of the land and the links between the valleys and urban centres.

Anaga Landscape and Places to Eat

Las Mercedes is considered the main gateway to Parque Rural de Anaga. Mirador de Jardina is at the beginning of the park, where the Monteverde forest starts. These local landmarks help put the surrounding landscape and trails into context without conflating different routes. For planning purposes, it is worth specifying the viewpoint or hiking trail you have in mind and checking the status of the route concerned.

Along the road towards Cruz del Carmen, restaurants and guachinches serve visitors grilled meat, local cheese, escaldones de gofio, garbanzas compuestas and wines from Anaga. These dishes and wines offer a concrete taste of the local cuisine. Individual establishments, their menus and opening hours may change; check these details if you are planning to stop for a meal.

Whether hiking, festival traditions or regional cuisine will shape your stay can therefore be taken into account when searching for accommodation. Discover more destinations: El Pris, Puerto De La Cruz, Guaza, Puertito de Güímar, Vilaflor, Las Cañadas del Teide, El Bailadero, Candelaria.

For the main travel overview: Tenerife.