The Teide Cable Car | Crater tour is for those who are not satisfied with simply photographing Tenerife’s most iconic natural landmark from a distance. This programme is for travellers who truly want to reach the highest point in Spain and experience the special high-mountain atmosphere that only the summit of Mount Teide can offer.
The programme starts with a mandatory bus transfer from either the south or the north, so you can reach Teide National Park comfortably.
The Teide Cable Car base station is located at an altitude of approx. 2,356 metres (7,730 feet). From here, the cabins ascend in around 8 minutes to the La Rambleta upper station, at an altitude of approx. 3,555 metres (11,660 feet), from where one of the most distinctive high-altitude routes in Teide National Park, the Telesforo Bravo Trail, leads onwards towards the summit.
One of the main advantages of this tour is that the required permit for the restricted summit trail is already included in the programme, so you do not need to apply for it separately.
This route is not a simple walk: due to the altitude, the volcanic terrain and the unique surroundings, it is a real mountain experience - and that is exactly what makes it so memorable.
As you climb higher, the landscape changes completely. The black lava flows, volcanic rocks, sulphur smell and crater surroundings give the tour a truly special atmosphere. Near the summit, you may genuinely feel as if you were walking on another planet.
From the top of Mount Teide, on a clear day, you can enjoy breathtaking views over Tenerife and the surrounding Canary Islands. Gran Canaria, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma may appear on the horizon, and in rare cases even Fuerteventura and Lanzarote can be seen. This is not just a viewpoint, but one of Tenerife’s strongest natural experiences: a physical challenge, a personal achievement and a view that is hard to experience anywhere else.
This programme is an especially good choice if you want to reach the summit of Mount Teide but do not want to complete the full, almost 11-kilometre (6.8 miles) ascent on foot from Montaña Blanca. The cable car significantly shortens and simplifies the route, while the final section to the summit remains a genuine, active high-mountain experience.
The tour also includes access to the “Science and Legend” exhibition at the Teide Cable Car Visitors’ Centre, where you can better understand the volcano’s history, geological importance and the Guanche legends connected to Mount Teide.
This is not the simplest way to visit Mount Teide, but the most complete Teide experience: transfer, cable car, local guide, restricted summit trail, volcanic landscape and the highest point in Spain in one single programme. It is a much more complete choice than a simple cable car visit.
RECOMMENDED BOOKING PERIOD
2.5 months - 1.5 months in advance
BOOKING DEADLINE
30 days in advance
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
• children aged 0-5 cannot participate in the programme
• children aged 6-17 can only participate in the programme when accompanied by an adult
• participation in the programme is only possible on the exact date and at the exact time specified in the booking
• arrival 10 minutes before the start of the programme is recommended
• the booking is only considered fully confirmed once the personalised summit permits have been issued
• an original identity card or passport must be presented at the entry point of the route leading to the crater
• the number of the identity card or passport used for the booking must match the document presented on the day of the programme. If the original document has since expired, been lost, been replaced or a new document has been issued due to a change of name, a high-quality scanned or photographed copy of the original document provided when booking must also be shown on a phone in addition to the new valid document. Participation in the programme is not possible without this
• the complete programme lasts approximately 6 hours, but it may be shorter or longer depending on the pick-up route, traffic and weather
• the bus transfer is mandatory; it is not possible to join the programme directly with your own car
• pick-up does not necessarily take place directly in front of the accommodation, but at the nearby meeting point specified in the confirmation, and the vehicle may stop at several pick-up points
• at the end of the programme, participants are returned to the same pick-up point
• the group and the guided tour may be multilingual
• participation requires basic language skills
• large bags and suitcases cannot be taken on the cable car
• from the upper station onwards, it is advisable to move at a slow pace, as the thinner air can cause faster fatigue even on level ground
• approximately 15 minutes can be expected to be spent at the summit
• the two side viewpoints accessed from the upper cable car station cannot be visited on this programme
• leaving the designated trails during the programme is prohibited
• collecting stones, taking them with you or keeping them as souvenirs within Teide National Park is strictly prohibited and may result in a fine
• smoking is prohibited throughout Teide National Park
• taking photos and videos during the programme is permitted
• souvenirs can also be purchased on site (lower station)
• in accordance with local regulations, toilet paper must be placed in the waste bins provided in the toilets
• operation of the cable car depends on high-altitude winds, ice, snow, temperature and technical conditions
• operation of the cable car does not automatically mean that all upper trails are open
• high-altitude trails may be closed separately due to snow, ice, strong winds or other safety reasons
• if the cable car is not operating, the national park excursion and alternative hike may still take place, and only the specified portion of the cable car ticket price will be refunded
• if the cable car is operating but the route to the summit is closed, the programme continues with a cable car ride and an alternative high-altitude hike
• in extreme weather conditions, the programme may be modified or cancelled (important details: "Cancellation Policy")
• in the event of an extraordinary technical or operational problem, the descent may have to be completed on foot along the designated route
HEALTH INFORMATION
• difficulty level: high - good physical fitness and adequate stamina are required
• the programme is not wheelchair accessible
• pregnant women cannot participate in the programme
• participation in the programme is not permitted in the case of cardiovascular or respiratory problems (e.g. asthma, COPD)
• participation in the programme is not permitted in the case of rheumatic or musculoskeletal conditions
• due to the high altitude (2,356 - 3,715 m (7,730 - 12,190 feet) above sea level), headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath or feeling unwell may occur in very rare cases; if this happens, the guide must be informed immediately, and you must descend to a lower altitude if necessary
HOW SHOULD YOU PREPARE?
• layered, comfortable clothing
• closed, stable, comfortable and non-slip footwear with flat soles (you will not be allowed up wearing platform-soled, high-heeled or open footwear)
• headwear (beanie or hat - that the wind cannot blow off your head)
• backpack (small)
• high-quality polarised sunglasses
• sunscreen (due to the strong UV radiation)
• mineral water (min. 2 litres (approx. 68 US fl oz) per person) (also available for purchase on site)
• a moderate amount of food or an energy-rich snack (also available for purchase on site)
• identity card or passport whose number was provided when booking (all participants)
OPTIONAL
• hiking shoes or hiking boots
• trekking pole
IN WINTER
+ fleece top and windproof jacket
+ long trousers
+ warm headwear, scarf and gloves
IN WINTER (in snowy or icy conditions)
+technical clothing, ice axe and crampons (also available for purchase at the lower cable car station)
FINESTPASS™ PRO tip
• for a better view from the cable car, it is worth standing on the side facing downhill
• along the Telesforo Bravo Trail, look out for the rare, purple-flowered Teide violet, one of the distinctive plants of Teide's extreme high-altitude environment
• you may also see fumaroles along the route: warm, sulphurous gases and water vapour seep up through small openings and cracks in the ground
LOWER STATION
UPPER STATION
UPPER STATION | TOILET FACILITIES (about 50 metres (164 ft) on foot)
TEIDE CRATER (about 650 metres (2,133 ft) on foot)
en 
Teide National Park
6 hours
4.8 (10.5 K)
