Mirador de las Narices del Teide

Hello volcano enthusiast! I'm your "Local Insider" from Canaguia.com. Today we are heading to the most beautiful road to drive on the entire island: the TF-38. If you want to see where the earth roared for the last time inside the National Park, you have to stop at the Narices del Teide Viewpoint. It is the perfect place to feel nature's destructive and creative force.

History Written in Lava at Narices del Teide Viewpoint

This viewpoint, located at over 2,000 meters in altitude, puts you in the front row of a geological spectacle. What you see in front of you is not the main peak of Teide, but the majestic Pico Viejo (or Chahorra). On its slope, you will see a series of aligned dark craters: those are the famous "Narices" (Nostrils).

The Narices del Teide Viewpoint commemorates the eruption of 1798, the longest in Tenerife's history (it lasted three months). The landscape here is a "badlands" (malpaís) of black lava and lapilli that contrasts brutally with the blue of the sky and the green of the Canary pines trying to reclaim the land. It's like being on Mars, but with fresh air.

Tips from Your Local Insider

This is one of my favorite places to disconnect, and here is why:

The Best Sunset in the West: Forget the beach for a day. Watching the sun go down from here, with the islands of La Gomera, La Palma, and El Hierro floating in a sea of clouds beneath your feet, is a religious experience. The colors over the black lava are unreal.
A Sky of Diamonds: Being far from cities and protected by the mountain, this is one of the best spots for stargazing. If you stay at night, the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye. Bring polar gear, it freezes at night!
Walk on History: Trail number 9 starts from the viewpoint. You can walk a little along the lava flows to hear the crunch of volcanic stone under your boots.

The Narices del Teide Viewpoint is pure visual power. A silent and beautiful reminder that we live on top of an active volcano.