From this Friday, November 29, access to Mount Teide will be restricted. This has been declared by the Cabildo of Tenerife, which informs that the ascent to Spain’s peak will have a limit of 300 individuals per day, organised into time slots accommodating one hundred people each.
The access control, implemented on four paths, aims to “reduce recklessness and negligence that can lead to rescues and, in some situations, accidents; by regulating the number of climbers at the Teide Natural Monument, thus preventing overcrowding and the subsequent environmental impact; and ensuring a more enjoyable and secure experience for the thousands who visit Spain’s highest point,” explained Rosa Dávila, president of the Cabildo de Tenerife.
Consequently, a set of measures has been established to manage the ascents to Teide along its trails, which will be governed by regulations coming into effect this Friday. These measures centre around the TENERIFE ON application from the Cabildo (https://www.tenerifeon.es) and will be reviewed in the coming months to adapt to the identified circumstances and make improvements.
“This initiative responds to the need to ensure safety for visitors given the unique meteorological conditions that prevail in this mountainous region, along with the necessary requirements for suitable equipment to tackle the climb,” noted Dávila, alongside vice president Lope Afonso and counsellor for Natural Environment, Sustainability, Safety and Emergencies, Blanca Pérez.
Rosa Dávila highlighted that permits will be free “for the time being”, until a regulation similar to the ecotax in Barranco de Masca can be implemented, where Tenerife residents will enjoy a 100% discount, while residents from other Canary Islands and non-residents will be liable for the established fee.
Rosa Dávila (c) alongside councillors Lope Afonso and Blanca Pérez, after presenting the regulations for accessing Teide / The Day
Conditions
Visitors will need to acknowledge that they are engaging in a high mountain activity, and thus, must register electronically via the TENERIFE ON application. In this regard, access to the trails will be subject to prior communication/authorisation through the TENERIFE ON reservation centre. Once the reservation/permit document is generated, it should be printed or saved on a mobile device and carried along to present to the monitoring authorities stationed at the trail entrances.
Access
The access points will be monitored as follows:
- Trail No. 7 (Montaña Blanca-Pico del Teide).
- Trail No. 11 (Mirador de la Fortaleza).
- Trail No. 23 (Regatones Negros).
- Trail No. 9 (Teide-Pico Viejo).
Mandatory equipment
Users, hikers and mountaineers must possess essential minimum equipment, including suitable footwear, warm clothing, and various other necessary items to ensure safety in high winter mountain conditions: proper mountain footwear, coat, thermal blanket, water, a fully charged mobile phone, and a headlamp. When requested by Cabildo personnel, individuals must present the requisite gear. Without this equipment, they will not be permitted to ascend.
The mandatory equipment has been verified by the Special Mountain Intervention Rescue Group (GREIM) of the Civil Guard and the Consortium for Prevention, Fire Extinction and Rescue of the Island of Tenerife.
Application regulating access permits to Teide. / The Day
Control and monitoring
There will be control and monitoring by park staff 24 hours a day at selected points that will enforce adherence to the regulations and conditions regarding compulsory equipment and the necessary authorisations.
Fines and sanctions
Individuals who disregard the regulations may incur a fine of 600 euros. Additionally, if applicable, the rescue fees from the Government of the Canary Islands or the Consortium for Prevention, Fire Extinction and Rescue of the Island of Tenerife will apply, ranging between 2,000 and 12,000 euros.
Establishment of a maximum quota by time slots
There will be a limit on the number of individuals permitted to access the mountain, provisionally set at 300, divided into three time slots (with 100 individuals per slot).
The time slots are as follows:
- From 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
- From 4:00 pm to midnight.
- From midnight to 9:00 am.
This system may change based on its implementation. Companies and licensed guides qualified to lead groups in high mountains will have a reserved allocation to carry out their activities. Active tourism firms will have access to 20% of the available spots.
Limitations and ascent prohibitions
Consideration will be given to situations concerning weather conditions. In normal circumstances, that is, without any alert warnings, users will adhere to the standard visiting conditions, which involve mandatory authorisation for a time slot plus equipment verification at the trail entrance.
In addition, during official alert situations due to Adverse Meteorological Phenomena (PMA) declared by the Government of the Canary Islands, applying PEFMA (Pre-alert, Alert and Maximum Alert) that affect the aforementioned trails in Teide National Park (due to rain, snowfall, wind, and/or storms), access for the general public will be restricted from 4:00 pm to 9:00 am while the alert is in effect, thus avoiding any nocturnal stay on the mountain. During alert and maximum alert phases, public access will be entirely prohibited and the trails will be closed around the clock while the alert remains in place.
It is also important to note that due to adverse weather conditions, even without formal warnings or alerts (principally attributable to ice, snow, wind, and frost) or any other factor rendering the trails leading to the peak of Teide impractical and unsafe, the National Park Directorate may prohibit access to these trails and close them for as long as deemed necessary. This decision applies regardless of whether individuals had previously obtained a permit and/or authorisation.
Specific signage
The regulations governing access control to Teide entail the strategic placement of signage in multiple languages at the beginning of each trail, simultaneously indicating the relevant sanctions for any violations.
Differentiated cases
Under the conditions specified, there will be a special and differentiated treatment for federated mountaineers and tourism companies. Federated mountaineers must adequately demonstrate their capabilities, possess appropriate and precise gear and may apply for a special permit when ice or snow covers the terrain.
Regarding active tourism companies, they must be legally established, recognised by the regional Administration and have authorised and qualified mountain guides to conduct activities in the high mountains of Teide National Park under the required conditions.
There will be no exceptions to the mandatory registration for individuals wishing to access the peak. All must adhere to the authorisation requirement and carry the required equipment.
Access to Teide peak from La Rambleta
Currently, you can access from La Rambleta (upper section of the Teide Cable Car, at 3,555 metres) to the peak of Teide (3,718 metres) via the Telesforo Bravo path. For this, individuals intending to take this route must obtain the relevant permit, as has been the procedure until now. All information regarding the necessary steps is available on the website https://www.volcanoteide.com/es
