How to visit Mount Teide in Tenerife and take the cable car without queuing: options

Un holiday trip to Tenerife It will be incomplete if you do not live the experience of climb Teide. which you can do in a cable car that after the Covid-19 health crisis, is active again.

Indeed, with its 3.718 meters high, this enormous volcano es the highest peak in Spain and it is the great icon image of the island of Tenerife, and even of the Canary Islands.

The Teide is the central axis of Teide National Parkdeclared Heritage awarded by the Unesco, and which has become the most visited national park in Spain and Europe, with more than three million visitors a year.

What are the Cañadas del Teide like?

The Teide It is located in the spectacular landscape of the Canyons of Teide, a huge volcanic caldera 17 kilometers in diameter where the lava flows that descend from the peak of which is the third highest volcano in the world.

To give you an idea of ​​the spectacular nature of this volcanic landscape, I will tell you that, after visiting it, the astronaut Neil Armstrong He commented that it was the place the earth What else had I seen that looked like the moon.

How to visit Teide and take the cable car

Apart from enjoying these volcanic landscapes like no other, in spring they are covered in the intense red of the flowers of the red tagine, plant species endemic to national park, the excursion must be completed climbing Teide.

From the top of Teide you will have the most impressive Panoramic views, not only the aforementioned landscape environment of the Canyons of Teide, but also of the Canary Islands, as you will be able to see other islands such as Gran Canaria, Gomera, Hierro or La Palma.

Here we leave you a video where we show you What is a visit to Teide like? and some other essential points of Tenerife

Excursions to Teide from the north or south of Tenerife

If for climb Teide you prefer to sign up for one excursion in which they solve the tourist coach transfer, and with the company of a guide, you have several options depending on where you are staying on the island of Tenerife.

If you are staying in the north of the island, specifically in the Puerto de la Cruz, you can sign up for the excursion to Teide from the north of Tenerife to guide in spanish , tickets included and a duration of between 7 and 9 hours, depending on your location.

You can also go up on a excursion to Teide from the south of Tenerife, which is done by bus with a guide in spanish and for 7 hours, with separate tickets.

How to get to Teide from the north or south of Tenerife

If you prefer climb Teide on your own, the most common way is get to Las Cañadas with a rental car.

From the north of Tenerife, well on the road that leads you from La Laguna along the long ridge of the Mount of Hope that separates both parts of the island, or along the road that goes up from the Orotava Valley.

To getting to Teide by car from the south of Tenerife, you have the road TF 21 that raises you to the Canyons of Teide. for the Acantilados de los Gigantes, and if, for example, you are staying in Playa de las Americas, it will take you a little more than an hour.

Finally, you can also take the bus to Teide on your own using any of the public transport lines, from Puerto de la Cruz, in the Orotava Valley, With the 348 line, and from Playa de las Américas, 342 line.

These buses leave at 9,15:15,30 a.m. and at XNUMX:XNUMX p.m. they begin the return from the Teide Cable Car.

Curiosities about the history of the Teide Cable Car

To climb Teide you have a cable car whose base is located at 2.356 meters above sea level, although the most daring can choose to climb to the peak walking on an excursion Hiking which will take between 8 and 10 hours.

El Teide cable car It was started to build in 1962 from an initial project that dates back to 1930, when its founder was impressed by the numerous cable cars that allowed the ascent to the mountains in Germany and Switzerland.

According to that initial project, the cable car would have two sections until reaching the terminal station, although in the end the current layout of a single section was chosen.

Finally Teide cable car It opened to the public in August 1971.

It should be noted that between 1999 and 2007, a complete renovation of the facilities was carried out, including the incorporation of the current cabins with the most modern design.

Teide Cable Car Schedule

Los Teide Cable Car schedules They are every day, from 9 a.m. to 17 p.m., with the last rise at 16 p.m., and the last drop-off at 16,5 p.m.

Next to the departure station is the cable car parking, which I can assure you that if you don't arrive soon, you will find it complete, so you may have to leave the car quite far away and you will have to walk up to the cable car entrance.

The parking lot is open between 8 a.m. and 18 p.m.

How to go up Teide by cable car without queues

Under normal conditions, when you arrive at the ticket office you will find two access lines, the one for those who are going to buy the tickets at the moment, and the one for those who have bought them. in advance via Internet.

During most of the year, and especially during vacation times, it is almost essential buy cable car tickets in advance.

with joy advance purchase you ensure the ticket availability, which does not always happen even if you wait even several hours in line.

Prices and purchase of Teide Cable Car tickets in Tenerife

Los Teide Cable Car ticket prices For a round trip, the basic price is 43 euros, and children from 3 to 13 years old are 21,50 euros, with the option of Tickets premium to audioguide downloadable at Android o Apple for 46,75 euros.

You also have the option of solo pay for a ride, in case you want walk up or down, and the price of each trip is 23,50 euros.

You have to take into account what to do when the Teide Cable Car closes.

Indeed, there are days when due to inclement weather, especially wind, the cable car does not provide service; In that case you should know that Tickets already purchased are valid for one year.

Trails and viewpoints on Teide

La go up on the cable car It will take you only 8 minutes, and you will arrive at Rambleta viewpoint located next to its upper station.

From there you have great panoramic views of the Cañadas del Teide and, in the background, on clear days you will be able to see the silhouette of the island of Gran Canaria.

From the cable car station they depart three hiking routes, one of them towards the peak of the volcano.

You have to keep in mind that due to the high altitude, 3.540 meters at the cable car station, even though the route is almost flat, you will get quite tired on your walk through this area of ​​the volcano.

And, of course, you will get much more tired if the route is uphill; Therefore, children under 2 years of age, pregnant women and people with cardiovascular problems are not allowed on the cable car.

Thus, the Mirador de la Fortaleza route (nº 11) is almost flat and heads towards the northwest, along the slope from where you will see panoramic views of the Orotava Valley, the Mount of Hope and the Black Colada, the result of one of the great eruptions of the volcano.

Getting to the last viewpoint will take you about 25 minutes.

For its part, Pico Viejo Viewpoint route (no. 12) heads west to see the crater known as Old Peak, where the last major eruption of Teide occurred in 1798.

From the viewpoints of this route, which will take you about 30 minutes, you will also be able to see the islands of La Gomera, Hierro and La Palma.

How to request permission to climb the peak of Teide

La third route What you find is the one that from the cable car station itself allows you climb to the Teide crater.

I tell you that the one known as Telesforo Bravo Route Yes, it is very demanding.

Depending on your physical conditions, it can take you from 40 minutes to almost an hour, as you will have to overcome a difference in altitude of almost 200 meters to reach a height of 3.718 meters.

I can assure you this from the experience I had many years ago when I climbed to the peak with my little son on my shoulders.

Yes, currently To climb Pico del Teide you have to request a permit, since this route is limited to only 200 people per day.

Therefore, with several months in advance it is essential ask for permission to climb Pico del Teide, whose granting depends on the body that manages the Teide National Park.

Once you arrive at the upper station of the Teide cable car On the date and time indicated on your permit, you will find a control booth where they will check said permit and give you access to the trail.

During the ascent along a trail in zig zag You will smell the sulfur released by the fumaroles, and when you reach the edge of the cone, you will be able to see the interior of the crater, with its small fumaroles and the yellow and greenish colors of the terrain.

How to see the sunset and stars from Teide

Finally, another excursion that you can sign up for around Teide is called Sunset and Stars.

On this excursion, which can optionally include the transfer from the north or south of the island, you can take the cable car to see the sunset from the top of Teide, and then, with the help of telescopes, see stars along with specialized guides Starlight.

In sum, a essential experience in Tenerife.