Mount Teide , Tenerife
Mt Teide is the highest peak in Spain, 3,718 metres above sea level (12,198 feet). Excursions are available, but I went by public bus ; it is about 50 kilometres from Puerto Cruz (there is also a bus from Santa Cruz). On arrival, I found that the distances within Mt Teide National park are greater than I expected. I had to make a last minute decision between the cable car ride and the Parador .. luckily I opted for the latter. There was a three hour wait for the cable car .. in a nasty parking lot with several dozen tour buses. The Parador is close to a impressive rock formation, Los Roques de Garcia, which are the subject of a separate entry.
Like two mountains for the price of one
The south and west side of the mountain had no snow ; it is exposed to the sun. There are also few trees. On the route up from the northeast, there is a beatiful zone of Canaries pine trees before entering the National park.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teide
The fine print
Date of travel : March 2008
Country information : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenerife