If you’re visiting Tenerife, Teide National Park will surely be on your itinerary. This is a complete guide to one of the most popular national parks in the world!
Mount Teide is a stunning sight from anywhere on the island, but visiting it and seeing it up close is definitely a must-do in Tenerife. Keep reading this blog post to discover why it’s worth visiting, how to get there, and what to do once you’re there!
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WHERE IS TEIDE NATIONAL PARK
Teide National Park is the highest peak in both Tenerife and Spain, standing tall at 3,715 meters (12,188 feet) above sea level. It’s right in the middle of Tenerife, with the mountain and the beautiful surroundings making up the whole Teide National Park. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is well-known for its volcanic landscapes, unique rock formations, and amazing stargazing spots.
IS IT WORTH VISITING TEIDE NATIONAL PARK
Teide National Park is definitely worth visiting. It’s an incredibly unique National Park, and probably unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. It offers incredible landscapes which include volcanic terrain, lava fields, and unique rock formations. Once you’re there, you’ll feel like you’re on another planet!
Mount Teide is the real gem of the national park. You can hike up to the highest peak in Spain or take a cable car to the top. If you’re not interested in reaching the summit, no worries—you can still enjoy amazing views from the base of the mountain. If you’re an avid hiker, there are great hiking opportunities in this national park. Whether you’re looking for an easy walk or a challenging ascent to the summit, there are plenty of trails to explore.
To make the experience even better, try to get there early to beat the crowds. If you’re visiting in winter when there’s snow, it’s a good idea to go on a weekday. Locals love heading to Teide NP for some sledging on the weekends, so it can get pretty busy.
Make sure to dress appropriately. Layers are your best bet since the temperature can change a lot. It can get really cold, especially if the clouds are covering the mountain, but if the sun’s out, you’ll feel pretty warm, even in winter.
Finally, book cable car tickets in advance if you’re going to the top, and if you want to hike to the summit, you’ll need a permit. It’s free but request it well in advance.
HOW TO REACH TEIDE NATIONAL PARK
BY CAR
Driving is definitely the easiest and best way to get to Teide National Park. You can reach it from anywhere on the island, though the drive time will vary a bit.
We personally drove from Puerto de la Cruz to La Orotava, then continued to the park on the TF-21 road. It was a smooth ride with some amazing viewpoints along the way.
You can take the same TF-21 road from the South (Los Cristianos / Playa de las Américas), or use TF-24 if you’re coming from Santa Cruz, and TF-38 from Los Gigantes.
There are a few parking areas near the cable car station and at the viewpoints, but they fill up fast. We ended up waiting a while for a spot near the busiest viewpoints, so be ready for crowds if you’re visiting around midday
BY BUS
Getting to Teide NP by public transport isn’t the easiest. Tenerife’s public buses have two routes to the park—one from Costa Adeje (bus 342) and one from Puerto de la Cruz (bus 348). They only run once a day, so make sure to check the schedule ahead of time and plan your day around the bus times.
BY TOUR
If you’d rather not drive or depend on buses, you can book a guided tour from popular spots like Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos, or Puerto de la Cruz. Many tours include hotel pickup, a cable car ride, and stops at the best viewpoints. Buggy tours to Mount Teide are really popular too. Here are a few you can check out!
IS TEIDE NATIONAL PARK FREE?
Yes, Teide National Park is free to enter. You can drive, hike, and explore most of the park without any fees. But if you want to take the cable car to the upper station at 3,555 meters, you’ll need a ticket. Prices start around €40 for a round-trip ticket for adults, and they sell out fast, so it’s best to grab them as soon as you can.
Also, hiking to the summit doesn’t cost anything, but if you want to reach the very top of Mount Teide (3,715m), you’ll need a free permit from the National Park Authority. These permits are limited, so you’ll need to book them weeks or even months in advance.
WHAT TO DO AND SEE IN TEIDE NATIONAL PARK
There’s plenty to see and do in Teide National Park, from breathtaking landscapes and hiking trails, to unique geological formations. Here are the best things to do and see:
VISIT MOUNT TEIDE
Mount Teide is the main highlight of the national park, and it’s totally worth visiting if you have the time to explore it in depth. If you’re not up for a big adventure, you can take the cable car to La Rambleta station at 3,555 meters. The ride takes about 8 minutes, and you’ll get some amazing views on the way up. Just remember to book your tickets ahead of time since they can sell out fast!
If you’re up for a challenge, consider hiking to the summit. After reaching the La Rambleta station, you’ll need to continue climbing for about 30 to 40 minutes to reach the top. Just keep in mind that hiking to the summit requires a free permit, which you can request on their official website. These permits go fast, so it’s best to apply a few months in advance.
EXPLORE ROCK FORMATIONS
Teide National Park is home to some incredible rock formations. First up, there are the Roques de García, the most visited part of the park after Mount Teide. The formations here include the famous Roque Cinchado (The Finger of God), La Catedral, and Torrotito. Not too far from these rocks, you’ll find the Visitor’s Centre – a great spot to relax, grab a snack or drink, and take in the stunning views.
HIKE THE TRAILS
Teide National Park has plenty of amazing hiking trails to check out. Some are easy, while others are a bit more challenging. Whatever trail you choose, you’re guaranteed an incredible experience. Here are the most popular ones:
Montaña Blanca
This hike is the main route to the summit if you’d rather skip the cable car. It’s pretty challenging and will take around 6 to 8 hours to complete. The trail is steep, so it’s not really for beginners. You don’t need a permit for this hike, but make sure to bring food and drinks since there are no facilities along the way.
Sendero de los Roques de García
The Sendero de los Roques de García is one of the most popular and scenic hikes in Teide National Park. This circular route takes you past some of the park’s most iconic rock formations, and it’s 3.5 km long. It’s pretty easy and should take about 1.5 to 2 hours to complete. You can start at the Visitor’s Centre or the parking lot near the rock formations.
Arenas Negras Trail
The Arenas Negras Trail is a beautiful hike through Tenerife’s Corona Forestal Natural Park. It’s perfect for those who want to experience pine forests, volcanic landscapes, and stunning views of Mount Teide. This trail takes you through a lush green forest with black volcanic soil, so it’s a bit different from the other hikes. You can start at the Arenas Negras Recreational Area. The loop is 6 km long and takes about 2 to 2.5 hours to complete.
ENJOY STARGAZING
If you’re into stargazing, Teide National Park might just be your favorite place on Earth! It’s one of the best stargazing spots in the world, thanks to its high altitude, low light pollution, and clear skies. It’s a perfect place to see the Milky Way, constellations, and planets. The best time to stargaze is right after sunset or just before sunrise, so pick whichever works best for you. Some of the top spots for stargazing are Mirador de La Ruleta & Roques de García, Mirador del Llano de Ucanca, Teleférico del Teide Base Station, and the incredible Izaña Observatory. Just don’t forget to bring warm clothes!
STOP AT THE INCREDIBLE VIEWPOINTS
Scenic roads like TF-21 and TF-38 pass through breathtaking landscapes with viewpoints, and all of them have absolutely stunning views. Here are a few viewpoints we absolutely loved:
- Viewpoint Mirador de Mataznos
- Mirador el Tabonal Negro
- Mirador de La Ruleta
- Zapato de La Reina Viewpoint
VISIT THE TEIDE OBSERVATORY
The Teide Observatory is one of the best places for astronomical research, and it’s pretty amazing to visit. Located at 2,390 meters above sea level, it has clear skies, little light pollution, and steady weather—perfect for observing the sun and deep space.
You can only visit the Teide Observatory on a guided tour, and you can choose between a day tour or a night tour. The tours usually last around 1.5 hours, and you’ll need to book your tickets in advance on the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias website.
On the day tour, you’ll learn about astronomy, check out real telescopes, and even observe the Sun. On the night tour, you’ll get a cable car ride at sunset followed by stargazing with telescopes at the base station.
