Altavista Refuge

During your stay booked at the Refuge on Teide, members of staff will always be available to answer any questions you may have.

Remember that you may only spend one (1) night in the Refuge and that you may access the facilities (kitchen and bathrooms) from 5.00pm to 10.00pm only if you have previously made a reservation for the refuge on Mount Teide.

After having spent the night on Mount Teide, you must leave the Refuge before 7.30am the next day.

The Refuge closes at 8.00am and the entrance hall only opens at 11.00am.

The bedrooms open at 7.00pm.

After 10.30pm all guests are asked for quiet in order to allow other mountaineers to rest.

Cable Car

The Cable Car is open from 9.00am to 5.00pm, except in the the summer months. From July to September, opening times are extended to 7.00pm. In October, up until 27 October, opening times are from 9.00am to 6.00pm.

Last ascent

At 4.00pm. In July, August and September, at 6.00pm. In October (up until 27 October) at 5.00pm.

Last descent

At 4.50pm. In July, August and September, at 6.50pm. In October (up until 27 October) at 5.50pm.

Our recommendations for spending the night in the Altavista Refuge on Mount Teide:

• Wear warm clothing and proper hiking footwear, even in summer. Only carry what you need so that your backpack is not too heavy. Keep in mind that you can buy water, soft drinks and hot beverages in the refuge (remember to carry coins for vending machines).
• Protect yourself from overexposure to the sun with sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen.
• Take water with you for the climb and/or descent. If you need to buy more water, please remember that you must carry coins to use the water vending machines on our premises.
• People with breathing or heart problems should consult their doctor first.
• Overnight stay is not recommended for pregnant women or children under 8.
• Descend immediately on noticing any symptoms of altitude sickness.
• If you feel indisposed, you can also call 112, the emergency telephone number.
• Before visiting consult the rules of the refuge on this website.
• When booking a night at the Refuge on Mount Teide, bear in mind that our facilities do not have showers, only toilets.
• The stay in the Refuge includes disposable bed sheets. We will hand them to you upon your arrival and you must take them with you when you leave the refuge.

Rules

• The Refuge declines all responsibility for personal belongings.
• You must take all refuse with you after having spent the night in the Altavista Refuge on Mount Teide.
• Please do not waste the water. 
• Sleeping in common areas is not permitted.
• The facilities of the Refuge on Teide may not be used during the night without prior booking.
• Camping is not permitted in the vicinity of the Refuge.
• If you decide at the last minute to descend by cable car and you don’t have your Online Ticket, remember to inform the refuge personnel and collect your belongings before going up to the Peak.

In the rooms:

• Eating is not permitted.
• Bedclothes may not be removed from the room.
• No personal belongings may be left in the rooms after 7.30am.

Remember!

• A reservation for the Altavista Mountain Refuge on Mount Teide gives you the right to access the Peak of Teide before 9.00am without the need to apply for a permit.
• Always walk under your own responsibility. Proceed with caution.
• Let the refuge personnel know if you wish to descend by cable car but you don’t have an Online Ticket.

Altavista Mountain Refuge reservations may be changed up to seven days prior to the date of arrival for another reservation at the same price. This must be done exclusively by telephone (+34 922 010 440) and will require proof of the purchaser's identity.

Passed that period, no changes will be allowed. In no case shall the changes imply the refund of the amount paid.

The maximum number of changes allowed is three.

Failure to use the purchase at the time and date booked will result in the User’s loss of rights.

For combined Cable Car + Mountain Refuge purchases, there will be no charge for cancelling Refuge bookings when Trail no. 11 to the La Fortaleza viewpoint is closed, and the purchase price will be refunded. In the event that the Cable car’s facilities are not operational, only the price of the cable car ticket will be refunded and the route will be completed on foot.

Check our Terms and conditions for information on other reasons for cancelling your reservation for spending the night in the Refuge on Mount Teide.

Spending the night in the Altavista Mountain Refuge on Teide gives you the right to access the Teide crater before 9.00am, which it is granted automatically when you stay at the Refuge. You do not need to apply for the National Park’s permit personally when making a reservation for the Refuge on Mount Teide.

If you wish to descend by cable car, do not forget to buy your Online Ticket.

The maximum stay in the Altavista Refuge is limited to one (1) night.

Remember that you can access the Refuge between 5.00pm and 10.00pm. Upon your arrival, the personnel will provide you with bedding.

The Altavista Mountain Refuge is open year round, and only closes if there are highly adverse weather conditions.

Access to the Teide crater after having spent the night in the Altavista Refuge on Teide with prior booking

We recommend that you leave the refuge around 6.00am to arrive at the Teide crater before sunrise.

Don’t forget to carry a torch to light the way and a camera to immortalise the moment.

Information for members of The Spanish Federation for Mountain and Climbing Sports

If you are a federated mountaineer, you can benefit from special discounts on your Altavista del Teide Refuge reservation.

You can contact us by filling out the contact form, or by calling +34 922 010 440. Our telephone lines are open between 8.00am and 4.00pm, Monday to Friday.

The Refuge

• Consists of two buildings.
• Has a first-aid station, a lounge, a dining room and a kitchen.
• It has three common sleeping rooms with a total capacity for 54 visitors.
• The rooms are heated.
• The beds are completely made with sheets and warm comforters. It is not necessary to bring a sleeping bag, if you don’t want to.
• There are bathrooms, but not showers.

When making a reservation to spend the night in the Altavista Refuge on Teide, you will be happy to know that you can buy hot beverages, soft drinks and water in the refuge. If you want to use the vending machines, do not forget to carry coins, as the refuge offers no change.

Furthermore, if you bring your own food, you can heat it up in the kitchen, which is fully equipped.

If you are curious about the history of the Altavista Refuge, you will be happy to know that the original refuge was built in 1892 and it was completely renovated in 2007, after the Tenerife Island Council took charge of it in 1950.

Parking

The Teide Cable Car base station has a free car park with 220 parking spaces, open from 8.00am to 6.00pm. Also, various buses (guagua) stop at the Cable Car station.

You can park your car in the cable car parking, if you wish, but you must bear in mind that if you want to walk up to the Refuge or descend on foot following the Montaña Blanca trail, you will have to walk 3 km from the car park to the starting point of the trail.

We recommend that you avoid leaving your belongings and valuables in the car, whether you use the Cable Car parking or the Montaña Blanca car park.

Restaurant / Café

Your reservation for the Altavista Refuge on Teide does not include catering services. However, you can find vending machines with drinks and non-perishable food such as snacks. The refuge also has a kitchen where you can heat up food.

Toilets

Bathrooms without showers

Access for visitors with disabilities

No

Prices include bed linen and use of the kitchen and toilets (without showers) in the Refuge on Mount Teide.

Once you have booked a night in the Refuge on Mount Teide, there are two different routes to access it:

• On foot, via Montaña Blanca (Trail no. 7): This route starts at km 40.7 of the TF-21 motorway (28°15'34"N 16 36'12"W). Its level of difficulty is high, and the walk lasts 4 to 5 hours approximately. Plan your departure accordingly, so that you arrive at the refuge before 10.00pm. It is always safer and more fun to climb in the company of other people. Various buses will take you to the starting point of the trail. Check the Getting here section.
• Comfortably by cable car and then on foot for one hour approximately. First, take the cable car at km 43 of the TF-21 motorway. From the upper station you can reach the Refuge by following the trail No. 11 to the La Fortaleza viewpoint, which connects with the trail No. 7 to the Altavista del Teide Refuge. Its level of difficulty is medium and the walk lasts one hour.

The starting points of both access routes to the Altavista Refuge on Mount Teide are well connected by roads, and can be easily reached from any point of the island.

If you are in the northern part of Tenerife 

• Take the TF-21 motorway which connects La Orotava with El Portillo de la Villa and crosses the Teide National Park. The Montaña Blanca entrance (walking trail No. 7) is located at km 40.7 and the Teide Cable Car entrance is located at km 43 (the Teide Cable Car provides free parking).
• Take the TF-23 motorway from Boca de Tauce to Chío, which connects with TF-21.
• Titsa bus (guagua), Route 348 Puerto de  La Cruz – Las Cañadas del Teide (titsa.com). Departure times: 9.15am from Puerto de la Cruz, with stops in La Orotava, Montaña Blanca at km 40.7 and Teide Cable Car at km 43. Return from the stop at the Teide Cable Car at 4.00pm (Cable Car-Montaña Blanca-La Orotava-Puerto de La Cruz).

If you are in the southern part of Tenerife

• Take the TF-21 motorway from Vilaflor to Teide National Park, the route of access for the tourist areas of Playa de Américas and Los Cristianos. The access through Montaña Blanca (walking trail No. 7) is at km 40.7 and the Teide Cable Car entrance is located at km 43 (the Teide Cable Car provides free parking).
• Titsa bus (guagua), Route 342 Playa de Las Américas - Las Cañadas del Teide (titsa.com). Departure times: 9.15am from Las Américas, with stops in Los Cristianos (9.30am), Teide Cable Car and Montaña Blanca (ascent on foot to the Altavista Refuge). Return from Teide departing at 3.30pm, with stops at El Portillo-Montaña Blanca-Los Cristianos-Playa de Américas.

If you are close to Santa Cruz or La Laguna

• Take the TF-24 motorway from La Laguna to Portillo de la Villa (La Esperanza Motorway), which connects with TF-21 that will take you to the access through Montaña Blanca (walking trail No. 7) at km 40.7 and the Teide Cable Car entrance located at km 43 (the Teide Cable Car provides free parking).

Distances

• 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