Cruising the Atlantic Ocean filled with sea days is the perfect opportunity to do wine tastings. We enjoyed two wine tastings during these sea days. However, when our first port of call after eight sea days took us to Tenerife de Santa Cruz, Canary Islands we were ready for land based activities. We decided for our first onshore activity would be a visit to Tenerife's National Park. While touring Tenerife's Teide National Park our guide introduced us to Tenerife wines. Who would have thought that our Tenerife explorations would lead us to an introduction to local wines.
Tenerife de Santa Cruz, Canary Islands © Spaswinefood
It was early morning when we landed in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. We were excited to be visiting the Canary Islands. Cruising the Atlantic Ocean © Spaswinefood
Teide National Park, Tenerife, Canary IslandsAfter eight days, even relatively calm sea days, we were ready for being on land. We were so excited to arrive in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. We choose to visit Teide National Park, which is centered on Mount Teide, the highest mountain of Spain (3,718 meters high). Mount Teide is the highest volcano in the Atlantic Ocean islands, and the third highest volcano in the world (measured from its base on the ocean floor it is 7,500 meters high). Pico Viejo (3,135 meters high), part of the Teide volcanic complex, is also within the national park, and is the second highest volcano in the Canary Islands. Mount Teide and Pico Viejo are the only two peaks in the Canary islands rising above the 3,000 meter level. Pico Viejo volcano is part of the Teide volcanic complex, which began forming around 200,000 years ago. Its crater is one of the satellite craters around Teide. Pico Viejo last erupted in 1798. Mounte Teide is an active Volcano.
Welcome to Teide National Park © Spaswinefood
The park covers 18,990 hectares, located in the La Orotava municipality, was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on June 28, 2007. The park is one of the 12 Treasures of Spain.
It was a bright sunny day as we approached Mount Teide. We stopped at the pullout and took pictures.
Teide National Park © Spaswinefood
Watching the Clouds Go By,Teide National Park © Spaswinefood
Posing, Teide National Park © Spaswinefood
After stopping to view Mount Teide we drove further into the park. We made a brief restaurant stop for coffee. After coffee it was onto another stop, just pass the visitors center. Here we took a walk on a trail near Garcia's Rocks.
Garcia Rocks, Teide National Park © Spaswinefood
It was good timing to walk the trail and take in the views.
Trails, Teide National Park © Spaswinefood
It was quite interesting to walk along the path of old volcanoes.
Teide National Park, Tenerife © Spaswinefood
Volcano Info, Teide National Park © Spaswinefood
Along the way we managed to see a few local birds.
Taking in the Views, Teide National Park © Spaswinefood
Bird Friend, Teide National Park © Spaswinefood
For those interested in fauna and flora this area is interesting to explore.
Across the way, not far from the visitors center, there is a church. Given the limited time for the tour we did not visit the church.
Church, Teide National Park © Spaswinefood
For visitors who enjoy exploring nature I highly recommend a visit to Teide National Park. Besides getting some insights into the volcanic history of the park during our visit we were also introduced to some of the fascinating history of the early people, Guanches. Guanches, indigenous people, who first inhabited this area during the first millennium BCE, are believed to be of North African descent. They lived in relative isolation and harmony with each other until the 15th century, when the Islands were colonized by the Spanish. Each summer the Guanche inhabitants would abandon their settlements, between the arid coast and the mountains, and climbed up into the mountains to spend several months in small, stone shelters. They took their flocks of goats with them. In summer, the coastal pastures dried up, but up near the mountain top, the goats could feed there. They stayed until the first rains fell in the lower parts of the island, and the pasture grew again.
The Guanches developed their own culture and beliefs, undoubtedly influenced by the looming mountain at the center of their island home. Mount Tiede was a sacred mountain to the Guanches, like Mount Olympus was to the Greeks. Hence they had their own mythology centered around Mount Tiede. For example, when Mount Tiede erupted, it was customary for the Guanches to light bonfires to scare away Guayota, the god of the underworld.
On the way back to the port we transitioned into the landscape and vegetation near the coast.
Leaving Teide National Park © Spaswinefood
Then further along we drove by lush pastures.Spring Time Fields, Tenerife © Spaswinefood
Spring Blooms, Tenerife © Spaswinefood
Teide National Park, Canary Islands Wines and More
Besides visiting this beautiful park, and discovering some of its volcanic history we were informed about the Canary Islands wines. In fact before arriving at the restaurant for our coffee stop the guide brought up the topic of Canary Island wines. Someone picked up a bottle during the stop.
Gran Tehyda Tinto, D.O. Valle de la Orotava, Canary Islands, Spain © Spaswinefood
After a little research I discovered that this particular wine is produced from a local red grape variety, Listan Negro. I have also discovered that there are 80 grape varieties grown on the islands, with 24 of them being local varieties, like Listan Negro and Listan Blanco. After this first introduction to Canary Island wines we decided to go next day in search of Tenerife wines to taste. The guide on the tour worked at a winery on Tenerife. Unfortunately his winery was closed while we were in port; so I checked out some Tenerife wines at a Santa Cruz restaurant next day.
Teide National Park © Spaswinefood
On a personal note, I loved being introduced to new wines during our travels. While typically my wine country travels takes me to wine regions around the world it also fun to have this wine adventure at sea, and at port stops along the way. It is always exciting to make new wine discoveries.
While Cruising: Wine and Food Adventures © Spaswinefood
I invite you to join me in my Atlantic Ocean travels to Tenerife, Spain and elsewhere at Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon, and at Spaswinefood on Bluesky and Facebook. I am so looking forward to sharing more on my vine-filled explorations.
CHEERS!
Sharon
March 2025
Tenerife, Canary Islands
TransAtlantic Travels: Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona
© Spaswinefood
National Park, Tenerife © Spaswinefood
Onboard Views, Santa Cruz de la Tenerife © Spaswinefood
Sunrise, Atlantic Ocean © Spaswinefood
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