Don't miss a visit to the Teide volcano

El Teide volcano is located in the centre of the island of Tenerife and can be seen from most of the coastline. The formation of El Teide began around 170,000 years ago. At 3,715 metres, it is the highest peak in Spain and the third highest in the Atlantic, after the two volcanoes in Hawaii.

Teide is what is known as a stratovolcano, meaning that it is made up of several layers of hardened lava. This type of volcano is characterised by cones on the flanks of the main mountain.

Around the summit of Teide, there are what Canary Islanders call "pico" volcanoes. The "Pico de Cabras", the "Pico Viejo" and the " Montaña Blanca " were created during volcanic eruptions, when the lava lifted the earth to gush out.

Teide is a volcano that formed during the destruction of the previous volcano, apparently much larger judging by the size of the crater, which is why it nestles in the hollow of what geologists call a caldera, an often circular form of destruction created by volcanic activity itself.

The indigenous peoples of the Canary archipelago, the Guanches, have developed many stories around this vertiginous, fiery peak that they call Echeide, "hell".

One of them tells of the god of evil, Guayota, who lived inside Mount Teide. One day, he kidnapped the god of light and the sun, Magec, and locked him up in his own hell in the centre of the volcano. The Guanches implored Achaman, their supreme god, to help them. He succeeds in defeating Guayota and freeing Magec from the depths of his prison.

To end the battle, Achaman is said to close the Teide volcano with the last cone to be seen on its summit, which is lighter in colour than the others.

If the idea of visiting an active volcano isn't enough for you, there are plenty of other reasons to visit Teide...

A UNESCO World Heritage Site

In 1954, el Teide and the Cañadas caldera on which it sits were declared a national park. In 2007, the area was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The lunar landscapes, arid earth, cacti and black volcanic rocks are well worth a visit. It's a somewhat magical landscape that you really must take the time to visit during your holiday on the Canary Islands.

The Teide Observatory

Over the years, people have studied volcanoes and rock formations to learn more about the earth and its history. The clear skies and volcanic origin of the island of Tenerife intrigued scientists, who built the Teide Observatory in 1964.

Located on the mountain of Izaña, which is lower than Teide and, above all, not active, the observatory allows visitors to contemplate the stars and study the volcano. It is part of the Canary Islands Institute of Astrophysics.

You can visit the observatory on your own or on a highly interesting guided tour, day or night.

To find out more about these excursions, visit the official Teide volcano website.

The Volcano cable car

It's rare to be able to take a cable car up a volcano... The cable car climbs to a height of 3,550 metres without breaking a sweat and lets you admire one of the most beautiful suns ets of your life.

We'll tell you all about it below.

The starry skies of Tenerife seen from Teide

The island of Tenerife boasts one of the most beautiful skies in the world, and night-time excursions offer the chance to marvel at a sky that shines with a thousand lights in the silence of the volcanic island's mountains.

Hiking

Whether you're a weekend walker or a seasoned hiker, Teide National Park is packed with hiking trails. You can choose the level of difficulty and the difference in altitude. The trails are accessible to all and often join the observation lookouts. Routes 11 and 12 within the park are easy and go around the lookouts. This is a great itinerary if you want to take a leisurely stroll or if you're travelling with the family.

Find out more about the stages of these two accessible and enjoyable trails.

Take the Teide cable car

Day or night, be sure to climb aboard the cable car built in 1963. This little gondola takes you up to a height of 3,550 metres and allows you to take the elderly and children alike on a breathtaking experience.

Sunset and starry night on Tenerife's volcano

We loved the night excursion to the Teide volcano. It departs between 2.15 and 4.30 pm, depending on when the sun sets. From your hotel or meeting point, a bus takes you to the cable car. From there, it's up to the observatory.

You can visit the observatory, admire the sunset and, above all, observe the starry sky through long-range telescopes in the company of Starlight guides. It's a magical experience in English or Spanish that lasts around 8 hours. The tour costs €114 per person.

Find out more about the tour and book your excursion on the official Teide website.

Hiking to Teide via the Montaña blanca

This route up the volcano is the most challenging of all. During a 5.5-hour climb, you will cover 8.3 km and a difference in altitude of 1,188 metres. This is a route reserved for good walkers on the historic Teide trail. Once you've reached the top, you can enjoy the breathtaking views before heading back down the trail for 4 hours 30 minutes.

Find out more about this itinerary on the volcano's official blog.