Teide National Park of Tenerife
Mount Teide at 3718m (12,198ft) is the highest mountain in the Canary Islands, but also in all of Spain. It rises above the clouds and seems to form a backdrop for views from all around the island, on clear days Teide can some times be seen from some of the other islands, On Fuerteventura the Gaunches of old would call Teide the devil mountain as they believed the devil resided there, They placed sacred markings on their own Mt Tindaya and faced them towards Mt Teide to ward off any evil spirits from the devil.
About three million years ago, a giant volcano near to the present site of Teide but much bigger exploded and collapsed in on it self, the volcano walls some parts still stand up to 500m high where left and formed the Caldeira del Canadas (crater) Pico de Teide and other volcanoes now stand in this crater, Las Canadas del Teide measures 48km across and lies just below the peak, the crater is made up of solidified lava and strange rock formations in a wide range of colours that resemble a lunar landscape and has very little soil or vegetative cover, the surrounding area makes up the central region of Tenerife and the Teide National park, often the summit is not visible from the starting point up to Teide and is hidden by cloud but on a really good day you may be able to see the peak poking through, although it is not always easy to assess the weather conditions at the peak. In the winter months it has a capping of snow, which adds to its beauty while in the summer the peak reveals layers of sulphurous ash, although not active it is still live but sleeping, the last known eruption in 1909 was when Mt Chinero, to the north-west of Teide spilled out larva for 10 consecutive days, although you can still see plums of sulpherous gasses escaping from time to time on Teide, and the smell of sulphur at the peak. The volcanoes of Tenerife are now dormant but Geologists consider that further eruptions in the 21 century are a possibility.
There are two visitor and information centers, one at El Portillo the northwest entrance to the park, It has a small exhibition on the wild life within the park and a botanical garden outside which aims to show the majority of unusual plants that are native to the Teide area, although you will see little life here till well into the spring (April or May) there are guided walking tours from El Portillo they are free of charge but you will need to book a place in advance, open daily from 9am-4pm Tel: (922)356000, and the other on the other side of the park in the parador, you will find several marked hiking trails to follow, but remember to wear good foot wear even if you are only doing a little walking, be prepared with a map and plenty of water, if the weather is bad the teleferico (cable car) may not be operating, but if it is, it is open from 9am to 4pm and takes you most of the way up, it ascends 2,356m to 3,555m in just eight minutes, if you wish to walk up the final 170m(559ft ) you will need to get a permit, you will have to inquire at the Park Office, 4 Calle Emilio Calzadilla , Santa Cruz, you will need your passport as you need to sign an agreement accepting responsibility for your own safety.