Mount Teide is the highest symbol of the island of Tenerife, and therefore it arouses great expectation among tourists.
The volcano is visible from almost any point of Tenerife, and also from some points of the neighboring islands. It still remains a great unknown to many people who are overwhelmed by it the first time they see it from the window of a plane when they approach the island to spend their holidays.
Some of the most frequently asked questions about Mount Teide are answered below:
What height is Mount Teide?
Mount Teide is 3,718 meters high above sea level. It is the highest mountain in Spain and the third highest volcano on the planet Earth outside of the Hawaiian Islands.
It was not until 1776 that the first accurate measurement of Mount Teide was obtained (3,713 meters). After further exhaustive studies, Mount Teide’s height was raised to 3,718 meters in the last decades.
Before that it was thought that the height was 4,313 meters due to some rudimentary analysis made by cartographers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
If we measure Mount Teide, not from sea level, but from the ocean floor, it is much higher, about 7,500 meters.
When was the last eruption of Mount Teide?
The last eruption that took place on the island of Tenerife was in the year 1909, in the Chinyero volcano located on the west side of the island.
However, the last eruption that took place in the Teide National Park was in the second highest peak of the island called Pico Viejo, in the year 1798.
What type of volcano is Mount Teide?
The category of Mount Teide is included within the stratovolcano type, Vesubian type.
The stratovolcanoes are characterized by being volcanoes formed by several layers of hardened lava, as well as pyroclastics. They are usually high altitude volcanoes whose lava is thick, which causes them to cool and harden before they can make long trips.
Can you climb Mount Teide by foot?
Yes, you can reach the top of Mount Teide by foot. You will also find the Refugio del Teide at 3,200 meters of altitude above sea level, where you can spend the night to rest before the ascent.
From the peak of Mount Teide on clear days you can see the seven islands, and the sunrise from here will be an unforgettable experience.
How to get to Mount Teide?
To get to Mount Teide you have several access routes on the island. Depending on your location, it will be faster to choose one or the other.
For more detailed information, see our blog article where we talk about the three main access routes to Mount Teide.
Where is Mount Teide cable car, and how much does it cost?
If you want to save part of the journey by car and you are not willing to walk a lot to reach the highest points of Mount Teide, you will want more information about Mount Teide cable car, where to find it, how high it is and how much it costs.
To answer all these questions, see our blog article where we give you detailed information about Mount Teide cable car.
Can I access Mount Teide after a snowfall?
Normally when there is heavy snow, roads are usually closed in the first days for safety reasons, since the asphalt conditions are not suitable for driving.
Once it stops snowing and work has been done to enable the roads and make them safe, they are usually reopened. You will then be able to enjoy the snow, which will luckily remain for several days afterwards.
See Mount Teide after a snowfall is an amazing experience. However, unfortunately we can only see it a few days a year.
For more information about the snow levels on Mount Teide and when it tends to snow, see our blog article “snow on Mount Teide“.
Other relevant information about Mount Teide
The National Park of the Cañadas del Teide is one of the few places in the world chosen as Starlight Destination for its clear skies. For this reason, the Teide Observatory is located in the Park, from which you can perfectly see the starts. To find out more about the Teide Observatory, check our blog.
If you like mysteries and legends, you will also like to know some of them related to Mount Teide by reading our article Mysteries and Legends of Tenerife.
Finally, if you are a film buff, perhaps you have already seen some of its landscapes, since Mount Teide has been the setting for some Hollywood and national films. You can check the films shot in Tenerife on our blog.
Enjoy Mount Teide with your own eyes
If you are planning a trip to Tenerife, the National Park of the Cañadas del Teide and places within it, such as the Martian landscape of Llano de Ucanca, are places worth visiting.
Mount Teide will be present almost anywhere you go, especially if you stay somewhere on the north side of the island.
You should not miss the opportunity to live experiences like seeing the stars or the sunrise from Mount Teide on a clear day. They will make your trip to Tenerife memorable.
We hope to have answered all your questions and doubts about the Teide, and encouraged you to know this wonder of nature.
See Mount Teide with maximum comfort from our Ambassador Apartments and Puerto de la Cruz
Puerto de la Cruz may be the ideal place to stay if you want to know some of the most beautiful places in Tenerife.
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Book now and do not miss the opportunity to know the most beautiful places in Tenerife and climb to the highest point in Spain, Mount Teide.
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