Mataznos Viewpoint

Stand here on a day when the cloud is building and you can watch the climate of Tenerife being made. The moist air off the Atlantic climbs the northern slope, stalls against the mountains and piles up in a grey bank below the road. That bank is the reason the north of the island is green and wet while the south stays dry and sunny.

On a clear day the view goes both ways at once: down over the Orotava Valley to the coast, and up past the pines to Teide. When the cloud sits below the viewpoint, you look out across its flat top with the volcano standing clear above it.

The mirador is also a starting point. Forest tracks lead up from here towards the base of Teide and west towards La Guancha, and mountain bikers use it as the place to set off.

• There are no toilets and no drinking water at the viewpoint or nearby. Bring what you need.
• Cloud can hide the view down to the coast while Teide stays clear above, so check the sky before planning the stop around the coastal view.
• A map board stands at the viewpoint, useful if you mean to head onto the forest tracks.
• The mirador works best as a stop on the way up to Teide; there is nothing else here to fill a visit.

The viewpoint sits directly on the TF-21, the road that climbs from La Orotava through the forest towards Teide. Drivers pull into the free car park about 20 m from the viewing point and walk straight across. A second free car park lies about 1 km away.

The Margarita Piedra bus stop is right beside the viewpoint, so the bus leaves you at the view itself. Check which lines serve the stop before you set out.

Best: a clear day, or one when the cloud lies below the road and Teide rises clean above it.

Avoid: days when the cloud has climbed to the viewpoint itself.

The northern slope collects the Atlantic cloud, and when it reaches this height the view both down to the coast and up to the summit disappears.