Barranco del Infierno, Hell's Gorge in English, is a ravine in the town of Adeje in southern Tenerife, protected since 1987 as a Special Nature Reserve of about 18 km². It is the second most-visited protected area on the island. A trail of about 6.5 km there and back leads through the gorge to the highest waterfall on Tenerife. The ravine walls hold hundreds of caves once lived in by the Guanches, some with engravings.
Hell's Gorge
Local name: Barranco del Infierno
Protected ravine in Adeje, walked on a booked, helmeted 6.5 km out-and-back trail to a waterfall.
- Entrance
- By online booking only, up to 300 visitors a day. Under-5s not admitted; under-18s must be accompanied by an adult. Cards and contactless accepted.
- Accessibility
- Not wheelchair accessible: neither the entrance nor the parking is adapted, and the 6.5 km trail has uphill sections. Children under 5 are not admitted.
- Parking
- Customers-only car park with no fee about 40 m away in a straight line; public paid car park about 350 m away. The nearby multi-storey car park charges €0.90 an hour.
- Difficulty
- Medium: about 6.5 km out and back on the same route, three to three and a half hours, with some uphill sections. Helmet compulsory.
- Transport
- Bus stops Constitución (about 660 m in a straight line) and Adeje - City Center (about 850 m).
- Advance booking
- Required: book online. Numbers are capped at 300 a day, and each booking has a set start time.
- Hours
- Daily 8:30 am – 1:30 pm; the trail is closed on rainy and windy days.
- Address
- C. de los Molinos, 46, 38670 Costa Adeje, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
What makes it special
The waterfall at the head of the ravine is the highest on Tenerife, and it is where the walk turns round. The gorge on the way there does most of the work. The first 20 to 30 minutes cross plainer ground; after that the walls close in, the views open along the canyon and the path moves into greener growth, with birds and frogs about.
The ravine is also an important archaeological site. Hundreds of caves in its walls were homes of the Guanches, the island's aboriginal people, and some carry engravings. The largest collection of Guanche mummies and utensils was found here and now sits in the Museum of Nature and Man (Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre) in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. A guided walk brings that history onto the trail with you.
Good to know
- Book online before you travel: daily numbers are capped and every booking comes with a set start time.
- The round trip has to fit into three and a half hours, and staff advise against long stops because of landslide risk.
- The return follows exactly the same route back down the ravine.
- There is no drinking water point nearby: fill your bottles before you arrive.
Getting there
The walk starts in Adeje, at a welcome board marked Punto 1: Bienvenida, with toilets right beside it.
By car, a customers-only car park with no fee lies about 40 m away in a straight line, and a public paid car park about 350 m away. By bus, the nearest stops are Constitución, about 660 m away, and Adeje - City Center, about 850 m.
From the start everything is on foot: about 6.5 km in all, out along the ravine to the waterfall and back the same way, with some uphill sections. A helmet is handed out before you set off.
Best time to visit
Best: a dry, still day, on one of the first start slots of the morning.
Avoid: rain and wind, which close the trail.
The south of Tenerife is dry and sunny, so an early start puts most of the walk ahead of the midday heat, and the waterfall at the end carries more water after rain.
Access & restrictions
Barranco del Infierno is a Special Nature Reserve, and entry is controlled: no more than 300 visitors a day, each on an online booking. A helmet is compulsory on the trail. Children under 5 are not admitted, and under-18s must be accompanied by an adult. The trail is closed on rainy and windy days.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book Barranco del Infierno in advance?
Yes. Reservations are made online, the gorge takes no more than 300 visitors a day, and each booking has a set start time.How long is the walk and how hard is it?
About 6.5 km there and back, taking three to three and a half hours. It is of medium difficulty, with some uphill sections, and the return follows the same route.Can children do the walk?
Children under 5 are not admitted, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.Why are helmets compulsory?
Rockfall is a risk in the ravine. The trail was closed after a fatal accident in 2009 and again from 26 October 2015, and when it reopened on 10 February 2016 helmets became compulsory. It still closes on rainy and windy days.What is at the end of the trail?
The highest waterfall on Tenerife, at the head of the ravine. The walk turns round there and comes back the same way.