Mount Teide is one of the world’s three most outstanding stargazing destinations. On this two-in-one excursion for enthusiasts of astronomy in Tenerife, you can enjoy a guided evening visit to the Izaña solar observatory and then, when night has fallen after a truly spectacular sunset, immerse yourself in the fascinating world of the night sky in the company of a Starlight guide, using the finest long-range telescopes.
Highlights...
- 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
- Starlight guide in English or Spanish to enjoy astronomy in Tenerife
- Guided Teide Observatory tour
- Astronomical observation on Mt Teide using long range telescopes
- A stop for snacks
What's not included...
- Menu. You can buy our optional menu or bring your own food.
- Tenerife Observatory Night Tour
- Starlight guide in other language than English or Spanish
Information
The pick-up time will vary between 2.15pm and 4.30pm as it depends on the sunset time. When making your reservation you will be given the pick-up place and time for the selected day.
Would you like to know your assigned pick-up time?
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 make a stop 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.
Tenerife Observatory tour
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 Tenerife 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.
During the visit
What should I do when I arrive?
When you arrive at the TO, centre personnel will be waiting for you at the access gate to let you know what to do with the car or bus. Please always follow the instructions you receive.
Remember that there is no need to ring the bell, and please do not block the entrance. You may park in the designated parking spaces while you wait.
Please do not forget to bring identification (ID card or passport) and a copy of your reservation to confirm access. If you are unable to produce identification and/or the booking confirmation, the TO/IAC does not guarantee your visit.
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.
Reservations may be cancelled or the date of the activity may be changed free of charge up to 24 hours prior to the activity. After this period, 100% of the amount will be charged.
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.
Date changes are valid for 1 year provided that the vouchers have not been redeemed. Up to 3 changes are permitted.
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.
In case of discount tickets for children or local residents, a supporting document is required to prove entitlement to discount.
Includes:
- Water or soft drink
- Sandwich: cured meat and cheese / vegetarian option
- Sweet treat
Book your Mount Teide astronomical tour with observatory
- Transportation for small groups
- Starlight guide in English or Spanish
- Guided visit of the Teide Observatory
- Astronomical observation using long-range telescopes
- Picnic (vegetarian option available on request): water or soft drink + cured meat and cheese/vegetarian sandwich + sweet treat
- Starlight guide in other language than English or Spanish
- Transportation for small groups
- Starlight guide in English or Spanish
- Guided visit of the Teide Observatory
- Astronomical observation using long-range telescopes
- Picnic (vegetarian option available on request): water or soft drink + cured meat and cheese/vegetarian sandwich + sweet treat
- Starlight guide in other language than English or Spanish
- Transportation for small groups
- Starlight guide in English or Spanish
- Guided visit of the Teide Observatory
- Astronomical observation using long-range telescopes
- A stop for snacks
- Menu. If you haven’t bought our optional menu, bring your own food or use the Cable Car’s vending machines.
- Starlight guide in other language than English or Spanish
- Transportation for small groups
- Starlight guide in English or Spanish
- Guided visit of the Teide Observatory
- Astronomical observation using long-range telescopes
- A stop for snacks
- Menu. If you haven’t bought our optional menu, bring your own food or use the Cable Car’s vending machines.
- Starlight guide in other language than English or Spanish
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
Check out our weekly calendar of activities and excursions on Mt Teide which we have prepared so that you can view at a glance all the information you need about our activities.
Usually the Carlos Sánchez telescope or the IAC-80 telescope are visited.
Reviews of this Tenerife stargazing tour
The Tour was all in total really awesome. The Guide was an astrophysics himself, thus ge explained in a very competent and interesting way a lot amof amazing Details in both tours, the visit of the observatory, as well as later the stargasing part. To see the observatory, to Look through the telescopes into the sun, seeing how the telescopes opening for the night Shift, or later seeing through telescopes into the starsky, watching galaxies, that was simply amazing. Only thing I did not like was the very not good snacks and also the group was just too big, we had to stand and wait for everything a lot, and while it got super cold that didn't make it more pleasant.
cold experience! mind warm clothing!!!! otherways superb
Die Observatorium Tour war wirklich empfehlenswert. Wir wurden in einem kleinen Bus abgeholt, was sehr komfortabel war und nach einer Stunde waren wir am Observatorium. Unser Guide Oris sprach gutes verständliches Englisch und war transparent sowie lustig. An beiden Locations gab es Toilette und man sollte definitiv warm angezogen sein. Ich fand den Ausflug generell sehr beeindruckend und definitiv das Geld wert, denn es war ein einmaliges Erlebnis den Himmel so zu sehen sowie bestimmte Himmelskörper welche wir durch die Teleskope anschauen konnten. Man muss nicht unbedingt einen snack dazu buchen, es hätten auch selbst mitgebrachte sandwiches gereicht, jedoch war es praktischer. Die einzig negativen Punkte waren zum einem, dass ich ehrlich gesagt die Location zum Sterne schauen an der Seilbahnstation etwas unpassend fand, da dadurch eine Seite des Himmels komplett durch den El Teide verdeckt war.. es war natürlich praktisch, da man dort Toiletten und einen großen Raum zum essen hatte. Der letzte Punkt wäre die Länge. Ich hätte gerne noch länger die Sterne beobachtet! Jedoch wäre es wahrscheinlich irgendwann sehr kalt geworden. Also alles relativ verständliche Punkte, vielleicht kann man dennoch überlegen diese Tour noch perfekter zu machen. Ich werde immer an diese tolle Tour und an dieses wunderschöne Erlebnis zurück denken und vielleicht nochmal kommen um den Sommerhimmel zu sehen.
Great trip, highlight of our stay.
Lucas was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable and informative and a nice guy. The tour was well balanced with plenty of technical information and access to telescopes. Would definitely recommend this tour
See previous comments.
An experience not to be missed!
Well planned evening out. Informative guides with good knowledge and understanding of their subjects.
The guide was very knowledgeable and his lecture was very useful
The tour was excellent! The guide (Adrien is his name I think) was absolutely amazing, contagiously enthusiastic, and adapted to levels of questions ranging from amateur to PhD level with ease. The only downside was a bad estimation of time of return (it was supposed to be 22:30, was instead 23h), which for us might have been an issue since we almost didn't catch the last intercity bus.
Rude staff
Amazing a definite must do!
Lukas did a great job leading the tour in English.
This is a wonderful experience and would highly recommend anyone visiting *** to go on this tour. *** our guide was excellent and is very knowledgeable and very enthusiastic on the subject. Top tour and worth every Euro
Amazing tour. Our guide was incredible, he had so much information, answered loads of questions, and gave really good explanations. Funny guy too :) I would absolutely recommend this tour.
I took part in an astronomic tour around Teide Observatory and it was amazing. Our guide *** was excellent and gave us so much interesting scientific and non-scientific information. Thanks to this the tour absolutely exceeded my expectations. The only downside of the tour was the pick up that did not go quite smooth for me and two other guests, as the roads were blocked due to the carnival in Puerto de la Cruz - I believe that the pick up point could have been reviewed and altered in advance, as the carnival schedule must have been known upfront. Nevertheless, ***o was very helpful in finding ways how to get us onboard, so that we could still participate in the tour.
Visiting the observatory was great. I would like a bit more technical information about how the telescopes work and what research is done there. The stargazing part was great.
The tour was amazing! Adrian and Macarena had an enormous astronomic knowledge, which they shared with a lot of passion. I would recommend the tour to anyone. It was a great pleasure to participate in this trip!
The tour was phenomenal. Our guide Orisbel was very charismatic and knowledgable. I would gladly participate in other similar tours, when I am in Teneriffe again. A warm recommendation for the tour. One particular point blew off our steam, and that is the transport to the observatory. The driver was just so unnecessarily speeding through the curves and abruptly braking at odd points, that even if we never had issues with locomotive sickness, we were on the verge of vomiting afterwards. This point does not drastically diminish our experience with the tour, but is definitely one to be worked upon.
It was great. The leader was super.
Product as described in description
Excellent team!
Not applicable.
The tour was amazing and the guides were very professional
The website info is adequate, mostly. What it lacks is the information about the cantina being closed after 17:00. There's no way to find this info online. I did not order a picnic because i was sure a canteen would offer something. I was very disappointed with a chocolates vending machine that only accepts coins (which nobody had enough). Information is key. Please make the food availability times easily found in the tours descriptions. The tour is very good, the English guide was highly motivated, it was a pleasure all the way. There were only minor inconveniences: The bus was too hot, the conditioner was not cooling the air at all. On the way back, though, the bus was too cold.
Wonderful Learnt lots Saw amazing stars very, very Cold! You need hats, scarves, gloves, really thick jackets, extra socks!
Already did
very good, the website details could be a bit clearer on what to expect. the guides were very good indeed. My son does astrophotography so has more than a working knowledge of the subject and it was described very well and accessible to all. the kit used was excellent quality. (celestron 11 inch SCT) but obviously all targets visual.
All in all, it was a fun experience for our family of five -- especially the stargazing. We had a couple family members who weren't as excited about the technical/scientific side of the observatory information, but they enjoyed seeing how much the others in our family loved it! We did hope to see the sunset, since that was a big part of our Haleakala experience on a previous trip, so it was disappointing to be only able to catch a small glimpse. Maybe Volcano Teide can create a grid on its website that shows all of the trips it offers, and the various differences, for example: 1) if viewing sunset was possible, 2) if cable car ride to top of Teide was included (we could not tell, and a couple family members were disappointed to miss it), 3) if regional information would be provided on the long drive to the observatory (our guide never said anything during that hour after our pick up -- he was totally quiet until we got close to the site, making the ride on a packed bus especially boring even though we were passing through what seemed to be an interesting area we knew nothing about), 4) percentage of time spent indoors and outdoors (the indoor observatory segment was great, and the cable car base building was a terrific place for a meal -- we had assumed all time would be spent outside, so these were positive surprises), and 5) amount of time spent on star gazing (it was the right amount of time -- some of us were dreading a much longer period outdoors). It's also helpful for others to know that if you're traveling from the south where the weather is warm during the day, Volcano Teide was okay with boarding the bus in shorts, for example, as long as they could verify pants were brought along to change into upon arrival. Walking for 10 minutes to the bus stop and riding the vehicle in polar fleece pants in 23-degree Celsius weather was not something anyone would want to do!
I was very much looking forward to the astronomical tour, after spending one evening doing stargazing with my family in a previous visit to Tenerife. However, it was a huge disappointment, in particularly considering the amount of money spent (three adults and one child) and the quality of the experience received. To start off, pick up location could have been more explicit, which was addressed promptly by emailing the tour organiser. We, alongside another 15 tourists, were taken to the observatory - was a smooth journey, no issue at all. The guide subsequently presented us a scientific telescope, of which the duration was no more than ten mins - and that was it.... There was no hands on experience, no understanding of the technical details until we were taken to two amateur telescopes that are located in the public path, and were advised to the sun's corona. Unsurprisingly, all we could see was an orange sphere in the eyepiece, nothing more. We were then taken to another studio to watch a video, which last probably 15 mins, and waited in the open area for nearly an hour, doing nothing, because the guide needed to wait another group to watch the video etc. The temperature there, at December, was nearly 0 degree celsius. It makes no sense to keep the visitors out there and do nothing! After the long wait, we finally started the 'highlight' of the tour - we were taken back to the Teide, and watched four items, moon, Jupiter, Saturn, and the Orion belt, using again four telescopes (not the scientific telescopes I was hoping). The last activity of the tour, at nearly zero degree celsius, was star gazing. The tour guide was passionate and knowledgeable. However, it was absolutely too cold to actually participate. In conclusion, please consider using your own transportation and go up the Teide rather than taking the tour.
A very interesting and engaging tour. Quite long: 8+ hours includind driving, but you see a lot of interesting things along the way - beautiful nature, observatory, devices, video presentation, observation through solar and night telescopes, and get acquainted with constellations. Just bear in mind, that in winter there could be very cold - There were -5C on the mountain there in December, while at the seashore of Tenerife there were +20C. So get really worm clothes if you don't want to freeze.
The tour was very well organised, the bus was on time at the pick up point and they dropped us back at the scheduled time. Our guide (from the south) was very knowledgeable and able to explain everything in English and Spanish. We would like to give him a special thank you as he made the tour very enjoyable and interesting showing his love for science and astronomy. Also the guide from the north who did the stargazing experience in Spanish was very passionate and knowledgeable. The experience was worth the price and we can definitely recommend it.
Booking the trip was very easy
Great and informative tour.
Very informative and enjoyable with thoroughly knowledgeable guide and good equipment to see the sun and stars/planets with
A fantastic experience in spectacular surroundings with engaging and knowledgeable guides. Highly recommended to anyone who has even a passing interest in astronomy and the night sky.
Brilliant tour to a very magical place. If you have any interest in the stars & space, I would thoroughly recommend this experience. Our guides were brilliant and actual astrophysicists (meaning they really knew their subject and could bring the whole experience to life). Star gazing at the base of the volcano, in one of the top 3 sites in the world to star gaze, was incredible
Amazing trip, beautiful scenery. The observatory tour was amazing, *** are guide was so knowledgeable and engaging, really enjoyed it and was finished with a view of the stars and telescopes. It's better to time closer to a new moon as we have half moon and it was still quite light. We added the picnic option which was nice, gluten free and vegetarian accommodated for. Really recommend
I enjoyed the astronomy tour very much. I want to add that I liked our driver, ***. He is awesome. We talked all the way to the observatory and the way back home. He knows a lot about astronomy and sciences. And he's a very pleasant person. I enjoyed our conversation a lot! And he speaks Español, English, and Russian. It was very interesting and engaging - to talk with Abel because he helped to translate anything I wanted to express but didn't know how to say in Español or English and know only in my native language (Russian). Thanks to ***, I learned some Español during our drive to the observatory and back, which is cool! Please give a bonus to ***! :)
The tour was well organized. Our tour guide was exceptionally knowledgeable, answering all my questions with such depth and enthusiasm that it greatly enriched my stargazing experience. Additional thanks for the automated hassle-free refund
Our english group guide - *** - is not only a guide, but also the scientist working at the observatory. All our questions were answered. The atmosphere was great!
Slight issue at first with the coach but the guide went out of his way to get us there on time. The experience was professional and informative, with amazing guides whose knowledge was second to none. Highly recommend doing this as it was a magical experience
It was an amazing well organized and informative experience, especially the night sky observation. I highly recommend this trip.
Excellent evening all round
Very interesting and memorable trip, great guides. Wrap up warmly.
Too long and not really interesting
We have been much looking forward to our experience, but our guide was unfortunately completely unprofessional. The transfer was fine and the observatory area was fascinating, but we were hugely disappointed that the observation via the long range telescope was only 20 minutes for the English speaking group and then we spent over 1 hour looking at the sky with our eyes. The parallel Spanish group could enjoyed the telescope for an hour. 20 minutes is really not much especially as we booked an 8h tour. The guide was not using a filter for the bright moon, so it was an unenjoyable experience. What was worst however is that our guide was not properly using the green laser. He crossed the people all the time, even the head area. When we advised that he should be more careful, he just laughed and stated that the laser is not dangerous. This is completely unprofessional. We were extremely disappointed.
My son likes this experience
Wonderful tour with an incredible setting. Was really impressed with the depth of science and astronomy presented during this activity. The stargazing element was superb, and to finish it off the explanation around constellation map and navigating by stars was awesome.
1. Not clear what workshop is about 2. Not a kids friendly activity: explanations are terrible and in poor English 3. It was too long and too cold for kids. “Take warm cloth and avoid sandals” was mentioned but it’s not enough to communicate that the kids will have to stay outside for several hours and essentially need to wear winter clothes or refuse from visiting. 4. We had to stay in the bus during the 2nd part of the trip (stargazing) to keep them warm, so we missed the activity. Our kids wore 5 layers of clothes but it wasn’t enough We are very much disappointed and think it was a waste of our time and money. 5. Even for a pick up location: we only received one option and we came there only to find out on our way back that there where other stops we could use (and they were closer to our hotel)
Very qualified staff/guides. They are interested in sharing their knowledge in attracting-scientific manner.
Description of this nighttime astronomy tour
Description
Enjoy this 2-in-1 Astronomic Tour of Teide for astronomy lovers in Tenerife
The Astronomic Tour of Teide is our 2-in-1 Teide astronomical tour, which combines a daytime visit of Tenerife Observatory (a night tour of Teide Observatory is not available) with a stargazing experience. Transport is also offered for the Teide Astronomical Tour from various points on the island of Tenerife.
Please note that the facilities of this scientific centre aren’t open for a Teide Observatory night tour. On this astronomic tour in Tenerife, you will visit Izaña Observatory during the daytime.
During this Astronomic Tour to Teide, which lasts approximately 8 hours, our Starlight guide accompanies you at all times, so that you can enjoy Mt Teide by night. But you’ll also be accompanied by nocturnal creatures. As the sun goes down, a change comes over the National Park. Creatures that are active during the daytime hide away, and the nocturnal creatures emerge from their lairs.
Many invertebrates start scampering among the plants, and the harmless bats abandon the volcanic tunnels, cracks and caves where they spend the hours of daylight asleep, to make themselves lords and masters of the scrubland as they hunt for moths. The National Park is home to five of the seven species of bat that inhabit the Canary archipelago. Especially noteworthy are the Canary long-eared bat and the free-tailed bat (Tadarida teniotis), the largest bat to be found on these islands.
Your Astronomic Tour of Teide includes a visit of the Teide Observatory—in the afternoon and with a guide, because Teide Observatory isn’t open to visitors at night. Once the sun has gone down, you will enjoy 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.
This astronomic tour in Tenerife also includes a stop for a meal. You choose whether you prefer to bring your own food or buy our optional picnic along with your ‘Astronomic Tour including a visit of Teide Observatory’.
An afternoon Teide Observatory 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.
Some people feel they would prefer to discover Teide Observatory on a night tour but there is a very good reason it is only open to visitors during the daytime; during the night, a team of scientists works at Teide Observatory to perform research work into the night skies.
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 of Teide, you can feel like a scientist for a day as during the afternoon Tenerife Observatory visit:
- You’re introduced to astronomy in Tenerife and 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.
Mount Teide Astronomical Tour to enjoy astronomy in Tenerife
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.
Before you arrive at the Teide Observatory, you will have toured a good part of the National Park. During your tour, you will see inside the caldera of Las Cañadas, a massive volcanic formation whose origins date back 180,000 years—to when the volcano that then stood at the highest point on Tenerife collapsed and its northern slope fell away. A good proportion of the millions of tons of rock that made up the volcano slid away downwards, into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. What remained standing of the volcanic edifice is the cirque of Las Cañadas, an oval, natural amphitheatre, which forms a wall stretching from east to west in the south of the Park.
Volcanic activity soon resumed in the great tunnel that the slippage left in its wake, and successive eruptions filled Las Cañadas with lava flows. Evidence of this activity can be seen in the occasional (now dormant) volcanic cones scattered around. One of the volcanoes that emerged following the collapse was Mount Teide, which rises up in the centre of the caldera, reaching a height of 3,718 m. To date, the last eruption to have occurred in this spectacular volcanic landscape took place in 1798 at the base of Pico Viejo.
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 this friendly island to observe the stars and enjoy astronomy in Tenerife.
It is also because the Teide is the best place in Tenerife to conduct an astronomical observation, away from the light pollution produced by the urban areas of the island.
With the Astronomic Tour of Teide guides, you discover the secrets of the heavens from Teide National Park. You 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.
Get closer to the stars with the professional telescopes on your Teide Astronomical Tour
The astronomical observation included in the Astronomic Tour of Teide is held in the car park next to the Teide Cable Car base station, an outstanding spot where you can let your love of astronomy loose in Tenerife.
You discover planets, galaxies and clusters like you never would have imagined, thanks to our professional, last generation long range telescopes, which you have at your disposal to go through the most interesting celestial objects of every night, visible from Mount Teide.
In addition, during your Astronomic Tour of Teide the 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 contribute to a unique experience which you will live during this astronomical tourism activity in Tenerife.
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 of Teide and enjoy it on the night of the full moon, 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 Astronomic Tour with a Teide Observatory visit (not including a Tenerife Observatory night tour, i.e. a night-time visit to Izaña Observatory) and with a professional observation of the Universe from the Teide cable car facilities.
Book your Teide Astronomical Tour today and enjoy astronomy in Tenerife during your holiday on the island!
