Don’t miss this national park, a natural wonder given to us by nature and visited by millions of people every year. Enjoy wonderful volcanic landscapes, endemic vegetation and varied fauna.
Please remember that when passing through and visiting the Teide National Park, you must show the utmost respect for the peace and conservation of this place.
Principal image: Marek Piwnicki from Unsplash.
The Teide National Park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2007 with the category of Natural Asset and as a national park in 1954 in recognition of its volcanic and biological uniqueness. With the category of Natural Asset, it is also a European Diploma by the Council of Europe and forms part of the Natura 2000 Network Sites.
Located right in the centre and at an average altitude of 2,000 meters, the caldera structure stands out, accompanied by the highest peak in Spain, the Teide-Pico-Viejo stratovolcano, at 3,715 meters high. This volcanic complex is considered one of the best examples of volcanism in the world.
On the other hand, the cones and lava flows are of great scientific and scenic interest. To this, we must add the wealth of fauna and flora, with a large number of endemic Canarian species and exclusive species.
It covers an area of almost 19,000 hectares, making it the largest and oldest of all the national parks in the Canary Islands. It has a Peripheral Protection Zone, and is surrounded by the Corona Forestal Natural Park, which, with an area of 46,612.9 hectares, is the largest protected natural space in the whole of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands.
Declaration
Decree of 22 January 1954
Reclassification and extension
Law 5/1981 of 25 March 1981. Resolution of 14 October 1999 (BOE, no. 310, 28 April 1999)
Instruments
Master Plan for Use and Management – PRUG (Decree 153/2002, of 24 October, BOC 164)
Total surface area
18,990.00 ha
Protection zone
7,374.32 ha
Area of socio-economic influence
127.958,28 ha
Province
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Autonomous Community
Canary Islands
Location coordinates (Latitude, Longitude)
28° 20′ 42″ N, 16° 43′ 49″ O
28° 11′ 23″ N, 16° 28′ 55″ W
The following actions are prohibited:
Please take the following into account:
When you visit the Teide National Park you must keep in mind that you will be in a high mountain environment, at more than 2000 meters high. To avoid problems, remember these details:
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear.
Always carry water.
Protect yourself against sunstroke by wearing sunglasses and a cap or hat, and protective sun creams are also essential.
Ascending the Pico del Teide is not recommended for people of delicate health or advanced age, especially for those with heart-lung conditions.
It is easy to get lost in the National Park, avoid deviating from the marked trails.
During the coldest period of year, there can be ice and snow, which can be dangerous
In case of doubt or query, you have the Park staff at your disposal to resolve them.
After the serious forest fire suffered in August 2023 and until further notice, a series of measures and access restrictions have been activated by the Cabildo de Tenerife for access to the national park from TF-21 through Orotava and TF-24 from la Esperanza.
The measures adopted are the following:
Distances to:
La Orotava – 33km
La Laguna – 44km
Vilaflor – 16 km
Los Cristianos – 48km
Santa Cruz de Tenerife – 53 km
The Park has four access roads:
Public bus lines to access the national park:
TITSA – Line 348 from Puerto de la Cruz to Parador del Teide. (from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
TITSA – Line 342 from Costa Adeje station to El Portillo (from 9:25 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.)
We recommend that in case of possible changes in schedules, please, be aware of possible changes on the TITSA website.
Image autor: @mathaywarduk
The Teide National Park has one of its main natural heritages in its geology, since it is not common to find such a diversity of volcanic phenomena in the same territory. The park shows the visitor a set of different shapes and colors that are the result of a complex geological history.
Stratovolcano Teide-Pico Viejo
Teide and Pico Viejo are formed by the accumulation of volcanic materials from successive eruptions. It is located on an ancient and gigantic calder-shaped depression made up of two semi-calderas, separated from each other by the Roques de García. Pico Viejo has a crater 800 m in diameter (the largest crater in the entire Canary archipelago) and 3,100 m high.
On the other hand, the summit of Teide is formed by an ancient crater, La Rambleta, 850 m in diameter and 3,565 m high, from which the “Pilón de Azúcar” emerges from its interior, a point that culminates with a crater 80 m in diameter and 3,715 m high.
The Caldera de las Cañadas
Alexander Gerst, ISS astronaut.
Almost 200,000 years ago the central part of the island was crowned by a volcanic complex called Edificio Cañadas. Only part of its SW, S, E and NE slopes is known about this building, with a maximum height of 2700 meters high, it has a visible base of about 45 kilometers in diameter.
When the Cañadas building partially disappeared in a rapid process, it gave rise to what we know today as Caldera de las Cañadas. In the case of the Circo de las Cañadas it is an elliptical caldera that is divided by the Roques de García, eroded remains of the old building.
The origin of the current Circo de las Cañadas is one of the great enigmas that arises from volcanism in the Canary Islands and the most accepted theory is the following one:
The complicated climatic conditions that plant species suffer in the Teide National Park have led to the appearance of a significant number of endemisms. We leave you the most representative ones.
Retama del Teide (Spartocytisus supranubius)
Rosalito de cumbre (Pterocephalus lasiospermus)
Margarita del Teide (Argyranthemum tenerifae)
Violeta del Teide (Viola cheiranthifolia)
Taginaste rojo (Echium wildpretii)
Cardo de plata (Rhaponticum canariense)
212 PLANT SPECIES
58 CANARY ENDEMISM
12 IN A VULNERABLE SITUATION
3 IN DANGER OF EXTINCTION
One of the greatest scientific interests focuses on invertebrate fauna, with arthropods being the most numerous by far.
Arthropods are insects and spiders, and they are of fundamental importance in food chains. Some of these species are exclusive to the Park and are associated with the endemic flora.
In the case of insects, more than 700 species have already been catalogued. The “Invertebrate Fauna Inventory of the Teide National Park” contains the catalog of the Park’s invertebrates, which includes the first results:
1,052 species of which 987 are identified and 85 are not identified.
Of the 1,052 cataloged species, 643 are species known in the Park prior to this catalog and 409 are species previously unknown in the Park.
The most diversified classes are spiders and insects, which together make up 96.2% of invertebrates. On the other hand, 70% of arachnids are endemic, as well as 50% of insects.
In addition, we can highlight the troglobios, which live in volcanic tubes, butterflies or beetles, are also species worth highlighting.
Manto de Canarias (Cyclyrius webbianus)
Pimelia del Teide (Pimelia ascendens)
Within the group of vertebrates, we can find representatives of reptiles, birds and mammals in the park, we leave you with some of the most representative species.
Pinzón del Teide (Fringilla teydea)
Murciélago orejudo canario (Plecotus teneriffae)
Lagarto tizón (Gallotia galloti)
Canario silvestre (Serinus canaria)
Cernícalo (Falco tinnunculus canariensis)
Caminero (Anthus b. Berthelotti)
Teide National Park has several visitor centers open to the public every day of the year (except December 25 and January 1). We leave them to you below:
Centro de visitantes El Portillo
Located at the northern access to the Park, this center presents the relationships between the living beings that inhabit the Park and their physical environment. You will understand the geological history of the Park, its formation, its flora and fauna and, of course, the climatic characteristics of the area.
Open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
LOCATION
Centro de visitantes Cañada Blanca
Accessing the Park from the south, you will find the Cañada Blanca Visitor Center, inaugurated in 2022. Located in front of Roques de García, and next to the Parador de Turismo Cañadas del Teide.
You will learn about the evolution of the different ways of life in Las Cañadas, from prehistory to modern times. In addition, it reserves a space for astronomy, atmospheric, geological and volcanological research.
It has a projection room, audiovisual productions, and a viewing terrace with an interpretive model of the landscape.
Open Monday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Closed: December 25, January 1 and 6.
If you wish to arrange a group visit, contact the visitor center in advance: 922 373 391.
LOCATION
With a surface area of 4 hectares, specimens produced in the nursery have been introduced little by little into this garden with the aim of integrating them into the existing vegetation. The public is offered the possibility of contemplating the plant species that grow in the high Canarian mountains, around 75% species, many of which are endemic to the island of Tenerife.
Visiting hours: All the year
Visit price: Free
LOCATION
Juan Évora was the last inhabitant of Las Cañadas who preserved the traditional way of life. The house in which he lived, located at the intersection of Boca Tauce, near the intersection of the TF-21 and TF-38 roads, has been rehabilitated as an information point.
It also has an exhibition about the ancient lifestyle of the shepherds in Las Cañadas.
Open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. every day of the week.
LOCATION
The Teide National Park has numerous viewpoints with interpretive tables that will give you information about the place you are visiting.
Currently the network of viewpoints that exist are:
Mirador de La Tarta
Mirador de La Tarta II
Mirador de Usos Tradicionales (Pista General de Arico)
Mirador de Volcanes de Fasnia
Mirador del Corral del Niño
Miradores del Jardín Botánico
Mirador del Portillo Alto
Mirador las Minas de San José
Mirador del Tabonal Negro
Mirador de los Huevos del Teide (Montaña Blanca)
Mirador de la base del teleférico
Mirador de la Rambleta
Mirador de la Fortaleza
Mirador de Pico Viejo
Mirador del Filo
Mirador de la Ruleta (o de la Catedral)
Mirador de los Roques de García
Mirador de la Cañada Blanca
Mirador de los Azulejos
Mirador del Llano de Ucanca
Mirador de la Zapatilla de la Reina
Mirador de Boca de Tauce
Mirador de las Narices del Teide o Chahorra
Mirador de Sámara
Mirador de Bajada de Chío
Mirador de Samara
The National Park has numerous car parks in different areas, here you have, differentiated in size, all of them that you can find:
Big parking lots:
Aparcamiento del Centro de Visitantes del Portillo de la Villa.
Aparcamiento y carretera de acceso al Teleférico.
Aparcamiento de los Roques de García (La Ruleta).
Aparcamientos del Centro de Visitantes de Cañada Blanca y del Parador.
Aparcamientos del Portillo Alto.
Medium and small parking lots:
Aparcamiento de las Minas de San José.
Aparcamiento de Montaña Blanca (inicio de la subida al Teide).
Aparcamiento-mirador del Tabonal Negro. Aparcamiento-mirador de los Azulejos.
Aparcamiento-mirador del Llano de Ucanca.
Aparcamiento-mirador de Boca Tauce.
Aparcamiento-mirador de Chahorra (Narices del Teide).
Aparcamientos cercanos a La Crucita y al Roque del Mal Abrigo (carretera TF-21).
Aparcamientos-miradores del Corral del Niño.
Aparcamiento mirador de la Zapatilla de la Reina.
Aparcamiento mirador de Sámara.
Aparcamiento del Sanatorio.
Aparcamiento de la rotonda del Portillo (actualmente en obras).
Aparcamientos-miradores de La Tarta
The Teide National Park has a wide network of 41 trails that run through the entire park and give you the opportunity to get to know it in maximum depth.
You must keep in mind that they have different lengths and difficulties, it is best to ask for information at the visitor centers.
There are more than 183 kilometers of trails and only one, No. 10 Telesforo Bravo, with a length of 670 m, has restricted access (a permit is required to access Pico del Teide). The rest, 99.64%, are free access and transit.
In addition, more than 1.300 m of trails have been adapted for people with reduced mobility in Roques de García, Caramujo and at the exit from the El Portillo Botanical Garden.
RESERVE ACCESS TO THE PEAK
In the button above you can process the permit to access Pico del Teide on foot using the “Sendero Telesforo Bravo” (no. 10 of the Park network). This tour is done on foot.
HEALTHCARE
EMERGENCIES: 112
CRUZ ROJA (Cruz Roja La Orotava): 922 33 01 01
PROTECCIÓN CIVIL: 112
HOSPITALITY SERVICES
PARADOR DE TURISMO: 922 38 64 15
EL PORTILLO RESTAURANT: 922 35 60 06
TELEPHONES OF INTEREST
PARQUE NACIONAL DEL TEIDE (La Orotava Office): 922 92 23 71
PARADOR DE TURISMO: 922 38 64 15
REFUGIO DE ALTAVISTA: 922 01 04 40
TITSA: 922 53 13 00
OBSERVATORIO DEL TEIDE (Instituto Astrofísico de Canarias IAC): Central 922 32 91 10
We leave you below with a series of brochures and guides that you can view by clicking on them or even downloading them.
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