Port
Santa Cruz (Tenerife), Canary Islands, Spain
Activity Level
Moderate
Excursion Type
All
Wheelchair Accessible
No
Starting At
$149.95
Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
Duration
Approximately 8 Hours
Meals Included
Meals included
Travel through mountains and valleys to experience the 'moonscape' of Las Cañadas, La Esperanza's greenery, and the Orotava Valley's lush fields. The freeway winds westward through the La Esperanza Forest along the crest of the mountain range that forms the backbone of the island.
Pause for photos at Mirador de Ortuño, offering a panoramic view of the island's northern coast, and enter Cañadas National Park through the gateway of El Portillo Las Cañadas at an elevation of 6,600 feet. The park features a vast volcanic crater that appears devoid of life.
Your coach winds through unusual landscapes before skirting the enormous peak of Mount Teide, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which dominates the area at more than 12,270 feet tall (the highest point in Spain). The volcanic rocks found there are surprisingly colorful -- black lava, red magma, white pumice and the bright-green rocks through which the road is cut.
Stop at the Humboldt Viewpoint for lunch, and visit Puerto de la Cruz.
Visit the Botanic Gardens, founded in 1788. A huge variety of palms grows here, and the centerpiece is an enormous South American fig tree whose branches and roots form an outlandish treehouse.
End your tour with a drive along the northern freeway back to the harbor.
Notes:
Wear comfortable walking shoes. Shade is limited; to avoid sunburn, wear light, long clothing suitable for use as a cover-up. Bring a hat and sunglasses; wear biodegradable sunscreen. Bring bottled water.