Hiking Teide volcano with permit included Tenerife

The Mount Teide Summit Hike with Teide permit included is an unforgettable trek located in Tenerife, Spain. At 3,718 meters high (12,198 ft), Mount Teide currently stands as the highest point of the Atlantic Ocean, as well as forming the tallest mountain in Spain and the third-highest volcano worldwide. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 and now requires a special permit - the Teide Permit - to access this protected zone.

Officially known as Parque Nacional del Teide, it’s one of the most-visited national parks in the world - and with good reason! From the hundreds of volcanically-formed cones seen during the hike to the fantastic panorama of the island available at the Mount Teide summit. It is surely an adventure worth embarking on.

Within the national park, both the Mount Teide summit and the Pico Viejo volcano can be found. The entire area is filled with geologically unique formations a diverse ecosystem, and several lower-level hiking trails to be enjoyed.

Mount Teide Tour Description

The Mount Teide Summit Hike with Teide permit & Cable Car package is a relatively easy hiking tour that includes arrangement of a time-specific ride in the Mount Teide Cable Car (also known as the Teide Teleférico) as well as the Teide Permit required to access the protected summit. Cable car tickets are not included and payable apart from the tour fee.

Group tours meet at the lower Teide cable car station (at a height of 2300m / 7545 ft) then take the Mt. Teide cable car to the upper station where the only path to the summit is located.

Trail NR-10 is the only way up to the peak of the Teide volcano.

Through booking the Mount Teide Summit Hike with Teide permit & Cable Car, access to the summit is provided via a group Teide permit. The group will ascend via this path after passing through a checkpoint.

The one way hike takes between 30 minutes to an hour, depending on your physical condition. At the summit, a wonderful view of the entire island can be seen and are an ideal location for taking pictures (and taking a rest!). On clear days, five islands can be seen from the summit - Gran Canaria, La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera, and, of course, Tenerife. If you’re taking the Teide summit tour in the evening, you can’t miss the fantastic sunset covering the entire island.

Afterward, the group will descend via the same path and take the Mt Teide cable car to descend back to the volcano’s base. Hiking enthusiasts may then choose to continue to the Rocks of García (Roques de García) walking down through the caldera via the Old Peak or the Montaña Blanca hiking trails.

The Mount Teide summit hike is of moderate difficulty, mainly due to the high altitude and a near-constant slope.

At the same time, if you wish to have a challenging full Mt Teide hike, from the base to the Teide peak, it is also possible, but only in the private tour option. The Private Teide Peak Tour with Permit included also includes hotel pick-up and private transportation from and then back to your hotel.

Important to know:

1. Don't forget your passport of national ID-card attending this hiking tour - it's also required to make your Teide permit and checked on your way to the Mount Teide summit.
2. Take cash for the remaining balance - tour guide cannot charge a card.
3. Take money for the Cable Car return tickets. Cable car ticket is not included in the tour price. At the same time, you shouldn't book cable car, by yourself. Your hiking guide will have reserved a time slot for the group and will have tickets for the exact time slot for everyone in the group.
4. Organize your own transportation to the meeting point.

Prepare yourself to the Peak hike:

• Take at least 1.5 L of water to avoid dehydration - the air at the Mount Teide summit and in the National Park is extremely dry.
• Wear proper clothes depend on the season of the year.
• Make sure you have with you the same travel document as the one which number you've sent to to the provider to make your Teide permit.
• Wear full shoes with a good grip.
• Always take sunglasses and suntan cream with high UV-filter.

What to see on the Mount Teide Summit Hike

Undoubtedly, the landscape is the most notable part of the hike. The distant ocean contrasting the volcanic landscape is a sight to see. Upon taking this tour, Tenerife and the other islands can be seen the top of the summit.

Within the Teide National Park is an enormous caldera - Las Cañadas del Teide - from which both Mount Teide and the Pico Viejo rise up to form these two volcanic mountains. This part of the Teide crater can also be explored via the indicated hiking trails.

Besides the breathtaking volcano Teide, Tenerife is also home to an extraordinary observatory (Observatorio del Teide) nearby which can be visited. You may also go to the visitor center to learn more about how Mount Teide was formed.

Mount Teide Flora & Fauna

If you choose to come in the springtime, there are several botanical particularities native to the park. The red bugloss is a beautiful plant with bright red flowers and the Teide violet is a rare plant that can only grow in areas above 2,500 meters. This is the namesake plant of the area, although it is quite rare to find.

The area is also full of plenty of species endemic to the area, such as lizards, geckos, and plenty of birds. The only mammal native to the park is a Canary big-eared bat. However, several species were introduced to the area, namely feral cats, rabbits, and African hedgehogs.

There is also a wide range of insects native to the region, particularly spiders, beetles, and butterflies. Although this shouldn’t alarm you, as there are no dangerous species in the area.

What not to do on Mount Teide

In order to protect Mount Teide, Tenerife, and the surrounding ecosystem, there are a few instructions that we kindly ask you to follow.

Most importantly, we strongly recommend you to stay on the signaled path while hiking up to the summit or through any of the several other trails. As it is a protected zone, the hiking trails are indicated both on the trail and on the map to protect both you and the park. Please do not climb on any rock formations that are not part of the walking trail.

Likewise, we urge you to not take any stones with you - however tempting it may be! We understand that the volcanic stones are a wonder for all, but constant removal of these precious stones eventually damages the ecosystem and could result in irreparable damage to this natural wonder.

Finally, we ask that you take care of yourself and of your belongings during the hike. Please be sure to pay close attention to where you step and to use reasonable caution when hiking. We must work together to maintain this beautiful landscape for everyone. If you bring any snacks or bottles of water, please keep them with you and dispose of them in appropriately labeled containers. Spain has very convenient recycling systems - yellow bins are for plastic!

Mount Teide Permit Requirements

The Mount Teide National Park is a protected area known for its biodiversity and geological singularity. In order to reduce any potential damage to this breathtaking area due to excess levels of tourism, special permits are required to access the summit. The Mount Teide access permit is essential to protecting and maintaining the beauty of the ecological wonder. The official name of this permit in Spanish is known as the “Permiso de acceso al pico del Teide”.

When booking the Mount Teide Summit Hike with permit to the Teide Peak, a special group Teide permit is generated, allowing you access to Europe’s most visited national park. During the day of the Teide tour, it is imperative you bring a form of ID with you.

Those from the EU, Norway, Switzerland, Ukraine, and Iceland may bring their national ID cards as an acceptable form of identification. People from any other country must bring their passport or they may be denied the Teide peak permit.

How to access Mount Teide excursions

To begin the hike up to the Mount Teide summit, the Mount Teide Peak Tour group will meet at the lower Teide cable car station. All members of the hiking group will meet at this start point before heading off.

When booking the package, please the time you choose will be the start time of the Teide hiking tour. In order to avoid any potential trouble, we highly recommended arriving at the Lower Cable Car Station 30 minutes prior to the time on your ticket. If arriving by car, this will give you ample time to park at the Teide Cable Car Station, as well as locate your guide.

All participants must find their own transportation to the area from their hotels. If you are coming from a hotel in Tenerife South - La Caleta, Costa Adeje, Las Americas, and Los Cristianos, you can easily locate a taxi, or a rental car to the meeting point.

Once all participants have gathered at the meeting spot, we will all begin the excursion via the cable car, which will take us to the upper station at an altitude of 3550 meters (11,646 ft). From there, we will then pass through the checkpoints with our forms of ID to verify the permit to ascend the peak of Teide. From there begins the approximately 40-minute hike.

When to book Teide Peak Hiking Tour

It's HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to book the Teide Peak Hiking Tour as far in advance as you can. Ideally, 2 months in advance to guarantee availability. If you book online between 2 months and 3 weeks in advance, you still have a practically guaranteed chance of hiking Teide, but it also depending on the season and availability.

We urge you to not attempt booking the tour at the last minute or the day of. It is highly likely that the tour is already full and the maximum daily permit amount of 200 people has been reached and, therefore, we would need to refund your booking deposit.

As mentioned, Teide National Park in the Canary Islands is one of the most popular European attractions, so prior planning is essential to a smooth hiking experience!

Mount Teide Seasonal Changes and Preparation Recommendations

April - October

From April to October, the weather in the Canary Islands can be quite hot, especially in the summer months. If you’re planning on climbing Teide, make sure to wear proper clothing - hiking boots / comfortable hiking footwear, a hat, and sunglasses.

Solar radiation is incredibly strong in Spain, even more so in the Canary Islands. Do not forget to wear sunscreen and bring plenty of water with you. On your climb, peak temperatures may easily reach 40 C / 104 F. It’s also recommended to bring a light snack such as trail mix or fruit.

The trail will consist of loose and stony ground, so closed-toed shoes are recommended. Depending on the season, a light jacket or raincoat may be necessary in case of rain. Regardless of the time of access, summit temperatures may change rapidly.

October - April

In the winter months, there may be extreme weather conditions on the Tenerife volcano tour.

From October to April there are often strong winds in the upper parts of the atmosphere and Teide cable car may close without notice for your safety. We have no influence on the weather and in the event of cable car closure and the cancellation of the Teide Peak Hiking Tour, we will refund you the full cost of the tickets.

In the event that the Teide Peak Hiking Tour begins and we ascend up through the cable car, but on the descent, the cable car closes due to weather changes, then we will go down via an alternative hike in the Teide National Park and no refund will be possible.

Please note that if booking the Teide Peak Hiking Tour in the period from November to April, you must understand the risk of cancellation and bad weather conditions. Due to the high altitude, there are often snowstorms, icy path formations, and powerful gusts of wind.

Of course, in the Canary Islands, you can go from the hotel to the beach, swim in the ocean, go tanning under a palm tree, and just enjoy the sun overall, but unfortunately, in the heart of the island, it’s possible there could be a snowstorm or subzero temperatures. Welcome to Tenerife :)

STRICT CANCELLATION POLICY

WARNING! Strict Cancellation Policy applies to this tour! No refunds in the case if you cancel the booking after it was confirmed, no matter what the reason is. The tour date cannot be changed once the booking is confirmed. If the tour is not possible because of the weather or Teide cable car closed, you'll be offered alternative hike or alternative tour date. Booking deposit wouldn't be refunded if you don't accept alternative hike or tour date. Booking deposit is NOT REFUNDABLE at any circumstances. Proceeding with booking, you accept this very strict cancellation policy.

Alternative Mount Teide Peak Trip with Mt. Teide permit

If you are up for a challenge, the full trail tour to hike Mt Teide is available. Please consider booking some of the more difficult trails on our website, such as the Private Tour - Climbing Mount Teide with Mount Teide Permit package.