Visiting Volcano Teide: All You Need To Know
If you are planning to spend your vacations in Tenerife, the most popular Canary Island, you should try to squeeze visiting Volcano Teide into your busy schedule.
Volcano Teide is the highest peak in Spain and the third-largest volcano in the world from its base, rising about 3,718 meters above sea level. This place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered the main tourist attraction in Tenerife, therefore, you need to plan your visit as early as possible.
As part of your planning, read this post to learn about the important things you should know before visiting Mount Teide.
Location & Getting There
The volcano is located within Teide National Park, a protected area known for its unique geological formations, flora, and fauna.
The park is characterized by the vast Caldera de las Cañadas, a colossal volcanic crater formed by the collapse of a central volcano and surrounded by an impressive ring of mountains.
The easiest and most convenient way to explore Tenerife is by car. As for Teide, I also recommend reaching it by car, via TF-21 and TF-24 Roads, which are the main roads leading to Teide National Park.
The TF-21 takes you from the south, passing through Vilaflor, while the TF-24 approaches from the north.
If you are not driving, then you can take a bus: there are local buses called TITSA that operate on the island and connect major towns to Teide National Park. Check the bus schedules and routes in advance.
Activities For Hiking Lovers
Teide Park is a paradise for hiking lovers: there are a lot of amazing hikes of different levels of complexity located on different altitudes. You can find a trail suitable for your interests, preferences and physical level on the Komoot or AllTrails portals.
If you are an experienced hiker, you can ascend the summit of Teide on foot! It's super challenging: the distance is around 8.3km with an ascend of 1.2km - overall this exercise should take you around 5-6 hours.
If you do not want to climb the Tede by yourself and prefer to save time and energy for other activities, then you can use a Cable car and ascend to the upper station in 8 minutes. You need to book tickets there preferably a few days in advance.
Please bear in mind that to ascend the peak itself and go inside the crater you need to get a special permit - read below to get more details.
Permit and Cable Car
Another important thing you should know before visiting Teide is a special permit. If you want to reach the summit, either by foot (if you are an experienced hiker) or by cable car, you need a free permit that you can obtain online in advance here. I suggest applying for the permit at least 3 months in advance. The number of permits is limited to protect the environment, and slots disappear quickly.
If you are planning to reach the summit via cable car, in addition to the permit, you need to buy your cable car tickets before you go there. Do not worry: usually there are plenty of spots available for the cable car, so you should be fine if you buy your tickets just a couple of days in advance. Check the tickets and prices here.
Once you reach the Cable car and get to the upper station (close to the summit) in around 8 minutes, take the hiking route 10, which will lead you to the summit in around 30-40 minutes. Do not forget to take the permit with you, as it will be checked at the beginning of the hike.
What If You Couldn't Get The Permit?
If you didn't manage to get the permit that I mentioned above, do not worry: Teide is much more than just the summit, other incredible hiking paths are starting from the upper cable car stations. For example, hiking routes 11 and 12 will enable you to enjoy Martian-like views and observe the summit from the best locations.
Important Information
Please bear in mind that the summit of Mount Teide is at an altitude of 3,718 meters, which might be unusual for the vast majority of the visitors. You should be aware of the potential effects of high altitude, such as altitude sickness. Be careful, especially if you are not used to high altitudes: take it slow, stay hydrated, and listen to your body.
Though Tenerife is often called an island of the eternal spring, and you can swim in the ocean and enjoy the sunshine at any point during the year, do not forget that the weather on the island varies greatly. Even in summer, temperatures can be cool at higher altitudes (usually, around 10-15 degrees colder than at sea level), so do not forget to take warm clothes with you. Comfortable hiking shoes are a great decision, even if you are considering small hiking routes.
Also, do not forget to take water with you, and use sunscreen and sunglasses - the sun is powerful at high altitudes, so you need to be prepared.
The Food
Remember that Volcano Teide is the most popular place in Tenerife, so if possible, bring your lunch with you, as there is just one restaurant near the station, and it was the worst experience ever! The view was pretty nice though, but the food... I do not even want to bring these memories back.
To avoid any disappointments, bring something to eat with you: it will help you to save money, time and energy.
I hope you liked this post and have added visiting Volcano Teide to your travel bucket list. This place is beautiful, isn't it? After reading this post, you are prepared for your visit, and I hope it will be amazing.
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