Few challenges can rival this one: the ascent to the summit of Mount Teide | Volcano Teide

The first rays of the morning sun begin to cross the sky, casting a glimmer over the Atlantic Ocean, and projecting onto the highest mountain peak in Spain. And right up there, on the crater of Mount Teide, watching one of the most spectacular sunrises in the world, you stand, feeling exhilarated after the physical effort of reaching the peak, and wondering why you didn’t do it sooner.

This is a truly extraordinary experience. Can you imagine it?

If you’re planning a holiday in Tenerife, and you’re looking for something to test your physical fitness with a genuinely spectacular reward at the end, the ascent of Mount Teide should be high on your list, and we have two options for you; you can choose whether you prefer to make the ascent on foot, with an overnight stay at the Refuge to recharge your batteries, or you can use the cable car.

Now we’re going to tell you about both options, but why should you choose one of them and plan your ascent of Mount Teide with Volcano Teide Experience?

• Because it means you’ll have nothing to worry about. As you know, you have to have permission to ascend Mount Teide, but when you book one of our experiences, we take care of all that for you.
• As the ascent requires great physical effort, you will need the resource of the Refuge; we will arrange for you to spend the night there.
• If you’re travelling in the company of someone who is less physically prepared, you can still reach the peak, but you can save yourselves the effort by making the ascent in comfort on the cable car.
• We know you’re looking for an adventure and you want to see nature, so we have two options for showing you the island’s most breathtaking landscapes and bringing you the most exciting experiences.

And finally, because we are experts at what we do, we know what you’re looking for. Making the ascent on your own is your top priority, and the idea of the effort involved in achieving your goal appeals to you. At the same time, you want to enjoy a landscape that is unique in the world. If there’s one thing that can combine these two aims into one experience, it is an ascent of Mount Teide.

#1 Spending a night in the Refuge

If you decide to test your physical strength and make the ascent of Mount Teide on foot, you will need to spend the night in the Refuge. And for good reason: the route up Montaña Blanca involves a trek of approximately five and a half hours. Just imagine your sense of achievement when you arrive!

The Refuge is at an altitude of 3,260 metres, so it lies beneath one of the most amazing skies in the world. If you arrive there before nightfall, you will see a sunset that will take your breath away.

But that isn’t the best bit: not by a long way. Next day, you will open your eyes and realise that there you are, at the mouth of an active volcano.

If you set out really early, you can see the sunrise from the crater. As you approach, you will be able to smell the sulphur, and when you reach the summit, the postcard view will spread out before you: the crater at your feet, the shadow of Mount Teide projected onto the ocean and the horizon bathed in a huge array of colours, with El Hierro, La Gomera, La Palma and Gran Canaria giving you the dawn salute.

It’s important to remember that staying overnight at the Refuge will enable you to be at the crater for sunrise, but that’s not all: it also avoids you having to apply to the National Park for a permit. You need to have left the path leading to the summit of Mount Teide before 9.00am, or otherwise you have to obtain a permit and, we can tell you, that is no easy task.

The experience will conclude with your descent, which you can do entirely on foot, or with the help of the cable car: it’s for you to decide.

#2 Ascent to the peak of Teide by cable car

Mount Teide is a real challenge. So much so, that if you happen to be with someone who is less fit, it may prove too much. In such cases we make it easy for you with our cable car rides to the peak of Mount Teide.

This experience will save you the effort of obtaining the permit required to ascend Mount Teide: we take care of it for you, so all you have to do is to enjoy the trip, which has so much to offer.

The experience also includes the company of an expert guide throughout, to provide information to help you appreciate this stunningly beautiful and unique natural landscape. As you board the cable car, and your trip begins, the guide will be there to tell you all you want to know about one of the most exclusive journeys in Spain. The guide’s explanations will be welcome: you will, after all, be passing over channels which, 200 years ago, were flowing with volcanic lava. Lava just like that lying just a few metres below you.

When you reach the cable car upper station, you will find a path offering impressive sights, volcanic vents and surprises, en route to the majestic crater, from where you will survey the most incomparable panoramas you have ever beheld, with the other Canary Islands as your special companions in the background. Can you imagine the excitement of ascending to the summit of the highest mountain in Spain?

Put yourself to the test, and discover a place without equal in the world: up there, above the crater, with the smell of sulphur in the air, recalling the long climb that has brought you there. Whether you use the Refuge or make the trip by cable car, the end result is the same: the summit of Mount Teide is a magical place, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

In preparation for your ascent, have a look at this visual calendar we have prepared for you. It will help you plan at a glance your ascent to the peak of Mount Teide with all the activities available: