There are plenty of reasons which recommend the Teide National Park as must-do once in Tenerife. The area has incurred the status of national park in 1954, as ascertainment of the inner value of the place, a value of biological and geological relevance alike. In time, the park has been awarded plenty of diplomas ascertaining the uniqueness of the biological and geological assets, all of these culminating in the fact UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 2007. It is the largest national park in Spain, and millions of visitors come here each year, which turns Teide into the most visited nature park in Spain. Teide is also one of the first most visited parks in the entire world. The park has a central position, filling most of the municipality of La Orotava.

In respect to fauna, the Teide National Park stands out by the huge diversity of invertebrates. Ranging from arachnids to all sorts of insects, the invertebrates amount to some 700 species. The great scientific interest these species draw is given by the fact a large part of them consists of endemic species. Invertebrates aside, the faunal asset is complemented by reptiles, birds and mammals, but from the point of view of diversity, they are less spectacular. However, 3 endemic species of reptiles, 10 species of birds and 5 species of bats are of particular significance for the local ecosystem. It also must be mentioned the Teide National park is also home to a series of species (mammals) which have been brought here in time: the mouflon, the rabbit or the Algerian hedgehog.

The park is also valuable due to its unique flora. Most of the plants integrated in the rough ecosystem of the park have developed certain particularities to help them survive in this environment. Plenty of species are endemic either to the island or to the park, which enhances the reason for preserving the natural balance of the place.

However, most tourists are drawn to the challenges yielded by the geological structure of the park. It’s not just the magnificent beauty of the place – overtopped by the imposing Pilon de Azucar (Sugar Loaf), as the top of Teide is called, and pegged out by amazing volcanic formations – that appeal to tourists, but the idea of conquering the place with all its challenging tracks no adventure seeker should disregard, Teide being the highest mountain in the entire Spain and in the entire range of Atlantic archipelagos. It is, after all, a 3,718 meters high massif which can only be climbed by people of great will, endurance and experience. It also must be mentioned the park as such is home to yet another massif, namely, Pico Viejo, which rises to more than 3,100 meters above the sea level.

Yet, Teide is not a destination for experienced climbers exclusively. A cable car has been set to offer to tourists who simply want to admire the park from above without facing the demands of the challenging topography the opportunity to admire the mountain. Indeed, the cable car does not cover the entire park (it would be impossible, since the park covers an area of almost 19,000 hectares), but even so, it is a facility no visitor should disregard when deciding to visit Teide.

In addition, in order to ease the adventure, the park has been fitted, as it were, with a refuge, namely, the Altavista refuge, and with a 4-star hotel, the National Parador Hotel. Furthermore, the park in itself is easily accessible by car from La Orotava, San Cristobal de La Laguna, and Santiago del Teide, and it is also accessible by bus (two lines operated by Titsa, 342 and 348). Two visitors’ centers have been set to be resorted to by tourists in search of useful information about the park, El Portillo and Canada Blanca, the first located on TF21 at kilometer 32, and the second on TF21 at kilometer 46.

Teide National Park Office

For further details on the permits needed in order to be granted the access to certain routes, as well as on possible guided tours and the cable car schedule, use the following information:

Name:
Teide National Park Office (Oficina del Parque Nacional del Teide)
Address:
5, C. Emilio Calzadilla, 4th floor, 38002, Santa Cruz, Tenerife, Spain
Telephone:
0034 922 922 371
Fax:
0034 922 244 788
Email:
teide.maot@gobiernodecanarias.org
Website:
www.webtenerife.com
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 9am to 2pm
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