Parque Nacional del Teide Favorites

Favorite thing: If you want to reach the summit you'll need a special written permit that you must obtain from the office of the National Park, which is only valid for a CERTAIN date:

Office of the National Park
Opening hours: from 09:00 hours to 14:00 hours, Monday to Friday
C/ Emilio Calzadilla, no 5 - Floor 4
Telf. 922 290129 - 922 290183
Fax: 922 244788
Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Favorite thing: Teide is also noted for a large number of endemic plants, like Retama del Teide (a species of broom), Tajinaste rojo (a species of bugloss reaching 3 m tall).

Lower down, the middle slopes from 1000-2000 m are clothed with forests of Pino Canario (Canary Island Pine) and Pino de Monterrey (Monterrey Pine).

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Favorite thing: Blue sky , green grass and black rocks and behind the big volcano, the ocean.
The road that leads you to the Teide is very scenic and along the way the landscape changes dramatically, from forest to desert with many variations in between.
Once at the end of the road, take the cablecar and walk on the top of the volcano, if you're well fit you would afford to go to the top of it, from where the view is really majestic. Sort of lunar landscape around, and the sky and the sea melt into the same blue.

Favorite thing: Few people seem to hang around in Teide National park to see the sunset, which is a shame. You probably won't be seeing it from the peak, but nevertheless you are so high up, you will probably be above the clouds (if there are any) anyway!

Of course with a great big Volcanic peak around, it does help to be the correct side of it to be able to see the sunset! This picture was taken near the Volcan Pico Viejo, which is described in more detail in another tip.

If you look at the photo you can indeed see the clouds quite a long way below on the horizon.