"Cave of the Wind" in Tenerife: 15 years of underground adventures for tourists
On Tenerife, the Cave of the Wind, the longest volcanic tube in Europe, attracts tourists with its unique geological formations, remains of ancient animals, and Guanche burials.
It has been 15 years since the Cave of the Wind in Icod de los Vinos, Tenerife, was opened to tourists. Now you can walk along an equipped route for about 200 meters in the Galería Sobrado Superior – it's a very interesting underground journey.
According to local authorities, more than 24,000 people visited it in 2023. The total length of the cave is 18.5 kilometers, and it was formed about 27,000 years ago. Although it is dark and quiet, this place has become very popular among tourists on the island.
The tour lasts about two and a half hours. Guides explain how this volcanic tube was formed during the eruption and show unique geological formations that cannot be seen anywhere else in the Canary Islands.
The Cave of the Wind is special because its galleries are located on three levels and have many branches that have not yet been explored. Inside there are lava stalactites, lava waterfalls, lateral terraces and lava lakes – this makes the cave famous throughout the world.
But the value of the cave is not only in geology. It is also an important place from the point of view of ecology, science and archeology. Unique species live here, such as the blind cockroach Loboptera subterranea. Remains of Guanche burials (the indigenous people of the Canary Islands) and fossils of animals that once lived in Tenerife but disappeared, such as bustards, giant rats, or giant lizards, have also been found here.
The Cave of the Wind in Icod de los Vinos is considered the longest volcanic tube in Europe and the fifth longest in the world. It was formed about 27,000 years ago from the lava of the Pico Viejo volcano on the slopes of Teide. The name of the cave comes from the strong air currents that circulate inside.
To visit the cave, you need to book tickets in advance on the website www.cuevadelviento.net. A ticket for an adult costs 20 euros, and for children over five years old – 8.50 euros. Discounts are available for residents of the Canary Islands (10 and 5 euros, respectively).