GoGo
All UNESCO SitesSpain

Teide National Park

Near La Guancha · Spain

Background

World Heritage since
2007
Type of site
Natural
Highest peak in Spain
3,718 m

Teide National Park on Tenerife features the Teide-Pico Viejo stratovolcano which, at 3,718 m, is the highest peak on Spanish soil. UNESCO says it rises 7,500 m above the ocean floor, the world's third-tallest volcanic structure, and that changing atmospheric conditions and a sea of clouds give the landscape constantly changing textures and tones; it is of global importance for the geology of oceanic islands.

The park, declared in 1954, covers 18,990 hectares in the municipality of La Orotava and is the most visited national park in Spain. The Guanches worshipped the mountain as Echeyde, the gate to hell. Wikivoyage says the crater is over 16 km across with jagged edges called the cañadas at 2,000 to 2,500 m, and warns that the quick ascent by cable car from sea level can bring on altitude sickness. Access to the summit needs a free permit booked in advance.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. Guanche eraThe mountain is worshipped as Echeyde
  2. 1954Declared a national park on 22 January
  3. 1989The Council of Europe awards its European Diploma
  4. 2007Inscribed as World Heritage on 28 June
  5. 2023A record 4.46 million visitors

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    Mount Teide
    The summit cone; the cable car goes most of the way, the top needs a permit.
  2. 2
    Pico Viejo
    The second volcano in the park, 3,135 m.
  3. 3
    Las Cañadas
    The crater rim at 2,000 to 2,500 m, with lava fields below.
  4. 4
    Sea of Clouds
    The cloud layer that forms below the mountain.
  5. 5
    Teide Observatory
    The telescopes on the ridge east of the peak.
  6. 6
    The Trails
    Dozens of marked official trails, with GPX maps on the tourism website.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Summit Permit
Wikipedia: access to the peak needs a free permit booked in advance.
Altitude by Cable Car
Wikivoyage: most people come straight from sea level; if symptoms appear, descend at once, and at peak times the wait for the cable car down can be over an hour.
Buses to the Crater
Bus 348 from Puerto de la Cruz and 342 from Costa Adeje leave about 09:00 and return about 16:00; line 341 circles the crater between about 10:45 and 16:00.
Cold Up Top
Whatever the beach temperature, bring warm layers for the mountain.

Up the Volcano

From the GoGo Santa Cruz de Tenerife guide · Open the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Guide ›

  1. 09:00
    Teide Cable Car6 hrs
    Spain's highest peak by cable car, over the lava fields.
  2. 19:30
    Papas Arrugadas con Mojo90 min
    Home wine and wrinkled potatoes in a farm tavern.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: all year.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Dec (39 mm), driest Jul (2 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Pair It With

Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance

WORTH A NIGHTDAY TRIPSAME DAYDistance not to scale · tap a site
Do These Together
San Cristóbal de La Laguna is 40 km away and Garajonay National Park on La Gomera 60 km, both World Heritage sites and in the GoGo guide.
Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 1258 · Wikipedia: Teide National Park · Wikivoyage: Teide National Park (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GoGo Santa Cruz de Tenerife guide · UNESCO listing