Montaña Bermeja Viewpoint
If we just came from Minas de San José (the Moon), now get ready to land on Mars. Following the TF-21 road, you encounter a spectacle that breaks the monotony of the landscape: the Mirador Montaña Bermeja (Red Mountain Viewpoint). Here geology gets intense and gifts us one of the most brutal chromatic contrasts in the National Park.
Rusted Fire at Montaña Bermeja Viewpoint
Its name implies no deception: "Bermeja" means vermilion or red, and this mountain is intensely so. It is a volcanic cone composed of materials very rich in iron which, upon contact with air and water over thousands of years, have oxidized to reach that characteristic reddish-maroon tone. From the Mirador Montaña Bermeja, the mountain seems to be burning under the sun.
The most fascinating thing about this spot is the play of colors. You have the blood red of the mountain, the pale yellow of the pumice stone surrounding it, and the electric blue of the sky. It is a corner where you can clearly see how chemistry and time paint the landscape. Also, being close to the El Portillo area, vegetation begins to claim its space, with broom and "hierba pajonera" sprinkling the scene with green and grey.
Tips from Your Local Insider
To enjoy this Martian corner, note these tips:
- Photographic Contrast: If you are looking for the perfect photo, frame it so you can see the white/yellow sand base and the red mountain behind it. The contrast is so strong that your followers will think you oversaturated the photo, but it is 100% real!
- Starting Point: Very close to here begins one of the longest and most important trails in the park: the Siete Cañadas Trail (Trail 4). You don't have to do the whole thing (it's 16 km), but walking the first section allows you to go around the mountain and see it from other perspectives.
- Warm Clothing: This area is usually a wind corridor. Even if you see the sun shining on the red earth, don't trust it. The air up here usually comes in cool, so keep your jacket handy.
Montaña Bermeja Viewpoint is Teide's brushstroke of passion. A mandatory stop to understand that volcanoes are not just black, but a rainbow of earth and fire.