Mt. Teide (El Teide)

The basics

You can reach the peak of Mount Teide via cable car or an intense 5-hour hike. Lots of full- and half-day tours visit Teide National Park, many of which combine some light hiking with a cable car ride. For more personalized attention, opt for a private tour.

Or, book a stargazing experience to take advantage of the volcano's status as one of the best places in the world to observe the night sky. You can also book combo Mt. Teide (El Teide) tours that include time in the provincial villages of the nearby Masca Valley.

Things to know before you go

• Most guided tours include round-trip transportation from Tenerife hotels.

• Although the cable car is not strictly accessible for wheelchair users, some visitors find they're able to ride it with the assistance of their travel companions.

• It's colder on Mt. Teide than on the rest of the island of Tenerife, so dress accordingly.

• The mountain's lower station, where the cable car ride begins, has snacks, a gift shop, and public restrooms; the upper station has restrooms as well.

• Pack sunscreen; Mt. Teide is at a very high altitude and even on cloudy days, you can still be exposed to harmful UV rays.

How to get there

Mt. Teide sits in Parque Nacional de las Cañadas del Teide, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's possible to drive to the site, or take the bus. Buses leave from Puerto de la Cruz and go through La Orotava and from Playa de la Americas. Both have one morning departure to the mountain and one afternoon return trip.

Or, visit on a guided tour with round-trip transportation included. This is the best option if you’re staying in Santa Cruz de Tenerife as there are no public buses from the capital city to Teide. If you decide to rent a car and drive, make sure not to leave valuables in it when you park. Thieves often target parked cars at lookouts and in parking lots in Teide National Park.

When to get there

There's never a bad time to visit the park, with the average temperature in Tenerife hovering around 73°F (23°C), but be aware that it's often cooler in the park than on the rest of the island, especially at night. Summer is the busiest season at Mount Teide, while springtime visits allow for the chance to see the stunning contrast of wildflowers in bloom at the base of the mountain and snow still gracing the peak.

If you specifically want to see the Dr. Seuss-like red bugloss (Echium wildpretii) flowers in bloom, visit in May. These giant cone-shaped plants are endemic to the Canary Islands and can grow to be up to 10 feet tall.

Teide trivia

Not only is Mt. Teide the tallest mountain in Spain, but it's the world's third tallest volcano, rising 24,606 feet (7,500 meters) from the ocean floor. Technically, it's an active volcano, though there hasn’t been a volcanic eruption since 1909.