Llano de Ucanca viewpoint and walk

The Llano de Ucanca is the largest cañada (flat basin) in the National Park: an almost level expanse at the foot of the south wall of the Las Cañadas caldera, with the Roques de García, La Catedral, Pico Viejo and the Teide to the north. You can see it from the road, without walking at all, and you can also cross it on foot along low-difficulty trails that need no booking.

Kilometre 48.7 of the TF-21

The Llano de Ucanca viewpoint is at kilometre point 48.7 of the TF-21, about 2 km south of La Ruleta, the Roques de García car park. You park beside the road, walk a few steps and have the classic picture in front of you: the pale plain in the foreground, the rocks on the right and the Teide with Pico Viejo behind. The Park has one of its audio-guide points here, number 27. Ten minutes is enough to look and take photos; with small children it is a comfortable stop, because you do not have to move away from the car.

The light changes the place a great deal. First thing and late in the day the plain takes on colour and the walls gain relief; at midday everything flattens out and there is no shade.

Crossing the plain to Boca Tauce

Trail PNT 40 starts here and runs across the plain to the south-west, among large rocks and lava flows, along the foot of the caldera wall, to Boca Tauce. It is 4.85 km each way, about two hours, with 74 m of accumulated ascent: almost flat. It is linear, so you have three options: return the same way, which makes it about four hours; have someone pick you up at Boca Tauce, or do only a stretch and turn back.

At Boca Tauce, at the junction of the TF-21 with the TF-38, is the Juan Évora Ethnographic Museum, the restored house of the last resident of Las Cañadas who lived like the shepherds of old. It is open every day from 9:00 to 16:00 and has toilets. If someone is going to pick you up there, note: the museum car park closes at 15:45.

To La Catedral on trail 26

The other option is shorter. The PNT 26, of 1.77 km and an hour, goes from the viewpoint to the foot of La Catedral, with almost no gradient: 19 m of ascent in total. Along the way you see the Ucanca valley, the coloured rocks of the Los Azulejos hydrothermal zone, the Teide, Pico Viejo and the Cumbres de Ucanca. On arrival you link up with the circuit of the Roques de García, so you can combine both routes in one morning.

Two other stops on the same road

At km 47, a little before arriving if you come from La Ruleta, the Los Azulejos viewpoint looks at the plain from above. At km 50.5, beyond the plain, the Zapatilla de la Reina (the Queen's Slipper) is a rock sculpted by erosion about 100 m from the road. For a sit-down meal, the Parador restaurant is five minutes away, beside La Ruleta.