Barranco del Infierno hike: tickets, booking, times and rules

The Barranco del Infierno hike is the regulated trail of southern Tenerife: it starts at the top of Adeje's old town and follows the gorge up to a waterfall, 6.5 kilometres there and back in about three hours, with around 250 metres of ascent and a low-to-moderate grade. To get in you need a ticket booked in advance on the trail's official website, with a set entry time: as of October 2026 it costs €16 for non-resident adults and €6 for residents of the Canary Islands. A helmet is compulsory and handed out at the meeting point, children under 5 are not allowed, and the trail closes in rain or wind because of the risk of rockfalls. You can reach it by guagua (bus) from Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje.

What the Barranco del Infierno is

The gorge gives its name to the Reserva Natural Especial del Barranco del Infierno, a protected natural area that takes in this and other ravines and rock outcrops in Adeje. The name, "Hell's Gorge", comes from its rugged character: the walls close in and turn vertical as you head further inside.

Access is restricted to protect the plants and wildlife, and it is run by a private company that sells tickets on the trail's official website (barrancodelinfierno.es). Do not confuse it with resellers: under the rules of use, only tickets bought from authorised sales points are valid.

Tickets, booking and price

Price as of October 2026

• Non-resident adult (over 12): €16.
• Residents of the Canary Islands: €6. You must prove residence or local registration with a valid document at the checkpoint.
• Children aged 5 to 12: have their own fare, shown when you buy.
• Included: access with a set entry time and the helmet, lent at the meeting point.

How to book

You book on the official website, choosing the day and entry time. Capacity is limited: the official trail page mentions 20 people every 30 minutes. In winter, the south's high season, the management company says booking is essential: if you turn up without a ticket, a place is not guaranteed and you may have to wait or come back another day. In high season slots sell out days or weeks ahead.

You do not need to print your ticket: the confirmation on your phone and your ID are enough. Besides the standard ticket, the website also offers a guided visit.

Changes, cancellations and closures

• 72 hours or more in advance: you can change the date or ask for a refund.
• Less than 72 hours: no changes or refunds, except for illness with an official medical certificate.
• If the trail closes: staff check the path every morning before opening. If it closes for weather or another safety reason, the company emails you at 8:30 on the day of your booking, and by replying you can change the date or request a refund to the same card.

Entry times

According to the official website, as of October 2026:

• Summer (1 June to 15 September): entry from 8:00 to 10:30; the site is cleared at 13:30.
• Winter (16 September to 31 May): entry until 11:30 (the website gives 8:30 as the start in its general hours and 8:00 on the trail page); closing at 14:30.

The time that counts is the one on your booking. Arrive 15 minutes early: with limited capacity, the company does not guarantee your place if you are late. In summer it may close access earlier than usual because of the heat.

Trail rules

What the management company requires for entry and during the visit:

• Helmet: compulsory and worn at all times. It is handed out at the start.
• Footwear: closed shoes suitable for stony, slippery ground. Flip-flops and sandals are not allowed, hiking sandals included.
• Age: children under 5 are not admitted under any circumstances, and baby carriers are not allowed. Under-16s must be accompanied by an adult.
• Animals: dogs and other pets are not allowed.
• On the trail: stay on the main path, do not swim in the stream bed or the waterfall, do not pick plants or collect animals or minerals, do not feed the wildlife, no glass, no smoking or fires and no music from speakers. Climbing, abseiling and canyoning are prohibited.
• Ticket: keep it for the whole visit; staff can remove anyone without one.

You enter at your own risk. The rules for the island's other protected areas, with quotas, permits and drones, are in the rules for Tenerife's protected natural areas.

The route, section by section

Trail facts

• Start: the top of calle de los Molinos, in Adeje's old town, about 350 metres above sea level.
• Distance: about 6.5 kilometres there and back on the same path.
• Ascent: about 250 metres; the highest point is at around 600 metres.
• Time: about three hours.
• Grade: low to moderate according to the management company. Expect constant ups and downs and stretches of steps.
• Shade: partial at the bottom of the gorge; the first section is in full sun.

First section: the old shepherds' path

The path begins at the top of calle de los Molinos and follows the old shepherds' trail along the hillside, with several spots set up as viewpoints over the Adeje coast, some beehives and an old mill. This is the most exposed section: in the middle of the day you feel the heat even in winter.

Inside the gorge

Gradually the path drops to the stream bed and the gorge narrows, with vertical walls that seem to close in over you. The vegetation changes here: lower down, cardón and tabaiba scrub (the spurge bushes typical of the south coast); in the middle section, remnants of thermophilous woodland with dragon trees, mastic trees, Canary box-thorn, wild jasmine and the odd palm; and above 600 metres the Canary pine forest begins. According to the management company, the reserve is home to more than 40 vertebrate species; among the birds of prey you may see the kestrel, the aguililla (the Canarian buzzard) and the sparrowhawk, and at night the long-eared owl hunts here.

The waterfall

The trail ends at the waterfall at the head of the gorge, where you turn back along the same path. The flow depends on rainfall in the previous weeks: it can be a trickle or an impressive fall. Swimming is prohibited.

How to get to the Barranco del Infierno

By bus

TITSA route 447 links Los Cristianos, Costa Adeje and Adeje's old town every day, with departures every half hour on weekdays, and route 473 (Los Cristianos–Los Gigantes) also passes through Adeje. From the stop, the trailhead is uphill through the streets of the old town. Check the timetable on the TITSA website, especially at weekends. How to combine this and other trips without driving is covered in Tenerife without a car.

By car

From the southern motorway (TF-1), take the Adeje exit and drive up to the old town. The streets at the top are narrow and there is little room to park near the start. The management company points to a public car park a few minutes from the entrance, near the Casa Fuerte; arrive early. There is no left-luggage service, so do not bring suitcases.

What to bring

• Water: 1 to 1.5 litres per person, according to the management company.
• Food: something light, such as fruit, snack bars or a sandwich.
• Documents: your ID and, if you have the resident fare, the certificate or document that proves it.
• Clothing: hiking clothes, a cap and sunscreen. During calima (dust carried on hot air from Africa), even more water.

Safety and when to go

• Rain and wind: you cannot enter in rain or wind because of the risk of rockfalls. Check the AEMET forecast the day before and the company's email on the morning of your visit.
• Heat: the best time is the first slot of the morning, between 8:30 and 10:00 according to the company. In summer, go first thing, especially with children or older people.
• Best season: from November to March temperatures in the south are mild and the gorge is pleasant to walk, although that is when demand is highest and rain closures are most likely.
• The path: there are loose stones, steps and slippery stretches near the water. Walking poles, if you use them, help on the descents.

Barranco del Infierno or the Masca gorge

They are two very different outings. The Barranco del Infierno is a there-and-back walk of about three hours, low to moderate, next to the southern resorts and with an inexpensive ticket. Masca is a descent of about four hours, downhill only, with a compulsory bus, a boat out to Los Gigantes and a hard grade. If you travel with children aged 5 to 8, only the first is possible, as Masca has a minimum age of 8. Everything about the second is in the Masca gorge hike, and the island's other routes, by difficulty, are in the best hikes in Tenerife.

What else to do in Adeje

Adeje's old town deserves an hour before or after the walk: calle Grande, the 16th-century Iglesia de Santa Úrsula and the ruins of the Casa Fuerte, the fortress of the lords of Adeje. It is also a good place for lunch after the trail. In the afternoon, whale and dolphin watching boats leave from Puerto Colón and Los Cristianos. The rest of the south beyond the resorts is in what to see in the south of Tenerife.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Barranco del Infierno cost?

As of October 2026, €16 for non-resident adults and €6 for residents of the Canary Islands, with proof. Children aged 5 to 12 have their own fare. The price includes the helmet.

Do I need to book?

Yes. The official website requires an advance online booking with an entry time, and capacity is limited. Without a booking a place is not guaranteed, and in winter and high season slots sell out well ahead.

Can children do the hike?

From the age of 5; younger children cannot enter in any case and baby carriers are not allowed. Under-16s must be with an adult. For children used to walking, three hours there and back with steps is manageable.

What happens if it rains on the day of my booking?

If the company closes the trail for weather, it sends an email at 8:30 that day and lets you change the date or ask for a refund. If you cannot go for another reason, give at least 72 hours' notice to change the date or get your money back.

Can I bring my dog?

No. Pets are not allowed on the trail, to protect the plants and wildlife of the nature reserve.

Is there water in the waterfall?

It depends on rainfall in the previous weeks: it can be a trickle or an impressive fall, and nobody can guarantee which. Swimming is prohibited in any case.

Keep planning

• The best hikes in Tenerife
• What to see in the south of Tenerife: beyond the resorts
• Tenerife without a car: what to see by bus, tram and tour