Humboldt Viewpoint

The Orotava Valley falls away from the edge of the viewpoint all the way to the coast, where Puerto de la Cruz spreads along the sea. Turn the other way and Teide rises above the head of the valley, provided the clouds allow it. On this north side of the island that is never a given.

Come at dusk. The sun goes down into the evening mist behind the foothills of Teide, and photos cannot hold the mood of it. Information at the viewpoint tells the story of Humboldt's stop in the Canaries and the studies he made there, which gives the view its name and a reason to linger over it.

• There are no toilets and no drinking water at the viewpoint or nearby. Come supplied.
• Tour coaches stop here, so the viewpoint swings between deserted and busy.
• Teide shows only when the clouds allow. Check the sky before making the detour for the peak.
• Without a car the trip is awkward, even with a bus stop beside the viewpoint.
• Beyond the view and the Humboldt information there is nothing to do here, and nothing at all in the rain.

The viewpoint sits right beside the TF-21 in La Orotava. Street parking lies next to it, about 16 m away, so there is no walk to speak of: you step out of the car and the valley is in front of you. A second parking area lies about 500 m away in a straight line.

A bus stop stands beside the viewpoint, and tour coaches pull in here as well. Arriving without a car is awkward all the same, so plan the visit around a drive.

Best: late afternoon into dusk, on a day when the cloud has lifted off Teide.

Avoid: days of low cloud, when the peak and much of the view can disappear.

The sun sets behind the foothills of Teide from here, into the evening mist, and on the north side of Tenerife the trade-wind cloud decides how much of the valley and the peak you get to see.