Las Cañadas del Teide: Volcanic Landscape, Trails and History

Las Cañadas del Teide is a vast volcanic depression formed from an ancient caldera, with a circumference of approximately 45 kilometres. Teide National Park encompasses a volcanic landscape shaped by the rugged cliff face of Las Cañadas and the Teide–Pico Viejo stratovolcano.

When comparing a holiday apartment in Las Cañadas del Teide, you can check travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions side by side on the respective listing pages; these three details keep the selection clear and can be considered independently.

Nature

The Las Cañadas basin consists of two half-calderas separated by the rocky Roques de García formation. In the Llano de Ucanca, the largest cañada in Teide National Park, there are views of Teide, Pico Viejo, the Roques de García and the basalt rock La Catedral, which rises almost vertically 144 metres above the plain.

From the Narices del Teide viewpoint, you can see the 1798 eruption on the slope of Pico Viejo, the last volcanic eruption within Teide National Park. Zapatilla de la Reina is a viewpoint overlooking a striking geological rock formation shaped by erosion. The viewpoint at the crater of Pico Viejo offers a close-up view into the crater, which is approximately 800 metres wide and around 200 metres deep.

The Montaña Blanca–La Rambleta trail passes over young black lava flows and by volcanic accretionary balls known as “Los Huevos del Teide”. Along the Telesforo Bravo trail, endemic Teide borriza plants grow around the fumaroles and are associated with their moisture and heat. In the plains of Las Cañadas, the endemic Teide violet grows in rocky areas above 2,500 metres; the blue and red tajinastes are restricted to the summit regions.

The highest point of the Arenas Negras trail offers panoramic views of Teide National Park and the Llano de Maja. From Alto de Guajara, there are expansive views over the Las Cañadas caldera. The low-barrier section of the Roques de García trail leads for just over 200 metres to a spot overlooking Roque Cinchado, the Roques de García rock formation, Teide and the wall of the Las Cañadas basin. Different trail lengths, accessibility information and viewpoint themes can be compared according to your own daily itinerary.

Hiking and Getting There

Teide National Park has a network of 37 hiking trails with a total length of more than 155 kilometres. Siete Cañadas is a section of the pre-Hispanic Camino de Chasna and runs along the foot of the eastern wall of the Las Cañadas caldera. Siete Cañadas is connected to the bus service at its beginning or end: there are stops at Portillo and the Parador Nacional.

The trails to the Mirador de La Fortaleza and the Mirador de Pico Viejo are freely accessible and offer panoramic views of the northern and southern sides of Tenerife, respectively. The Teleférico del Teide cable car has a lower station and an upper station at La Rambleta, at an altitude of 3,555 metres. Teide National Park can be reached by bus from Puerto de la Cruz on route 348 and from Costa Adeje on route 342.

Other Destinations in Tenerife

Other destinations in Tenerife: Puertito de Güímar, Los Realejos, La Orotava, Villa De Arico, El Fraile, Arafo, Arico, La Sabinita.

Culture

Las Cañadas preserves evidence of the Guanchen summer pastoral economy and obsidian extraction, including the remains of Guanche huts. The Guanches called Teide “Echeyde” and revered it as a sacred mountain.

At the summit of Alto de Guajara, the remains of the hut used by the French astronomer Jean Mascart during his stay on the summit to study Halley’s Comet during its close approach to Earth in 1910 have been preserved. The Museo Etnográfico Juan Évora presents the traditional way of life of shepherds in Las Cañadas.

The Observatorio del Teide is primarily dedicated to solar research and houses European solar telescopes such as the 1.5-metre GREGOR. Individuals and groups can take part in a guided tour of the Observatorio del Teide by making a reservation in advance.

Visitor Centres

The Cañada Blanca Visitor Centre presents the development of ways of life in Las Cañadas from prehistoric times to the modern era and includes a viewing terrace with a landscape model. The El Portillo Visitor Centre has a museum covering the geological, botanical, zoological and archaeological features of the national park. The botanical garden next to the El Portillo Visitor Centre contains more than 75 percent of the national park’s species.

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