Tenerife’s Historic Trail Network Faces Threat from Private Encroachment and Neglect

Tenerife’s historic trail network is at a turning point, with its future as a public asset now under threat. According to the advocacy group Recuperando Caminos (Recovering Paths), many traditional routes—once vital for rural life, livestock, and connecting mountain villages—are falling into disrepair. Many are being blocked by private property or remain unprotected due to a lack of official registration.

Spokespersons Antolín Bueno and Miguel Gómez argue that this is more than just an environmental concern. They warn that without proper cataloging, these paths, which are essential to the island’s history and social cohesion, are slowly disappearing. While the Cabildo of Tenerife identified over 4,000 kilometers of trails in a 2016 study, the group notes that this document lacks the legal power to stop private encroachment or neglect.

The issue is most severe in mid-altitude areas, where historic routes like the Camino de Chasna, the Camino Guillén, and various paths in El Rosario have been fragmented by private estates and new infrastructure. The group is calling for a comprehensive strategy to officially map and register these routes, ensuring they remain open for public use. They also propose creating a coastal trail that circles the entire island.

The challenge for local authorities is to balance environmental protection with the need to preserve these paths as a resource for tourism and local identity. The association believes the focus should be on restoration and managed access, rather than simply closing off protected areas.

To discuss these issues and present their plan, the association is hosting a public meeting on Tuesday, June 30, at 7:00 p.m. at the Sala San Borondón in La Laguna. The event will feature speakers Abraham Rodríguez Doniz and Víctor Manuel Mesa González, who will outline how the group intends to work with the government to ensure these historic paths are preserved for future generations.