Teide via Montaña Blanca – Tenerife

It is a beautiful but also strenuous tour. The last 120 meters to the summit are really challenging. I was lucky enough to be standing there all alone. We took the cable car back down.

Danger! You need an access permit for the topmost peak of Teide!

5/5 ⭐, the climb up the highest mountain in Spain was a phenomenal experience, but it pushed me to my physical limits just 6 weeks after breaking my shoulder. This meant that I was able to enjoy the unlimited view from the summit of Teide on Tenerife, which is enveloped in sulphur fumes from the volcano that has not yet calmed down. The first check of the climbing permit and equipment took place after 5 km at the start of path number 7 to the Rifugio Altavista. Too many tourists in shorts had to be rescued from Teide, which is why the rangers only let hikers who were appropriately equipped for the weather at 3700 m pass. At the top station of the cable car, the permit was checked a second time, but this time the equipment did not matter, so at the top we also met tourists in unsuitable footwear who had taken the cable car up to 3500 m.

Home-Office-worker friendly climb:) Preparation: did two shorter, less intensive trips on the island, put on solid hiking shoes, a headlight, warm clothes including a windbreaker, packed 2L of water and some trail food. The most challenging part for someone who does not do enough daily exercises will probably be the thin air. This resulted in lots of short breaks, particularly past the cable train station. Getting past the cable car station on the way to the top requires no permit, if you are there before ~9:00. If you want to ride the cable car down, remember to buy the ticket earlier and download it on your smartphone, just in case. Surprisingly, I got good reception almost up to the peak. Overall I highly recommend doing the trip by night. Less people on the narrow trail, quiet and lower temperatures.

To experience the sunrise at 3,718 meters, you need to book the trails on Tenerife at least three weeks in advance. We've found that park rangers check passes even at 5:00 AM. The trails are well-marked and relatively easy, provided you have adequate breathing capacity to adapt to the thin air at over 3,700 meters. Whatever the season, dress warmly, as temperatures at night are well below freezing. You'll be rewarded with a breathtaking starry sky and a moving sunrise.

For the last stretch, from the cable car to the summit, you need a permit obtained several months in advance, which I did not have. A hiker told me that the government issues small quotas for the next day in the morning, but not for me. So I decided to climb at night to see the sunrise at the top. This is legal if you descend to the cable car station by 8:30 (9:00)...

We went to Teide for sunrise 🌄. Start was at 2 a.m. With a lamp on lonely paths to the top. There it moved like pike soup. Then I had to wait another hour to see the sun. It was way too fast again.

Unfortunately, you need a special permit to climb the crater. However, these are no longer available weeks in advance.