Beach in the morning, cloud forest at noon, above the clouds in the afternoon: Tenerife is a small continent
Hardly any island is as varied as Tenerife. On just over 2,000 square kilometres you will find palm-lined beaches, damp laurel forests, fragrant pine woods, a high-mountain desert and Spain’s highest mountain, Mount Teide at 3,715 metres. In winter there is sometimes snow up there while people are swimming in the sea down on the coast. How does that work?
The trade winds and the sea of clouds
The key is the trade wind. For most of the year it blows from the north-east and brings moist air from the Atlantic. When this air meets the mountains, it rises, cools and forms clouds, usually between about 800 and 1,500 metres. Canarians call it the “mar de nubes”, the sea of clouds. From above it looks like a white ocean.
That is why the north of the island is green and lush, while the south is drier and sunnier. And that is why you can drive through several climate zones in a single day.
The coast: subtropical and mild
Down by the sea it is mild all year round. Palm trees, bananas and bougainvillea grow here. Most beaches are black, made of fine lava sand. One exception is Playa de las Teresitas near Santa Cruz: its golden sand was brought over from the Sahara.
The laurel forest in the Anaga mountains
In the north-east, in the Anaga mountains, grows one of Europe’s oldest forests: the laurel forest, “laurisilva” in Spanish. Millions of years ago forests like this covered large parts of southern Europe. In the Canary Islands they survived because the trade-wind clouds keep them constantly moist. Mosses, ferns and gnarled trees, often in mist: a walk here feels like a journey back in time. Anaga has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2015.
The pine forests
Higher up, from about 1,000 metres, the Canary Island pine forest begins. This tree is a small miracle: its thick bark protects it from fire, and after a forest fire it simply sprouts again. Its long needles “comb” water out of the clouds. On the way up to Mount Teide, through the Bosque de la Esperanza above Tabaiba, you drive through these forests, and lower down through eucalyptus woods as well.
Above the clouds: Las Cañadas and Mount Teide
From about 2,000 metres you leave the clouds behind. Up here lies Teide National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007: a high-mountain desert of lava fields, bizarre rocks and wide skies. The air is clear and dry, the sun is strong and the nights are cold. In May and June the white Teide broom and the red tajinaste towers bloom here. Because the sky is so clear, there are major observatories up here.
The dry south and the sunny east
In the south and on the east coast there is little rain; the landscape is sparse and yet fascinating. Near Güímar, not far from Candelaria, you can walk through the Malpaís, a field of solidified lava with small volcanic cones and cacti. On the east coast, where Castillo Moro is, it is sunny and mild, and yet you are in the green Anaga mountains in about half an hour or on your way up to Mount Teide.
Tips for your trip through the climate zones
- Dress in layers: a T-shirt is enough on the beach, but on Mount Teide you need a warm jacket, and in winter a hat too.
- Start early: the view on Mount Teide is usually clearest in the morning.
- Sun protection: at altitude the sun is much stronger than it feels.
- Time: depending on the route, the drive from the coast up into the national park takes about one to one and a half hours.
Stay between the sea and the mountains
Castillo Moro sits on a hillside above the east coast, overlooking the Atlantic and right between the climate zones: 5 minutes to the beach, 15 minutes to Santa Cruz, about half an hour to the Anaga mountains, and the road through the Bosque de la Esperanza leads straight up to Mount Teide. A house like a small Moorish castle that belongs entirely to your group: for retreats, seminars, team weeks and family celebrations.
Take a look at the house and its rooms or check availability right away. We are happy to make you an individual offer.