Teleférico del Teide

The Teide cable car links its base station, at 2356 metres beside the TF-21 road (km 43), with the upper part of the volcano at more than 3500 metres. The cabins climb around a thousand metres in eight to ten minutes, above lava flows that are millions of years old. At the top, the La Rambleta viewpoint looks out over Las Cañadas and, on a clear day, to other islands of the archipelago on the horizon; the trails that run around the volcano also start from here.

No food or drink is sold at the top, so take water with you, and even when it is warm below it can be cold up there, so pack a warm layer. For safety, only sports or mountain footwear is allowed: sandals, shoes without a back or heel strap, high heels and smooth soles are turned away. At that altitude the air pressure is lower and there is about 30% less oxygen, so people with heart or circulatory conditions, pregnant women and people with reduced mobility cannot ride.

Without a car, there is a seven-hour excursion with pickup in the north of Tenerife, in Santa Cruz and in Candelaria, usually between 07:30 and 09:30; the exact point and time are chosen when booking. It includes the coach, the cable car ticket and an official guide who speaks Spanish and other languages. After an hour of free time at the top, the group drives down to the Roques de García, which look out over the Llano de Ucanca. Lunch is not included, the trip is not wheelchair accessible and children under 3 cannot take part.

Photo: originalpickaxe, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.