A Comprehensive guide to the most popular attraction across all the Canary Islands. I’ll tell you everything a tourist needs to know about Teide Volcano and the Teide National Park on Tenerife. You’ll discover how to get here, what to see, which route is the most beautiful, how to conquer Spain’s highest peak, how much it costs, and if hiking up Teide is possible.

Teide Volcano: General Information

Here are the most interesting facts about Mount Teide, so you understand how awesome this place is and why every tourist arriving in Tenerife must visit the Teide National Park.

  • Teide is a dormant volcano that could awaken at any time. Scientists say there shouldn’t be any eruptions for the next thousand years, but it’s not certain.
  • The most powerful eruption occurred between 1704-1706, destroying all settlements on the northern slope, including the town of Garachico. Today it has been rebuilt and is very popular with tourists. The last eruption in modern history, less intense, was in 1909. Since then, Teide has “slept.”
  • Teide’s height is 3,718 meters above sea level. It’s not only the highest peak in the Canary Islands but also in all of Spain.
teide volcano tenerife
You’ll spot Teide, Tenerife’s symbol, on almost every flight between the islands. If you look out the window, you’ll see it!

Interesting to know:

The entire island of Tenerife is essentially Teide volcano. Considering its height from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, Teide is the tallest mountain in this ocean—7,500 meters.
  • The Teide National Park is established in the center of Tenerife. It’s Spain’s first national park and is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Now that we’ve covered interesting facts, let’s discuss what tourists can do in the national park.

Tip:

For active tourists who love hiking, I recommend planning a full day to visit the park. Trust me, there’s more than just Teide here; there are many interesting locations.

In the article linked, you’ll find a comprehensive list of all the main attractions in Tenerife. This article will greatly assist in planning your perfect island itinerary.

Teide National Park on Tenerife: What to See

I’ll list the main locations with coordinates of the most important attractions in the Teide National Park. You can click on the coordinates, and it will open in Google Maps.

  • Lava fields from the 1909 eruption. There are many in the park, but here’s one spot where the road passes directly through a lava field. On both sides of the road, there’s only solidified lava.

Important:

You can only stop at designated areas in the Teide National Park. Just pulling over on the side of the road isn’t allowed, and there aren’t many places to do so.
teide canaries
You’ll see endless lava fields on both sides of the road on TF-38. Despite the last eruption being over 100 years ago, there’s still not a single blade of grass or tree in sight.
  • Los Roques de Garcia (Garcia Rocks). These are rock formations that, due to erosion, have acquired peculiar shapes resembling petrified trees. Convenient hiking routes are laid out here, including a 3 km route around the Garcia Rocks. Information on routes, tips, and recommendations will be provided further in the article, so stay tuned.
    • From the Garcia Rocks, you get great views of the Teide summit, and if you look closely, you can already see the cable car.
    • Coordinates of parking and starting points of hiking routes near the Garcia Rocks: 28.223268600628895, -16.6304235652158. Everything is intuitively understandable on-site, where to go and what to see; all routes are well marked.
garcia rocks teide
In the upper photo, circled in red, are the Garcia Rocks, and in the lower photo, I’m sitting on one of these rocks, with the trail visible on the left – that’s the circular route around the rocks, and on the right, the parking lot, which gets very crowded during the season. Both photos show Teide. The height of the Garcia Rocks is 200 meters; they only seem low in the photos.
  • Pico Viejo also known as Montaña Chahorra. This is another volcano, 3134 meters high. It’s Spain’s second-highest peak after Teide. Pico Viejo is actually part of the Teide volcano and is located on its slope.

An important note: there’s no road to Pico Viejo; only a hiking trail exists. The “easiest” route, in my opinion, starts from the Garcia Rocks. The trail is about 7.5 km one way, with an elevation gain of 1000 meters. The round trip will take you about 6-8 hours. Later in the article, there will be a link to a map of all hiking trails in the national park, and here you’ll need to choose route No. 9, 28, or 23. Route 23 is precisely the trail from the Garcia Rocks.

  • Coordinates of the summit and viewpoint overlooking the Pico Viejo crater (crater diameter 800 meters): 28.26412294030393, -16.664766675852803
  • Advice: Usually, well trained tourists visit the Pico Viejo crater, those who have already hiked to the summit of Teide. So, if that’s you, conquer Teide first, and if you still have energy, time, and desire, you can come back in a couple of days to conquer Pico Viejo.
  • Pico Viejo last erupted in 1798.
pico viejo tenerife
If you manage to hike here, you’ll get to peer into the crater of the Pico Viejo volcano.
  • And now, the cherry on top – the symbol of Tenerife and all the Canary Islands – the Teide volcano. You can hike up, spending a night in a mountain refuge. The whole route takes 2 days. Or you can go like a typical tourist, taking the cable car, for a fee and in just 10 minutes
tenerife teide tours
This is how the lower cable car station and parking look. The altitude here is about 2400 meters above sea level. You can’t drive any higher.

How to get to Teide National Park, and the most beautiful road

In short, the most convenient and best option is, of course, by car. Renting a car in Tenerife is straightforward, rental companies are very accommodating, and prices and deposits are low, plus gasoline in the Canaries is 25% cheaper than mainland Europe. Read all about the peculiarities of car rentals specifically in Tenerife in the article via the link.

Useful to know:

Visiting Teide National Park is absolutely free for everyone. All parking and roads are free. All hiking trails are also completely free. You’ll only pay for the cable car ride to the summit and for lodging in the refuge if you choose to hike.

If you open a map of Tenerife, you’ll see that you can reach Teide from all sides of the island. There are many reviews online about the beauty of one road or another and advice on which road is best to take. I’ll give you some advice too, so you understand the overall picture:

  • The same road looks completely different when ascending or descending. So, there’s nothing wrong with descending to the coast on the same road you ascended.
  • All roads to the park are beautiful, with plenty of viewpoints and panoramic views. My personal opinion: if you’ve never been here, take the road that’s most convenient and closest to you. There’s no point in making a 70 km loop around the island just to ascend via a road that’s touted as the most beautiful on the internet.
best road to teide
This stretch of road TF-21 in Teide National Park was affected by severe forest fires in the summer of 2023.

My personal TOP:

I’ll point out two (maybe even three) roads to Teide National Park that I personally really like. Well, I just happen to drive on them more often :). For the ascent to the cable car, I like the TF-38 road; it passes through the lava fields mentioned earlier. And for the descent, the very scenic TF-21 road (photo above), which will immediately lead you to Puerto de la Cruz. Also, the beautiful TF-24 road, if you need to go to the capital – Santa Cruz. All these road numbers are available on Google Maps.

For those who can’t rent a car on Tenerife, there’s the option to book a tour. Details on where to look can be found in the article “Excursions and tours in the Canaries.” But here’s the main thing about tours specifically in Teide National Park.

  • Group tours by bus with several stops at viewpoints are available, and you’ll be brought to the parking lot at the cable car. After an hour or two, when everyone has descended from the summit via the cable car, you’ll be taken back.
  • There are also private tours for groups of 3-7 people. On such tours, you’ll have a personal guide who will drive you around the park wherever you want to go.
cable car teide
The TF-38 road. The higher you climb, the fewer trees and greenery you’ll see. Trees will disappear, and shrubs will begin, followed by only lava fields and rocks. In just an hour, you’ll see 3-4 different climatic zones.
  • Of course, a private tour is better, but it’s also more expensive; it all depends on your budget.
  • Always check what’s included in the tour. The most important thing is who pays for the cable car ticket. If it’s you, then you need to decide how to buy it in advance. But that’s a story I’ll tell you about below.
  • The widest selection of tours, both group and private, to Mount Teide can be found on GetYourGuide or Viator, where you can also see prices and what’s included. There are also tours on the official park website, the link will be below, but the prices there are not the most budget-friendly.
  • And remember, regular buses don’t run here. Only cars or tours.

The cable car to the Teide volcano on Tenerife (Teleférico del Teide)

Most of tourists, of course, “conquer” Spain’s highest peak by cable car. But here, not everything is so rosy, especially for those who don’t know how to plan their leisure time in advance. If you don’t want to overpay, follow the instructions below:

  • The lower cable car station, where the parking lot is located, and where you’ll drive to, is at an altitude of about 2400 meters. The upper station, where the cable car will take you, is at an altitude of 3550 meters.
  • The ascent takes about 10 minutes. The cable car has only two cabins, each accommodating 35 people. They work in opposition, one goes up while the other goes down.
teide teleferico
Here’s what the cabin and the lower station of the cable car look like. The second cabin is currently at the upper station, and they will simultaneously start moving towards each other.

It’s important to understand:

About 35 people can ascend to the summit every 10 minutes. And there are many more tourists here, especially in the season.
  • The cost of the basic round-trip ticket is 41 euros.
  • You can buy tickets on the official cable car website (where you’ll also find tours from the park itself): https://www.volcanoteide.com/en. There are different packages to choose from: just ascent-descent, ascent with an audio guide, with a transfer from your resort, ascent at sunset, etc.
  • At the summit, you’re given 1 hour, which is more than enough, even too much.
  • You buy a ticket for a specific time, and you need to be at the lower station at that time. If you’re late, they may put you on the next cabin (if there’s space available), but I’ve never been late, and I don’t advise you to be.

And now, the most important thing:

Until 2024, part of the tickets could always be bought at the ticket office upon arrival at the cable car. Yes, sometimes there was a queue for an hour, but such an option existed. And on my last visit in February 2025, it turned out that tickets were no longer sold on-site; 100% of tickets are sold online on the website. And all tickets were already sold out for the next day. This means that if you don’t buy a cable car ticket online in advance (in April, tickets were available for the next day, and in summer, at best, for 2-3 days ahead), then you won’t get to the summit. Remember, there are many more tourists than the capacity of this cable car allows.
teide national park tours
Here’s how the views look from the upper cable car station. On a clear day, you can see all five islands of the archipelago. And if you’re lucky and there are clouds, you’ll capture awesome photos above the clouds because here the clouds are always below the summit.

Don’t forget, it’s very windy and can be cold at the summit. When it’s +25°C on Tenerife’s beaches, it’s about 5°C at the summit. On the official website (link was provided earlier), there are webcams, so you can check the current weather at the summit.

Important to know:

The cable car will take you to an altitude of 3550 meters, while the summit’s height (where the Teide crater is located) is 3718 meters. And access to the trail to the actual summit at 3718 meters is limited to 200 people per day. If you don’t get permission in advance, you’ll stroll along a beautiful trail at the upper cable car station, enjoy views of the Pico Viejo crater from above, and breathtaking views of the entire archipelago, but you won’t reach the real summit. Read about obtaining permission below.

Hiking to the Mount Teide summit

There’s a lot of information, and I could write two articles just about the ascent, but I’ll cover only the very essentials. You’re smart, you’ll figure it out.

  • There are 4 marked routes near the Teide summit. They are all free:
    • One of them – No. 10 – Telesforo Bravo/Pico Teide – leads to the actual summit at 3718 meters. This is the one for which you need permission.
    • You can also walk to the upper cable car station La Rambleta at 3550 meters. This is walking route No. 7 – Montaña Blanca. Read about this route below.
  • You can check if your route is open today on the official website (link provided earlier), no need to duplicate.
teide hiking
At the top of the official website, there’s a button with the online status of all routes and the cable car, always check before heading out. In this case, everything is open.
  • The most popular among tourists is route No. 7, which is called Montaña Blanca, leading to the upper cable car station La Rambleta.
  • There are two options for completing this route:
    • In one day: the ascent takes from 5.5 hours (it’s advisable to start no later than 7 a.m.), but on average 7 hours. Elevation gain is 1200 meters. Suitable for tourists with above-average physical fitness.
    • In two days:
      • Start between 12-2 p.m. First, 7 km and an elevation gain of 940 meters. You’ll reach the refuge (Refugio de Altavista). It’s located at an altitude of 3290 meters. Coordinates: 28.274121391515834, -16.62940295231297.
      • The next morning, another 2 hours of ascent, and you’re at the upper cable car station La Rambleta.
    • The entire descent in the opposite direction takes 3-4 hours, sometimes even less.

Refugio de Altavista opens after 4 p.m. It has 4 large rooms for 20 people each with bunk beds. There’s a snack vending machine, water, and toilets. But it’s better to bring your own food. There’s a kitchen with a gas stove and dishes; you can prepare a dinner (on your own). Disposable bed linen is provided. You need your own sleeping bag. It often gets below freezing in the morning. The refuge isn’t heated.

Important:

The refuge was closed in 2023, and as of March 2025, it’s not operational, and it’s unclear when it will reopen. Look for information online in advance, preferably in English or Spanish. The last time, the price for overnight stay was 20 euros per person.
montana blanca trail tenerife
Here’s what the Refugio de Altavista looks like at an altitude of 3290 meters – it’s an atmospheric place, and there are many tourists from all over the world. You can spend the whole evening chatting.

Tip:

Many tourists hike up but take the cable car down. A one-way trip on the cable car costs 23 euros, and tickets also need to be purchased in advance. But remember, the starting point of the Montaña Blanca trail and the lower cable car station are in different locations, about 3 km apart.
teide by foot
And here’s the parking lot and the starting point of the Montaña Blanca trail. This is where your hiking ascent begins.

Navigation:

The best apps with all hiking trails, elevations, refuges are Maps.Me or Organic Maps – your choice; I personally use the latter. Both apps are available for Android and iOS, both are free, download the Canary Islands map in advance, everything is intuitive there. If done correctly, they work even without internet.

And here’s everything about mobile communication and internet on the islands and which SIM card to get. It’s highly recommended to have connectivity and active insurance in the mountains; anything can happen. And you can read about comprehensive insurance in the Canaries here.

Here’s a super cool PDF map – a detailed map of the Teide National Park. The red routes are hiking trails in the park. It won’t be very helpful for car tourists, but it’s invaluable for those planning to hike to the summit and choosing a route. There are also all the routes to Pico Viejo.

Permit for the Mount Teide Summit

Whether you hike up to 3550 meters or take the cable car, route No. 10 and the Mount Teide crater are inaccessible to you without special permit.

Here’s what you need to know, with both pros and cons:

  • Only 200 people per day are allowed on this route. It’s short, only 700 meters long and an elevation gain of 160 meters from the upper cable car station.
  • So few people are allowed to maintain safety and preserve this route.
  • You have the option to purchase a spot in a group with a certified park guide, then the price is 128 euros (including the cable car ascent). But then you can find a spot even a week before the desired date.
  • Also you can get the permit for free – that’s a pros.
  • Cons: You need to reserve a specific visit date 2-3 months in advance.
  • Another downside: you need to obtain the permit on the main website of all the Canary Islands’ national parks, and it’s a website from the last century, figuring it out can be difficult.
permit teide
The link to this page is below. Look at the arrows, I’ve numbered them: 1. Make sure you’ve opened the PICO DEL TEIDE ACCESS PERMIT page. 2. Click Bookings, scroll through the calendar, look for available dates. If your trip is less than two months away, you’re late. 3. If you have the dates you need, download the documents – see arrow number 3, fill them out, scan them, send them, and complete the permit registration.

And now some useful links:

Tips for tourists visiting Teide

A few final tips to help you during your visit to Tenerife’s main attraction:

  • There are thieves here, and car thefts occur, especially in the cable car parking lot. Don’t leave anything visible in the car; a window can be smashed in a moment, even for a 2 euro coin. Hide all belongings in the trunk.
  • You’ll get many more experiences in Teide National Park with a car. If you have a driver’s license, rent a car for at least 1 day to visit Teide.
  • Come to Teide National Park with a full tank; there are no gas stations here. And during the ascent from sea level to 2400 meters on the serpentine roads, fuel is consumed quite a bit.
  • If you plan to hike to Pico Viejo or the Mount Teide summit, remember that it’s not an easy walk. Proper footwear, sticks, plenty of water – you need to take all this. There’s a cafe at the lower cable car station, but there are no grocery stores or anything else here. You need to buy everything you need in advance.
  • About vacationing in Tenerife, the best resorts with beaches, public transportation, peculiarities of vacationing on the island, the downsides of Tenerife – they exist – read through the link.

In conclusion: the national park and the Teide volcano are Tenerife’s main attractions. Here you’ll find unique nature and breathtaking views, from lava fields to lookout points overlooking neighboring islands. Even if you don’t plan to ascend to the Mount Teide summit by cable car, you must come here and see this park with your own eyes.

Wishing you an easy ascent, and remember, it’s cold at 3718 meters, and breathing can be difficult if you’re not used to it.

Useful links to help you plan your dream trip to Canary Islands:

  • Car Rental: LocalRent or DiscoverCars – the most popular car rental platforms.

  • Accommodation:
    • Trip.com – the largest accommodation booking platform.

    • or TripAdvisor – to compare prices among other platforms and choose the best one.

  • Budget-friendly vacation packages to Spain and Canary Islands: CheapOair.

  • Tours and activities: GetYourGuide or Viator – hundreds of offers, whales and dolphins, entrance tickets with discounts.

  • eSIM and internet: Airalo.

  • Flights: WayAway compares prices among dozens of companies.

  • Travel Insurance: EKTA.