GUIDE TO MOUNT TEIDE IN TENERIFE [CANARY ISLANDS]

HOW TO VISIT TEIDE IN TENERIFE? BEST TIME TO VISIT TEIDE? IS MOUNT TEIDE WORTH VISITING?

A visit to Teide National Park in Tenerife is an absolute must! Mount Teide is one of the best things to see in the Canary Islands!

Classified as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2007, the Teide National Park is the most symbolic site in Tenerife and the Canary Islands. It is also the most visited National Park in Spain, with more than 3 million visitors each year! Incredible, isn’t it?

If you ask us what was the most memorable part of our trip to Tenerife, we will answer Mount Teide right away! This place is so incredible.

Why Visit Mount Teide in Tenerife?

Highest Peak in Spain: Located in the center of Tenerife island, Teide National Park has an average altitude of 2,000 meters and its summit, Mount Teide, is the highest point in Spain with its 3,718 meters high.
Stunning Landscapes: The lunar-like landscapes, volcanic craters, and unique rock formations provide breathtaking views and photo opportunities.
Cable Car Ride: The cable car ride to the summit of Mount Teide offers spectacular panoramic views of Tenerife and the surrounding islands.
Hiking Opportunities: There are numerous trails for all levels, including the challenging hike to the peak of Mount Teide, which requires a permit.

So if you are planning a day trip to Teide National Park, then this guide is for you. We will let you know how to reach the top of Mount Teide, which are the best viewpoints when to visit the National Park, the best hikes, what to wear, and a lot more!

Here is a glimpse of Mount Teide in Tenerife:

History of Teide in Tenerife

Best things to do in Tenerife: Mount Teide

The Teide has always been a major spiritual place for the indigenous Guanches. They thought it was the Gate of Hell (Echeyde). Important archaeological sites have been discovered in the park.

As for the Teide National Park as we know it today, it was born on January 22, 1954, after being recognized as a National Park by the government.

Extending over nearly 19,000 hectares, it is the oldest of all the parks in the Canary Islands. The park is even bigger if we count the Corona Forestal Natural Park which covers 46,612 hectares. It is the largest protected natural area in all of the Canary Islands.

On June 28, 2007, after 5 years of work and effort, Unesco finally declared the Teide National Park as a World Heritage Site. Since 2007, it has also been listed among the 12 treasures of Spain.

Teide National Park is a true wonder of nature. It is clearly the symbol of Tenerife. We will never forget the first time we saw its peak. We were driving from Santa Cruz to Costa Adeje and suddenly we saw this huge mountain covered in snow. WOW, We were screaming inside the car, being so excited!

No wonder why each year, Teide National Park welcomes more than 3 million visitors, making it the most visited national park in Spain and Europe, and the 9th in the world.

How to visit Teide National Park?

First of all, you need to know, that when you visit the Teide National Park, it doesn’t mean that you have to go all the way to the top of Mount Teide at 3,718 meters. Although it is of course possible by taking a cable car and hiking the last few hundred meters. More on how to reach the peak of Mount Teide in the next section of this post.

The good thing about Teide National Park is that there are lots to see even without getting to the peak.

If you have a car (which we highly recommend), then driving to the National Park is already an experience in itself! The higher you go the more stunning it gets. We stopped at so many viewpoints inside the National Park, each so incredible!

We took the road from Costa Adeje. On the way to the National Park we highly recommend stopping at Mirador de Samara (location), from there you can start beautiful hikes, which we did, More on that later.

Then stop at Boca Tauce (location), perhaps the most incredible viewpoint with Mount Teide in the background.

And finally, stop at La Ruleta Vista Point. From there you can see the unique Roque de Garcia and start one of the best hikes inside the National Park (location).

Alright, now if you didn’t rent a car in Tenerife, no worries, you can still get to Teide National Park. For that, you have 2 options. Book your own Jeep with driver if you are visiting with your family and friends, or book a tour group here.

How to reach the peak of Mount Teide?

There are 3 different options to reach the top of Mount Teide. Read carefully, as this is not a last-minute preparation. It requires you to book way in advance…

Option 1: Take the cable car + climb to the peak by yourself

Plan ahead to reach the summit of Teide as there are several steps to follow.

Request the free permit from the National Park:

It is mandatory to request authorization to climb to the summit of Teide. The National Park issues 200 authorizations per day. Book here. We recommend to ask for the permit 2-3 months in advance! Yup, it’s that popular…

Buy Teide cable car tickets:

After obtaining the authorization to climb the summit, you must buy the return ticket to go up to Teide by cable car which will drop you off at 3,555 meters in just a few minutes to a place called La Rambleta. Buy your Teide cable car tickets here. However, be aware that when the wind is strong the cable car does not run.

Hike Telesforo Bravo – nº 10:

First take the cable car to La Rambleta which only takes 8 min. Then go to hike nº 10 called Telesforo Bravo to reach the summit of Teide. It takes about 1.5 hours to reach the summit from La Rambleta.

Option 2: Climb to Teide by cable car + ascent to the peak with a guide

If you do not want to worry about the authorization and booking so long in advance, the best is to take a guide for hiking to the summit. You can just book a guide here, and he/she will take care of the rest. However, book at least 7 days in advance as there is still a high demand to reach Mount Teide.

> BOOK YOUR GUIDED TOUR TO THE SUMMIT INCLUDING (CABLE CAR + AUTHORIZATION + HIKE TO SUMMIT).

Option 3: Climb Teide all the way from the bottom

There is a final option for the bravest of all. You can actually hike to the Peak of Mount Teide from the base at the National Park. There are a few trails to choose from. The “Montaña Blanca” trail (2350 m.), which starts at the car park; or the “Mirador de Chío” trail (2050 m.) which starts at the viewpoint of the same name and goes through the “Las narices del Teide” crater and “Pico Viejo”. It will take you 6 to 7 hours to reach the top.

All these paths meet at the cable car’s arrival point (3555 m.). From there take hike #10 Telesforo Bravo Trail to reach the summit. However, be aware that authorization to climb to the top is still necessary!

The panoramic views from the top of Teide are breathtaking: the magnificent National Park at our feet and, if the sky is clear, you can see the other Canary Islands. Simply Stunning!

Note that you can just take the Cable Car to admire the incredible view. The view from La Rambleta is not much different compared to the very top of El Teide.

Which are the best hikes in Teide National Park?

1. Roque Garcia

This is one of our favorite hikes in Tenerife and probably one of the most iconic. Indeed, you have probably seen the photo of the unique rock formation. The hike is only 3.5km long. We took so many photos on the way, that it took us a while to complete, but normally it’s a very quick one and mostly flat.

2. Sámara

This is another easy hike in Teide National Park. With only 300 meters of elevation gain and 5 km long, it gives access to magnificent viewpoints over the Teide National Park. We recommend that you do not follow the trail exactly but rather go around the top ”Montaña de la Botija”, you can take the path that goes to the top of this hill to have a beautiful view.

3. Fortaleza

Go to El Portillo at the entrance of the park and go to Fortaleza (trail n°1). The last remnant of the Cañadas building, this stone giant is actually formed from extremely dense lava that compacted and solidified during an eruption instead of flowing.

All along the trail, you will have perfect views of Mount Teide in the distance. At the end of the trail, the view is even more impressive.

The trail is 5.3km and mostly flat.

Observe the stars from Teide National Park

Tenerife is one of the most famous destinations in the world for stargazing. The geographical position of the island allows you to see all the constellations of the northern hemisphere. An observatory is also located at the top of Teide.

If you want to live an unforgettable romantic experience, you can discover the volcano by night during an excursion that will take you to more than 2,100 m above sea level.

You will be picked up by your guide, and during this tour you will have several stops to take pictures of the park, and you will also stop for dinner.

Once night falls, you will discover an incredible sky full of stars. You will also benefit from the knowledge of a professional guide to learn more about the star constellations. Click here for more information.

When is the best time to visit Teide in Tenerife?

Any time is good to visit Teide and Tenerife.

However, be aware that in winter Mount Teide is covered in snow. Hence hiking to the top is not possible if too icy. However seeing the mountain covered in snow is absolutely stunning! Especially when you like at Mount Teide from the beach!

If you want to reach the peak of El Teide, then Spring, Summer or Autumn would the best seasons.

What to wear when visiting Teide?

To climb El Teide you will need good shoes, a warm jacket, and a windbreaker. Even though it may be hot in Tenerife by the beach, at the summit it’s a completely different story! Also, wear sunglasses that will protect you from strong light. And, of course, water.

Is it possible to visit Teide National Park with children?

It could be a fun idea to visit El Teide with children. They can enjoy taking the Cable Car and for sure they will also be impressed by the incredible landscape.

The possibility of seeing a volcano is quite an experience for children, the spectacular landscapes of the National Park, the rocks shaped by the wind, walking in lava terrain etc. Of course, you do not need to reach the summit, but at least taking the cable car would be a fun experience.

You can also hike Roques Garcia, which is a fairly easy hike to do with children.

Other practical information about Teide National Park in Tenerife

Opening Hours

National Park reception office: open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The National Park Visitor Centers: open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Cable Car

From July to September: open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (the last ascent is at 6 p.m. and the last descent at 6.50 p.m.)
From October to the transition to winter time: open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (the last up is at 5 p.m. and the last down at 5.50 p.m.)
The rest of the year: open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (the last ascent is at 4 p.m. and the last descent at 4:50 p.m.)

Prices

To access the Peak of Teide, you will need to acquire a free permit issued by the administration of the National Park, to be requested on the park website. This permit is valid for a specific date only and must be reserved several months in advance.

Round-trip prices for the Teide Cable Car

Non-resident adult: 27€
Non-resident child: €13.50

Please note: We recommend booking the cable car well in advance.

READ: BEST TIME TO VISIT TENERIFE

Final thoughts – Is Mount Teide worth visiting?

Visiting Teide was by far one of the most memorable things we did in Tenerife. If it’s worth visiting? Well absolutely YES!

Of course, when thinking about Tenerife, we have the beach, sun, and a relaxing moment in mind. However, you will not regret a trip to Mount Teide during your trip to Tenerife! This is such a unique place, it would be a pity to miss it…

Whether with a guide or on your own, at the foot of the volcano or at the top of the volcano, you will enjoy your experience!

If you have planned a relaxing holiday in the Canary Islands, spending a day on a guided excursion can allow you to enjoy the park without having to deal with the logistics. It is also a place of choice for a romantic evening under the stars.

If you have any questions about Teide or if some aspect of the article is not clear enough for you, do not hesitate to post a comment below.

All our posts about the Canary Islands can be found here.

Read our post with the 25 best things to do in Tenerife here.

GUIDE TO MOUNT TEIDE IN TENERIFE [CANARY ISLANDS]

History of Teide in Tenerife

How to visit Teide National Park?

How to reach the peak of Mount Teide?