Since you have chosen to come to the very heart of Tenerife for New Year, we suggest that, weather permitting, you take advantage of the wonderful walking opportunities on offer in the nearby National Park surrounding Spain’s highest peak. We provide notes for both a challenging and an easier (or bad-weather) option from the Parador at Las Cañadas, just half an hour’s drive from your hotel.
Circular walk to El Teide via cable car: 14km, 4.5hrs (plus detours to viewpoints)
Follow a level route through the kaleidoscopic landscape of the Teide National Park to reach the cable car (pay locally) which will take you to within 200 metres of the very peak of the volcano. From the upper cable car station paths lead off to the north with views over the remaining north crater wall of Fortaleza and Montaña Blanca from where those wishing to climb to the peak begin their ascent. To the south, the path leads to the perfect crater of Pico Viejo, the lower of the two volcanic peaks, from where you can see the islands of La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro on the horizon, as well as the southern coast of the island.
If you wish to go to the summit of El Teide, you will need to obtain a
free permit, available online in advance of your trip. Permits become available six months in advance, and are very popular, so we recommend reserving yours as soon as possible. The ascent to the peak takes an additional hour due to the altitude, which makes progress slow. (NB: In the event of heavy snowfall, which is not uncommon between November and February, the summit path will be closed, although the cable car may continue to run. The latter, however, does not operate in high winds, in which case it is impossible to access the peak.)
Circular walk via Roques de García: 4km, 1.5hrs
This is a short but unforgettable walk past the various weird and wonderful rock formations of the Roques de García, including the shillelagh-shaped Roque Chinchado which used to grace the 1,000-peseta banknote. Many of these striking natural monuments resemble fingers pointing into the sky, and another looks like a cathedral, with several tower-like formations.