The van der Waals surfaces of the layered material alpha-MoTe2 and the high temperature phase beta-MoTe2 were investigated by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy/scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STM/STS). On both samples atomically resolved images of the surface structures were obtained. The combined STS/STM measurements of beta-MoTe2 provide unambigdous evidence that the contribution from the subsurface layer dominates the tunneling current. Furthermore, from the combined AFM and STM data we arrive at a model for a new structure modification of this surface. This modification represents an interesting kinetically controlled intermediate state of the transition from beta- to alpha-MoTe2.