El Tabonal Negro Viewpoint

The drive up winds through forest, then tips over onto the plateau, and the landscape changes in the space of a bend. At El Tabonal Negro the ground in front of you is black lava, heaped in ridges and tongues below Teide's slopes, with barely a plant on it. The whole scene looks like a photograph sent back from Mars.

Information boards at the viewpoint tell the history of the volcano's eruptions, so you can match what you read to the rock in front of you. It is a stop for the view and the story in the stone: a few photos, a look at the boards, and back on the road.

• The car park gets busy and some drivers park badly; watch for cars pulling in and out along the road.
• There is no drinking water at the viewpoint or nearby, so bring your own.
• The plateau sits high: the sun is strong and the wind can be cold, so pack a layer and sun cream.
• Hiking Teide and the closer parking is full? Leave the car here and follow the path to the main route.

Most people come by car. The road climbs through forest in long bends before it reaches the plateau; from Costa Adeje the drive takes just over an hour. The car park sits right beside the viewpoint, so there is nothing to walk once you have parked.

A second parking area lies about 750 m away in a straight line, and the Montaña Blanca bus stop is about the same distance off. Walkers bound for Teide can leave the car at the viewpoint and take the path that joins the main route.

Best: early morning or late afternoon.

Avoid: the middle of the day.

Low sun picks out the ridges and folds of the black lava, while overhead light flattens the rock into one dark mass, and the car park is at its busiest when the day-trippers are all on the plateau at once. In winter, ice and snow can reach this altitude, so check conditions before driving up.

El Tabonal Negro lies inside Teide National Park, and the park's rules apply at the viewpoint. Stay on marked paths and off the lava itself. Leave rocks, stones and plants where they are: taking them out of the park is prohibited. Flying a drone needs authorisation from the park.