Discovering the volcanoes of the Teide National Park

About an hour’s drive from my bed and breakfast A Jardin al Mar, the Teide National Park is one of the jewels of Tenerife and a must for lovers of nature and spectacular landscapes. Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is home to the iconic volcano of Teide, which rises to 3,715 meters above sea level, making it the highest point in Spain and one of the tallest volcanoes in Europe.

But what impresses most is its total height from the ocean floor: about 7,500 meters, making it the third largest volcano in the world if measured from its underwater base - just behind some Hawaiian volcanoes.

Teide was formed about 170,000 years ago, on the remains of an even more massive ancient volcano. Although it is now asleep, its last eruption dates back to 1909, from the Chinyero area (see other post). The park is dotted with craters, lava flows and amazing rock formations that tell the volcanic history of the island.

The hiking possibilities are numerous, with trails of different levels that cross lunar and colorful landscapes, both for casual walkers as for experienced hikers 😉

For those who wish to reach the heights without too much effort, the cable car (except in windy weather!) will take you more than 3,500 meters in a few minutes, offering a breathtaking view of the entire island and even, on a clear day, on the neighboring islands.

But the Teide park is not only rock and volcanoes: it is also a unique fauna and flora, perfectly adapted to the extreme conditions of altitude.

One of the symbols of the park is the red tajinaste, a spectacular plant that blooms in spring (late May-early June) and can reach up to two meters high. With its thousands of small scarlet flowers, it attracts bees, birds and photographers!

You can also easily come across duck lizards (harmless but very attracted to any kind of food, watch your picnic!) 😃

For more info: Teide