Mount Teide is Tenerife’s volcanic crown and Spain’s highest point. At 3,715 metres, it is the highest point in Spain and one of the most visited national parks in the world.  Teide National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.  You can visit by rental car, which is the most flexible option, by public TITSA bus (lines 342 and 348), or on an organised excursion.  The drive from Tenerife South Airport takes about 1 to 1.5 hours.  The fastest way up is the cable car. It connects the base station at 2,356 m with the upper station at 3,555 m in about 8 minutes, covering 1,200 m of elevation.  The cable car is wheelchair accessible. 
At the top, you can go further with a permit. Most tours and the cable car itself stop at the upper station at 3,555 m, which needs no permit,  but the final stretch to the very peak requires a free permit from the national park, booked separately and well in advance.  The summit hike along the Telesforo Bravo trail takes you from the cable car to the top, 160 m higher.  On the caldera floor, the Roques de García are arguably the park’s most photographed feature, with a car park and a short circular trail of about 45 minutes.  The summit area is one of the world’s best-protected dark skies, and sunset-and-stargazing trips pair alpenglow on the cone with telescope time once night falls.
Pro tips: High winds can halt the cable car, so build flexibility into your plans and check its operating status the morning of your visit.  Check the weather before you go, and book your permit and cable car ticket in advance.  The altitude is a real factor, so go slowly, drink plenty of water, and wear layers, sun protection, and sturdy shoes, as it is much colder than on the coast. Allow at least half a day, and a full day if you hike on the caldera floor.  Combine it with Vilaflor or Roques de García for a full day in the highlands.
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