Canarian Islands, Tenerife – Pico del Teide Volcano

Summer reading brings you:

You can enjoy the beauty of volcanic nature and ocean views even if you don't feel like a bigger trip. You can simply use the cable car, which has a bus station and a large car park. You can either purchase the cable car tickets in advance via the website or on site. The cable car ride, which takes approximately 8 minutes, is a great experience in itself, as you will be 1 200 meters above sea level at an altitude of 3 555 meters. A trip due to a large elevation is not recommended for children under 3 years or for pregnant women. In addition, some people may face mountain disease. But there we met a health care professional, according to which it would best do a sweet caffeine drink. Even in the summer, I recommend that you pack warm clothes and a jacket with you because the wind is quite strong at this height and cold.

There are three routes from the upper cable car station (called La Rambleta). One direction is the Teide peak - the hike can be a bit more challenging because you will have a steep climb and according to the tables you can reach the top of the station in 40 minutes. This route is limited to 200 people per day for the sake of protecting the local wildlife. It is important to book a permit to enter the summit free of charge (preferably a few weeks) without letting you go.

However, there are also two much easier routes from the cable car station where you don't need any permission. La Fortaleza Viewpoint is a 25-minute drive away, and you can see the northern part of Tenerife. Alternatively, you can walk to the south-facing view of the island and the Pico Viejo volcano for 30 minutes. Both places are easily accessible and there will be no more climb or descent. Views of the volcanic landscape and the ocean are breathtaking.

GPS: 28°16'20.5"N 16°38'32.8"W

Text and photos: Šárka Hylmarová