Mount Teide from the west
The summit of Mount Teide lies in the municipality of La Orotava, not in Santiago del Teide. For visitors on the west coast it is an excursion. The official La Orotava geography page gives the peak as 3,718 meters. A cable car operator's summit tour lists 3,715 meters, so you may see both figures.
Three things matter for planning. The cable car is booked online for a time slot. The walk from the top station to the crater needs a separate permit, and since 19 January 2026 that permit costs money for most visitors. And a new set of rules for several Teide trails was announced on 15 October 2026.
The road from Los Gigantes
The west route leaves Los Gigantes through Chío on the TF-38 and then continues on the TF-21. The cable car base station is at kilometer 43 of the TF-21, around 52 km from Los Gigantes. A local accommodation provider gives about 1 hour 10 minutes in normal conditions without stops. That is an orientation, not an official driving time.
Fog, traffic and photo stops add time, and weather in the mountains can differ a lot from the coast. The coast climate figures on our weather page do not apply at Teide. The cable car operator describes high-mountain conditions, with cold even in summer. Bring layers, sun protection and water.
The Cabildo's mobility plan announces access controls and parking reservations in the Teide area for the end of 2026 and more bus measures for 2027. That is a plan, not a confirmed fee. Check the current situation before you drive up.
Our picks: Teide tours
A day trip with the cable car ticket, an evening with stargazing and a day that combines Teide with Masca.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Teide day trip with cable car ticket and transfer
Transport from the north and south of the island, a guide and the Teide cable car ticket are included. Food and drinks are not.
Check availability →
Teide at sunset and stargazing with dinner
An astronomer, pick-up by bus, photo stops, a three-course dinner with drinks and telescopes are included. A cable car ticket is not listed.
Check availability →
Teide, Masca and Los Gigantes cliffs in one day
Stops in Teide National Park, in Masca and at the Los Gigantes cliffs, with drinks, snacks and an optional swim in a natural pool. A cable car ticket is not listed, and there is no gorge hike.
Check availability →Teide tours and trips from the west coast
Guided Teide excursions and cable car combinations from the west coast, with live prices and availability.
Teide cable car: prices and 2026 hours
The cable car runs from the base station at 2,356 meters to the top station at 3,555 meters in about 8 minutes. Tickets are for online time slots, and prices change with demand and season.
Two operator pages give slightly different figures. The booking page shows a round trip from €43 and a single ascent from €24. The fare page lists a non-resident adult round trip from €42 and a single from €23.50, a child aged 3 to 13 round trip from €21, and resident fares of €10.50 for adults and €5.25 for children. Treat all as "from" prices and confirm at checkout.
Children under 3, pregnant women and people with cardiovascular conditions cannot ride. Closed footwear is required. In strong wind the cable car can stop. The operator notifies customers at about 08:30 on the day.
Cable car timetable 2026
Regular daytime operation as listed for 2026. Weather can cancel any trip.
| Period in 2026 | Operation | Last ride up | Last ride down |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January to 27 March | 09:00–17:00 | 16:00 | 16:50 |
| 28 March to 12 April | 09:00–18:40 | 17:40 | 18:30 |
| 13 April to 30 June | 09:00–17:00 | 16:00 | 16:50 |
| 1 July to 30 September | 09:00–18:40 | 17:40 | 18:30 |
| 1 October to 13 October | 09:00–18:00 | 17:00 | 17:50 |
| 14 October to 24 October | 09:00–17:30 | 16:30 | 17:20 |
| 25 October to 31 December | 09:00–17:00 | 16:00 | 16:50 |
The base station car park is listed as open from 08:00 to 18:30 from 14 to 24 October 2026 and from 08:00 to 18:00 from 25 October 2026. No parking fee is quoted here.
Summit permit (PNT 10 Telesforo Bravo)
The cable car ticket does not include the summit trail. PNT 10 Telesforo Bravo connects the top station with the crater and needs a separate permit booked through Tenerife ON. Since 19 January 2026, it is paid in the permit hours of 09:00 to 17:00.
- Visitors from outside the Canary Islands: €15.
- Other Canary Islands residents: €6.
- Tenerife residents and children under 14: free.
The PNT 07 trail, 09:00 to 15:00, is free for Tenerife residents, €3 on weekdays or €5 on weekends and holidays for other Canary residents, and €6 or €10 for other visitors. The national park information page lists a booking window of 56 days, released on Mondays at 07:00 Canary time. Earlier reports of 28 days were the state of January 2026.
New rules announced on 15 October 2026
The Cabildo published a new regulation for several trails on 15 October 2026. PNT 09 has 95 places a day (70 private, 25 professional). PNT 23 and PNT 28 have 65 each (40 private, 25 professional). That makes 225 places a day. These three trails need a reservation. No entrance fee was set for them. The required equipment includes long trousers, warm clothing, mountain boots, a charged phone, a rescue blanket, water, a hat, gloves and a headlamp with spare batteries.
The Cabildo also announced new 90-minute summit time windows. A press report dates their use to visits from 6 December 2026, bookable since 19 October 2026. The primary documents could not be opened for that report, so confirm the details on the booking site before you plan around them.
Autumn game control adds dated restrictions in the national park, for example on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays between 2 October and 3 November 2026, with many exceptions, among them PNT 07 and PNT 10 and the cable car stations. Check the exact trail and date.
Mount Teide: frequently asked questions
Is Mount Teide in Santiago del Teide?
No. The summit is in the municipality of La Orotava. From the west coast it is an excursion.
Do I need a permit to go to the Teide summit?
Yes, for the trail from the top station to the crater. PNT 10 Telesforo Bravo is booked through Tenerife ON and has been paid since 19 January 2026: €15 for visitors from outside the Canary Islands. A cable car ticket does not replace it.
How much is the Teide cable car?
Operator pages list a round trip from €42 or €43 and a single ascent from €23.50 or €24 for adults, with 2026 prices that vary by demand. Confirm the final price at checkout.
How long does the drive from Los Gigantes take?
About 1 hour 10 minutes in normal conditions without stops, via Chío on the TF-38 and then the TF-21, around 52 km. This is an orientation and not an official time.
Can the cable car be closed?
Yes. Strong wind and other bad weather can stop it. The operator notifies customers at about 08:30 on the day. Have a back-up plan.
When does the last cable car go down?
From 25 October 2026 the last ride down is at 16:50, with the last ride up at 16:00. The table above shows the other periods in 2026.