Are you off to the Canary Islands soon? Have you written the words reach Mount Teide’s summit in capital letters on your must-do list?
In this post, we’re going to take a close look at your two options for taking the cable car up Mount Teide.
INDEX
I want to take the Mount Teide summit tour
First, we’re going to establish a few of the key spots within the Teide National Park that you need to know about:
Now, let’s get stuck in.
YOU NEED TO KNOW:
From the 29th of November 2024, in accordance with the measures implemented by the Island Council Authority for the Natural Environment, Sustainability, Safety and Emergencies, it is essential to have authorisation also for the following paths in the Teide National Park:
✅ PNT 7+11. Montaña Blanca – Mirador de la Fortaleza – La Rambleta
✅ PNT 9. Teide – Pico Viejo – Mirador de Las Narices del Teide
✅ PNT 23. Los Regatones Negros
✅ A section of Trail No. 28 (Chafarí)
You can apply for the proper authorisation at Tenerife ON
❌ The authorisation for these paths does not include the permit to access the peak of Mount Teide, which must be obtained by following the normal procedures.
❌ Neither does it include a ticket for the cable car descent, which can only be booked when you are actually at the upper station, by using QR codes, and providing that the cable car is in operation. That is why it is essential to allow for the possibility that, due to adverse weather conditions, technical issues or other problems caused by force majeure, the cable car cannot operate, making it necessary to make the descent on foot. We advise you to check the weather forecast 24 hours before your visit, so that you can safely plan your walking activities.
Sound good? Right, then let’s have a look at your two options.
I want to book the Mount Teide summit tour
If you choose this option for taking the cable car up Mount Teide, you don’t need to worry about getting the National Park permit or the cable car ticket, as we take care of all that.
Doing the Mount Teide summit tour including cable car with us means you can take the cable car up Mount Teide to La Rambleta and enjoy the Telesforo Bravo trail, which takes you to the main crater of Spain’s highest volcano after a dreamy walk in the company of a guide. And, you don’t have to worry about getting yourself a permit, or about working out the timings of your cable car ticket to make sure the two coincide.
We work with official, accredited National Park guides, and through them we administer the permits issued daily by the Teide National Park. Therefore, if you book with us to ascend to the peak of Teide by cable car, you should do so around 7 days in advance of your visit.
I want to do the Mount Teide summit tour with the cable car
And there’s more. This is what you get if you book the half day Mount Teide tour including cable car with us:
As you can see, there’s no downside to this Mount Teide summit tour with cable car included. Here’s all the information you need to know about the experience in detail:
I’d like to book a guided ascent by cable car
Now, pay attention, as there are a series of factors that could really derail your trip to the island if you’re not aware of them.
If you want to get organised for taking the cable car up Mount Teide’s summit on your own, you’ll need two things:
To walk the Telesforo Bravo trail that links La Rambleta with the Teide’s summit on your own, you’ll need to get your hands on one of the 200 permits that the Teide National Park management issues every day.
They normally get booked up weeks in advance, so we recommend you plan ahead and sort this out as soon as possible.
You can apply for your permit here, although if you want to know more about the topic then don’t miss this post in which we talk about the different ways of getting a Teide permit and how far in advance we recommend you do so.
Supposing that you’ve already got the permit, something that, as we’ve said, isn’t an easy task, it’s now time to get your hands on the return ticket for the Mount Teide cable car. All you have to do is click the button below.
Make sure you sort this out in advance and check that the time is compatible with the time on your permit. Get it all set in stone now!
Buy your tickets for the cable car
If you’re going to go take the cable car up Mount Teide on your own, there are a few things you should be aware of. For example, you should know that there’s a car park at the base station where you can leave your car, that the cable car’s opening hours are limited, and that taking the Mount Teide cable car does not mean that you automatically have a permit for reaching Teide’s summit. That, as we’ve said, is something you need to sort out before you plan anything.
Preparing to reach Teide’s summit by cable car on your own is a bit of a challenge, but it can be done if you’re extremely well organised.
We’ve assembled some of the questions we’re most frequently asked by travellers that decide to do the Ascent to the Peak by Cable Car with us. Here they are:
From the very beginning. They’ll pick you up at your hotel and drop you off at the end of the activity.
It will be at your hotel or somewhere very close by. We’ll let you know the day before by e-mail.
No: you must stick with our guide, who will also tell you things you won’t read anywhere else.
Car park, rest area, Wi-Fi, café, buffet-restaurant with views of the National Park, shop and toilets.
Wi-Fi and toilets. There’s no café, but there are drink and snack vending machines.
You’ll need warm clothes and shoes or boots suitable for stony paths. Sunglasses are also recommended, as is water. And don’t leave your camera behind, as the views from Teide’s summit are something you’ll want to remember for a long time to come.
Although we’ll sort out the permits, they’ll be in your names. They are all named, and at the entrance to the trail that leads to Teide’s summit they will ask for ID.Important: you’ll need your ID or passport, as will your companions.
We recommend you book the activity a minimum of 7 days in advance, as other travellers will be booking too if they’re unable to get permits.
We’ll pick you up in the southern area between 6.30am and 7.45am. If you’re in the north, it will be between 6.45am and 7.50am. We’ll let you know in advance.
We’ll offer you an alternative route.
Yes: As the permits are managed by the National Park, you’ll have to wait for us to confirm your chosen date. If it’s not possible then we will offer you an alternative date or give you a full refund.
Decision made: I want to book the ascent to Teide’s peak by cable car!
Mount Teide’s got more to offer than what you’ve seen in this post. For example, you can summit the volcano on foot, or you can also go to other viewpoints from the upper station that don’t require a park permit. Find out everything you need to know about getting up Mount Teide in this other post.
To finish off, we’ll leave you with an infographic that compares taking the cable car up Mount Teide to reach the summit with climbing the mountain on foot.
If you want to see all the options open to you on Mount Teide at a glance, including doing the Mount Teide summit tour, check out this calendar and decide on your plan in less than a minute: