Mount Teide  & Las Canadas National Park

With an average altitude of over 2,000 metres, the Teide National Park offers you one of the most spectacular examples of volcanic activity in the world.

It was created in 1954 in recognition of its special volcanic and biological features. Covering 18,990 hectares, it is the largest National Park in the Canary Islands.

THE TEIDE AND THE CALDERA 

El Teide, with a height of 3,718 metres above sea level, is the highest mountain in Spain.

It is a stratovolcano which rests on an ancient and gigantic cauldron-shaped depression made up of two semi-calderas separated by the Roques de García.

Teide reaches a summit at Pilón de Azucar, which still shows residual activity in the form of fumaroles and sulphur at 86ºC.

The cauldron, or caldera, known as Las Cañadas, takes its name from the most typical structure of the Park: la Cañada, a sedimentary plain that is normally situated at the foot of the walls of the caldera.

The genesis of the great Las Cañadas Circus still causes controversy among geologists, with theories ranging from an explosion, erosion, collapse and major landslides. The most widely accepted theory until the early nineties was the collapse theory as the basic cause.

The theory assumes that it is a caldera with two sub-calderas, an eastern one and a western one, separated by the Roques de García and formed by collapses and landslides. The current volcanic edifice was later formed in the northern sector of Las Cañadas caldera. This is Teide - Pico Viejo.

This stratovolcano and the caldera are the two largest structures in the National Park.

Investigations of the Island´s subsoil, however and studies of the sea bed and the submarine relief in recent years have confirmed the theory presented by local geologist and geographer Telesforo Bravo in 1962. Las Cañadas, along with the Orotava and Güimar valleys are depressions formed by gravitational landslides of more than 100 Km3 of part of the island.

Dating places the Güimar valley event 0.8 million years ago, the Orotava valley event at 0.5 million years ago and Las Cañadas 0.17 million years ago.

Cableway of Teide

Rides to the summit in cable car from the La Rambleta cable car station start at 9 a.m. and finish at 4 p.m., unless weather conditions or high winds make it impossible. Restrictive measures have now been taken, to PREVENT access to the very summit of the cone without a special permit, although you can go up to the La Fortaleza and Pico Viejo look outs.

In order to go up to Pico del Teide, along the "Telesforo Bravo" trail from La Rambleta or Cable Car station (3550 m) you first need written permission from the National Park Office, which will be valid for TWO given dates:

Oficina del Parque Nacional C/ Emilio Calzadilla, nº 5 - 4ª planta Telf. 922 290129 - 922 290183 Fax: 922 244788 Santa Cruz de Tenerife Office hours: from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Monday to Friday (take a photocopy of your passport or I.D. card.)

Observatory of Teide    

Group visits must be arranged in advance with the Canary Island Astrophysics Institute (IAC): Tel. 922 605200 - 922 605207 (La Laguna)

Open: from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for first and last visits. The visit lasts approximately one an a half hours.

Groups: Groups must not exceed 45 people of be less than 15. In the latter case, they will be merged with another group that has already booked a visit.

Routine: Arrive at the Observatory - screening of an information video about the IAC and its observatories - Visit of the facility.

Visits are free of charge; visitors are responsible for transport. The observatory is in Izaña, 6 Km from "El Portillo" along the La Laguna road.

  Teide Observatory 24/7 Live Cam

The Beginning

The existence of the Güímar step pyramids first came to wide public notice when an article was printed in a local newspaper in the early 1990’s.

The information reached the Norwegian anthropologist, Thor Heyerdahl, who is internationally renowned for his transoceanic voyages using vessels of prehistoric design and for his theories concerning human migrations.

Heyerdahl, who dedicated much of his life to researching the cultural origins of ancient civilisations throughout the world, carefully studied photographs of the Güímar Pyramids, and put forward the hypothesis that they had been built in accordance with the same architectural principles as those of both the Old and the New World. The similarity of the pyramids in Güímar to those in Sicily, Mexico, Mesopotamia, Polinesia and Peru induced Heyerdahl to come to Tenerife to study the structures at the site itself.

Various theories exist as to the origin and age of the pyramids. Prior to the arrival of Heyerdahl in Tenerife, two alternative theories were disputed. Some researchers maintained that they were mere heaps of stone left by farmers clearing the land for cultivation, while others claimed that these structures were related to esoteric beliefs. After Thor Heyerdahl´s investigations, some professional archaeologists began to relate the existence of the pyramids to pre-Hispanic civilisations on the island.

In 1991, the Archaeology Department of La Laguna University carried out the first excavations and the Canary Islands’ Astrophysical Institute looked into possible ancient astronomical relationships. These studies revealed that the pyramids were aligned to the winter and summer solstices.

The land on which the Pyramids stand had been earmarked for development in connection with a planned expansion in the upper part of the town, jeopardising the survival of the structures.

Thor Heyerdahl’s interest became a personal commitment when the site of the pyramids was purchased by the Fred. Olsen shipping company in order to protect the structures and create what is today the “Pirámides de Güímar” Ethnographic Park

A Voyage Through Cultures 

CUEVA CHACONA
Excavations were carried out in 1997-98 beneath Pyramid 1 by a team of American and Canarian archaeologists, leading to the discovery of an eight-metre long cave containing remains dating from the times of the Guanches, the pre- Hispanic inhabitants of the island (goat and fish bones, bodkins, earthenware fragments, stone objects and decorative beads from a necklace). The organic remains were dated using the Carbon-14 method by the Beta Laboratory in Miami. The final report concluded that the cave dated from a period between 680 and 1020 AD

Masca Valley is one of the most awe-inspiring places you could visit. Set in the midst of the Teno, Masca is a remote picturesque village nestling in a stunning gorge.

The village only became accessible by road thirteen years ago and since then the 600 strong community has dwindled to about 100 and those that have stayed have mainly done so for the tourism alone. The area is covered in lush green flora and dotted with palm and orange trees. These oranges are now sold to the tourists that visit here daily.

The walk around the village offers some beautiful views and also a chance to see some of the pretty old stone houses that look out over the gorge to the Atlantic Ocean. Some of these houses have now been turned into restaurants and cafés for tourists and offer some good traditional local food and homemade lemonade.

For hikers there is a magnificent walk from the village down the narrow, steep sided barranco to the coast. At its narrowest the gorge is only 20km wide and the sides of the ravine reach as high as 600m above sea level.

The views on this trail are outstanding, ending at the beach surrounded by staggering cliffs, the acantilados de los gigantes (cliffs of the giants). The walk to the beach takes about three hours but remember to allow the time to hike back up again.

The road to Masca has many hairpin bends so unless you are a confident driver it would be advised to get the bus. The bus, number 355 runs infrequently from Buenavista del Norte on Monday to Friday, as there are only about two return journeys per day, ensure you check the return times

Dracaena Draco
 

Dragon Tree, Drago de Canarias

In the greek myth of The Eleventh Labor of Hercules: The Apples of The Hespérides, there is mention of Landon, the hundred-headed dragon, gaurdian of the Garden of the Hespérides (the nymph daughters of Altas, the titan who holds up earth and heaven).

In order to fulfill his task to bring back three golden apple from the garden, depending upon the version of the myth, Landon the dragon is killed by either Hercules (in his quest) or Atlas (as punishment). Landon's red blood flowed out upon the land and from it sprung up the trees which we now know as 'Dragon Trees'. The sight of Dracaena draco is certainly enough to inspire such legends and the alleged location of this fabled garden, an island beyond the Altas Mountains (Morocco), would seem to indicate that this tree is indeed the basis of the myth. The rich, red, resinous sap of this species, suggestive of blood, adds to the mistique and have for centuries been put to uses both practical and magical.

  In order to fulfill his task to bring back three golden apple from the garden, depending upon the version of the myth, Landon the dragon is killed by either Hercules (in his quest) or Atlas (as punishment). Landon's red blood flowed out upon the land and from it sprung up the trees which we now know as 'Dragon Trees'. The sight of Dracaena draco is certainly enough to inspire such legends and the alleged location of this fabled garden, an island beyond the Altas Mountains (Morocco), would seem to indicate that this tree is indeed the basis of the myth. The rich, red, resinous sap of this species, suggestive of blood, adds to the mistique and have for centuries been put to uses both practical and magical.

While the Dragon Tree is endemic to Canary Islands, Madeira & Cape Verde, only a few individuals can be found growing naturally, and these are mainly on the islands of Tenerife and La Palma, growing in dry bush at the low elevations of the islands' rocky mountain ranges.
    

Extremely slow growing, usually taking approximately 10-15 years (or more) to reach about 2-3ft. before its first flowering. It is the flowering that causes the stem to branch, which is does with regularity (usually about every ten years, possibly less in cultivation), creating the much-divided crown ('hundred-headed' dragon) so characteristic of specimens several decades old. Perhaps the oldest specimen is found in the town of La Orotava, in the Orotava Valley on Tenerife (pictured at left). Locally it is called the 'Millenium Dragon Tree', and variously estimated to be 1500-3000 years old, though it is likely not older than 650 years, based upon its number of branched ranks. Since monocots do not produce annual growth rings as do hardwood trees, the cycle of bloom & branch is all scientists have to gauge the age of these plants. The hundreds of small, fragrant, creamy-white flowers are borne in branched spike. The fruits are pea-sized, bright orange, and very fleshy.

Extremely slow growing, usually taking approximately 10-15 years (or more) to reach about 2-3ft. before its first flowering. It is the flowering that causes the stem to branch, which is does with regularity (usually about every ten years, possibly less in cultivation), creating the much-divided crown ('hundred-headed' dragon) so characteristic of specimens several decades old. Perhaps the oldest specimen is found in the town of La Orotava, in the Orotava Valley on Tenerife (pictured at left). Locally it is called the 'Millenium Dragon Tree', and variously estimated to be 1500-3000 years old, though it is likely not older than 650 years, based upon its number of branched ranks. Since monocots do not produce annual growth rings as do hardwood trees, the cycle of bloom & branch is all scientists have to gauge the age of these plants. The hundreds of small, fragrant, creamy-white flowers are borne in branched spike. The fruits are pea-sized, bright orange, and very fleshy.

Before the Spaniards arrived on the Canary Islands, some five hundred years ago, Dragon Tree fruits were the main food of an endemic, Dodo-like, flightless bird which is now extinct. Related to the pigeon, it was about the size of a turkey. Because of the extinction of the species, naturally occurring Dragon Trees are becoming very rare. The processing of Dragon Tree seeds through the digestive tract of this bird helped stimulate germination - without this aid, seed must be manually processed in order to sprout.

Before the Spaniards arrived on the Canary Islands, some five hundred years ago, Dragon Tree fruits were the main food of an endemic, Dodo-like, flightless bird which is now extinct. Related to the pigeon, it was about the size of a turkey. Because of the extinction of the species, naturally occurring Dragon Trees are becoming very rare. The processing of Dragon Tree seeds through the digestive tract of this bird helped stimulate germination - without this aid, seed must be manually processed in order to sprout.

The survival of the Dragon Tree was, in some ways, safegaurded by the original natives of the islands, the Guanches, a race of white-skinned, blue-eyed people now racially blended with their Spanish conquerers, They processed the sap from injured branches or stems into 'Dragon's Blood', used in the mummification processes. Through time, this unusual substance has been thought to contains various medicinal and magical properties, and was sought by various cultures around the Mediterranean, Europe, and Africa. Today the Dragon's Blood is still in use to produce a hard, shiny furniture polish.

Dragon Trees are commonly grown in gardens all over the Canary Islands by private gardeners and by hotels as a tourist attraction, not only for its fame but also for its unique character. It is also often grown in large gardens in various mediterranean climates, where large, old, wel-branched specimens are highly prized. Due to the slow growth and difficulty in germination, it remains a true collectors item. Requiring excellent drainage and being suseptible to frost damage, its placement in gardens is restrictive. Container grown seedlings are very successful, but these will not attain the true character of the multi-branched crown without being planted in the ground and with the addition of significant time.

Tenerife´s Whales & Dolphins

 

The clear Atlantic water’s around the Los Gigantes region are famous world wide, amongst marine biologists, as they serve either as a permanent home, or as a temporary feeding ground, for an astounding array of Whale and Dolphin species

The most common species encountered are the Bottlenose Dolphin and the Long Finned Pilot Whale. The dolphins, with their permanent grin and playfull antics, thrill passangers as they ride the bow wave of the Boat trips at a distance almost close enough to touch. Offering an ideally suited feeding ground and many miles of open Ocean the waters around the Los Gigantes area have been "adopted" by a Pod of resident Bottlenose Dolphins that put in almost daily appearances to the passengers of many Boat trips. Away from the accelerated pace of the Dolphins the Pilot Whales can often be encountered as they lie almost motionless at the water’s surface. Again a pod of these larger cetaceans have chosen the Los Gigantes region as their permanent home.

The Pilot Whale pod can be stretched out over many miles of Ocean with the larger males acting as guardians at the pod extremities. The animals most often encountered are those that make up the nursery groups that incorporate mother’s with their young and adolescent females that take turns in "babysitting" the younger animals. The pod stay in contact with each other via an extensive and complicated sonar communication system that is made up of click’s, whistles and high pitched squeals.

Apart from the Bottlenose Dolphins of the area visitors are often treated to an impressive aerial display provided for by the regularly encountered groups of Spotted Dolphins. These smaller animals, in comparison to the Bottlenose Dolphin, move with lightning speed and are prone to providing onlookers to an impressive display of aerial leaps. Wonderful photographic models these animals provide the opportunity to take home some fantastic holiday snaps or video footage. On a par with the Spotted Dolphin, for their aeriel acrobatics, are the Common Dolphin's, with a lateral yellow marking on each flank they are easily identified during their displays.

From time to time an inquisitive calf will approach the boat in order to get a closer look at the passengers on the boats. These moments of interaction allow passengers to witness, first hand, the beauty and simplicity of these incredible creatures. When feeling in a particularly playful mood it has been known for the younger animals to approach the boat and almost lift their body out of the water for a closer look at the passengers, much to the delight of the on-lookers. Throughout the course of the year many other species are encountered in these water's. Part of the excitement of seeing 27 differing cetacean species that either reside in or temporarily use the water's of Los Gigantes as a "Pit-Stop" before continuing their individual journeys to destinations world wide. However, due to the importance of these waters as breeding and feeding grounds, visitors to the area have, at differing times of the year, encountered species such as Sperm Whales, Blue Whales, Fin Whales, Right Whales, Minke Whales and the hugely rare Blainvilles Toothed Whale. So far as Dolphin species encountered by visitors these include Striped Dolphins, Spotted Dolphins, Risso's Dolphin, Rough Toothed Dolphins and of course the resident Bottlenosed Dolphins.

At the end of the 14th century, about one hundred years before Tenerife was conquered, a Gothic figure of the Virgen de Candelaria appeared on the coast of the Güimar valley; a figure that was worshipped by the Guanches and called Chaxiraxi (Lady of the World) by them. Ever since 1526, it has remained in the Sanctuary that the second Governor of the island , Pedro Fernández de Lugo, ordered built. The original figure disappeared in a land slide in 1826. The current figure is the work of local artist Fernando Estévez, who carved it in 1827.

The Cathedral was designed by Enrique Marrero Regalado, and built in 1959 on the initiative of Domingo Pérez Cáceres, bishop of Tenerife, and born in Güimar. The regional style building has three naves with imitation Mudejar style ceilings and a 25 m high dome that crowned by the cross. There is a 45 m high central tower with a Canary Island style balcony. The chancel holds a figure of the Virgen de Candelaria, proclaimed Patron Saint of the Canary Islands in 1599 by Pope Clement VIII. This title was ratified by Pope Pious IX in 1867.

Inside, the cathedral contains murals by José Aguiar and paintings by Martín González. Other works of art include: El Cristo Agonizante, a Baroque monstrance made in the Canary Islands in the 18th century and an historically valuable 16th century baptismal font. Although the official festivities for Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria take place on 2nd of February, her appearance is celebrated on the 15th of August.

This is when the faithful flock to the cathedral from all over the island.

The Pilgrims' Fountain is next to the church. Next to the cathedral is the convent of Los Dominicos, built in 1803 after the original building was destroyed in a fire. The convent is run by the Dominicans, who have been chaplains of La Candelaria since 1530.

Their chapel houses a museum which exhibits objects related to the history of the worship of the Virgen de Candelaria. Past the convent, you et to the Archibinico, or San Blas Cave, where the Guanches placed their Black Virgin, which for some researchers was of esoteric significance.

Thanks to Santiago Calatrava, Santa Cruz de Tenerife is now home to an shockingly picturesque opera house. Located on nearly six acres next to the ocean, the building seems to rise up swallow itself like a giant wave. Beneath the high tide you will discover two auditoriums, totaling 73,000 SF with a capacity of over 2000. The auditorium, Calatrava's first performing arts building will host a year-round program of orchestral and operatic events attracting visitors into the city.

The signature component - the wing was prefabricated and shipped to the island in more than a dozen pieces the largest of which weight some 60 tons. A special crane had to be shipped in to lift the pieces into place. Several critiques of the work have noted the huge canopy has no practical purpose other than being purely sculptural and as such the work is egotistical in nature.

"As someone who loves music almost as much as architecture," Santiago Calatrava states, "I feel very fortunate to have been chosen to design the Tenerife Auditorium, the first building I have completed that is dedicated to musical performance "

The key to a project's success always lies in the determination of the client to make something special, and in the community's enthusiasm for the purpose of the building. In this case, it was through popular support for the excellent programs of the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, and through the far-sighted vision of the client, the Tenerife Town Council, that we were able to sustain this project over a decade of design and construction, and to create the building we had always hoped to achieve."