Guided Daytime Tour of the Teide Observatory

Explore the Scientific Side of Tenerife with a Visit to the Teide Observatory

Tenerife offers much more than just sun and beaches. Inland, almost half of the island is part of the Canary Islands Network for Protected Natural Areas, and a significant portion belongs to the Natura 2000 Network, aimed at ensuring the long-term survival of Europe’s most threatened species and habitats. This highlights the ecological importance and richness of Tenerife, which has been recognized by UNESCO with multiple international awards for both its natural and cultural heritage. In addition to Teide National Park, a World Heritage Site, the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna and the Anaga Massif, a Biosphere Reserve, have also received this prestigious recognition.

The island’s diverse landscapes—volcanoes, sea, sky, forests, and historic cities—make it a premier scientific research site. Discover this in your visit to the Teide Observatory!

You may already know that the Canary Islands are one of the top three places on Earth for stargazing, alongside Chile and Hawaii. This is why Tenerife Observatory is the largest solar observatory in the world. The archipelago's latitude, the islands' elevation above the cloud layer, and the consistently clear skies due to trade winds explain why it ranks among the top three locations.

The Teide Observatory began operations in 1964, a century after English astronomer Piazzi Smyth’s scientific expedition to Tenerife in search of the best mountain skies for astronomy. Smyth, a pioneer of modern astronomy and the first promoter of the Teide Observatory, set up two observatories, one on Teide and another on Guajara, during his 1856 expedition.

The observatory focuses on solar observation and robotic astronomy, featuring numerous solar and night-time telescopes owned by various European countries. Perhaps you didn't know that research conducted at Tenerife Observatory contributes to an average of one scientific publication per day.

Did you also know that the Tenerife Observatory discovered the Sun's own frequency, pulsating like a heartbeat every five minutes?

Reserve your spot today to visit the Teide Observatory with us and enjoy a fascinating daytime tour of this scientific hub. Our guides will make you feel like a scientist for a day during your visit:

• Receive an introduction to the importance of the Canary Islands’ skies, the telescopes at Tenerife Observatory, and the various projects of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, which manages this solar observatory.
• Participate in an astrophysics workshop at the visitor center, where our guides will explain what astrophysics is and how astrophysicists work.
• Observe sunspots and solar flares through two solar telescopes available for your use.
• Tour the inside of a night-time telescope and learn about its operation and intriguing history.

You can also visit the Tenerife Observatory as part of other activities that include a visit to the Teide Observatory.