A historic initiative concerning the iconic destination of Tenerife: foot traffic to the summit of Teide will be regulated to combat the overcrowding issues and the operations of unscrupulous organisations that exploit the flourishing local tourism sector.
The president of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, announced a range of measures yesterday. This administration will complete its legal transition of authority over the national park by the end of this year. Furthermore, these measures set a precedent across the country regarding mountainous areas, as detailed by sources specialising in the field to this publication.
In essence, the measures will restrict the ascent to the summit to 300 individuals per day. These climbers must be suitably equipped to tackle a peak that stands at 3,715 metres above sea level and reaches 7,500 metres from the ocean floor. Teide is the tallest mountain in Spain, the highest landmass emerging from the Atlantic Ocean, and the third largest volcano on Earth from its base in the ocean, following Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, both located in Hawaii.
Starting this Saturday, advance registration will be required via the Cabildo Tenerife On application (https://www.tenerifeon.es), which will activate tomorrow, Friday. A reservation or permit document will be issued, which can either be printed or saved on a mobile device to present to the supervisory authorities stationed at the entry control points to the impacted trails: trail 7 (Montaña Blanca-Pico del Teide); trail 11 (Mirador de la Fortaleza); trail 23 (Regatones Negros) and trail 9 (Teide-Pico Viejo).
Another significant addition is the requirement for proper equipment. From now on, climbers—be they users, hikers, or mountaineers—must have suitable footwear, warm clothing, and essential materials to address potential risks typical of winter high mountain conditions. This includes appropriate mountain boots, a coat, a thermal blanket, water, a fully charged mobile phone, and a headlamp.
Climbers lacking the requisite equipment will be prohibited from ascending, and offenders will face a fine of 600 euros. This amount may be supplemented by the rescue costs incurred by the Government of the Canary Islands or the Island of Tenerife’s Fire Prevention and Rescue Consortium, which can range from 2,000 to 12,000 euros depending on the resources deployed.
The limit of 300 individuals per day will be enforced during three time slots (from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; from 4:00 p.m. to midnight; and from midnight to 9:00 a.m.). Additionally, 20% of the daily quota will be allocated to registered active tourism companies, which must be compliant with current insurance and civil liability regulations, and possess special accreditation for high-risk mountain activities, clearly aiming to eliminate unauthorised access.
These conditions will apply under normal weather circumstances. However, should any active alerts be issued regarding potential risks, these restrictions will naturally be heightened.
