Tenerife: a night at the foot of the Teide volcano

Exceptional views

Mount Teide is the world’s third largest volcano, so it's only normal that spending the night in a hotel with views of the summit would be a fascinating experience.

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Teide permissions and reservations Teide Reserve Observatory Route of the planets and stars

A night in the Parador

Lists of the essential sights on the island of Tenerife usually include the Teide National Park, because no traveller will want to miss this volcanic area, which looks more like Mars than Earth, and the tallest peak in Spain at 3,718 metres. Driving around this area is a unique experience which you can complete by taking a cable car to the top, or walking up to the crater (which requires special permission - see the useful links). When night falls, the experience doesn’t have to stop. There is a unique place to stay, a Parador, in the natural crater of Las Cañadas del Teide: its location could hardly be more spectacular. If you decide to stay in this mountain chalet, you’ll be in the only building in the park. The interior decoration is in the Canary Islands style, as is the food, with local specialities like papas arrugadas. You can stroll around the grounds without seeing another soul… and best of all, enjoy an amazing view of the volcano.

The starriest sky ever

Before night falls, there are several interesting activities you can try. For example, a self-guided tour of seven viewing points with information panels showing the relationship between this park and the stars and planets. It’s full of interesting anecdotes - for instance, why there are “Montes Tenerife” on the moon. You can also visit the Narices del Teide viewing point, just a 10-minute drive from the Parador, to see a truly unforgettable sunset (the Parador staff can tell you the exact time of the sunset). And when night falls, the show begins. The Canary Islands are among the best places in the world to see the stars, so take the opportunity to use the Parador’s telescope for observations. In fact, the Parador organises talks and observations every Friday, guided by astronomers.

Night sky over Tenerife with bugloss plant in the foreground

The secrets of the cosmos

From the Teide you can see 83 of the 88 recognised constellations, so not surprisingly there are companies organising custom activities, such as the exclusive chance to see the sunset from the cable car, or observe the skies with telescopes and professional guides.Learning about the mysteries of the universe is an amazing experience, so you can also plan a visit to the IAC (Canary Islands Institute of Astrophysics), with the world’s most important solar observatory