Vilaflor is where the south of Tenerife stops being a coast and turns into a mountain. The village sits on the TF-21, the road that carries on uphill into Teide National Park, and it is the starting point for the walk to Paisaje Lunar, the “lunar landscape” of pale eroded rock in the pine forest above it. The key thing to know before you set off: you drive to Vilaflor, and from there Paisaje Lunar is a hike, not a drive. [S1][S2]

Getting to Vilaflor

From the resorts of the south (Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas, Costa Adeje) the roads climb inland to Vilaflor, where you join the TF-21. Teide’s own cable-car operator describes this as the southern approach to the National Park: the TF-21 from Vilaflor takes you up to the park, and the cable-car base station sits at km 43 of the same road. [S2]

Vilaflor is one of the highest towns in Spain, and the official walking route that starts in the village never drops below 1,381 m. [S1] Expect the temperature to drop as you climb, and expect the road to change character: long bends, steady gradients and fewer places to overtake than on the motorway. Drive it in daylight the first time, and sort out fuel, water and snacks on the coast rather than counting on the mountain.

The road conditions above the village are not the same as on the coast. Before you set off, check the Cabildo’s Centro de Información de Carreteras (CIC) for incidents on the TF-21; we explain how to read it in our guide to checking Tenerife road conditions. [S5]

Paisaje Lunar: park in the village, walk the PR-TF 72

The official route is the PR-TF 72 “Paisaje Lunar” from Vilaflor de Chasna, published by Tenerife’s tourist board. Its key data: [S1]

PR-TF 72 Paisaje Lunar
Start and finishVilaflor (circular)
Distance12.9 km
Walking timeabout 4 hours
Difficultyintermediate
Ascent / descentabout 778 m each way
Highest point1,967 m
Permitnot required

The route leaves the village along the Camino del Atajo, enters the pine forest past Casa Galindo at the edge of the Las Mesas ravine, crosses the ravine and climbs on the old Camino de Chasna. On the way down you reach the Los Escurriales viewpoint, which is Paisaje Lunar itself, then return to Vilaflor. The whole route lies inside the Corona Forestal protected area. [S1]

If a map shows a forest track leading closer to the rock formations, ignore it when you are in a rental car. Our rental terms prohibit driving on unpaved, volcanic or off-road tracks, the insurance does not cover use off paved roads, and a breach means the deposit is retained and any damage is charged in full. [S4] That is not small print for its own sake: tyres and wheel rims are excluded from the insurance anyway, and a sharp volcanic gravel track is exactly where they get damaged. [S4] Leave the car on a paved street in Vilaflor, park where the signs allow, and walk from there.

What to take for the walk: water, a layer for the wind, sun protection and shoes with grip. Four hours is the official estimate; add time for photos and for the altitude if you came straight from sea level.

Combining Vilaflor with Teide

Paisaje Lunar and Teide fit in one day only if you skip one of them as a long stop. Two realistic plans:

  • Hike day. Drive up in the morning, walk the PR-TF 72, eat in Vilaflor and drive back down. If you still have light and energy, continue up the TF-21 for a short look at the pine forest and the edge of the park, then return the same way.
  • Teide day with a Vilaflor stop. Treat Vilaflor as the coffee stop on the way up the TF-21 and as the village where the pine forest begins. Our Teide National Park road trip explains how to cross the park from south to north and back, and the Teide sunrise route uses the same southern climb in the dark.

The Spanish Ministry describes the National Park as stretching from the Canary pine forests at about 1,600 m to the summit, and notes that the climate up there is dry, often windy, with strong day-night contrasts and occasional winter snow. [S3] Vilaflor is the last village before that landscape, which is why it works as a turning point: if the weather above looks wrong, you can still have a good day in the forest and come down.

Which car for this drive

The TF-21 above Vilaflor is a road you drive for the views, so a convertible makes sense here, as long as you take a jacket for the open-roof stretches.

  • The Mercedes-Benz SLK 200 is a two-seater with an automatic gearbox: the simplest choice for a couple who will leave the car in the village and walk. [S7]
  • The Ford Mustang EcoBoost Cabriolet has four seats and a 2.3-litre turbo petrol engine, which helps on a long climb with passengers. [S6]
  • The Audi A5 Cabriolet is a four-seat diesel automatic; its listed consumption is about 5.5 l/100 km. [S8]

Prices and availability depend on dates, so check the car page for your trip or browse the whole cabriolet fleet. All our cars go out full and come back full, so plan a refuelling stop on the coast before you return the car. [S4]

FAQ

Can you drive to Paisaje Lunar?

Not in one of our cars. The official route to the viewpoint is a walking trail from Vilaflor, and our rental terms prohibit unpaved and off-road tracks. Park in Vilaflor and walk the PR-TF 72. [S1][S4]

How long is the Paisaje Lunar hike?

The official PR-TF 72 is a 12.9 km circular route of about four hours, with roughly 778 m of ascent. [S1]

Do I need a permit for the PR-TF 72?

The official route page says no authorisation is required. [S1]

Is Vilaflor on the way to Teide?

Yes. Vilaflor lies on the TF-21, the southern road into Teide National Park; the cable-car base station is further up the same road at km 43. [S2]

Sources (checked 2026-10-09)