Tenerife Geography School Trip

Day 1

Flight to Tenerife, Exploring Puerto de la Cruz

Flight to Tenerife: On arrival, you are met at the airport by our guide and private coach and transfer to your hotel in Puerto de la Cruz, the major town on the north coast of the Island. In contrast to much of the island, this part of Tenerife has a lush green landscape with tropical fruit plantations.

Puerto de la Cruz: After the long flight you spend this afternoon exploring the Old Town around the fishing port with its narrow, cobbled streets lined with traditional colonial-style cafés and bars. There are beautiful gardens and a sandy beach.

Evening: This evening dinner is at your hotel.

Day 2

Mount Teide Volcano and Chinyero Lava Fields

Mount Teide: This morning you take the cable car on Mount Teide to an altitude of 3555 metres. With clear weather you are rewarded with fantastic views across the island. Mount Teide also offers opportunities to study the fragile ecosystem and the sustainable policies which manage the large numbers of tourists who pass through. There will be time for geography study in the high mountain zone after which you take the cable car back down.

Chinyero Lava Fields: After lunch you hike through the Chinyero lava fields. Christopher Columbus witnessed an eruption in Tenerife when he stopped in the Canaries on one of his journeys to the Americas in 1492. The hike takes you up through the pines and out onto the ash and lava flows that came from Chinyero Volcano. The pine forest soon becomes more sparse and with the lava, frozen in time.

Return to Puerto de la Cruz: In the afternoon you return to your hotel in Puerto de la Cruz for dinner.

Day 3

Los Gigantes, Garachico and Masca

Los Gigantes Boat Trip:  This morning you travel to Los Gigantes where you have a 2-hour boat charter to see the Acantilado de los Gigantes, huge cliffs which rise some 500 metres almost vertically from the sea.  As well as the cliffs you see black volcanic sand beaches and may be lucky enough to spot dolphins. Time will be spent here for coastal geomorphology field work.

Garachico and Masca:  After lunch you visit the villages of Garachico and Masca.  Masca is often described as the most beautiful village in Tenerife and sits high up in the mountains at the top of an impressive gorge. Garachico, by contrast, is located on a rugged section of coast and is characterised by its traditional and colourful houses. You then return to your hotel in Puerto de la Cruz for dinner.

Day 4

Lava Tube and Beach Time

Cueva del Viento Lava Tube:   This morning you visit the Cueva del Viento, the largest lava tube in Europe and the fourth largest in the world. It was created 27,000 years ago by lava flows from Pico Viejo, next to Mount Teide. An expert guide will explain the features of this unique volcanic formation. There are various lava formations such as lava stalactites, lava cascades and lava lakes. The cave is also famous for its subterranean fauna and has a total of 190 known species. Some of these are troglobites, animals that can live only in the subsurface environment. The cave has no artificial lighting, so helmets fitted with headlamps are worn on the tour.

Beach Time:  This afternoon can be spent at the Playa de las Teresitas in the north of the island and close to the capital of Santa Cruz.  Dinner this evening is at your hotel or a local restaurant.

Day 5

ITER Renewable Energy Centre. Flight Home