Cráter de Pico Viejo

Cráter de Pico Viejo is the eastern-rim overlook into the great volcanic bowl of Pico Viejo. The park describes the crater as about 800 m across and 200 m deep. This is the close look into its interior; for a broad island panorama, go to the separate Pico Viejo viewpoint by the cable-car upper station. Make this detour if you want the crater itself and are ready for a serious mountain walk.

The park lists PNT 9 and PNT 23 as routes to the rim. PNT 9 starts near the upper Pico Viejo viewpoint, skirts the volcano's south side below the crater, then descends over black lava and pale pumice toward Las Narices del Teide. It's rated high difficulty and is not accessible to people with reduced mobility. Check the current requirements for whichever route you choose; PNT 9 requires prior authorisation and mandatory equipment checks.

The nearby Narices del Teide vents formed in the 1798 eruption, the last eruption within the national park and the longest of Tenerife's historic eruptions. On PNT 9, black lava and pumice carry that volcanic story from the crater's southern flank down toward the vents.

From the eastern rim, compose the crater interior with Teide rising beyond the far rim. That keeps the close-up bowl in the foreground and gives it scale against the island's highest volcano.