Pico del Teide on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands
A holiday trip to Tenerife will be incomplete if you do not live the experience of climb the Teide.
Indeed, with its 3,718 meters high, this huge volcano is the highest peak in Spain and it is the great icon image of the Tenerife Island, and even of the Canary Islands.
The Teide it is the central axis of Teide National Parkdeclared World Heritage by Unesco, and which has become the most visited national park in Spain and Europe, with more than three million visitors a year.
Las Cañadas del Teide on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands
The Teide It is located in the spectacular landscape of the Cañadas del Teide, a huge volcanic caldera 17 kilometers in diameter where lava flows that descend from the peak of the third highest volcano in the world.
To give you an idea of the spectacular nature of this volcanic landscape, I will tell you that, after visiting it, the astronaut Neil Amstrong commented that it was the place in the earth that he had seen most that looked like Moon.
How to climb the Teide
Apart from enjoying these volcanic landscapes unlike in spring they cover themselves with the intense red of the flowers of the red tajinas, endemic plant species of the national park, the excursion must be completed going up to Teide.
From the Teide you will have the most impressive Panoramic views, not only of the mentioned landscape environment of the Cañadas del Teide, but also from the Canary Islands, because you can see other islands such as Gran Canaria, Gomera, Hierro or La Palma.
Here you have a video where we show you how is the visit to Teide and some essential points of Tenerife
How to get to Teide from the north or south of Tenerife
The most usual way if you want Upload on your own to Teide is Get to Las Cañadas with a rental car.
From the north, well along the road that leads you from La Laguna by the long tail of the Mount of Hope that separates both parts of the island, or by the road that goes up from the Orotava Valley.
If you are staying in the south of the island, you have the road TF 21 that goes up to you at Cañadas del Teide.
You can also upload in one Teide excursion from the south of Tenerife, which is done by bus with a Spanish guide and for four hours.
And if you are staying in the north of the island, specifically in the Cross port, you can join the Teide excursion from the north of Tenerife, also with a guide in Spanish and with a duration of five hours.
Teide cable car on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands
Finally, you can also board the Teide bus on your own using one of the public transportation lines, from Puerto de la Cruz, in the Orotava Valley, with line 348, and from Playa de las Américas, line 342.
These buses leave at 9.15 hours and at 3.30 pm they start the return from the Teide Cable Car.
Teide Cable Car History
For climb the Teide You have a cable car whose base is located at 2,356 meters of altitude, although the most daring can choose walk to the peak on an excursion of trekking It will take between 8 and 10 hours.
He Teide Cable Car It was started to build in 1962 from an initial project dating back to 1930, when its founder was impressed by the many cable cars that allowed the ascent to the mountains in Germany and Switzerland.
Views of Gran Canaria from Teide in Tenerife
According to that initial project, the cable car would have two sections until it reached the terminal station, although in the end the current layout of a single section was chosen.
Finally the Teide Cable Car It opened to the public in August 1971.
It should be noted that between 1999 and 2007 a complete renovation of the facilities was carried out, including the incorporation of the most modern design cabins.
Teide Cable Car Schedules
The Teide Cable Car schedules they are every day, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., which is the last climb, the last drop being at 16.5 o'clock.
TOURS and EXCURSIONS in TENERIFE
- Teide Cable Car Tickets
- Excursion to Teide from the south of Tenerife
- Excursion to Teide from the north of Tenerife
- Teide Observatory, La Orotava and La Laguna
- Complete tour of the island of Tenerife
- Private tour of Tenerife
Next to the departure station is the cable car parking, which I can assure you that if you do not arrive soon, you will find it complete, so it is possible that you have to leave the car quite far and you will have to walk up to the entrance of the cable car.
Queues to climb the Teide by cable car in Tenerife
Parking is open between 8 and 18 hours.
How to climb the Teide without queues
When you arrive at the ticket office you will find two access lines, the one of those who are going to buy the tickets at the moment, and the one of those who have bought them in advance through Internet.
During most of the year, and especially in holiday seasons, it becomes essentialbuy the cable car tickets in advance Well, in this way you make sure climb the Teide without queues.
These lines are formed every day and can be extended for more than an hour.
Here you have access to buy tickets from the Teide cable car and so make sure that avoid the lines.
La Rambleta viewpoint on the Teide in Tenerife
Teide Cable Car ticket prices
TheTeide Cable Car ticket prices (2019) round trip are, generally, 27 euros, and children under 3 to 11 years, 13.50 euros.
You also have the option of only paying one way, in case you want to walk up or down, and the price of each route is 13.50 euros.
You have to take into account what to do when the Teide Cable Car closes.
Indeed, that there are days in which due to inclement weather, especially wind, the cable car does not provide service; In that case you should know that the tickets already acquired are valid for one year.
Views from the Teide in Tenerife
You can also cancel your reservation on-line.
Routes and viewpoints in El Teide
He ascent in the cable car it will take you only 8 minutes, and you will reach the viewpoint of the Rambleta located next to the upper station of the same.
From there you have great panoramic views of the Cañadas del Teide and, in the background, on clear days you can see the silhouette of the island of Gran Canaria.
From the cable car station they depart three hiking trails, one of them in the direction of the volcano's peak.
You have to keep in mind that due to the high altitude, 3,540 meters at the cable car station, although the route is almost flat, you will get quite tired on your walk through this area of the volcano.
Hiking trails on the Teide in Tenerife
And, of course, you will get much more tired if the route is on the rise; Therefore, children under 2 years of age, pregnant women and people with cardiovascular problems are not allowed on the cable car.
So, theroute of the Mirador de la Fortaleza (nº 11) is almost flat and heads northwest, along the slope from where you will see panoramic views of the Orotava Valley, the Mount of Hope and the Black Colada, the result of one of the volcano's large eruptions.
Reaching the last viewpoint will take about 25 minutes.
On the other hand the Pico Viejo Viewpoint route (No. 12) heads west to see the crater known as Old Peak, where the last great eruption of Teide occurred in 1798.
From the viewpoints of this route that will take you about 30 minutes, you can also see the islands of La Gomera, Hierro and La Palma in the distance.
Pico Viejo viewpoint route in El Teide in Tenerife
How to ask permission to climb the Pico del Teide
The third route you find is the one that from the same cable car station allows youclimb the Pico del Teide.
This route known as Telesforo Bravo It is very demanding.
Depending on your physical conditions it can take you from 40 minutes to almost an hour, as you will have to overcome a slope of almost 200 meters until you reach a height of 3,718 meters.
I can assure you of this because of the experience I lived many years ago when I climbed to the peak with my little son on my shoulders.
Of course, today To climb the Pico del Teide you must request a permit, because this route is limited to only 200 people a day.
Route to climb the peak of Teide in Tenerife
Therefore, as early as possible it is essential ask permission to climb the Pico del Teide, whose concession depends on the agency that manages the Teide National Park.
Once you arrive at the upper station of Teide on the date and time indicated in your permit, you will find a control booth where they will check the permit and give you access to the trail.
During the ascent along a path in zig Zag you will smell the sulfur that the fumaroles give off, and when you reach the edge of the cone, you can already see the inside of the crater, with its small fumaroles and the yellow and greenish colors of the terrain.
In sum, one essential experience in Tenerife.
