The route with the greatest difference in level in Spain
Some people prefer to choose between mountains and beaches, but what if you choose both in the same day? That’s the philosophy shared by those who have decided to embark on this adventure sometime. Route 040 is a milestone in hiking on our island, which consists of moving from Socorro beach, from zero altitude, to the peak of Teide 3718 meters high, becoming the path with the greatest difference in height of Spain and by which hundreds of people visit our islands annually.
This event is the perfect occasion to give meaning to the phrase, “everything that goes up, comes down”, since this route not only sets out to reach the top of the mountain, but we must return to the starting point to complete it satisfactorily.
There are several aspirants who have achieved this feat not suitable for anyone, and therefore, the council of Los Realejos, has decided to prepare the route to make it more comfortable to make this difficult journey.
This route has become a classic and above all a great challenge for mountain lovers. It is advisable to leave at dawn from the Socorro beach to try to escape the hardest hours of sun. It is also necessary, to take a lot of water, since there is almost no provisioning during the route and a coat is indispensable because in the summit always runs the breeze and cools the body.
Do not forget that you need to ask for permission to access the Teide peak.
The very hard route now has better adaptation and homologation after having finished the work done on these paths. Moreover, it is now correctly signposted so that adventurers who want to challenge this 040 route can be guided without problems and avoid deviating from the path.
The first kilometres of this extreme challenge cross a rural environment. A great slope leads to the La Corona viewpoint, after which the route ascends to the National Park, where it ends in the climb to Mount Teide via Montaña Blanca. This is a very hard route of 27.7 kilometres, but with the greatest difference in level in Spain, where the record of ascent is in 3 hours and 33 minutes. A challenge that is not for everyone. There is only one other place on earth that allows you to do the same, on the island of Hawaii.
