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Audio-guided tour and Teide Legend exhibition
 

Complete guide on how to get up Mount Teide peak

 

 

Climbing to the top of Mount Teide is an adventure that everyone must experience at least once in their life. Unfortunately, there are many ways to reach the Teide summit and so the best way in terms of means of transport, permits, activities, points of interest, excursions to the top of Mount Teide, etc. is not always clear.

There are two options for ascending Mount Teide: First, by cable car, travelling from the base station at an altitude of 2,356 m to the top station, known as La Rambleta, at 3,555 m. The second option is to hike to the peak via Montaña Blanca; the trail is around 9 km long and takes between 6 and 7 hours.

Since we receive dozens of calls every day from tourists who have doubts about how to get up Mount Teide, we have decided to write this complete guide with everything you need to know about how to get up Mount Teide and how to fully experience one of the world’s most impressive volcanoes.



But first, here are some spots and places of interest in the National Park. Their names will come up more than once, so if you get lost or are unsure of what we are talking about, you can always go back to this map:

Mount Teide location map

  • Cable car base station, at an altitude of 2,356 metres.
  • Cable car upper station, at 3,555 metres, also known as La Rambleta.
  • Teide Peak, at 3,718 metres.
  • Trail No. 10, Telesforo Bravo, to the Peak of Mount Teide.
  • Trail No. 11 to the La Fortaleza viewpoint from where you can see the northern side of the island.
  • Trail No. 12 to the Pico Viejo viewpoint from where you can see the southern side of the island.
  • Trail No. 7 from Montaña Blanca (2,348 metres) to La Rambleta; the trail that leads to the Refuge.
  • The Altavista Refuge, at 3,260 metres. (Currently closed to the public)

How to get up Mount Teide with a permit to climb to the top

Let’s start with the most important part: permits to climb to the Mount Teide summit.

Reaching Mount Teide’s highest point is not easy, but only because you need a permit for it.

How to get up Mount Teide
Hikers at the Peak of Mount Teide

To hike to the top of Mount Teide you need to take trail No. 10, Telesforo Bravo, which starts at La Rambleta and ends at the highest point in Spain. But: the entrance to the trail is not open. You need a permit, which the National Park guards will ask for at the entrance of the trail.

So, how to get up Mount Teide with this permit? Here are your two options:

Obtain a permit to climb to the Mount Teide peak on your own

For this option, you only need to carry out one step: visit the National Parks reservations website with sufficient time in advance.

How much is sufficient?

That depends on the season, sometimes you need more than three months. This is because only 200 permits are allocated per day and demand is very high. If you have tried and were unlucky, don’t worry, there are other options.

Climb to the top of Mount Teide with one of the activities offered by the Volcano Teide Experience

The second option is to join one of our activities that take you to the Teide summit. You won’t have to book in advance or carry out any boring paperwork to request a permit, freeing up precious time to plan for your trip.

We won’t go into more detail here, but if you need more information on how to get up Mount Teide with this option, you can find it in this post which we have prepared for you about how to get the Mount Teide permit.

And if you’d like to book the activity with us, you can do it here.

How to get up Mount Teide

Let’s move on from the ‘legal’ side of hiking up Mount Teide to talking about how to get up Mount Teide as comfortably as possible.

There are two ways to climb Mount Teide, and by ‘climbing’ Mount Teide we mean reaching the very peak, the highest point in Spain.

You have two options again:

The most comfortable way to climb the Teide is by cable car

The cable car links the base station with La Rambleta in a fascinating 8-minute air journey. Not only is it comfortable and fast, it is also an easy and fantastic way to visit the volcano and discover this natural treasure.

How to get up Mount Teide: cable car
Ascent to the Peak of Teide by Cable Car

There are two ways of climbing the volcano by cable car. The first option is to go it alone; you will need a lot of planning ahead: you have to apply for a permit, and once it has been approved, you have to purchase the cable car tickets and book a time that is compatible with that permit.

But the second option is much more convenient: book our excursion to the top of Mount Teide. We will process the permit for you, include cable car tickets for just the right time and as an added bonus, the tour includes an official guide from the National Park who will be able to help you discover all the wonders of this natural paradise that you might otherwise miss.

For more information, simply click on this post in which we present detailed information on how to get up Mount Teide by cable car.

   

The physical way: hiking up Mount Teide

If you are looking for a challenge, congratulations! You have found one of the best.

Hiking up Mount Teide is not for everyone. It is quite steep in some sections, the atmospheric conditions harden the further up you go and the wild volcano vegetation can seem torrid, although the scenic value given by a climb to the peak makes the hike well worth the effort.

How to get up Mount Teide via Montaña Blanca
Ascent to the Peak of Teide on foot via Montaña Blanca

The route that allows you to climb to the Mount Teide summit by foot starts at the foot of Montaña Blanca—pun intended—and ends at the peak, but the path itself has several stages. If you want to discover them all, take a look at our post that we prepared specifically for it:

   

Our star excursion to the Teide Peak: Ascent to the peak by cable car

Let’s take a quick break.

We have already talked about how to get the permit and how to get up Mount Teide. We also provided you with links which include very specific information for your visit.

Now it’s time to tell you about our best excursion to the Mount Teide peak. The one most sought after, even by the island’s residents. And it is simply amazing…

We are referring to the Ascent to the Teide Peak by Cable Car excursion, which includes transport from your accommodation.

Excursion to get up Mount Teide by cable car
Excursion to get up Mount Teide by cable car

The excursion to the Teide peak, generally speaking, allows you to:

  • Reach the top of Mount Teide: And it includes the permit!
  • Enjoy the company of an official guide from the National Park who will show you all the secret corners on the volcano and teach you about the natural heritage of the highest volcano in Spain.
  • Climb from the base station to La Rambleta by cable car, comfortably, on an 8-minute trip over a geological treasure that will offer you postcard views.
  • Hike the very popular Telesforo Bravo trail that will take you to the Mount Teide crater.

 

  
And if you are looking for excellence and exclusivity, the VIP ascent to the Teide peak excursion includes the same activities, but with no-one else in the group: The guide is completely dedicated to you. They’ll be there with you whenever you need them, something you’ll appreciate when you set off on the amazing Telesforo Bravo trail, which reaches the peak.

 

How to get up Mount Teide: on foot or by cable car
How to get up Mount Teide: on foot of by cable car

No permit? No problem. The Teide is much more

Climbing Mount Teide is sooooo much more than simply reaching the peak. The volcano offers a wide range of interesting things, it would be a crime to limit yourself to simply climbing it.

For example, trail No. 11 will take you to the Mirador de La Fortaleza viewpoint. This trail crosses an, apparently chaotic, sea of lava that is testament to the tremendous forces that created it. It is the perfect trail if you want to enjoy the beautiful views of the northern slope of Tenerife or behold the spectacular sea of clouds.

How to get up Mount Teide
La Fortaleza Viewpoint trail

Trail No. 12 to the Mirador de Pico Viejo viewpoint is also highly recommended. It is a volcanic path that will guide you across ancient lava rivers. You will pass fumaroles that will add a wild side to your excursion, and the smell of sulphur will remind you at all times that the Teide is an active volcano, even though it is dormant.

How to get up Mount Teide: Pico Viejo
Pico Viejo Viewpoint trail

Go it alone with the cable car ticket if you want, but we recommend that you don’t miss a single thing and trust our guide to accompany you during this fascinating tour. Our guided tour also starts at La Rambleta, and at the end of the trail you will reach a viewpoint overlooking a 800-metre crater covered with every colour in the rainbow! Literally. So don’t miss it.
 

 

But wait, there’s another option for hiking up to the top of Mount Teide: the same guided tour we mentioned before is also available at dusk. You won’t ever forget this stunning sunset!

How to get up Mount Teide: sunset
Sunset on Mount Teide from the Pico Viejo viewpoint

 

 

If you want more information on any of these options on how to get up Mount Teide, or if you were not able to get permit or book a trip to the Mount Teide summit, here is the relevant post:

Frequently asked questions about ascending to the peak of Mount Teide


Below you’ll find helpful answers to the most frequently asked questions that we receive about ascending to the peak of Mount Teide:

How long does it take to ascend to the peak of Mount Teide?

It depends how you do it. Hiking up from Montaña Blanca to the peak takes around 5 to 6 hours. If you ascend by cable car to La Rambleta and walk up from there, it will take roughly 40 to 50 minutes. Please bear in mind that these times are for guidance purposes only and the duration significantly depends on your level of physical fitness.

How much does it cost to ascend Mount Teide?

There are several differently priced options for getting up Mount Teide because the available activities may include transport, a guided tour, an audio guide, etc. Activities also take place during the day, at sunset, or at night to observe the stars.

Here’s a link where you’ll find up-to-date information and prices.

Which is the best road for going up Mount Teide?

Fortunately, distances in Tenerife are always short. In fact, the distance to Teide from the main points of the island ranges between 45 and 64 km, which means that to visit Mount Teide you can go up using one road whose main access is near the area where you are staying, and to go back you can use another road, allowing you to enjoy completely different landscapes, and return to the starting point on the same day.

How do you get a permit to ascend Mount Teide?

The best way to get an answer to this question is by reading a post in which we describe in detail all you need to know about the Mount Teide permit.

How long does it take to go up Mount Teide by car?

As we explained above, distances in Tenerife are always short and this is a big advantage. Below are details about the approximate distance between the most popular points on the island and the route to Mount Teide up to the cable car base station:

  • Santa Cruz: 64 km.
  • La Laguna: 55 km.
  • Puerto de la Cruz: 45 km.
  • Los Gigantes: 52 km.
  • Los Cristianos: 47 km.
  • El Médano: 52 km.

Mount Teide awaits you

The highest mountain in Spain receives every traveller with open arms. The third highest volcano in the world measuring from the bottom of the ocean and a National Park that extends the length and breadth of its slopes is a treasure worth discovering and an ideal place for those who love visiting the unknown.

It is an essential visit on your holidays to Tenerife; its exceptional state of conservation and surprising range of opportunities mean you won’t regret a second.

This is where we say goodbye. If you would like to review all the activities on offer by the Volcano Teide Experience, including an excursion to the top of Mount Teide, here is a weekly calendar. It will help you decide how to get up Mount Teide and plan your climb up to the peak.

What to do on Mt Teide: weekly calendar of activities