The governing council of the Cabildo of Tenerife has approved the tender for the refurbishment and rehabilitation of the Altavista refuge situated in Teide National Park, which has remained closed since 2020. This project involves an investment of 1.5 million euros, with a completion timeline of five months once the contract is awarded.
A year ago, the Cabildo of Tenerife projected that the shelter would reopen by the first half of 2024. The president of the island council, Rosa Dávila, noted then that the project was pending the approval of a financial viability study to commence improvements, aiming to create a “more sustainable shelter with minimal environmental impact on the subsoil, powered by renewable energy, and equipped with better facilities for overnight guests.”
The planned works include the installation of a water treatment facility, a photovoltaic system and enhancements to energy efficiency along with proper thermal insulation.
Dávila has remarked that this initiative is “a strategic measure to ensure the safety of individuals and the preservation of the area.”
According to the Island Council, the improvements and rehabilitation works will involve the renovation and adjustment of the existing rooms within the same building structure, optimising functionality and enhancing insulation and ventilation.
Additionally, the module attached to the supplementary building situated on the existing concrete platform will be refurbished, designated for housing fire-related battery and pressure pump installations.
Furthermore, measures to enhance energy efficiency will be put in place, and PVC pipes will be installed to transport the wastewater produced at the Refuge to the Treatment Plant.
The Treatment Plant, designed for 25 equivalent residents, will consist of a grinding grate or grease separator or Imhoff tank, along with a biological filter or sampling chamber, a building equipped with filter bags for sludge dewatering, an absorbent well, and masonry walls for the safeguarding and integration of the facilities.
The Altavista refuge, established in the 19th century, serves as a crucial support point for hikers ascending Spain’s highest peak.
In this context, “its reopening will restore a vital space for climbers as well as enhance environmental conservation and sustainable tourism in Teide National Park,” concludes the Cabildo in its statement.
