Located at the center of Mount Teide, the highest mountain in Spain, which also doubles as a volcano, is a European national park that could easily cosplay the planet Mars. If someone were transported there while asleep, they’d have little reason to believe they weren’t on the Red Planet, aside from the basic logic that humans can’t actually get to Mars (yet). The landscape of Mount Teide National Park is otherworldly, and it also strongly resembles the American Southwest. So much so that I told my daughter it felt like we’d been plopped back into Arizona. That’s not to say visiting Mount Teide National Park was underwhelming; it was quite the opposite. I genuinely enjoyed it. Being so close to such an iconic volcano, surrounded by an otherworldly landscape, was an unforgettable experience.
I’m not the only one who felt like I’d been body slammed onto Mars. The resemblance is so striking that Mount Teide has become a prime location for testing instruments designed for Martian exploration. In 2010, a scientific research team tested the Raman instrument, which is intended for use in the ESA-NASA ExoMars mission, at Las Cañadas del Teide on Mount Teide. Then, in 2017, the European Space Agency tested planetary rovers in the park’s Las Minas de San José area. The Mars-like terrain makes it an ideal stand-in for the Red Planet, especially for studying conditions that could reveal signs of past or present life.
Mount Teide is Spain’s tallest mountain, the highest volcano in the Atlantic Ocean islands, and the third-highest volcano in the world, as measured from its base on the ocean floor. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, Mount Teide is Europe’s most visited national park. On average, it welcomes around 4 million visitors annually, comparable to many of the most popular national parks in the United States. For context, in 2024, the Grand Canyon and Zion each saw 4.9 million visitors, Yosemite saw 4 million, and Yellowstone welcomed 4.7 million.
Mount Teide National Park holds deep spiritual significance for the aboriginal Guanches, who considered it a sacred place of worship. They believed the volcano was the gateway to Hell (why they would worship there is a mystery, but hey, to each their own). In addition to its spiritual importance, the park is home to numerous significant archaeological sites. Due to its cultural and natural value, it was designated a national park in 1954. Later, in 1989, the Council of Europe awarded it the European Diploma of Protected Areas.
Located on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, reaching the summit of Mount Teide and visiting Mount Teide National Park requires some effort, as it involves a long, winding drive uphill. The nearest major city is Santa Cruz de Tenerife, about 45 miles (72 km) away, a drive that typically takes 1 hour and 10 minutes, depending on how many stops you make. For us, the journey took about 2 hours and 15 minutes, but that’s because we paused at a scenic viewpoint for photos of the volcano and stopped at Restaurante Bambi, which serves as a bakery, restroom, and souvenir shop.
At Restaurante Bambi, we received the cold, harsh slap of reality that our visit to Mount Teide would mirror our experience at San Juan de Gaztelugatxe (San Juan de Gaztelugatxe: Conquering the Game of Thrones Climb.). It felt like a volcanic blast of teenagers had rained down upon us, making moving around the souvenir and bakery area nearly impossible. They were everywhere, practically spilling out of the walls and air vents. I instantly knew we were in for another Gaztelugatxe-style experience.
Busloads of them followed us, even to the lookout points on Mount Teide. In the heart of the national park, their overwhelming presence made it nearly impossible to hike up some of the trails. At one point, my daughter and I had to abandon a lookout entirely because a gridlock of teenagers blocked the path. Fortunately, we found another viewpoint that had somehow escaped their radar… at least briefly. We enjoyed a few quiet moments before the teens descended on it like flesh-hungry zombies. At this point, I’m convinced we accidentally timed our trip to coincide with high school spring break across Spain.
Soul-suffocating teenage hordes aside, it was still incredible to take in the surreal landscape of the sunken volcanic crater we were standing in, with the looming presence of the active Mount Teide volcano just off in the distance. Access to the peak is possible for the particularly brave (and fit), but it requires a permit, which must be booked in advance for a small fee. Unfortunately, we didn’t have that access on our trip, so reaching the summit wasn’t in the cards. Instead, we enjoyed the various lookout points before heading to the Telesforo Bravo Visitor Center. Sadly, we had little time to explore it as we were on a scheduled bus tour. If you have the flexibility, I recommend setting aside time for the center. It features informative exhibits on the island’s biology, geology, and ethnography. It’s also where you’ll find (free!) restrooms.
Overall, if you ever find yourself on the Canary Island of Tenerife and are curious about what it might feel like to walk on the surface of Mars, I highly recommend a visit to Mount Teide National Park. Not even the American Southwest (the next best thing) captures the Martian-like landscape and vibe quite like this place does. It isn’t easy to convey in words or pictures, but I did my best. Truthfully, you have to experience it in person to fully understand. So come and visit Mars – oops, I mean the most visited national park in Europe – for yourself!
