Anyone wishing to climb Mount Teide must now register in advance. Only 300 people are permitted to climb Spain’s highest mountain each day. Time slots are allocated so that a maximum of 100 people are on the mountain at any one time.
The island’s administration of Tenerife hopes, above all, to „minimise carelessness and negligence“, as Rosa Dávila, president of the largest Canary Islands, announced in person.
„Recently, there has been an increase in ‚rescue operations and, in some cases, accidents‘,“ Dávila went on to say. The island’s administration has now even introduced a system whereby careless walkers must pay a hefty fine if they have to be rescued due to poor equipment. What you need to know right now:
Tenerife is imposing fines and restricting access to hiking trails
According to Tenerife’s island president, „people climbing Mount Teide are to be monitored“. The aim is to minimise „overcrowding in these areas and the resulting environmental impact“. This would also ensure that the „thousands of people who visit Spain’s highest peak“ are offered a „more satisfying and safer experience“.
How can I register to access Mount Teide?
Although access to Mount Teide is to be restricted, it will remain free of charge „for the time being“, as Dávila emphasised. However, similar to access to the Masca Gorge, an eco-tax is expected to be introduced in the medium term. Local residents will then still be able to climb Mount Teide free of charge, whilst holidaymakers will have to pay an entrance fee in future.
In order to climb Mount Teide in future, you must register in advance on the Teide website. This will generate a permit, which must be carried with you in either paper or digital form.
Furthermore, sturdy footwear and warm clothing are compulsory. In addition, a thermal blanket, water, a mobile phone with a fully charged battery and a head torch are required in case of any emergencies. At the request of the Mount Teide rangers, visitors are obliged to present this equipment. If anything is missing, access may be denied.
Tenerife: Penalties for non-compliance with the new rules for Mount Teide
Anyone who fails to register or is caught with inadequate equipment will face a fine of 600 euros in future. Furthermore, costs for rescue operations may be incurred, which in extreme cases are set to result in a fine of up to 12,000 euros.
A maximum of 100 people are permitted to visit Mount Teide at any one time, either between 9 am and 4 pm, or between 4 pm and midnight, or between midnight and 9 am. 20 per cent of the places are reserved for tourism companies offering activities on Tenerife.
The hiking trail leads to the Teide Cable Car’s mountain station at an altitude of 3,555 metres. Anyone wishing to climb to the summit of Mount Teide from there must – as is already the case – register separately to do so. This rule is set to remain unchanged.
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