A lunar landscape at 2,000 meters altitude — frozen lava, red and ochre rocks, total silence. Teide National Park covers 18,990 hectares in central Tenerife, dominated by the Teide-Pico Viejo stratovolcano. Teide peaks at 3,718 m, Spain's highest mountain. Measured from the ocean floor, it rises 7,500 m — the world's third-largest volcanic structure. A national park since 1954, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, it is Spain's most visited national park with over 4 million visitors per year.
The trick: Arrive before 9am — clouds rise from the coast from 11am onward and block the view. The TF-21 road from Vilaflor (south) is the most scenic route up: Canarian pine forest, then lunar landscape in 30 minutes. In winter, snow sometimes covers the summit — the road may close, but snow-capped Teide visible from the north of the island is worth a detour.
The Las Cañadas caldera forms a cirque 15 km in diameter. Inside: solidified lava flows, cones, rock formations with colors that shift with the light. The Roques de García — lava needles sculpted by erosion — are the park's most famous photo spot. Pico Viejo (3,135 m), the Canaries' second volcano, stands right beside it with its 800 m diameter crater.
The Guanches — Tenerife's first inhabitants — considered Teide to be Echeyde, the gateway to hell. The last eruptions date back to 1798 (Narices del Teide, on the Pico Viejo flank) and 1909 (Chinyero, at the park's edge). The volcano is classified as "dormant," not extinct — sulfurous fumaroles remain visible near the crater.
The Teleférico del Teide departs from the base station at 2,356 m and reaches La Rambleta at 3,555 m in 8 minutes. Non-resident prices: €38-42 round-trip adult, ~€19-21 child (3-13 years) — book online at volcanoteide.com, time slots fill quickly. Hours: 9am to 4pm-5pm depending on season (last ascent 1 hour before closing). Closed during high winds or bad weather — check the day of your visit.
From La Rambleta, two free-access trails offer panoramic views: the Mirador de La Fortaleza (north) and the Mirador de Pico Viejo (south — view of La Gomera, El Hierro, La Palma). To reach the crater at 3,718 m, you need the Sendero Telesforo Bravo permit — free but must be reserved at reservasparquesnacionales.es, often fully booked weeks in advance.
Beware of altitude sickness: at 3,555 m, some people experience headaches, shortness of breath, or nausea. Climb slowly, stay hydrated, and descend if symptoms persist. Access forbidden to pregnant women, people with heart conditions, and children under 3 years.