Ah, Teide… what a challenge!
The experience is absolutely remarkable—but brace yourself, the effort is intense if you want to earn the privilege of climbing Spain’s highest peak.
Plan your full day accordingly and bring plenty of courage.
Also check out our Top 10 Hikes in Tenerife (Canary Islands)!
Let’s break down the steps:
Duration: 9 hours
Loop: No
Difficulty: 5/5
Distance: 20 km
Prepare Your Trip
If you want to do the final stretch to reach the summit, you’ll need to book a permit well in advance (2–3 months) via the official Teide National Park website. It’s free.
For reference: we hadn’t booked, but we reached the summit around 4:00 p.m. The gate was open, no one was there, so we were able to enjoy the summit views completely alone. Magical!
Step 1: Parking
This might seem like the easiest part, but spots are limited and it gets crowded. The ideal place to park is at the start of the Sendero de Montaña Blanca trail.
In our case, there were no spots left, so we parked at the lower lots near the cable car base station (location on google maps). This added about 20 minutes of walking to the start of the trail.
Step 2: Trail Start via Montaña Blanca
The beginning is easy and gentle, on a path with a gradual incline. You’ll start ascending Montaña Blanca (“White Mountain”), which looks like a vast desert at the foot of Teide.
Step 3: The Climb of Doom
You’ll arrive at a large wooden board with a map—this marks the beginning of the real climb.
The path is well-maintained, but very steep—you’re literally hiking up a wall!
This is where things get real. Expect more than an hour of steep uphill grind.
Step 4: Reaching the Refuge — Time to Breathe
Break time! After this grueling ascent, many hikers stop here to rest, eat, or even camp (though Refugio de Altavista has been closed since COVID).
The climb continues afterward. It’s not as long or steep as the first part, but you’ll be higher up and more fatigued. Altitude kicks in, so take regular breaks.
Step 5: Cable Car Station & Viewpoints
Finally! You’ve made it to the cable car station level.
Be sure to visit the Pico Viejo viewpoint—it’s incredible, with sweeping views of La Gomera, El Hierro, and La Palma
Step 6: Final Ascent to the Summit
For the most determined: finish the climb to Pico del Teide, at 3,700 meters.
Access to the final section is via the aforementioned reservation.
The final 30-minute push is brutally hard. You’re drained, the air is thin, and the slope is relentless. But then… you make it. The summit, the crater, the sulfur steam, and a 360° view that takes your breath away.
It’s absolutely unforgettable—you’ll remember it for the rest of your life.
Bonus: Stargazing from the Summit
After this monumental hike, we stayed until nightfall to admire the incredible starry sky from Teide. We saw the starlinks and it was scary.
More details available in our full article on the Tenerife Road Trip.
Want to See the Sunrise or Sunset from the Summit?
Be warned: it gets very, very cold. Bring proper gear, serious sleeping bags, and spare clothes. You’ll be sweating from the climb, and then freezing in the wind and dark at 3,700 meters—if you’re not prepared, you’ll be miserable.
Several options:
- Hike up in the evening, camp near the refuge or elsewhere, and enjoy both sunset and sunrise.
- Start hiking at night — drive up or sleep in your car at the parking lot, then start hiking around 2–3 a.m. with headlamps (check the sunrise time).
We heard it’s worth it, but we preferred a daytime hike at our own pace.
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