Weather mount teide tenerife: Washington, DC Weather Forecast and Conditions – The Weather Channel

Опубликовано: October 6, 2022 в 2:37 pm

Автор: alexxlab

Категории: Miscellaneous

Teide, Spain – Weather Forecast

The warmest day over the next 25 days weather in Teide is forecast to be
Tuesday 4th October 2022 at
17°C
(63°F)
and the warmest night on
Wednesday 5th October 2022 at
14°C
(57°F).
The average temperature over the next 25 days in Teide from this forecast is
14°C
(57°F)
and there will be 1 day of sunshine
.
The average for September is
27°C
(81°F).

Thu 29 Sep
15:00
14°C
(57°F)
18:00
12°C
(54°F)
21:00
10°C
(50°F)

Fri 30 Sep
0:00
10°C
(50°F)
3:00
9°C
(48°F)
6:00
9°C
(48°F)
9:00
10°C
(50°F)
12:00
11°C
(52°F)
15:00
11°C
(52°F)
18:00
11°C
(52°F)
21:00
9°C
(48°F)

Sat 1 Oct
0:00
9°C
(48°F)
3:00
9°C
(48°F)
6:00
10°C
(50°F)
9:00
10°C
(50°F)
12:00
10°C
(50°F)
15:00
11°C
(52°F)
18:00
10°C
(50°F)
21:00
9°C
(48°F)

Sun 2 Oct
0:00
9°C
(48°F)
3:00
10°C
(50°F)
6:00
10°C
(50°F)
9:00
11°C
(52°F)
12:00
12°C
(54°F)
15:00
13°C
(55°F)
18:00
12°C
(54°F)
21:00
11°C
(52°F)

Mon 3 Oct
0:00
10°C
(50°F)
3:00
11°C
(52°F)
6:00
10°C
(50°F)
9:00
11°C
(52°F)
12:00
13°C
(55°F)
15:00
14°C
(57°F)
18:00
14°C
(57°F)
21:00
12°C
(54°F)

Tue 4 Oct
0:00
12°C
(54°F)
3:00
13°C
(55°F)
6:00
13°C
(55°F)
9:00
16°C
(61°F)
12:00
17°C
(63°F)
15:00
17°C
(63°F)
18:00
17°C
(63°F)
21:00
12°C
(54°F)

Wed 5 Oct
0:00
11°C
(52°F)
3:00
12°C
(54°F)
6:00
13°C
(55°F)
9:00
16°C
(61°F)
12:00
16°C
(61°F)
15:00
16°C
(61°F)
18:00
16°C
(61°F)
21:00
15°C
(59°F)

Thu 6 Oct
0:00
14°C
(57°F)
3:00
14°C
(57°F)
6:00
14°C
(57°F)
9:00
14°C
(57°F)
12:00
14°C
(57°F)
15:00
14°C
(57°F)
18:00
14°C
(57°F)
21:00
13°C
(55°F)

Fri 7 Oct
0:00
12°C
(54°F)
3:00
11°C
(52°F)
6:00
11°C
(52°F)
9:00
11°C
(52°F)
12:00
12°C
(54°F)
15:00
12°C
(54°F)
18:00
12°C
(54°F)
21:00
11°C
(52°F)

Sat 8 Oct
0:00
10°C
(50°F)
3:00
10°C
(50°F)
6:00
9°C
(48°F)
9:00
10°C
(50°F)
12:00
12°C
(54°F)
15:00
14°C
(57°F)
18:00
14°C
(57°F)
21:00
13°C
(55°F)

Sun 9 Oct
0:00
11°C
(52°F)
3:00
11°C
(52°F)
6:00
10°C
(50°F)
9:00
10°C
(50°F)
12:00
12°C
(54°F)

Time lapse video at Teide shows the amazing mix of weather in the last week –

1/21/22, 10:22 AM

By Canarian Weekly

Tenerife

The weather over the last week has been somewhat ‘unpredictable’, with a mix of intense haze, strong winds and even snow on Mount Teide, and with more rain this morning, the islands continue to be under several yellow weather warnings activated by the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet).

With this mix of weather conditions, the project called Teide Cloud Laboratory in Tenerife, which is made up of the Izaña Atmospheric Research Centre, the Teide Cable Car, and astrophotographer Daniel López, have captured the weather on video on 15th, 16th and 17th January.

From this, they have produced an amazing two-minute timelapse video that shows the “radical changes in the landscape” over the three days over Mt Teide, with the clear sky, the subsequent haze, the snowstorm that followed, and the beautiful snowy landscape.

Here you can see the video for yourself and marvel at the beautiful landscape that is Tenerife.

Winter sun in Tenerife, Mount Teide, La Gomera and more

Winter in Ireland is long, and we Irish love to escape to get some Winter Sun. This week, I got my fill of vitamin D and headed to the Spanish island of Tenerife. In this post, I will share my trip highlights. I visited the Mount Teide volcano, a jeep safari on the island of La Gomera and saw some cute villages like Masca and Vilaflor.

What is the weather like in Tenerife in January?

Tenerife is known as “the island of eternal spring”, and during the seven nights I stayed, I experienced pleasant weather. However, I did have some afternoons where it rained, but thankfully, the rain was not as gloomy as Irish rain, and showers soon returned to blue skies. Temperatures were around 19 to 22 degrees whilst I was there.

When flying into the island of Tenerife, I noticed snow on top of Mount Teide. On my day tour to Mount Teide, the temperature had dropped to 3 degrees, although it felt warmer because it was sunny.

My advice is to pack a jacket for the cooler evenings and something heavier if you plan to hike in the national parks.

Where I stayed, the Bahia Principe Fantasia Hotel Tenerife

The most popular areas for travellers to stay in are Las Americas, Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos. I stayed in the Golf del Sur area in the Bahia Principe Fantasia hotel and resort.

I chose this area because it was close to the airport and buses, and it was in a quiet spot. As I was solo travelling, I wasn’t looking for nightlife, and it was more of a rest I was after. I wanted somewhere quiet but also a perfect base to go rambling.

If I was to stay again, I think I would stay in Los Cristianos. I drove through here to get the ferry to la Gomera, and it seemed like a nice area. When I was flying home, the lady on the plane had stayed in this area and said it was full of locals, had a fun nightlife but wasn’t as busy as Las Americas.

Visiting Mount Teide

If you love hiking, then you will have fun rambling through the trails in Mount Teide national park. As I am not confident driving on the opposite side of the road, I settled for a bus tour.

Renting a car is the best way to get around the island. However, there are loads of bus routes and day trips if you are like me and not a confident driver.

I chose to do a day tour that brought me to some villages as well as Mount Teide park. You will find loads of different tour packages online, and I booked my trip through my hotel. Viatour and Tamaran are popular sites to book day trips and experiences.

We had to wear face masks for the duration of our day tour, and the group was a small one. I was collected from my hotel at 8 am and arrived back at 4 pm, so it’s a long day of rambling but so worth it as you get to see so much.

Also, some roads are very narrow, bendy and not for the faint-hearted. So, just beware if you are afraid of heights.

The village of Masca

Masca is a stunning small mountain village, and it was the first stop on my day trip. The roads leading up to this area are very high, narrow and windy, but our bus driver handled them tight corners like a boss.

As it was a quiet time of year, there wasn’t as much traffic on the way to Masca, but our driver did say that during peak season, there can be traffic delays along the narrow roads to Masca.

I got to spend half an hour in this gorgeous village. The village of Masca is small, and the pathway through the small town is cobbled and steep. However, it is well worth the walk.

The village has a small visitors centre and some restaurants. I grabbed a coffee and took a few snaps before heading to the next location.

You can hike the famous Masca canyon, but public transport to this area is infrequent, so I recommend getting a car or taking a guided hike around the village of Masca.

Mount Teide national park

After a quick pee stop, we were on our way to Mount Teide national park. This mountain area is vast, and I can see how it’s easy to get lost. Teide covers an area of 47,000 acres, and Unesco named it a world heritage site.

Mount Teide volcano is the highest point in Spain, and its summit measures 3,715 m. The volcano is still active, and its last eruption was in 1909.

I got to spend an hour up at Mount Teide, and there is a cable car that will bring you up and back. However, because of the windy weather, it wasn’t working when I visited.

While there are loads of hiking trails in Mount Teide park, if you want to get to the summit, you will need to obtain a permit to climb to the Mount Teide peak on your own.

The Winter months are a popular time for people to hike, as the temperatures are not as hot as Summer. In Summer, some trails can be closed because of the heat and dry weather and the risk of forest fires.

Vilaflor

Vilaflor is the cutest town and the highest village on the island. On the drive to Vilaflor, we passed pine forests and the infamous Pino Gordo pine tree, one of the oldest pine trees in the world.

I got to ramble around Vilaflor and visited the two churches. The streets are quaint and full of flowers, and a herb garden sits in front of the main church.

Most people overlook this village on the way to visiting Teide, but it is worth stopping in and having a coffee. You will find restaurants and some hotels, which are popular with walkers and cyclists.

Visting La Gomera island from Tenerife on a jeep safari

When you fly into Tenerife, you might notice a small island beside it, and this is the volcanic island of La Gomera. A nature lovers paradise!

The island of La Gomera is the second smallest island in the Canaries. La Gomera does have a small airport. However, there are no direct flights from Dublin, but it is easily accessed by ferry. The ferry from Los Cristianos to San Sebastian de la Gomera takes approx 40 minutes.

Feeling adventurous, I decided to do the jeep safari tour of La Gomera island with Tamaran.

I was picked up around 7:45 from my hotel in a land rover jeep and brought to a pickup point. Each jeep held 6-7 people, and there were 7 people in my jeep. Spain was in level 4 Covid restrictions when I visited, so face masks had to be worn at all times.

We boarded the ferry around 10 am and headed to La Gomera. If you suffer from travel sickness, then beware that the roads are up and down, narrow, and the jeeps go fast at times. It can be a bumpy ride!

Our first stop was at an aloe vera plantation, where we got a demo on how to cut and extract the aloe from the plant. It was so interesting to see the aloe plants growing outside, as in Ireland, they are indoor plants.

We then drove up the mountains stopping at various beauty spots to take pictures.

Silbo Gomero, the whistle language

We had lunch in our groups in a local restaurant. At lunch, locals gave us a demonstration of Silbo Gomero, the whistle language of La Gomera.

The aboriginal population used whistle language to share messages across the deep valleys. Because a whistle can be heard from longer distances, it was way more effective than shouting. When La Gomera was colonized by Spanish settlers, the whistle language was adapted to Spanish, and it has survived until today. Silbo Gomero is now taught at every school on the island to ensure that future generations still remember it and use it.

Check out my YouTube video, where you can check out a demo of the whistle language and see more of the island of La Gomera.

After rambling up the mountains of la Gomera, we had an hour in the colourful streets of San Sebastian de la Gomera. Here you will find lots of restaurants, a church and colourful houses. There are also beautiful beaches next to the harbour.

While the jeep safari was a long day, it was one of my favourite excursions I have ever done.

Is Tenerife safe for solo travelling?

Absolutely yes. I am an experienced solo rambler and, I found the people of Tenerife to be so friendly. As always, exercise caution in public places and be aware of pickpockets.

I made friends with fellow travellers on my day trips, and there are lots of different group tours and activities to do.

If you want more travel inspo, check out my other adventures. If you are planning a trip this year, I hope you get some inspiration. Let me know in the comments below where you plan to visit.

Thanks for reading, Chat soon, Catherine.

On Top of Mount Teide ⋆ By Forever Amber

Those of you worrying that I’m about to embark on my biggest weather-related rant ever: relax.

Actually, I probably could work some “complaining about the weather” into this post if I tried, because a) I always do, and b) I woke up to snow again this morning, but as it happens, these photos were taken last month, when Terry and I took the cable car to the top of Mount Teide, in Tenerife.

Well, almost to the top, anyway: you need a special permit to go right to the summit, and as you can probably see from the photos, given the amount of snow that greeted us when we got there, we’d also have needed crampons, snow suits and… I’ll stop pretending I have the slightest clue what people use to climb snow-capped mountains now, m’kay? The level the cable-car stops at, however, was more than high enough for me, because, if you’re a long-time reader of this blog, you might recall that I was not-so-secretly hoping the cable car would be closed, as it had been the previous two times Terry and I had tried to reach the summit. I’d taken the trip once before, as a teenager, and had found the cable car ride pretty terrifying (I should add here that I find most things pretty terrifying, so don’t mind me…): Terry, however, had missed out on that particular experience, so one morning in the first week of our holiday, we got into our hire car and off we went.

Teide, as I’m sure many of you know, is an active volcano, and the highest point in Spain, with a height of 12,198 ft. Even on our previous visits, when the cable car was closed due to high winds, the drive alone was well worth doing: the road takes you up above the clouds, and past some amazing rock formations, en route to the crater itself. I was pretty nervous by the time we got to the cable car (Which cost us 30 EUR each, which seemed a bit steep – no pun intended – at the time, but which turned out to be worth every penny), and my stomach was churning a little as we lined up to have some cheesy tourist photos taken in front of a random white wall in the terminal building. “Do you think they just did that so the mountain rescue teams will know what we look like when they’re searching for our bodies, later?” I asked Terry, but no, it turned out they were just going to Photoshop us onto a ‘Mount Teide’ backdrop and try to sell the resulting photo to us later. Because there would’ve been no other way to get that shot, what with the ACTUAL MOUNTAIN being right there in front of us, you know?

(I didn’t actually realise they were taking our photo until the last minute: I was so busy worrying that the cable was going to snap, sending us plunging to our deaths, that I wasn’t paying attention, and thought they’d stopped us because they were going to search our bags or something. The resulting photo shows a smiling Terry, accompanied by me, wearing my sunglasses indoors, but still managing to look like a rabbit caught in the headlights. No, we didn’t buy it…)

(I remember having similar photos taken when we visited Alcatraz, but in that case they made us stand in front of a PHOTO of the island. The island that was RIGHT THERE in front us. Seriously, WHY?)

Anyway! We all crowded onto the cable car, then more people crowded onto the cable car, then MORE people crowded on, then, finally, when we reached the stage where no more people could possibly have crammed themselves on board, a few more people got on, and we were off. I had, as I said, been really worried about this, but you know what? It was absolutely fine. And no, I’m not just saying that, and I promise I haven’t been drinking: it was really fine. Well, other than the whole “sardine” thing, obviously, but we didn’t fall to our deaths, and that was the main thing. Instead, we reached the top, got out, and… WHOA.

I’ll just quickly address the most obvious thing first: no, it wasn’t cold. Seriously. We’d known there was going to be snow on the summit, so I’d actually brought another coat with me, but I honestly didn’t need it: I had a couple of sweaters layered under my leather jacket, and although my ears were starting to nip a little by the time we got back into the cable car, the sun was warm, even all the way up there (as you can see, Terry had to roll his sleeves up at one point. ). This was quite surprising to me, as the previous times we’d visited Teide, it had been really cold, even much lower down, so it was quite surreal to be surrounded by so much snow, and not be freezing!

(Yes, we were wearing sunscreen.)

The last time I’d made it this high up the volcano, I was 16 years old, and it was the middle of summer, so there was no snow to be seen. Surprisingly for me, though, I actually much preferred seeing it in winter: all that snow gave it this surreal, other-worldly feel, which was just amazing to experience. We followed the path around the crater, admiring the view as we went, then headed back to the cable car for the ride down – which was ALSO surprisingly non-scary. So far, so good, right?

Well, we got back to the car, and started the drive back to sea level. Our plan was to drive down the north side of the mountain, and visit the town of Los Gigantes, at the bottom, but not long after leaving the cable car, we got distracted by this:

The first photo shows two of the other Canary Islands (La Gomera and La Palma), looking like they’re floating on the clouds, right next to the road: the other is the view of Teide itself, right opposite them. This side of the volcano was particularly stunning, with the green of the trees looking so vivid against the volcanic soil, and the snow-covered mountain, that we had to pull into a handy car park to take some photos. When we got out, we discovered this wasn’t just a view point, as we’d assumed: it was a fairly large car park, from which people were leaving to hike up a nearby crater, and take in the views – well, we were there anyway, so it would’ve been a shame not to take a look, wouldn’t it?

We walked for around 20 minutes before heading back to the car. As we reached the car park, I was walking slightly ahead of Terry, so I was the first to see this:

Yeah, that would be our hire car, and that’s what USED to be its window.

This photo was taken after we opened the door: the car was still locked when we reached it, and although the glass was completely shattered, it was all still in the window – it instantly fell out when we opened the door. Whoops. As for what happened: we’ve no idea, really. Our immediate thought was that someone had tried to break in, and I guess that’s still the most logical explanation, although the car park was a busy one, with people coming and going all the time, so it would’ve been pretty hard to break the window without someone noticing. As soon as we opened the door, a small crowd gathered around us, all ooh-ing and aah-ing at the sight of our poor hire car: no one had seen anything suspicious, and there was nothing in the car to steal, so I guess we’ll never know what actually happened, much to my annoyance. I mean, you all know how much I hate an unsolved mystery, right?

What I DO know is that we then had to drive all the way back down the mountain with one missing window, and let me tell you: it may not have been cold on top of the volcano, but it was absolutely FREEZING driving down again with the wind blowing right into the car. Needless to say, our plans for the rest of the day had to be put on hold, while we dealt with the insurance etc, but oh well: I guess it could’ve been worse. For instance, I could have spent the duration of the trip lovingly filming every last second of it with my GoPro, in order to preserve the precious memories, only to then lose the memory card as soon as I got home, and… oh no, wait: that DID happen, didn’t it?

Damn.

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Cycling in Tenerife and the Mount Teide climb

Circling to land at the airport, photographer Andy Jones nudged me to look out the window, “look there’s Teide”.

“Where?” I had to ask him, all I could see were clouds. He pointed out that I was looking too low down, looking higher I spotted the cone of the volcano rising up above the cloud line. My first impression – that is a very long way up.

>>> Best cycling holidays

Sir Bradley Wiggins first visited Tenerife in January 2011 but he was far from the first pro cyclist to use the Parador Hotel at the summit of Mount Teide. He was however unusual in choosing to publicly share his training time there.

Lots of teams and pros – including Team Sky and Chris Froome – have stayed there in the past, but the fact that Lance Armstrong and a number of dopers have used Tenerife for training, and the seclusion afforded by the high-altitude hotel, has given the cynics plenty of fuel to conclude that riders using the hotel have motives beyond finding the perfect training conditions. We are going to put that aside and look purely at the benefits Tenerife can offer, for any cyclist.

Why make Tenerife your next cycling destination?

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, 200 miles off the west coast of Africa. It is a four-hour flight from the UK but conveniently within the same time zone.

Triangular in shape, it is dominated by the volcano positioned right in the middle of it. The very top of Mount Teide is 3,718m, making it the highest mountain in a Spanish territory but the road, the part we were interested in, only goes to a little over 2,300m.

The climate in Tenerife makes it the perfect winter training camp destination. The south side is in the rain shadow of Mount Teide and is dry and barren, but the north is more lush and green. This makes for varied riding even on a relatively small island. The road circumference of Tenerife is just 223 miles.

Cycling in Tenerife: the island provides excellent terrain as well as altitude

Unlike the Balearics, another popular winter cycling destination, the weather is much more stable and predictable. Even in December when we visited temperatures can reach as high as 26°C in the day and they remain a comfortable 10-15°C at night. Having had snow in Mallorca in February and March, I’d much prefer to go to Tenerife to get a cyclist’s tan.

Altitude training on Mount Teide

Beyond the pleasant climate, the relatively cheap flights and a wealth of accommodation, there is one very significant reason why Tenerife is a great winter cycling destination: Mount Teide itself. Although not the highest road in Europe, it is the longest continuous ascent as you have the opportunity to start the climb from sea level.

In just 35km you can ride from zero to 2,100m and it really is continuous, not a flat section or banked hairpin alleviates the strain on your legs. For the dedicated pro rider looking to accumulate as much climbing as possible it is perfect. You can cover as much as 4,000m a day in a relatively short distance. The other benefit is the location of the Hotel Parador on the plateau at the top of Mount Teide; this means that Tenerife meets the ‘sleep high, train low’ criteria.

Altitude training as a way of increasing your red blood cell count and improving your capacity to process oxygen is well documented. Cyclists and other endurance athletes have been going to altitude for performance benefits since the early 1990s.

Some riders struggle to make high-intensity efforts at altitude, an obvious problem if you are riding the cols of Europe in events such as the Etape, the Marmotte or indeed the Tour de France, so a period of altitude training will help them to acclimatise as well as offering training benefits.

With nearly all roads leading to the top of Teide it is easy to do your training rides on either the lower slopes or the upper slopes. At the lower altitudes you are able to train more intensely because of the oxygen available, with the added benefit that you are doing your body less damage so will be able to recover more quickly. Even without going over 1,500m you could still easily accumulate 2,000-3,000m simply by ascending repeatedly to the mid-point of the climb.

Tenerife is a fantastic winter destination. The weather is warm and stable and the roads away from the coast are quiet and well made. However, the climbing could be a problem for some. Before training on Tenerife you need to have developed a reasonable level of base fitness to get the most benefit from the long climbs and riding at altitude.

Cycling in Tenerife: the climb takes you from zero to 2,100m

If you hate climbing and have a low level of fitness you may find the day after day relentless climbing too much for your body or your psyche. However, the gradients are easier than many mainland European climbs and certainly less steep than a lot of UK hills, so while the climbing is more continuous it is a question of endurance as much, if not more so, than strength.

Climbing Mount Teide

To get a true feel for how tough Teide really is we planned a continuous ascent from sea level to the summit at 2,100m and then on to the plateau for a coffee at The Parador.

Our guides for the day, Jen and Stu Caldicott from Polka Dot Cycling Holidays, were there to give us the pro treatment with support vehicle and navigational assistance – not that you need much, the only way is up.

Starting on the coast at El Medano we rode as a group out of town with Jen calling directions from the rear and Cycling Weekly’s Symon Lewis setting a slightly too hot pace on the front as the road immediately began climbing upwards.

Heading toward San Isidro we faced the first major challenge of the day, the bridge over the motorway. There was an audible groan from everyone as we fumbled for top sprockets and got out of the saddle, it struck me as rather worrying that I was already on the limit of both my heart rate and gears less than 5km from the start with at least another 30km of climbing still to go.

By the time we had exited the town of San Isidro the group had split, I was perfectly content to chat with our guide and host about the riding on Tenerife, while the rest of the group seemed more intent on pushing the pace. With only three turns to navigate, a support vehicle, and an obvious regrouping point at the summit, it made sense to split up. The only way to tackle a long climb is at your own pace.

The climb of Teide from the south side can be split into two distinct parts; the lower part up to Vilaflor and the more barren section leading to the top. Vilaflor is the highest village on Tenerife at 1,500m and can be reached by three different roads. For riders wanting to accumulate lots of climbing without the strain of going to altitude this is an obvious destination and conveniently there is a coffee shop and garage here for mid-ride refuelling.

The road to Vilaflor winds gradually upwards and offers plenty of visual interest and relatively gentle gradients with only the occasional kick up to eight or nine per cent. At the time we were there it was surprisingly lush and green from recent rainfall but generally it’s dry and arid. Prickly pears and cacti line the roadside and much of the surrounding land is terraced with vines. Tenerife has several vineyards but while the wine is popular with the locals, barely any gets exported so try it while you are there.

We stopped just past the petrol station in Vilaflor to refill bottles and regroup. While there we saw the Neon-Velo training camp pulling into the cafe with riders from Rapha, Wheelbase and Raleigh. Luckily for us they were using the roads up to Vilaflor but not beyond so we wouldn’t have to suffer the ignominy of seeing them zoom past us.

After Vilaflor the character of the climb starts to change. There is less evidence of farming and the cacti give way to pine forests. The smell of pine trees and the orangey hues of the rocks makes this section reminiscent of Mediterranean climbs.

While the road still twists and turns the gradient becomes a bit stiffer in places and by the time you reach the edge of the tree line and are into the rockier, more barren section you are pretty much resigned to using just the top sprocket of your cassette.

The final 5km has some of the steepest sections of the climb and you certainly become aware of the 30km already in your legs. Unlike many of the cols in the Alps and Pyrenees, there are no cambered hairpin bends to alleviate the strain on your legs, if only momentarily, and there is certainly no flat section. It’s a perfect climb for making you maintain a consistent workload and focus you on your pedalling technique, as you cannot lift off the gas for a moment if you mean to continue forwards and upwards.

By the time I reached the summit everyone else had already crashed out on the picnic blanket thoughtfully provided by Stu and Jen. The view from the top is quite spectacular – on a clear day you can see deep into the valley below but often you are presented with a view of the cloud that seems to hover between 1,200m and 1,500m a lot of the time.

Watching the sun go down on this cloud inversion provided one of the most memorable and stunning moments of the trip.

Between the summit of the climb and the Parador there is a 4km descent and then a long plateau before climbing slightly back up. This section is where Teide gets its description as being a ‘moonscape’ from. Barely any vegetation covers the loose surface and you can clearly see the lava flow and misshapen lumps of molten rock from volcanic eruptions.

Unlike most climbs Teide can be warmer at the top than on the lower slopes where often the cloud can hang around even in the middle of the day. Certainly the day we rode it we noticed a significant temperature change when we reached the plateau. It is worth carrying several layers with you, as you can never be entirely sure what you will encounter.

Having taken the best part of three hours to reach the summit I was looking forward to the descent, however first we had to climb the 4km back up from the plateau. While the coffee is really good at the Parador I wouldn’t recommend stopping for too long and if you are feeling a bit tired turn around at the summit rather than dropping down the other side as that extra 4km felt a struggle.

The descent is fantastic; retracing our steps the way we came up it is flowing without being overly technical or tight. You can often see below you so have a clear idea of what is coming up next and whether there is any traffic.

Drivers on Teide are particularly considerate, every time I flew up to one I was spotted in the rear view mirror and the driver indicated and pulled over.

The only thing you have to be really careful of is the cloud. We hit it at around 1,800m and for a few moments we were treated to an unusual combination of light shafts being diffused through the mist creating beautiful yet eerie scenery in the pine forests.

However it was short-lived and soon we were into dense fog where it was hard to see more than 15 metres ahead. The temperature dropped considerably and I was aware of the droplets of water covering my bars and top tube.

It was like the worst kind of wet winter morning. By just below Vilaflor the cloud had disappeared again and we were back into warm sunshine. Looking back and upwards toward the volcano we could see the ring of cloud circling Mount Teide and the summit rising up into the blue sky above.

Tenerife and Teide are unique in many ways – in a four-hour ride of just under 80km we had ascended and descended 2,100m and experienced several different types of scenery and terrain. If you are fit and want to get seriously fit this is definitely the place to come to.

Bang Teide – What the riders thought…

Jack Pullar – former National hill-climb champion

The climbs out here are much longer than any I raced on during my hill-climb campaign. It takes a lot more endurance to get up these ones.

There are no really steep climbs here, making Teide possible for everyone. Tenerife is a great location to ride because of the weather and mountains.

Being able to climb to over 2,000 metres in December is rare in Europe, but we have been.

The roads are nice and the drivers friendly. We have been lucky to have support from Neon Velo which has taken the adventure out of our training – without their car following we would have to carry a lot of clothing for the long descents.

Rich Lang – Aussie-born Team Raleigh pro rider

This is my first time on the island of Tenerife and it is definitely a great place to get away from the UK winter weather.

There is pretty much no flat on the island which can be tough mentally when you are tired. Very few of the climbs are steep so if you come here with the right gearing, then you can tap away at them at a pace which is comfortable for you.

We have been riding from four to seven hours each day, with the longer days seeing us go over the top of Mount Teide.

To climb for 50 kilometres is not easy, but by pacing yourself it is possible!

Mike Cuming
Tenerife is a great riding location and I can understand why Team Sky has used it so much. It is around 50 kilometres up to the highest point on Teide, 50 kilometres of climbing.

When you are tired this is mentally very tough, but at five-seven per cent average gradient, it is a climb which you can get into a rhythm and work at a specific level.

We have climbed Teide on our longest days, six plus hours, which has really pushed us. With it being the winter we are concentrating on endurance, so the long climb is perfect for this. I would recommend anyone to come out here because the landscapes are so varied that they keep you motivated to carry on up the mountain.

Symon Lewis – CW’s man on the spot

My first impressions of the island were good. It’s definitely a great destination to get some warm weather riding in during the winter months and you can certainly see why the pros use it. If it’s hard riding you’re after, you have endless choices with various tough routes, all linking up to the top of Mount Teide.Steadier climbs or easier days are also possible.

Though you are spoiled by the vast amount of climbing and descending, unfortunately, you won’t find any flat rides on the island. So for that day you just want to spin to the cafe or a quick two-hour blast, you can’t really do that, which is a shame.

I think Tenerife can be a great place to ride your bike, but only for specific reasons, to get away from the winter gloom and to get some good, solid training in. If that’s not what you’re after you may find some of the other Canary Islands or Spanish destinations tick more boxes for you. In the hot summer months, Mallorca is a better option, is closer to home and has all the usual variations bike riders look for.

Polka Dot Cycling

Polka Dot Cycling Holidays is run by owners Stu and Jen Caldicott. They are both experienced riders and former road racers who now specialise in running mountain holidays for cyclists. Based in France for the summer season, they decamp and follow the sun to Tenerife for warm weather winter training.

During February, March and April they run structured training camps that will help you get the most out of your time in Tenerife. Their mix of routes will work on your fitness, technique and bike handling. Thanks to their vast amount of experience of running and taking part in camps Jen and Stu will ensure you pace your week so you go home fitter rather than absolutely shattered, which is so often the case with unstructured camps.

All rides are fully supported so there is water, energy products and even a cup of coffee on hand whenever you need it. With the huge changes of altitude and temperature that you can experience on Tenerife its important to have plenty of spare layers to hand and a following van comes into its own here.

Most of their trips are based from La Caleta on the west coast but there is a ‘sleep at altitude’ week at the Parador running from the April 20-27 with places still available.

For further information, prices and booking visit www.polkadotcycling.com.

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How to climb Mount Teide, Spain’s highest mountain

A recent spate of gloomy dark days might have got you dreaming of summer adventures, and what better antidote to the winter blues than plotting your next sunshine-filled adventure? Many turn to the jagged peaks of the Dolomites or glittering fjords of Scandinavia to get their summer adventure fix, but why not try something a little different next year? Mount Teide (3,718m) is Spain’s highest peak and can be found on Tenerife in the Canary Islands rather than mainland Spain as you might expect. Found off the coast of Africa, Tenerife has long drawn sun-worshippers to its black sand beaches, but few know of the nature paradise that lies within.

We got together with Trekking-Tenerife, a tour company specialising in adventure trips on the island, to get the low-down on conquering the roof of Spain. Trekking-Tenerife can help you organise a trip filled with adventures, from hitting the trails inland to island hopping offshore, and can also organise specific trips centred around climbing the mighty Mount Teide.

How to get there

Getting to Tenerife to climb Mount Teide couldn’t be simpler. Thanks to Tenerife’s popularity as a beach destination and reputation for year-round sunshine, cheap and regular flights operate from most major airports in the UK and there are some great deals to be had in low season. Use SkyScanner to search for flights from your nearest airport.

When to go

With temperatures in the mid 20s even in winter, Tenerife is a popular destination all year round. While summer sees Spanish visitors fleeing the scorching heat of the mainland, winter acts as a second high season for sun-hungry brits and Europeans to flee colder climes at home. However, while it might be piping hot down on the beaches, winter can still bring snow to the summit of Mount Teide, so for your best chance of a successful summit we recommend visiting between spring and autumn.

What to take

Many people who visit Tenerife in order to climb Mount Teide forget that the weather can be significantly colder at higher altitudes than it is down at sea level. If you’re hoping to make the summit, you’re going to need some decent kit and plenty of layers, including the following;

Well worn-in multi season hiking boots
A comfortable daypack
A few t-shirts and base layers
Hiking shorts
Hiking trousers
A couple of mid layers
Good quality waterproofs
A lightweight packable insulated jacket
Sun hat and sun cream
A first aid kit
Walking poles if necessary

How to climb Mount Teide

Climbing Mount Teide is a challenge that should not be underestimated. This is not a day trip for those in flip flops, but a challenging hike for competent hill walkers with a decent level of fitness. As the summit is well over 3,000m, it’s possible that you may also experience some altitude sickness, which is worth bearing in mind if you plan on taking the cable car pretty much straight to the top. Hiking the long way will give you more time to acclimatise and lessen the chance of feeling dizzy and unwell at the top.

You must also make sure you apply for a permit to climb Mount Teide in advance, as only a certain number of people are allowed onto the summit each day. The permit is free and can be obtained in advance via the Mount Teide National Park website.

Many people who climb Mount Teide use the cable car, which hoists you straight up through the clouds to 3,555m, leaving you just 200m to hike to reach the top. However, those seeking a real adventure should take the long hike to the summit, and there are several options for those wishing to do so. All of the possible routes traverse the breathtaking scenery of Teide national park, from unusual rock formations shaped by lava to vast Canary pine forests, with a regular backdrop of Teide itself.

While it is possible to organise and plan a trip up Mount Teide independently, your best bet is to book through a tour company such as Trekking-Tenerife. Not only will this save you the hassle of organising things yourself, you will also have a knowledgeable guide on hand to lead the way and point out things that might be of interest along the way. A local guide such as the ones offered by Trekking-Tenerife will also be able to choose the best route up the mountain based on experience and current conditions, which in turn gives you the best possible chance of making the summit during your trip.

The company will also be able to organise a wide range of other adventurous excursions during your visit to Tenerife, so that your trip can be as stress-free as possible. Whether you want to discover the island’s many stunning hiking trails, or head over to the nearby nature-filled islands of La Gomera and La Palma, Trekking-Tenerife has got just the itinerary for you, organising all your luggage transfers, refuge stays and transfers along the way.

Click here to visit the website and plan your trip, or click here to visit the Trekking-Tenerife Facebook page.

Spain. Canary Islands. Tenerife. Part three, climbing Teide: shark_er — LiveJournal

In Tenerife, we have one unfinished business – climbing to the top of the Teide volcano, 3718 meters above sea level. In order to do this, you must pre-book a visit, but there is one difficulty – no more than 200 people can visit the peak every day. Many people book the ascent three months in advance and we did not have time for a bit, everything was already booked for our dates. So I had to go the other way. At an altitude of 3260 meters, there is the Altavista camp site, where you can spend the night and climb to the top before dawn. The main condition is to go down to 9:00.

On the way to the Teide National Park, you can look at the structure of the island on the cut – some of the turns are very picturesque.

The national park has a lot to see besides the volcano itself. One of the most popular places of interest is Roques de Garcia. Heaps of rocks of different shapes and sizes. And a lot of tourists.

We were going to climb the Teide as majors and bought tickets for the cable car, the upper station of which, La Rambleta, is located at an altitude of 3555 meters, not far from the final goal. In the photo below, it’s a small black dot to the right of the top. In order to spend the night at the camp site, we would have to descend 300 meters, and then climb all the way to the peak again.

But we did not think at all that the funicular would not work on December 25, on Catholic Christmas, and there was no warning about this on the site, because. for Europe it goes without saying. In the morning, we generally saw a message that the weather was bad on the Teide, everything was closed, including the trails. We wrote an email asking to cancel the booking, even called but no answer, no hello. As a result, we decided that we would come to the lower station of the lift and decide everything on the spot. We were in no hurry, because we thought that a refund would not be a problem, since the weather did not let us.

But our confidence was dispelled at the cable car station, where there was only a souvenir shop. The funicular itself does not work, but the mountain shelter is waiting for us, but we have to go there on foot. 6.4 km way up, 918 meters climb. We decided to move on, but there was only one problem. We left at 16:00 and sunset at 18:00. Estimated time of rise is 3.5-4 hours – half of the way had to go in the dark. And it’s not scary that we spent last night by the ocean. Bravery and stupidity. Forward!

Here, at an altitude of 2000+ meters, there is already snow in places. It was absolutely dry in Moscow at that moment, and on social networks, many people wanted snow. I’m ready to live without him)

We rise higher and higher, unexploded volcanic bombs lie around. Not weakly, Teide threw them during the eruption)

I would not want to be here at the moment when these pebbles landed.

The sun is gradually disappearing behind the summit, and we decide to stop to launch the drone and look at the surroundings from above before it gets dark.

Here on the slope you can see impressive streaks of solidified lava and the path along which we have to go.

And this is the very beginning of the journey – the road through the national park, a small parking lot where we left the car, and the beginning of the trail up.

Excellent shaping. But passing by him below, nothing so remarkable is visible. The view from above is often more interesting.

We have already passed here – just there, along the path, we admired the lava bombs.

The triangular shadow of a volcano. And below you can see the coast of the island.

The last rays of the sun illuminated the sky, and darkness fell.

We arrived at the mountain shelter Refugio de Altavista at 19:35. We went inside and were surprised at the number of people in the dining room. Some even brought wine and beer upstairs with them. But we are only “doshiraki” and jamon with parmesan, and for some reason only 3 tea bags). I took the photo when everyone had already gone to their bedrooms.

Non-potable water flows from the tap, there is a kitchen, an electric kettle and dishes. And three vending machines – with drinking water, chocolate bars and coffee / cocoa. Water 3 euros per half liter, coffee 2 euros, bars 3 euros. But WIFI with good speed and free. A rarity in the mountains.

For overnight stays, you are provided with a disposable pillowcase and a sheet, which you must take downstairs with all your rubbish. Blankets, of course, are also provided, but without a disposable duvet cover)

Departure to the summit at 6 am. Before 9, we must go down so as not to get caught by the guards / park rangers – we don’t have cats, and it turns out that it’s officially forbidden now – it’s kind of like winter, ice, dangerous. We hoped that we would not be caught and we would not fall from a height. But everything worked out and, frankly, I don’t understand why cats would be needed there now. There was ice, but not much, and almost always it was possible to bypass it without leaving the path.

Photo of us shark_er and ki_belochka on top. I did not launch the drone – the wind is too strong here at dawn. The views are gorgeous, even though the dawn wasn’t particularly bright and the sky was mostly overcast.

Here the sun rose somewhere behind the clouds, and we moved down.

This is how the panorama of the crater of the dormant Teide volcano, the highest point in Spain, looks like. I’m glad that we still managed to climb to the very top)

📷 Spain. Canary Islands. Tenerife island. Part one
📷 Spain. Canary Islands. Tenerife island. Part two
📷 Spain. Canary Islands. Tenerife island. Part Three

Teide National Park and Volcano in Tenerife: photo, description, how to get there

Teide Volcano is the main attraction of Tenerife, which simply cannot be missed. It is believed that if you have not visited the volcano, you have not visited Tenerife. The volcano is so unique that it was included in the UNESCO list. And they don’t just bring sights there. Climbing the Teide is a unique opportunity to be above the clouds, and if you’re lucky with the weather, you can see not only Tenerife from a bird’s eye view, but also the neighboring island of Gomera. We decided not to miss this opportunity and one day we went to conquer the mountain peaks.

Where is the Teide volcano

The Teide volcano is located in the very island of Tenerife[/anchor]. If you look at it from the sea, you can see that the cone of the volcano occupies a decent part of it.

You will be surprised, but Mount Teide is the highest point in Spain and the third highest in the world. This is another reason to visit. After all, many people like to visit the most-most places. The height of the volcano is 3718 meters above sea level. Not surprisingly, from the top there is a stunning view of the surrounding area. In clear weather, you can even see the neighboring island of Gomera.

Animal life of Teide

The fauna of the park is poor: only about thirty species of animals live here – reptiles and birds. Of the permanent inhabitants, first of all, the Canarian canary finch (Serinus canaria), the hoopoe (Upupa epops), the long-eared owl (Asio otus), the kestrel (Falco naumanni), the crow (Corvus corax), several species of warblers (Acrocephalus), thrushes ( Turdus), wagtails (Motacilla), pigeons (Columba). The Canarian Canary Finch is the ancestor of the domestic canary. The Canarian lizard (Gallotia galloti) prefers open rocky areas. Of the mammals, bats (Microchiroptera) are the only native inhabitants of the park. All other animals, and these are European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus), wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), common voles (Microtus arvalis) and moufflons (Ovis orientalis), were brought to the island from the mainland.

If one wants to see rare pictures of near-volcanic landscapes, Teide National Park is the best option for a quality trip.

Teide volcano eruption

The history of the volcano began 170 thousand years ago. The summit of the Las Cañadas volcano collapsed under its own weight. As a result, a cavity with walls was formed, shaped like a huge crater. In scientific language, such a construction is called a caldera, which means a boiler. Later, a new peak formed inside the caldera – this is Teide known to us. It is considered to be two-storied because its design is created like a volcano within a volcano. The basin of the volcano is called “Caldera Las Cañadas”. Its area is one of the largest in the world, in some places it is about 16 km in diameter.

The Teide volcano is active, just now it is in dormant mode. The volcanic eruption has occurred repeatedly in the history of its development. The first documented eruption occurred in 1442. Christopher Columbus witnessed it. Since that time, statistics of eruptions have been kept. The last one took place over 100 years ago. Now his visit does not carry any danger. We need to take a moment to get to know the sleeping monster of Tenerife better. After all, who knows how long his dream will last.

Only one city in Tenerife was seriously affected by the volcano and only once. In 1706, the Teide eruption completely wiped out the once rich and prosperous city of Garachico from the island.

Legends about the Teide volcano say that the Guanches, who lived earlier in Tenerife, believed that an evil demon lives in the volcano, whose name is Guayota. The demon stole the sun and hid with it in the crater. Darkness set in, under the cover of which Guayota stole livestock from the locals and ruined crops. But the god Achaman, who created all living things, freed the sun, and locked the evil demon in a volcano. Since then, he has occasionally reminded people of his presence with lava and ash. Residents tried to bypass it and were a little afraid.

Flora

Orotava Valley in April: Teide broom in bloom and Wildpreet bruise with flower buds are the hallmarks of Tenerife. In the national park, not only the volcanoes themselves are unique, but also the flora. Many plant species are endemic there. So, out of 168 types of flowers, 58 can be seen exclusively in the Canaries, and 12 flowers in Teide. The most unusual among the plants is Wildpret’s bruise (Echium wildpretii), and the most common is Teide’s broom (Spartocytisus supranubius). In the spring, a lot of delicate white-pink inflorescences appear on it. Inside the crater grows such a rare species as panicled jaundice (Erysimum scoparium), and only here at an altitude of about 3500 m you can admire edelweiss (Leontopodium sp.). There are many agaves (Agave sp.), rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis), or hevea brazilian, and oleanders (Nerium oleander) in the park. A unique dragon tree (Dracaena draco) grows on dry plateaus, which has no growth rings, so myths arose about its thousand-year life. The red resin of this tree has healing properties. The relict forests of Monteverde on the slopes of the mountains are amazing with huge 10-meter laurels, which made the time of dinosaurs, Canary pines (Pinus canariensis) with their amazing ability to regenerate after forest fires. Small plantations of Cavendish sweet bananas (Musa cavendishii) can be found in different parts of the island, and the rare Teide violet (Viola cheilanthi folia) can be found in the Las Cañadas caldera.

Teide National Park

The most popular volcano received with the development of tourism on the island. Tourists gladly began to visit the volcano, admire and admire its size, nature and views. Of no less interest to tourists is the area around the volcano. Erupting lava froze in the most bizarre forms, creating a unique landscape. It is not surprising that the landscapes of Teide have repeatedly hit the lenses of television cameras and become part of the plot of famous films. For example, you can see the Teide landscape in the films One Million Years BC, Clash of the Titans, Wrath of the Titans. Star Wars fans, too, find familiar features from the movie stills in the volcano scenery. But alas, Star Wars was not filmed in Tenerife. There are several smaller volcanoes near Teide, but they have not received such fame and recognition.

Teide National Park (Parque Nacional del Tenerife) was created in 1954. Its area is 18900 hectares.

Since 2006 it has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In spring, rare plants and flowers bloom here. Among rare plants, for example, Wildpret’s bruise. It grows only in this area. Miel de Tajinaste honey is made from its nectar. It will be a wonderful souvenir for family and friends. Also here there is a special kind of pine with large cones and long needles – Canarian pine. Our guide showed it to us on a sightseeing tour. The peculiarity of the Canarian pine is that its wood does not lend itself to combustion. The flora and fauna in the vicinity of the volcano is not rich. From animals here there are moufflons, mice, rats, rabbits, wild cats, Algerian hedgehogs, several species of birds and reptiles.

on the volcano

Would you like to watch the starry sky from above? Such a possibility exists. There is a special observatory in the national park, which also organizes excursions, only at night.

The park is equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable visit. An asphalt road has been laid, there are cafes, viewing platforms, and an information bureau. And if you want to spend the night in such a unique place, you can book a room at the Parador de Las Canadas del Teide. A three-star hotel, but there is only one, so the rooms are in great demand. I recommend booking a room in advance. Staying in this unique place, you will have the opportunity to wander along the natural routes of the national park.

Teide National Park Road

There is Altavista tourist base on the top of the mountain, but living conditions are spartan.

While we were driving to Teide, we stopped several times at the observation decks. Beautiful views everywhere, in some places very green. The photo shows that behind me is a real coniferous forest.

History

The gorges of Teide or Las Cañadas (Spanish: Las Canadas del Teide) contain the best record of human history in Tenerife, due to the great wealth of archaeological finds.

Teide and Las Cañadas were not only of spiritual importance to the Guanches, but also fundamental means of survival during certain seasons. During the summer, there was a concentration of livestock and shepherds descending from all corners of Tenerife.

The Guanches called Teide – “Echeyde”, according to their concepts, this is the place that served as the dwelling of the demon “Guayot”. According to mythology, “Guayota” kidnapped the God of Light and the Sun – “Maheka” (Spanish Magec) and hid inside “Echeyde”. Then darkness took possession of the island and the Guanches asked for help from Achaman (Spanish Achaman), its supreme heavenly deity. God Achaman defeated Guayot, released “Mahek” from captivity, and planted the culprit deep into “Echeyde”, plugging the top with a cork. They say that the cork that Achamán placed is the so-called “Sugar Hill” (Spanish: Pilón de Azúcar), the upper light cone that crowns the peak of Teide to the present day.

The Guanche legend is supposed to coincide with the last major eruption in the Echeyde region.

Admiral Christopher Columbus during his crossing through the Canary Islands, on the night of August 24, 1492. Before sailing to America, he wrote in his ship’s log:

“… The Admiral decided on August 23 to return with his two ships to the island of Gran Canaria. We sailed the next day and spent that night close to Tenerife. At the top, which is the highest, large flashes of flame were seen coming out, which amazed people and gave them a similar idea of the cause of the emission of flashes of fire. Mount Etna in Sicily and many other peaks were the same analogous comparative example, where the same thing was seen … “

Volcanologists with geological cartography and text analysis have proven that the admiral’s description is consistent with the Boca Cangrejo volcanic eruption, being the first known historical eruption in Tenerife.

Cliffs de Garcia: god’s finger and shoe

On the way to the volcano, pay attention to the cliffs de Garcia, which attract with their unusual shape. The most famous rock is called the “Finger of God”. It is her image that can be found in guidebooks and postcards. This is one of the most recognizable symbols of Tenerife. You can recognize it by its appearance: the base of the rock is much thinner than the top. We even made a stop at this place. This miracle is created by nature itself. You look and wonder how she manages to create such masterpieces. The rocks of Roques de Garcia were formed as a result of the uneven destruction of the wall of volcanic lava that once divided the caldera into two parts.

Excursion to the volcano Teide

God’s Finger rock

You should also look at the rock “Shoe”, which in its shape resembles a woman’s shoe.

Shoe Rock

How to book a climb

To get to the top of Mount Teide, you must get permission through the official website that issues such permissions

By the way, you can book a visit to other places in Spain through it (you can see it in the top menu on the right ). Permission is free, but you need to book the ascent in advance!

You can book an ascent of the Teide peak on the official website. There you can also download a good map with all the routes of Mount Teide.

The site supports English. Read the conditions, translate them into Google Translate into Russian, Select Teide , then click on PICO DEL TEIDE ACCESS PERMIT , then – BOOKINGS , put a dot on General public (for mini groups – a couple of tourists). Next, you will be asked to choose a date and time to visit in periods – this is the time within which you can start climbing, but be aware that according to the rules, you cannot stay at the top of 3.718 m for more than 30 minutes because others also want to because of the large number wishing to visit this place. Next, you need to enter all your data in the proposed form. You will receive a letter in the mail with permission, which you need to print out and present along with your passport or a copy of it to the inspector in the lodge at the observation deck of the volcano in Tenerife. He will open for you the gate leading to the mouth of the volcano

We booked one date, but then the plans changed, and we decided to arrive to Tenerife island a week earlier, and booked another date, because we could not cancel the previous reservation. It’s impossible to book several dates, as there is a calculation for 1 ascent per week per person.

Climbing the Teide volcano

Whatever you go to conquer the volcano, you can get there by transport only up to the level of 2356 meters. You can climb higher by funicular or on foot. The ascent on foot takes about 5 hours, but there are few people who want to make such a walk. Most tourists choose the easiest way to get to Teide – by funicular, due to limited time. If you come with a tour, you will not be able to walk the path either.

Teide Funicular

The Teide funicular operates from 9.00 to 16.00 daily. In winter, in strong winds or frost, it can be closed. The funicular ride takes 8 minutes. It lifts tourists to a height of 3555 meters. If you carefully read the article, you have already guessed that this is not the top of the Teide. Before it remains another 163 meters. But in order to overcome them, you will need not only your desire, but also special permission. It is issued absolutely free of charge on the official website reservasparquesnacionales.es, the main thing is to take care of it in advance. As a rule, tourists book an ascent to the top several weeks in advance. There is a limit on the number of visits per day, as soon as the maximum number of passes has been issued, the possibility of booking closes. Permission will be emailed to you. If you are lucky enough to be among the lucky ones who were allowed to approach the crater, don’t forget to take your passport with you. Documents are checked.

cable car cabin

There are three routes near the cable car:

No. 10 – to the crater
No. 12 and No. 11 – around the top.

Route number 12 is considered more interesting, because it can see the Pico Viejo volcano.

A few tips

After wandering around here for about half an hour, we are already quite cold – in the huge open spaces at such a height there are always strong drafts, so do not be too lazy to take not only warm jackets, but also scarves, gloves and hats! We were here in January, and at the lower platform of the funicular the air warmed up to only +12 °C. In summer it is a little more comfortable here – about +17-18 ° C, but it is also windy, so it is worth warming up in any case.

It’s also funny that all the tourists, dressed inappropriately for the weather – in slates and shorts – turned out to be Russians and were not able to get out of the cable car at the top of the volcano: even in summer the temperature at the top is below zero, and in winter there is snow everywhere. Dress appropriately, otherwise you won’t be able to see the most beautiful things in the park!

We went to the funicular and … ended up at the tail of a long queue. If you are traveling on the Teide on your own, try to get to the lift before 11 am, or take your time and arrive after lunch, at 13-14 o’clock. By 11 am, the bulk of tourist groups are brought here, and regular buses also arrive, so a rather big queue forms, and you stand in it for about an hour. Moreover, you will have to stand on the street, so you run the risk of completely chilling and catching a runny nose.

How to buy tickets to the Teide volcano and their price

The funicular lift is paid. At the base of the cable car there are ticket offices where tickets are sold. You can buy tickets in advance on the official website https://www.volcanoteide.com/ru. The cost of round-trip tickets per person is 27 euros. There may be queues, since one funicular cabin can only accommodate 38 people. In bad weather, the number of people in the cabin may be reduced.

If you don’t want to pay that price, all you have to do is walk. So far, no money has been taken from pedestrians.

General information about Teide

Full name: Teide National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional del Teide).
Region: Tenerife island, Spain.
IUCN Category: II-I (National Park).
Founded: January 22, 1954
Area: 189.9 km2.
Terrain: mountainous, volcanic.
Climate: subtropical.
Official website: www.telefericoteide.com
The purpose of creation: the preservation of the amazing volcanic landscape of the island of Tenerife, part of the Canary archipelago, and its unique flora and fauna.
Visit – entrance to the park is free.

How to get to Mount Teide by car, bus, guided tour

Getting to Teide is quite easy. You can go with a guided tour, or you can go on your own by car or bus. A good asphalt road leads to the volcano.

Excursion to the Teide Volcano

We ourselves went to Teide with an excursion, because this option seemed convenient and cognizable to us. The guide told us a little on the way about Tenerife and the volcano. But when they got off the bus, everyone went for a walk on their own. We were given a certain time after which we had to return.

Entrance to the funicular

Since we were in February, there were not so many tourists as in the high season in summer. There were no long queues for the rise, but there are small arrivals of tourist buses during rush hour. At the bus stop near the entrance to the cable car, I spotted just such a statue.

The time of the funicular ride passes unnoticed. Just a few minutes and 1000 meters above sea level behind. During this time, you can take beautiful photos of the Teide surroundings.

View from the funicular

We climbed to the permitted height, walked a little upstairs, took pictures. Of course, if you want to walk here for a long time, then you need to book a hotel and go on your own. And with a group, the whole walk rests on time. But for a cursory inspection and acquaintance with Teide, it was enough for us.

Unusual sensations, to be above the clouds.

What struck me the most was the clouds. We really were above them. Even during the ascent on the bus, we saw through the window how we reached them, and then overcame them. They stayed somewhere down there. For me, this was the biggest surprise. I hadn’t even thought before that this was possible. I thought that only in cartoons characters jump on the clouds. Jumping, of course, will not really work, but it is possible to look at them from above. The beautiful view from the Teide is a bonus.

And on the volcano itself there are also very picturesque boundless landscapes. Feeling like you’re on Mars.

It is quite a bit to the top of Teide

We didn’t go to the crater of the volcano, we limited ourselves to visiting the observation deck and exploring the landscape.

In the distance is one of the observation platforms. A paved path leads to it.

The best photos can be taken on observation decks. There are several of them on the volcano. The observation deck has a fence, but looking down is still a little scary. From this height, everything seems so playful.

View from Mount Teide

And this photo can be called: Mountains, sea, clouds.

Photos from the volcano

By bus

From the Costa Adeje bus station you can get on your own by bus number 342. It departs daily at 9.15 and reaches the funicular. Returns at 15.40, I recommend to clarify the time in advance. Bus number 348 goes from the northern part of Tenerife. Buses run once a day, so you need to carefully plan your walk through the national park and adjust to their schedule.

By car

From the south of the island you can take the TF-51/TF-21 (via Vilaflor village) or TF-38. The last one has less serpentine. The entrance to the park is open around the clock.

Tourist oasis

Back in the 19th century, the British, who ruled the island, realized that in places where the sun shines all year round, you can relax. In winter, wealthy citizens of Foggy Albion flocked here. This is how tourism was born in Tenerife. During the time of Franco, the flow of vacationers almost dried up, and only at 1975 was reborn like a Phoenix bird. Today, almost 4 million tourists rest on the island every year, providing 80% of budget revenues. It looks like the people of Tenerife have found their gold mine.

Tenerife’s black beaches

Many connoisseurs of beach holidays come to the island. They are attracted by black sand, the color of which is due to the presence of volcanic tuffs. Such beaches are located in the north of Tenerife. In the south, the sand is lighter and reddish – it is brought by the wind from the African desert. For lovers of snow-white beaches, white sand was specially brought in. In total, there are 67 kilometers of beaches on the coastal strip. This is enough to accommodate everyone.

Volcanism in the distant past created many unique natural formations. These include volcanic pipes. They are found in large numbers and are tunnels and voids in the ground. Once upon a time, molten magma flowed through them. The most impressive is the Wind Cave near the town of Icod de los Vinos in the northern part of the island. Its length reaches 18 kilometers! It is the fifth largest volcanic cave in the world. Longer is only in Hawaii.

The ancient inhabitants of Tenerife are the Guanches. Where they came from on the island is unknown to science. They were all blond, and women were distinguished by unprecedented beauty. Mummies of Guanches, whose age exceeds 2 thousand years, were found in the Wind Cave. It is not clear where the ancient Egyptian need for the complex procedure of mummification of the dead came from. Archaeologists have also found other curiosities here – for example, the remains of a rat and a gigantic lizard. The cave has a three-story structure. Geologists have determined its age at 27 thousand years.

No less exotic is the so-called Teide Finger, an unusually shaped remnant on the slope of a volcano. It resembles a huge mushroom-morel. The panorama of the huge caldera (failure) in which the Teide volcano is located is impressive. At the base of the mountain, you can see a typical Canarian plant with the amusing name Wildpret’s bruise. It looks like a huge pink carrot, which is stuck into the ground with its tail.

Finger of Teide

The Infierno nature reserve in the southwest of the island is considered a popular tourist attraction. In fact, this is a gorge, where there are caves, a waterfall and terraced fields. The hiking route along the gorge starts near the town of Adeje. Its total length is just over six kilometers, and the height difference is no more than two hundred meters. The waterfall, falling from a height of 80 meters, is the only source of fresh water in Tenerife.

In addition to natural attractions, there are many interesting man-made objects in the vicinity of Teide. These include the pyramids of Guimar. Six huge structures rise near the city of the same name in the southeast of the island. The famous Thor Heyerdahl excavated megaliths. It is completely incomprehensible how the Guanches built structures similar to the Mexican Mayan pyramids. The natives of Tenerife did not have any fleet and knowledge in the field of navigation!

Guimar Pyramid

The Guanches made weapons, tools and household utensils from obsidian, the so-called volcanic glass. Stone products were very durable. They did not build houses, preferring to live in caves. Clothes were made from skins. Each tribe was led by a chief. Assuming office, he uttered the phrase: “I swear to make every subject happy!” In Adeje there is a monument to the King of Tenerife. For a European, he looks unusual – where on the continent will you meet a king with a spear, without a crown and … in a loincloth?

The Teide volcano is adjacent to the town of La Orotava, where the historical center has been perfectly preserved. A popular tourist destination is the city of Puerto de la Cruz, where there is an archaeological museum, ancient temples, a parrot park (“Loro Park”), an orchid garden and a botanical garden. There are also many hotels and the famous Jardin beach.

The city of San Cristobal de la Laguna is under the protection of UNESCO for a reason. It was founded in 1496 and has largely retained its ancient exteriors. There is a monastery of St. Catherine of Siena and several temples, including a cathedral. It is also worth paying attention to the Royal Basilica of Candelaria, the largest Catholic church on the island. It is real to get acquainted with the life of the villagers, as it was in the old days, in the village of Maska. It is located in the west of Tenerife.

Auditorio de Tenerife

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is home to the island’s most recognizable building, the Auditorio de Tenerife. The fantastic building that houses the opera is the work of modern architects. People come to the resort town of Los Gigantes to admire the coastal rock ledges up to half a kilometer high. In Costa Adeje, there is a water park Siam Park. Divers are willing to come to Tenerife. In the immediate vicinity of the coast there are many dive sites where you can see not only the inhabitants of the underwater world, but also sunken ships.

How to dress and what to take with you

The weather on Mount Teide is very different from the coast. We were here in winter. If it was about 25 degrees Celsius in Las Americas, then we had to go to the volcano in winter jackets, in which we flew from Russia. It was about -5 degrees on the volcano. There was no snow, but the guide told us that sometimes it happens. It is also not hot here in summer. Of course, it will not be as cold as in winter, but you need to dress warmer.

The volcano has rarefied air, so people with health problems should be more careful. When climbing and physical exertion, do not rush and make more stops along the way.

Accommodation in the shelter Altavista

Altavista

Who wants to sleep on the Teide volcano? – sounds intriguing. Yes, a shelter (refugio) or Altavista camp site was built for an overnight stay at the top of 3260 meters. Open to everyone, but for money and with reservations by dates. The cost of an overnight stay depends on the season and ranges from 21 to 25 euros. The number of places is 54 in total, which consist of two-level beds placed in three rooms. At your disposal: a toilet, a hall, a kitchen, a dining room, a first-aid post, clean sheets, a blanket and heating, there is no shower cabin.

Booking a bed in this hostel gives you the opportunity to climb the peak of the volcano, to a height of 3718 meters without a permit. There is simply no one to keep you at the top from 17:00 in the evening until 9:00 in the morning. Do what you want. So for those who want to climb the peak, but forgot to get permission, then take the service – a bed in Altavista.

Reservation Altavista

It is possible to go down and up to the camp site not only by funicular, but also on foot. 3 kilometers along the TF-21 road there is a small parking lot and the beginning of the hiking route.

Video

Teide volcano on the map

You can see the location of the Teide volcano in Tenerife in relation to the resorts on the map below.

The main points of the Teide National Park.

And in this photo you can learn more about the volcano.

The greatness of the Teide volcano is amazing from the first minutes you get on it. Despite its height, everything here is so organized for tourists that it will not be difficult to get to the volcano and get on it. If you still doubt whether it is worth visiting, I will summarize the main reasons why you should visit Teide.

It is one of the UNESCO sites.
It’s beautiful here (just like on Mars, although I haven’t been there), and what views open up on the coast.
This is the highest point in Spain.
This is a unique opportunity to walk above the clouds and look them down.

And for myself in the future, I planned to conquer it on foot. But that will be a completely different story.

Have a nice trip!

About the author: Ekaterina

On the pages of my blog you will find information about the places where I have been, secrets and life hacks of independent travel. 9Ol000 The return trip on the funicular no longer causes such delight: the land is getting closer, the views in the valley no longer seem so fantastic. The path to the exit runs through the cafeteria and gift shop.

Food

Eating here is a good idea, as there are almost no establishments in the park. The choice of food here is not wide, but you can drink coffee with a hearty sandwich or a delicious cake. Prices are quite normal, such a lunch for three cost 13.5 euros. If you were planning to have a picnic, keep in mind that you can’t make fires and litter in the national park, there are special areas for this with gazebos and barbecues just down the slope, along the TF-21 highway.

Souvenirs

Also pay attention to the souvenir shop: if you want to bring memorable gifts from the Teide, you will have to buy them here. The assortment is typical for any souvenir shop: mugs, plates, postcards, key rings, magnets. But if you want something specific, look at products using volcanic ash and hardened lava. It sells everything from simple lava stones covered with varnish or glitter, and key rings to plates and ashtrays with a coating. It may seem strange to some that the stones lying everywhere here are sold in the store for 1-2 euros, but the rules for visiting the Teide Park clearly state that it is strictly forbidden to take the stones. The fact is that the park is visited annually by more than 3 million tourists, and if each of them takes a pebble as a keepsake, an ordinary wasteland will remain in place of the lava valley.

We chose a small decorative plate with the image of a volcano, its walls are covered with varnished volcanic chips, so it looks very unusual. The asking price is 7 euros.

Tenerife sightseeing tour

Discussion: 4 comments Always dreamed of visiting the very mouth

The Canaries all year round

The summer season is over and the winter season hasn’t started yet. In the midst of the off-season, most Russians go on sightseeing tours around Europe, but those eager to prolong the summer go to the southern seaside resorts. For example, to the Canary Islands, which have turned from a purely summer destination through the efforts of domestic tour operators into a year-round one.

* A controversial statement, given the fact that when there is an African heat on the southern coast of the islands, snow lies on the top of Mount Teide until June. Rather, in the Canary Islands, eternal spring. It is officially considered that the archipelago has a moderately hot climate, moderated by the trade winds blowing from the north, and the cold current of the Atlantic Ocean. The air temperature in winter rarely drops below +10 °C and rises above +25 °C. In summer, the temperature on the various islands ranges from +20 to 40 °C. It is clear that due to such a climate, hundreds of thousands of foreign tourists from many countries flock to the islands every year, especially in winter. Two islands are most popular among Russian tourists: Tenerife and Gran Canaria, where they are mainly sent on vacation by domestic travel agencies.

The most popular island is Tenerife, where Mount Teide proudly rises. Scientists say that the “white mountain” (this is how Teide is translated from the language of the Guanches who lived here in antiquity) is about 600 thousand years old. A tour of the Teide National Park is impressive. At the top, where the funicular brings tourists, you freeze with admiration. Dozens of layers of lava of various ages, compositions and colors, incredible stone sculptures, craters and rocks – all this can be seen and photographed.

Another popular island, Gran Canaria is often referred to as “The Continent in Miniature” due to the variety of natural landscapes and abundance of attractions. The latter with good reason include the crater of the Bandama volcano, to the bottom of which, to a depth of 220 m, tourists descend along a narrow path. Or the famous Las Palomas beach, which is 8 km of sand dunes. Interestingly, the temperature of the water washing this place ranges from +20 to 24 ° C all year round. Las Palomas is the oldest resort area of the island. And the most famous is Playa del Engles, famous for its nightlife. In the extreme south, there is a very calm beach called Playa de las Melonerase.

Very satisfied with the summer season in the Canary Islands with Natalie Tours. According to its General Director Vladimir Vorobyov , the increase in the number of customers this summer compared to the summer of last year was approximately 20%. Profits also rose. “The Canaries are a good summer destination. In winter, it is not in great demand among Russians,” Mr. Vorobyov noted.

Strongly disagree with this statement Anna Podgornaya , General Director of Pegas Touristik travel company, which for the first time in its history enters this direction. According to Anna Podgornaya, the Canary Islands are a year-round destination that can become popular not only in summer, but also in winter and off-season. Already in the first season in the Canary Islands, the company planned its own air transportation. In October, two charter programs will start from Moscow to the most popular islands among tourists. Nord Wind Airlines will fly on Boeing 737-200 liners, to Tenerife twice a week, to Gran Canaria once every ten days. The first two flights to the Canary Islands were practically sold out before the beginning of October, which is surprising, given that winter has not yet arrived, and in the off-season there are few hunters to rest in distant regions. The explanation, most likely, lies in the fact that many of our compatriots, who have already rested in Turkey or Greece, decided to extend their vacation and go to the Canary Islands for this. Pegasus charter programs will continue until mid-spring, but will likely continue into the summer months. The tour operator also plans to organize charter flights to the Canary Islands from some Russian regions. It is not yet clear which ones.

Summer has passed well for the tour operator Vam Tour, specializing in Spain. In the summer and off-season, the company sent its customers to Tenerife on VIM-Avia Boeing 757 aircraft, and from October 30 it is going to send it on weekly Aeroflot flights (IL-96). From the beginning of November, this air carrier introduces a second weekly frequency on the route (on Fridays). Several flights are also planned for the period of the New Year holidays.

Air Europa will fly from St. Petersburg to Tenerife. It is likely that other airlines will appear, which, together with tour operators, will supply charters or even short charter chains for this period.

“We had a very confident and calm season. The increase in the number of tourists from Russia amounted to more than 50% of last year’s volumes, ”said Roman Rybakov, , media director of the travel company TEZ TOUR, commenting on the situation in the Canary Islands. In autumn and winter, this tour operator plans to deliver its customers to the islands from Moscow mainly by I Fly airlines weekly on Fridays from Vnukovo and Aeroflot airlines from Sheremetyevo on Fridays and, starting from the end of October, on Tuesdays. In addition, from St. Petersburg, the company’s clients can get to the archipelago on the flights of Rossiya Airlines – also on Fridays. Additional frequencies are also planned for New Year’s races, which are already being actively sold. As for the plans, following the general trend of the industry, in 2013 it is predicted that sales of tours from Russia to the Canary Islands will grow by 20-30%.

All tour operators working in the Canary Islands agreed that this direction is interesting because it is well predictable and does not involve any drastic changes. Players have known each other for a long time and have one common desire – to make money.

Fedor Yurin

Tenerife. Crossing the island from south to north through Teide Park – Spain, islands – Jimina Irina travel site

From the south of the island, Teide National Park can be reached by two routes: via Vilaflor or via Chio. We discovered the road through Chio quite recently, and have already managed to visit there twice, dropping in on the way for a short walk along crater Samara .

But most often we go to Teide through the village of Vilaflor. The first stop can be made in the town of La Escalona (La Escalona), from here you have an excellent view of the south of the island.

We continue the path. As soon as we pass Vilaflor, we find ourselves on a mirador, located near the largest and oldest Canarian pine. The trunk of the tree is simply immense, and the long and thick needles seem so fluffy!

Literally in a couple of turns there will be a branch of the road at Lunar landscape . But today we continue our way to Teide.

The next lookout is one of my favorites. In addition to the beautiful view of Tenerife and neighboring islands, it is very green here. The slopes are covered with green coniferous forests, and along the road you can collect cones of unrealistic sizes.

Sometimes in Tenerife, and other Canary Islands, a real disaster happens – fires. So in the summer of 2013, many islands burned. The aftermath we saw in Garajonay National Park on La Gomera . And the forests of Tenerife suffered greatly. Having emerged from behind the next turn, we almost burst into tears when we saw a terrible picture:

These “matches” were once fluffy Canary pines.

I am glad that the Canary pine can be reborn from the ashes. And we believe that very soon we will see fresh greenery on the blackened tree trunks.

Well, meanwhile we are approaching the mirador, located at the confluence of two highways: TF-21 and TF-38. From here you can see the Teide volcano in all its glory, surrounded by other peaks and lava fields.

Along the narrow road there are a few more places to stop. And we, with pleasure, will wander here, looking at the bizarre forms of lava mountains and plants that manage to grow on such difficult soil.

Look carefully: do you see the shoe?

A few more kilometers, and we are approaching the main tourist site in the Teide region. It houses Parador de las Cañadas del Teide – hotel, restaurant. This hotel has an excellent location – next to the Teide volcano. It is very convenient to stay here overnight in order to start climbing the Teide in the morning. Parador de las Cañadas del Teide is located at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level and offers magnificent views of the Teide National Park.

There is also a large observation deck from which hiking trails along the caldera are laid.

The so-called “Finger of God”

There are enough interesting routes here for the whole day. Here you can also take the funicular to the highest point of Teide. See my separate report about climbing Teide volcano .

And we rush towards the next unreal landscape.

Our kids love this place. The full feeling of being on another planet. Everything under your feet is small volcanic pebbles. They are so fun to pick up by hand 🙂

You should only go here in closed shoes, sandals will be very uncomfortable. And when you leave this pretty field, you will have to clean and wash your shoes, clothes, everything below the knees for a very long time, so stock up on napkins.

Next comes a rather complicated section of the serpentine, which ends approximately here:

I drove past so many times, and only once, on the fifth or sixth, did I pay attention to the mountains in the Las Canadas del Teide area, on the right side of the road. But these are also craters! By the way, several hiking trails are organized along them.

Shortly after Las Canadas del Teide, the road forks: TF-21 takes you to La Orotava, and TF-24 through the Esperanza forests to La Laguna.

The TF-24 road is very beautiful and romantic. Many miradors are arranged along it.

From here you have a view of Puerto Cruz. In the “zoom” you can see the streets, houses and even Lake Martinez.

The weather is clear today, and from this site you can see the east of the island and the silhouette of neighboring Gran Canaria.

But more often we find here such a picture:

Through mountain serpentines, our path lies in the forests of Esperanza (La Esperanza).

La Tarta – pie 🙂

Another lookout where you can be above the clouds.

It’s here in a different weather

Finally, we drive into the fragrant forests of Esperanza.