New Visitor Regulations in Teide National Park (from November 2024)

New Visitor Regulations in Teide National Park: How to Register?

I have already written everything you need to know about the Teide ascent in my article Pico del Teide – hiking on Spain’s highest mountain. However, since November 2024, the island administration (Cabildo) of Tenerife has introduced new visitor regulations for the Teide National Park. This applies in particular to the ascent of Pico del Teide on hiking trails. These measures are intended to prevent recklessness and accidents and to better control the number of people on the mountain. As it is not easy to keep track of all the new rules, I hope this short summary will help you a little.

From November 2024, prior registration through the platform Tenerife ON / Tenerife ON app will be required for certain hiking routes in Teide National Park. Those wishing to additionally reach the summit will still need a separate permit from the National Park Administration, which is available on the website.

After making a reservation, the obtained permit must be printed or carried electronically on your mobile phone to present it at the checkpoints. The issuance of ascent permits is initially free; however, a paid model (similar to an eco-tax) is planned in the medium term.

What Equipment Do I Need to Bring?

According to the new visitor regulations, park staff will monitor compliance with the rules at the entry points around the clock. Both registration and equipment will be checked.

Furthermore, appropriate mountain gear is now mandatory. Visitors must wear suitable hiking boots and carry enough warm clothing (including thermal wear or a blanket). In addition, sufficient water, a fully charged phone, and a headlamp must be brought. This equipment must be shown upon request. If the required equipment is not brought, access to the ascent will be denied.

What Do I Need to Know for the Summit Ascent of Teide?

The special regulation for the actual summit ascent remains unchanged: To reach the summit of Teide from the La Rambleta area (the upper cable car station at 3,555m) to the highest point of Teide (3,718m) via the Telesforo-Bravo path, a separate summit permit from the National Park is still required. This free summit permit must be reserved in advance and is limited to a specific number of people per day. Information on the application process is available on the official park website. For the cable car ride itself, no permit is required; however, cable car users may only enter the aforementioned hiking routes if they have registered in advance.

What New Visitor Regulations Apply to Other Ascents in Teide National Park?

The access control through prior registration specifically applies to four hiking routes in the park:

• Sendero No. 9: Teide – Pico Viejo (connecting route towards the Pico Viejo crater)

• Sendero No. 7: Montaña Blanca – Pico del Teide (the classic footpath from Montaña Blanca to the summit)

• Sendero No. 11: Mirador de La Fortaleza (short viewing path near the cable car mountain station)

• Sendero No. 23: Los Regatones Negros (ascent via the southwest slope)

At the entrances to these routes, permits and equipment will be checked. Only those with a valid registration/permit and proper equipment will be allowed to ascend these routes or enter them from the cable car. Access outside these officially designated paths is not permitted. 20% of the daily slots are reserved for authorised tour operators (with licensed mountain guides), and mountaineers with a federation membership card (montañeros federados) can apply for special permits in case of extreme weather conditions (ice or snow).

Are There Time and Seasonal Restrictions in the New Visitor Regulations?

The new visitor regulations include a fixed time slot system for the Teide ascent. A maximum of 300 people are allowed per day, distributed across three time slots with 100 people each

The times are:

• 09:00–16:00
• 16:00–24:00
• 00:00–09:00

When making a reservation via Tenerife ON, one of these slots must be selected for the ascent. Of the total daily capacity, 20% of the spots are reserved for registered sports providers and mountain guides.

Weather conditions may enforce restrictions. When a Pre-Alert weather warning is issued, access for the general public will be restricted during the night hours (16:00–09:00) to avoid staying on the mountain in darkness. In the event of an Alert (Alerta or Alerta Máxima), the designated routes will be completely closed to the public around the clock as long as the warning remains. Regardless of official weather warnings, the park administration can close the ascent routes at any time due to dangerous conditions (e.g., freezing, snowfall, storm). This applies even if visitors already hold a permit for that time period – a granted permit does not entitle access during unsafe conditions.

What Happens if the New Visitor Regulations Are Not Followed? Are There Fines and Penalties?

The new regulations include significant penalties to ensure compliance. Anyone violating the rules – such as ascending without a permit, without proper equipment, or ignoring closures – faces a fine of up to €600. If a rescue operation is needed due to a rule violation, the substantial costs of the operation may also be charged, ranging from approximately €2,000 to €12,000, depending on the effort. With these strict rules and penalties, the aim is to ensure that visitors take the dangers of high-altitude conditions seriously and respect the sensitive volcanic landscape of Teide National Park.

And finally

I hope this summary of the new visitor regulations has helped you and that you now know how to obtain a permit for the paths in Teide National Park. Wishing you an enjoyable visit to Spain’s highest mountain, Teide!

Dagmar from SiebenInseln