Tenerife forum

[Zappa]

I must admit when I was looking for things to do and places to go in Tenerife I did not expect to have so much fun with an Open Top Tour of the Island.

Other potential 'tourists' may find this post of interest especially if they feel the urge to diversify from the sun soaked beaches or poolside loungers around their hotel pool?

If you are interested in seeing the panoramic views and taking in the wonderful mountain air in an off-road type environment, then this trip is for you.

The following is cut from the Freebird website:-

Full Day Open Top Tour - Itinerary

08.00 – 09.00 Pick up from Pick Up Points and convoy assembles for excursion info
09.00 - Travel up the mountain roads enjoying breathtaking views to Vilaflor, the highest village in Spanish territory at 1,500 mtrs. Stop for coffee break
We then go the beautiful view point of Chirche to see a major part of the South coast
After lunch we discover the “lost village of Masca” and its breathtaking scenery and guests have 30 minutes free time to enjoy the village
Travel back to resort via Guia de Isora taking in the panoramic views of the west coast

16.00 – 16.30 Arrive back at Hotels


The itinerary doesn't do the tour any real justice as 'seeing is believing' and the opportunities to see the glorious fauna and landscapes are simply breathtaking.

The trip starts quite early with the pickup run, collecting passengers directly from your hotel with the Jeep seating 7 persons 1 in the front , 3 in the middle & 4 in the back. Depending upon when in line you are in the collection service results in where you sit, personally I preferred the back as it gave me more opportunities for taking photos and I was lucky enough to swap places with a couple in front, however be warned, take a jumper or shawl as the draft in the back when traveling can get quite cold!

I think the tour operator tries to have the same nationalities in certain jeeps to aid in the driver’s ability to describe the trip, English in one, Germans in another etc etc. Our driver was an ex pat from Manchester, Pete who had a wicked sense of humour and made the trip both informative & fun, cracking jokes along the way.

As the itinerary states the first point on the trip is travelling up the mountain roads to Vilaflor, here you stop for refreshments and a chance to go to the loo (take this chance as it is quite a while before you get another opportunity). There is also a souvenir shop at the back of the cafe if you so desire. The views here are wonderful; particularly the trees, Canarian Pines I believe, and they look magnificent in their surroundings.

At each stop you are given a few minutes information of the area by your guide before being allowed to wonder around and do you own thing before heading off to the next stop point.

The next part of the tour is my personal favorite as it involves climbing steadily upwards through the forests towards Mount Teidi National park which is in the centre of Tenerife and important in that it incorporates Spain’s highest peak, El Teide (3,718 meters). Teide National Park is a free park to visit, the park itself lies at around 2000 meters above sea level and in winter, snow falls, gale winds blow and the roads are sometimes closed off. The park’s volcanic, desert-like landscapes are commonly colored red, brown, yellow and ochre boasting a stark beauty.

Words however simply do not describe the landscape; it is quite simply breathtaking, with ancient lava flows and peaks of different coloured rocks everywhere. The area which surrounds Teide is naturally of volcanic origin and created a ‘lunar’ landscape which is both spectacular and beautiful. In this privileged spot there are many species of animal and plant that only exist in the Canary Islands such as the Teide Finch, the most beautiful bird to be seen here, or the Teide violet, not forgetting to mention the native Tizon lizards.

There are a couple of viewing areas you stop at along the way to Teidi, one being an area which is know for the 'ladies slipper' it is a curious rock formation about 20m high which does indeed look like a ladies high heeled shoe, very bizarre.
The best place for me though is the area around the visitors centre, as here you get about an hour to wonder around clicking madly away with the camera. If you get chance have a quick peek in the little church & museum there, well worth the visit.

As for Teide itself you can (however not on the full island Jeep trip) take the cable car and go within a couple of hundred meters from the top if you have a head for heights. Bear in mind if you fancy going right to the summit you will need to obtain your summit permit beforehand (details below) and if you suffer from asthma & the likes forget it!!


Obtaining your summit permit
Summit permits (free) are obtainable in person from:-
ICONA
Office P. N. de Teide,
Calle Emillio Calzadilla 5
38002 Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Phone 922 29 01 29 or 922 29 01 83
Opening hours (Monday to Friday except public holidays) 9 am to 2 pm
You can now also obtain this permit by fax or Email minimum 8 days in
advance. Fax 922244788 Email teide@oapn.mma.es


Once back in the Jeep it is off for lunch at a little village of which the name escapes me, but to sum up, the meal is generally very good consisting of:-

Chicken with potatoes
Bread
Salad
Water & Wine

With a Vegetarian Option of an Omelette

Here you will have another chance to go to the toilets and stretch your legs before the tour then continues to the districts of Los Silos and Buenavista in the area called Isla Baja. It then heads into the heart of the Teno Rural Park and it is in this important nature reserve that the picturesque village of Masca is located.

The Village of Masca is one of the prettiest villages on Tenerife Island. Located above a deep gorge, it is accessible by a narrow, hairpin road that opened in the early 1990s. There are several restaurants and bars with superb views over the ravine. in the summer of 2007 it was devastated by fire and now 8 months on, nature is beginning to recover slowly, nevertheless it is still a remarkably place to see.

After a visit and walk around the village, the tour then continues towards the Cliffs of Los Gigantes before returning home.

To sum up the trip comes highly recommended from both myself & Debs well worth it!


Next time your in Tenerife, take a trip to El Teide and venture into Las Canadas del Teide – It is simply quite stunning.

Regards

Z
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La hierba siempre verde en el otro lado de la valla

[Dianne]

WOW Zappa, sounds great, just goes to show you what else yoiu can do on the island other than the norm.

I'll need to look into this next time I visit, is it the kids of trip that kids would enjoy ??
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not long till summer........ yepeeeeeeeee

[margaretbl]

We have done a similar route only by coach, may try the Jeep one sounds good.
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Failures don't plan to fail, they fail to plan
(Harvey Mackay)

[Zappa]

[rob]

Good report Zappa but I can assure you that asthma sufferers can and do walk up El Teide. I've done it many times from the road to the very top, no cable cars.

I've been trying to get freebird to advertise on here for years, they've often promised to..... Now they won't need to.
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Remember: You don't stop laughing because you grow old, You grow old because you stop laughing.

[Chris_and_Leanne]

Ive done the tour too and really enjoyed it, it was in 2004 with my late father in law.

It was expected to be a little more 'off road' and it wasn't but it was still good. They told us the reason they didn't do it was due to too many people sueing them for injuries when they went proper off roading.

It was good though a nice day but was very early seeing as we stumbled out of the stage door to our apartment and the into the jeep ha ha

Lea x
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www.secretgardenholistics.com

Holistic Therapist and Reiki Practioner, Burnley, UK.

[Zappa]

[rob]

Tour guides are notorious for their 'colourful' descriptions of the Island! The sulphourus gases are really not a problem they normally only appear in odd places. BTW the road to Masca was not 'opened' in the 90 s but tarmac was laid in the early nineties. When I first visited Masca there was a dirt road and no concrete barriers!
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Who am I? Follow the myspacetenerife link under my avatar.

Remember: You don't stop laughing because you grow old, You grow old because you stop laughing.

[Chris_and_Leanne]

[MaryJ]

Margaret wrote: