Barranco Hondo Beach

The walk is the draw. The path drops through the gorge between very steep cliff faces, past cacti, with the north coast of Tenerife opening up along the way, and ends in a tiny bay of stones and big boulders. Going down takes about 20 minutes. Coming back up takes about 30.

At the bottom the sea is often rough, with high waves running in over the rocks, so this is a place to sit and watch the water. The old cave houses in the gorge are part of the scene, though dumped rubbish fills them and lies along the way: fridges, mattresses, bed frames.

• The shore is rocky, the sea is often rough and high waves break over large boulders. This is no beach for swimming.
• There are no toilets and no drinking water at the beach or nearby. Carry water for the climb back.
• Coming down from the La Victoria de Acentejo side, one stretch of path crosses landslide debris. It is passable with care.
• The path has been closed in the past.
• Dumped rubbish lies in the gorge, and the cave houses are full of it.

The last stretch is on foot. The nearest parking lies about 930 m from the beach in a straight line, with a paved car park about 1.1 km away; the La Quinta bus stop is about 1.3 km away. From there the path heads down into the gorge. One way in comes from the La Victoria de Acentejo side, where a landslide has broken the path but left it passable. The walk down takes about 20 minutes and the climb back about 30, so save your legs for the return.

Best: a dry day with a calm sea, starting early before the heat builds on the climb back.

Avoid: days of heavy swell, and during or just after heavy rain.

The north coast takes the Atlantic swell, which throws high waves onto the boulders, and rain loosens the steep gorge walls where the path already crosses landslide debris.