This Friday, the Cabildo of Tenerife announced that access on foot to the trails of the National Park Teide will be closed starting at 00:00 this Saturday, December 21, following the declaration of a pre-alert for strong winds issued by the Government of the Canary Islands.
The General Directorate of Emergencies, informed by the forecast from the State Meteorological Agency and other available data, has declared a pre-alert due to wind conditions in the Teno massif, Cordillera Dorsal and Teide National Park. Winds gusting at 30-50 kilometres per hour are anticipated at the summits and 70-80 on Teide.
According to the president of the Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, this action is being taken “to ensure the safety of individuals.” “We have made the decision to close the foot access to Teide as walking these paths is deemed unsafe,” she explained. Along with the winds, there is a possibility of rainfall occurring during the weekend.
Particularly, access will be restricted as of 00:00 this Saturday on the following trails:
Calima observed from the summit of Teide. / Arturo Jimenez
- Trail No. 7: Montaña Blanca-Pico Teide, specifically the segment between the summit of Montaña Blanca and the junction with trails No. 7 and No. 11 at Mirador de La Fortaleza.
- Trail No. 9: Teide – Pico Viejo – TF-38 road, covering the section where this trail meets trails No. 38 (Cuevas Negras) and No. 12 (Mirador de Pico Viejo).
- Trail No. 10: Telesforo Bravo.
- Trail No. 11: La Fortaleza Viewpoint.
- Trail No. 12: Pico Viejo Viewpoint.
- Trail No. 23: Black Regatones.
- Trail No. 28: Chafarí.
The regulations introduced by the Cabildo of Tenerife on November 30 include provisions related to adverse weather conditions. It is stated that during official alert situations due to Adverse Meteorological Phenomena (AMP) declared by the Government of the Canary Islands under the PEFMA (Pre-alert, Alert, and Maximum Alert), and which affect the areas of the specified trails within Teide National Park (due to rain, snowfall, winds and/or storms), public access will be prohibited and the trails will remain closed 24 hours a day while the declaration is in place.
Blanca Pérez, the Minister of Natural Environment, Sustainability and Security and Emergencies, reminds that individuals who do not comply may face fines of 600 euros. This amount may also be complemented, if applicable, by the rescue fees imposed by the Government of the Canary Islands or the Consortium for Prevention, Fire Extinction and Rescue of the Island of Tenerife, which range from 2,000 to 12,000 euros.
The island Corporation has strengthened restrictions in Tenerife’s natural gem in light of repeated disregard for regulations, aiming to mitigate overcrowding. In addition to the specific actions taken due to adverse weather, four packages of measures have recently been approved by the island Government following the rescue of 130 individuals who irresponsibly attempted to summit Mount Teide on foot in mid-November. The intent of these individuals, predominantly European tourists, was to ascend Teide via the Montaña Amarilla trail and descend using the cable car. However, they were unaware that the cable car was closed due to inclement weather. Many were unprepared and lacked suitable clothing for the climb.
