The majestic Mount Teide, the highest peak in Spain, is one of the top three places in the world for stargazing - Hawaii and Chile being the other two - and the very comfortable Parador hotel, set in the vast crater at the foot of the summit, is the ideal base for this otherworldly experience. The sheer number of stars visible from this deserted location, completely free of light pollution, is quite breathtaking. With a professionally-qualified guide complete with his own state-of-the-art telescope we were able to see the rings around Saturn, star clusters and distant constellations. As we caught a glimpse of not one, two, three or four, but five shooting stars whizz past, it felt like all our wishes were coming true at once!

I had arrived at the Parador hotel after dark the night before, but it was only when opening the curtains the following morning to the vista over Teide National Park that I realised what a special place this was. Breakfast is served with a panorama of the sun-drenched summit of Mt Teide, and a day spent exploring that stunning volcanic landscape was truly special. We were lucky to have a daytime sungazing experience using another specialist telescope. Seeing the sun as a burning red ball, sunspots and all, with even two solar flares visible, was all part of an epic day.

The Parador offers a stargazing session to guests every Friday night but if you are there any other evening, please contact the Kirker Concierge if you'd like to arrange a professional guide to meet you there: it's an experience you'll never forget.