Enter the captivating world of astronomy on a guided, evening, group visit to the world’s largest solar observatory. Then, after witnessing a magical sunset in the National Park, prepare for an unforgettable shower of stars with our Starlight guides at the cable car base station, where you will use state-of-the-art long-range telescopes—a unique opportunity to explore the Universe.
Highlights...
- Reservation for a group of at least 60 people or an equivalent fee
- The perfect 2-in-1 Teide astronomical tour for astronomy lovers in Tenerife
- Guided afternoon visit of the world's largest solar observatory
- Stargazing on Mt Teide with the unaided eye and using telescopes at the cable car base station
What's included...
- Transportation for small groups
- English, Spanish, Italian, French or Russian-speaking Starlight guide
- Guided visit of the Teide Observatory
- Astronomical observation using long-range telescopes
- A break for snacks
What's not included...
- Menu. You can buy our optional menu or bring your own food.
- Starlight guide in other language than English, Spanish, Italian, French or Russian
Information
Pick-up time depends on the sunset and will be announced beforehand. For this reason we need you to provide the name of your hotel or address of accommodation, as well as a mobile phone number at the time of booking.
We will pick you up at the main entrance to your hotel or place of accommodation, or from a previously established nearby location.
The Astronomic Tour is not recommended for people with poor general physical health (anaemia, heart disease, respiratory problems, and so on), nor for individuals with reduced mobility as the tour requires the use of paths and stairs.
Children under 8 are not allowed to participate in early evening and nighttime activities.
If you are not sure if you can participate in the activity, consult your doctor before planning your visit.
Please bear in mind that you must have a sufficient knowledge of the language in which the visit is held in order to be able to correctly follow the explanations of the guide.
Remember that there will be no possibility to eat it during the activity but we will take a break to eat. Of course, if you bring your own food, you can eat it during the programmed break, though not inside the restaurant.
Pets are not allowed.
Anyone wearing open footwear (sandals), shorts or short sleeves will not be allowed to join the excursion. It is essential to be suitably attired, as the activity will be undertaken in low temperatures. For further information, please see the section entitled “Prepare for your visit”.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO BRING A COPY OF YOUR RESERVATION, EITHER PRINTED OR ON YOUR MOBILE PHONE.
Anyone wearing open footwear (sandals), shorts or short sleeves will not be allowed to join the excursion. It is essential to be suitably attired, as the activity will be undertaken in low temperatures. For further information, please see the section entitled “Prepare for your visit”.
You should be prepared for extremes in weather, both heat as well as cold, depending on the time of year.
Recommendations:
- Bring warm clothing and proper footwear.
- Protect yourself from sunstroke.
- Due to the elevated luminosity, wear sunglasses.
- Take plenty of water on hikes.
Our facilities are located within a protected national park and therefore we must follow a series of basic rules of civic behaviour and respect of the natural environment, such as not littering or taking rocks, plants or animals. Please remember that it is prohibited to make fire, loud noises or to camp.
Teide Observatory
Purchase of this service to visit the Teide Observatory implies that you have read and accepted all the points described in the following section:
RECOMMENDATIONS AND WARNINGS FOR VISITORS
We appreciate your interest in visiting the Teide Observatory (OT) and we hope that you enjoy your visit.
The Teide Observatory is not responsible for the difficulties or discomfort caused by not following these recommendations.
The arranged visits will only be carried out when the weather and the operating status of the telescopes permit. Due to adverse weather conditions, especially during winter, which may affect the safety of the roads leading to the Observatory (snow, ice, falling rocks) visits may be unexpectedly cancelled.
Before visiting us
Health and altitude
The Teide Observatory (TO) is located at an altitude of approximately 2,400 meters above sea level, an altitude at which oxygen diminishes. Groups will move about within the TO on gravel paths. For this reason, the visit is not recommended for people with general health problems (anaemia, breathing or heart problems, etc.). If you are not sure if you should visit, consult your doctor first.
The TO is not responsible for any health problems that can be caused by the altitude or by not following these recommendations and warnings.
The TO does not have medical assistance within its facilities.
Bear in mind that the closest hospital is approximately one and a half hours away by car.
If you show symptoms of dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, ringing in your ears, plugged ears or headache during your visit, please, immediately inform your guide.
Recommended equipment
- Protect yourself from the sun. It’s recommended that you use hats, sunglasses and sunscreen.
- Due to the low levels of humidity that are common in the TO, come prepared with sufficient liquid (water or juices) to prevent dehydration.
- Bring comfortable clothes and adequate footwear (avoid sandals).
- Bring some warm clothes in case the weather changes abruptly and to enter the interior of the telescopes.
Warnings during the visit
For security reasons, proper operation and care of the environment, the TO asks you to closely follow the following rules during your visit:
- Due to time limits and visit schedule constraints, the time to use the toilet is before the visit starts. Please leave the toilet as clean as you found it!
- Please be respectful of the surroundings as the TO is located in a National Park. It is prohibited to:
- Smoke and eat
- Throw away rubbish except where indicated
- Leave the established paths.
- For your own safety, please remain with your assigned group at all times and follow the instructions given by the guide at all times.
- In case you are given suits or safety equipment in the facilities area, they should be properly used and cared for.
It is absolutely prohibited to leave the safety area or touch anything inside the buildings.
- Less than 30 days' notice: 50% of the invoice amount
- Less than 15 days' notice: 100% of the invoice amount
Contingency plan
In the event that the access roads to Teide are cut off due to weather conditions, the activity will be postponed or cancelled, in which case its cost will be modified accordingly.
If it is not possible to carry out the entire activity due to adverse weather conditions, the full amount shall be reimbursed. In the event that weather conditions prevent the visit to the Observatory from taking place, the price of the Night tour to Mount Teide (with or without picnic) shall be charged, and the difference shall be reimbursed. In case of cloud cover conditions in the Observatory, the usual itinerary of the visit may be modified. If weather conditions prevent the astronomical observation from taking place, €35 for adults and €30 for children shall be reimbursed.
Check our Terms and conditions for more information.
Toilets
There are public toilets in the Observatory. Please take into account that the toilets are a 10 – 15 minute walk from the car park.
We offer a picnic dinner (Teide-dinner and Vegetarian Teide-dinner). Upon completion of the purchase process, please indicate in the comment box on the form, which Teide-dinner would you prefer us to include in your reservation.
Teide-dinner (picnic-style):
Includes:
- Strawberry gazpacho shot
- Sweet potato and salmon salad
- Traditional corn broth
- Brioche filled with roast pork, Flor cheese and lime and ginger mayonnaise
- Chocolate cake
- Water, beer and coffee & tea service
Vegetarian Teide-dinner (picnic-style):
Includes:
- Strawberry gazpacho shot
- Waldorf salad (walnuts, celery, green apple and blue cheese)
- Traditional corn broth
- Brioche filled with vegetable medley and quail eggs
- Chocolate cake
- Water, beer and coffee & tea service
- Reservation for a group of at least 60 people or an equivalent fee.
- Reservation subject to confirmation. Payment by credit card, via PayPal or bank transfer.
Book
- Transportation for small groups
- English, Spanish, Italian, French or Russian-speaking Starlight guide
- Guided visit of the Teide Observatory
- Astronomical observation using long-range telescopes
- A break for snacks
- Menu. You can buy our optional menu, bring your own food or use the Cable Car’s vending machines.
- Starlight guide in other language than English, Spanish, Italian, French or Russian
- Transportation for small groups
- English, Spanish, Italian, French or Russian-speaking Starlight guide
- Guided visit of the Teide Observatory
- Astronomical observation using long-range telescopes
- A break for snacks
- Teide-dinner
- Starlight guide in other language than English, Spanish, Italian, French or Russian
Where to find us
The Teide Observatory is located at an altitude of 2,390 m, in Izaña, on the island of Tenerife (Spain). The entrance is located at km 1 of the TF-514 motorway, which can be accessed from km 37 of the TF-24 motorway. It takes approximately two hours to reach the Teide Observatory from the south of the island, and an hour from Santa Cruz and Puerto de la Cruz.
Its geographic coordinates are: Longitude: 16°30'36.1" West - Latitude: 28°18'08.3" North. UTM: 28.302294, -16.510021
Frequently asked questions
Usually the Carlos Sánchez telescope or the IAC-80 telescope are visited.
No, because it is not permitted to interrupt the scientists’ work. The guide will set up a portable solar telescope outside.
Given that part of this guided tour takes place outside the building and includes stairs and a rocky terrain, we do not recommend the visit for people with mobility problems.
Reviews
Description
Description
Enjoy this perfect tour for astronomy lovers in Tenerife
The Astronomic Tour is our most perfect trip through Teide for astronomy lovers. Transport for small groups is also offered from various points on the island of Tenerife.
During this activity, which lasts 8 hours, our Starlight guide accompanies you at all times, so that you can enjoy Mt Teide by night.
It includes a visit of the Teide Observatory—in the afternoon and with a guide—and once it's night time, a stargazing experience using long-range telescopes at 2,356 m at the Teide Cable Car base station, under the clear and pure sky of the Teide National Park, the most visited national park in Europe.
It also includes a stop for a meal. You choose whether you prefer to bring your own food or buy our optional menu along with your ‘Astronomic Tour including a visit of Teide Observatory’.
Discover Teide Observatory in daylight on the Astronomic Tour
Tenerife is so much more than just sun and beaches. The island is also famous for science, its volcanoes and the stars over Mt Teide.
The Canary Islands are one of the three best spots on Earth to observe the sky. The other two spots, just for curiosity’s sake, are Chile and Hawaii. This is why we are fortunate to have the most important solar observatory here in Tenerife.
Did you know that the Teide Observatory began to operate in 1964 and focuses on solar observations and robotic astronomy? Moreover, it is home to a wide range of solar and nocturnal telescopes, owned by different European countries.
Thanks to the guides on your Astronomic Tour on Mt Teide, you can feel like a scientist for a day as during the afternoon visit of the Teide Observatory:
- You’re introduced to the importance of the sky in the Canary Islands, the Teide Observatory telescopes and the different projects of the Canary Islands Institute of Astrophysics, also known as IAC.
- You participate in the most interesting astrophysics workshop, held in the Teide Observatory visitors centre, shared with you by our Starlight guides, where we explain what astrophysics is and how the astrophysicists in this centre conduct their research.
- You enjoy the Sun like never before whilst observing sunspots and solar flares through two solar telescopes that we make available to you.
- You visit the inside of a nocturnal telescope and don’t leave until you know how it functions and learn about its exciting history.
An Astronomic Tour of Teide you will remember for the rest of your life
After the Tenerife Observatory tour, what’s better than to enjoy the colours of the National Park when it’s getting dark, before beginning the astronomical observation, included in your stargazing night on Mount Teide.
It doesn’t matter if you have already been to Teide during the day because the moment the National Park is bathed in the lovely colours of the twilight, you will feel as though you have never been in this beautiful location.
A stargazing experience on Mount Teide to unravel the mysteries of the starry sky
It is often said that Tenerife is a fortunate island for its climate. But it is fortunate for more reasons than this. For example: from Mount Teide, it is possible to observe 83 of the 88 officially recognised constellations.
You may ask, how is it possible to see so many constellations from Mount Teide?
Because there is nothing like the peaks of Tenerife to observe the stars on this friendly island. It is also because the Teide is the best place in Tenerife for astronomical observations, away from the light pollution produced by the urban areas of the island.
With the Astronomic Tour guides, you will discover the secrets of the heavens from Teide National Park. You will learn how to orient yourself using celestial objects and enjoy discerning the elements of Greek mythology, which are hidden behind the constellations, and the relationship between them.
Closer to the stars with the Astronomic Tour professional telescopes
The astronomical observation included in the Astronomic Tour of Teide is held in the car park next to the Teide Cable Car base station.
You will discover planets, galaxies and clusters like you never would have imagined, thanks to our professional, last generation long-range telescopes, which you will have at your disposal to go through the most interesting celestial objects of every night, visible from Mount Teide. In addition, the Astronomic Tour guides will provide you with interesting information about the objects you observe through the telescope.
Our professional astronomic instrumentation, together with the transparency and quality of the skies over the peaks of Tenerife, will without a doubt let you enjoy this unique experience.
Full moon astronomical observation
You will already know that the moon passes through different phases during its 29-day cycle, that is to say, lunation. Therefore, at least once a month, the potent glow of our planet’s satellite will dim the faint light of the distant celestial bodies.
If you book our Astronomic Tour and enjoy it on the night of the full moon in Teide, you will take advantage of its radiant appearance and be delighted with its splendour: craters, mountain ranges and other lunar wonders.
To get you started: Did you know that you can find the Montes Teneriffe, Mons Pico and the crater Piazzi Smyth on the moon?
If what we have just mentioned has surprised you and we have left you curious as to why they have these names, write this question down so that you can ask our guides on the night of your Teide Astronomic Tour.
