Mount Teide Introduces a Paid Trail Reservation System
A new eco-tax and reservation system now covers the two main routes to Teide's summit area — this changes what used to be a simple free permit.
As of January 2026, the Cabildo de Tenerife (the island's governing council) has introduced a paid reservation system covering the two main hiking routes into the upper part of Teide National Park: the Montaña Blanca approach and the Telesforo Bravo trail that leads to the true summit. This replaces the previous system, where the summit permit was free to reserve.
Under the new system, non-resident visitors are charged a fee that reporting has put somewhere in the range of roughly €10–€25 depending on the specific route and timing, with reduced rates for Canary Islands residents and exemptions reported for island residents and children. Daily visitor numbers on these routes are also capped, with entry allocated across a small number of time slots via a reservation system.
The stated purpose is conservation funding and crowd management for a park that receives several million visitors a year, and early reporting suggested the scheme was generating meaningful revenue specifically earmarked for trail maintenance and habitat protection in its first weeks.
What this means practically: if you're planning to hike (rather than take the cable car) into the upper park or reach the true summit, budget for this fee and book your slot in advance through the official park reservation system, not a third party. Because exact prices, exemptions and booking procedures are the kind of detail that changes with little notice, treat any specific figure you read — including the ranges above — as indicative rather than final, and confirm current pricing directly with the national park's official reservation system before you travel.
This summary is compiled from multiple travel-news reports current as of early-to-mid 2026. Fees, exemptions and booking procedures for Teide National Park can change; always check the official park reservation system for current prices and availability before your trip. See our full Mount Teide guide for the rest of what to expect from a visit.