Astronomy in Tenerife
All the stars of the Universe are with you
The blessing of the Tenerife sky
If you’re in Tenerife, it’s nighttime, you look up and notice something strange… It’s a sky full of stars, a sky you’re not used to seeing, wherever you come from. The infinite skies of Tenerife explain the roots that astronomy has in Tenerife, both at an amateur level and among professional astronomers.
The night-time visibility of the sky in Tenerife is considered to be one of the best on the planet.
Why is Tenerife and the entire Canary Islands a privileged place for astronomical observation? The Canary Islands skies have three key factors in their favour. Firstly, the trade winds and their thermal inversion; secondly, the high altitudes above the clouds and, finally, the low light pollution in the region.
All this together makes night visibility here really excellent, recognized as one of the best on the planet. It is not for nothing that the archipelago has three Starlight reserves, one of them on the peaks of the Teide National Park. If you are interested in astronomy, are an amateur of astrophotography or simply want to see a lot of stars, you cannot miss this experience.
In the following paragraphs we will tell you a little more useful information about astronomy in Tenerife. We are going to point out three perfect places to make observations (as long as the conditions allow it, of course), and we are also going to recommend three of the many excursions that take place on the island of Tenerife to observe the stars.
Places for astronomy observation in Tenerife
If the question is where to see the stars in Tenerife, anywhere on the island you will enjoy beautiful skies, but if you really want to see a sky full of stars…
Izaña. The location where you will find the telescopes of the Teide Observatory must be one of the best places to see the stars in Tenerife by force. At an altitude of 2400 meters, the observatory has eight night telescopes, three solar telescopes, a visitor center and other scientific facilities. If you are a devotee of astronomy you have to make a pilgrimage here.
Route of viewpoints of the Teide National Park. Why stay in one place to enjoy astronomy in Tenerife if you can do it in several? If you are one of those who think this way and are looking for a more complete experience, the park offers you a seven-point route through various viewpoints, from Portillo to Chío: Minas de San José, Roques de Garcia, Llano de Ucanca… The sky and Mount Teide go hand in hand, and you can experience it.
Parador de turismo. You don’t have to get lost in the middle of the night in the park to enjoy the stars. The surroundings of the Parador are perfect for enjoying the sky without sacrificing comforts or combining it with more mundane experiences. This is especially true when a spectacular phenomenon occurs; thus, for example, it is a great place to see the meteor shower in Tenerife.
- Unforgettable and Romantic
- Instagrammable
- Single
- Teide National Park
- Difficulty Level: Easy
- More than 3 Hours
- Economic
Astronomy observation excursions in Tenerife
This small selection does not exhaust the many excursions to see astronomy in Tenerife that you can choose from during your stay on the island.
Discover Experience. We have to refer again to the people of Discover, as always when talking about tourism and astronomy in Tenerife. This company from Los Realejos are true specialists in guided stargazing routes, very flexible when it comes to organizing your excursion and with experience in astrophotography, in case this is one of your weaknesses. With them you will discover the Tenerife sky.
Stargazing. Astrotourism would not be the same in Tenerife without this activity of Astroamigos, which focuses on the use of a large-aperture telescope (a Meade LX200 GPS) to locate specific bodies and obtain information about them. The groups are always small (maximum eight people), because, as they themselves say, “this is not a mass show”.
Volcano Teide Experience. The cable car operating company is much more than that. They also offer select experiences in the park, and among them a couple of very special excursions for astrotourism lovers. Sunset & Stars includes a beautiful sunset viewing and dinner, while the Astronomic Tour takes you to the Observatory and allows you to use a real telescope.
"Astronomy is a lot more fun when you're not an astronomer." – Brian May
Your fingers touch the last frontier...
Stargazing is one of those essential and eternal experiences that human beings have always experienced, and that have never ceased to amaze them. Nowadays, when most of us live in cities, and light pollution is the norm, it has become something special and almost a privilege.
Fortunately for everyone, we have a place like the Teide National Park at hand, from which we can rediscover the universe in all its splendor. Never better said; When we are not used to seeing the night sky as it really is, the first sensation is overwhelming. Then comes the wonder of discovery and reflection, almost inevitable, on the big questions…
That little lesson in humility, that feeling like a small part of the Universe, is surely the best thing that the observation of the heavens, astrophotography and astronomy in Tenerife in general can bring us. In any case, spending time in the middle of nowhere looking at the sky well wrapped up and in the company of your partner, family or friends, is always a rewarding experience.
If this experience is lived on our island, it is even more fulfilling. You can spend the typical day at the beach, enjoy astronomy in Tenerife at night and the next day be visiting tropical gardens again at sea level or enjoying yourself to the fullest in a zoo. Tenerife is an island that has everything, for everyone, and at all times.