How to get to Teide Cable Car

The heart of Tenerife is home to one of the most majestic and impressive mountains in Europe and the world. We’re talking about Mount Teide.

It’s inspired countless Guanche legends and soars imperiously upwards to an altitude of 3,718 m, making it the highest peak in Spain, the third highest volcano on the planet from sea level and the most visited national park in Spain and Europe.

Teide National Park is a highly valuable natural reserve thanks to its landscapes and is of great scientific, astronomical and volcanological interest. That’s why we would prefer people to avoid using cars as a conservation measure, instead travelling by group transport to prevent overcrowding in the areas inside the National Park used for vehicle parking. And there is more you can do to contribute to the sustainability of Mount Teide.

Now we get to the crux of the article: how to get to Teide Cable Car. What’s the route there like? Are you wondering how to get to Teide Cable Car by car? What about public or private transport?

How to get to Teide Cable Car base station? Make sure you read the information below.

How to get to Teide Cable Car in your own vehicle

To get to Mount Teide by car there are four different routes.

Where are you departing from? Below we explain how to get to Teide Cable Car when you’re visiting Mount Teide by car:

• From Santa Cruz de Tenerife and San Cristóbal de La Laguna: take the TF-24 from La Laguna (Carretera de La Esperanza) which then connects to the TF-21.
• From Puerto de la Cruz or La Orotava: take the TF-21 from La Orotava.
• From Los Gigantes: take the TF-38 via Chío, which connects to the TF-21.
• From Playa de las Américas or Los Cristianos: the TF-21 from Vilaflor, which takes you to the National Park.

Teide Cable Car is at km 43 along the TF-21.

Below is an interactive map with information about the road network that takes you to Mount Teide (with suggestions of interesting stops along the way), the National Park, Teide Cable Car, the Altavista Refuge and Teide Observatory, and trails for going hiking near the volcano:

This is 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.

Check out this article on how to get to Mount Teide by car to find out which route to take depending on where you’re staying, and what to do on the way: the journey is fun too!

Mount Teide: how to get there – enjoy the journey too

As we mentioned above, the cable car base station is at an altitude of 2,356 m. But... What will you come across as you ascend the slopes in your car?

So that you can make the most of the journey, we’ve created a guide detailing all the different routes so you can enjoy the lesser-known side of the volcano:

Mount Teide: how to get there by public transport

Are you wondering how to get to Teide Cable Car by public transport? Here’s your answer: there’s a daily bus. However, whether you’re travelling from the north or south of the island, only one bus travels to the volcano and back each day, with one timetable.

If you’re travelling from the south, bus no. 342 departs from Costa Adeje every morning at 9.00am and drops you at the cable car base station. The return journey departs from the base station at 3.40pm.

If you’re travelling from the north, bus no. 348 departs from Puerto de la Cruz at 9.15am and also takes you to the cable car base station. It departs for the return journey at 4.05pm.

It’s not possible to travel to Mount Teide by public transport in the afternoon.

For further details, take a look at this article on how to get to Teide Cable Car by public transport.

Mount Teide: how to get there by private bus in a small group

A third option are the day and night excursions run by Volcano Teide.

These experiences include transport for small groups from your accommodation so that you travel comfortably in the vehicle, don’t waste unnecessary time on extra stops and have a guide who can focus on your needs. 

The transport takes you to the National Park where you can then ascend to La Rambleta by cable car and hike along one of the available trails, visit Teide Observatory, watch a sunset from one of the most prized viewpoints on the volcano or observe the skies with long-range telescopes. It all depends on the excursion that you choose.

If you don’t mind what time of day you go and it’s the type of excursion that matters to you most, make sure you read about our excursions here.

Are you a romantic, inspired by the colours of a sunset and the stars twinkling in the skies when night falls? Take a look at the information about our night excursions and choose the one for you.

The cable car timetable when you arrive

If you’ve weighed up the options of how to get to Teide Cable Car and decided to travel there independently, we recommend booking your cable car tickets in advance to avoid queuing and ensure you get a space. 

Do you want to make your trip premium? Here is all the information you need about adding an audio guide and/or trail guide to your excursion.

As you know, the National Park is a protected natural space. If you’re going to travel to the cable car by car, we recommend that you visit in the afternoon or even at night as a conservation measure and to prevent overcrowding in the areas set aside for vehicle parking, which are small and cannot be expanded.

And yes, it is possible: the cable car also operates outside its usual timetable. At dusk, the cable car opens for 90 people only and offers an amazing prize in the shape of a sunset viewed from the Pico Viejo Viewpoint with the shadow of Mount Teide falling across the Atlantic, Gran Canaria on the horizon and the sun setting with La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro as special guests. The perfect accompaniment to the multicolour crater that once housed lakes of lava and is now home to the viewpoint.

So, here is all the information you need about the cable car times and prices.

Would you like to see all the activities and excursions that involve the cable car together in one easy table? Take a look at this document:

Prepare well

It’s cold up high on Mount Teide, even in the middle of August.

We’re warning you because when people think of Tenerife they often think of beaches, sunshine, the sea and high temperatures. So, don’t forget that Mount Teide is the highest peak in Spain and has a high mountain climate. 

That’s why we recommend that you check the conditions in the National Park before your visit and find out how to prepare for your trip.

When you’re ready we’ll be delighted to welcome you to Mount Teide where you’ll experience first-hand a National Park that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We’re waiting for you!