The best hiking routes in Parque Natural de Corralejo

Parque Natural de Corralejo consists of two contrasting landscapes divided by the FV-1 road. To the east of the tarmac, the terrain is dominated by the El Jable dune field, where organic white sand blown from the ocean floor forms shifting mounds. Walking here means navigating deep, loose sand without marked paths, where progress is slow and requires constant physical effort. West of the road, the landscape changes abruptly into a dark, rocky volcanic plain dominated by the jagged red cone of Montaña Roja, which rises to 312 metres.

Underfoot, the contrast is immediate. The dune sector offers no firm ground, meaning sand will inevitably fill low-cut shoes. In contrast, the volcanic interior features hard, abrasive basalt gravel and sharp malpaís lava crusts that require thick-soled boots. There are no boardwalks or shaded resting places in either zone. While the coastal edge attracts beachgoers near the hotels, the interior volcanic tracks and the deeper dune fields are sparsely visited, offering a stark, silent environment.

This reserve is not a place for shaded woodland walks or freshwater streams. The vegetation is limited to low, salt-tolerant scrub like the Canary samphire and sweet tabaiba, which cling to the dry ground. Walkers should expect constant exposure to the elements and a landscape defined entirely by wind-blown sand and ancient lava flows, with no natural shelter available.