Quad up to 2400 m via Vilaflor and Boca Tauce, Sunset or Day

Two to three hours on a quad, up the south side of the island to 2,400 metres, run by a family business that keeps the groups small. The route passes El Pino Gordo, a pine that has stood there for centuries, and crosses Vilaflor before the climb to the Mirador de Boca Tauce. From there Teide is straight ahead with the last lava flow visible below it. In clear air at that height several of the other Canary Islands appear on the horizon. The ride can be booked at sunset or during the day. How long it takes depends on how confident the riders are, which is why the operator quotes two to three hours rather than one figure. The guide speaks several languages and answers questions as they come. Three rules are worth reading before booking. Children under 6 cannot come, and there is a minimum height of 1 m 10. The driving licence has to be the physical card: a photograph or a digital copy is refused at the meeting point. Anyone resident outside Europe needs an international permit.