How To Visit Italy's Three Active Volcanoes
June 28, 2018
Have you booked a holiday to Hotel Jardin Tecina in La Gomera but are not sure what day trips to go on? Why not organise a visit to one of the nearby islands and explore their remarkable and unique volcanoes?
We've recommended four different volcanoes - spread across the individual Islands - that you should definitely pay a visit to if you get the chance.
Teneguia is the youngest volcano in the Canary Islands and last erupted in 1971 for 24 days straight. When exploring, you'll firstly notice the many engravings in the stones located towards the foot of the volcano, which are said to have been carved by original natives. As well as this, there's large amounts of hot vapour rising up from the ground which you definitely can't miss. If you choose to climb Teneguia, you'll see at the bottom of the hiking trail, the Fuencaliente Lighthouse, the second active lighthouse on the site. Once you've started your ascent, you'll be able to see, on the left hand side, an area where several rivers of lava spilled out. During your walk, you'll also pass fields of volcanic sand, which make excellent photographs.
Once at the top, you'll realise a sudden change in temperature due to the altitude, so make sure you have a jacket handy. You'll be able to capture the perfect snap shot of La Palma and the Atlantic Ocean when up here, before rewarding yourself for getting up the steep terrain by purchasing refreshments in the cafe. There's also a visitor's centre which helps extend your knowledge on the history of the volcano.
Bandama, Gran Canaria
The Bandama Caldera peak is 574 m tall, 1,000 m wide and 216m deep. Follow the Camino Fondo de Caldera signs (which translate to Caldera Bottom Road) to the bottom and the Camino Borde de Caldera markers will guide you back up, along the Caldera Edge Road. When hiking to the bottom road you'll travel down winding, volcanic gravel paths before you reach the base. The Fin Camino de Fondo post will let you know when you've reached the end of the path.
There's an archeologically site at the bottom, said to have been used by ancient settlers as a granary for storing harvests. The Bodegas Caves and Pond of El Culatan should definitely be on your list of stops during your hike, as they'll both provide the perfect photo opportunity and allow you to have a little rest. The final things to keep an eye out for is the unique flora and fauna. Plants such as the white echium and wild olive trees line the paths,whilst birds like blackcaps and kestrels fly above - although, you may hear them before you see them.
If you're up for a two-mile walk then why not hike up Montana Cuervo in Lanzarote? Walking around the volcanic cone is perfect for people of all abilities as it's relatively flat terrain. You'll discover a handful of different pathways, different types of rock and their different colours - presenting some great photo opportunities. Information boards are spread out to further your knowledge of the volcano, as well as signposts to help you along your way.
If you don't fancy walking, you can take the bus, on which you'll be provided with a headset in your language that explains the different areas, instead.The highlight of the trip are the lava fields that stretch over the land and provide amazing photographs. You'll also be taken to the main part of the volcano and shown around. Afterwards you'll have the chance to enter the visitor centre which has its own restaurant and display centre, where you learn more about the volcano.
If you wish to visit Teide, the third tallest volcano in the world, on a day trip to Tenerife, make sure you take the eight-minute long cable car up to its peak, as it's the easiest way and provides amazing views. These views are only possible on clear, sunny days because of its sheer height (1,200 metres). On overcast days, you'll be submerged in the clouds, so make sure to choose your day to visit wisely. On the other hand, you can opt out of the cable car and climb up the volcano to reach its peak. Either way, a clear day will reveal the islands of El Hierro, La Gomera and La Palma in the distance.
Once you've reached the top - the highest point in Spain -you'll arrive at the observatory where you can admire the breathtaking views through the many sets of binoculars and various nocturnal telescopes. These are typically used on stargazing tours, on which guides will answer any burning questions you have regarding astrophysics, sunspots and solar flares.
If you wish to book a holiday with us to Hotel Jardin Tecina in La Gomera then contact us via our website or give us a call.
