ROUTE 3: Teide National Park

There is the possibility of having free foot guides within the Park. (For reservations, telephone 922 290 129 from Monday to Friday, 9 am - 2 pm.)

From Puerto de la Cruz, take the freeway in the direction of Santa Cruz. Exit at La Laguna - Cañadas del Teide. After passing through the village of El Rosario, you will arrive at the Esperanza Forest.

• Viewpoints Montana Grande, Las Cumbres, La Crucita, Ayosa, La Tarta. From La Crucita, if the weather is fine, you can see the Güimar Valley to the left and the Orotava Valley to the right. You can also see this from the viewpoint of Ayosa.

As you continue, you will see the Astrophysical Observatory of Izaña on the left. Then you arrive at El Portillo, which gives you access to the Cañadas del Teide, the giant crater surrounding Teide. At 3,718m high, it is the highest point in Spain.

• Visitors Center on the right - museum and video, open 9 am - 4 pm

Across the National Park there are various viewpoints (Minas de San Jose, for example). You arrive at the Cable-Car Station, for the chance to go up to 3,500 m. (For information, call 922 694 038 from 9 am - 4 pm.) To go right up to the very peak, you need a special permit from the National Park Offices in Santa Cruz (located at Emilio Calzadilla Street 5, 4th floor, 9 am - 2 pm, 922 290 129).

Continue to the Parador Nacional (Hotel and Visitors Center) and the famous viewpoint Los Roques.

Continue along the Llano de Ucanca. To the left of the road, you can see a rock shaped like a shoe called Zapato de la Reina (the Queen's shoe). Take the road towards Boca de Tauce, Chio and Guia de Isora, passing by lava flows from the years 1798 and 1909 (the last eruption on the island at Chinyero Volcano).

Passing by Chio, continue in the direction of Arguayo, Tamaimo and Los Gigantes. There is a magnficent view of the cliffs.

Continue towards Playa de la Arena in the direction of Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos (important tourist resorts in the south of the island).

Return to the southern freeway TF-1 to Candelaria. Visit the Church of Our Lady of Candelaria, an important place for pilgrimages.

Return on the freeway to your accommodations.