‘Those wishing to visit Teide during peak hours WILL have to use shuttle buses’
Visitors to Mount Teide will soon only be able to access the National Park during peak hours by using official shuttle buses, according to the Canary Islands’ Minister for Ecological Transition, Mariano Hernández Zapata.
Speaking ahead of the second Canary Islands Climate and Energy Action Commission in Gran Canaria, Zapata explained that the restriction will be included in the new Management and Use Plan (PRUG) for Teide, which is currently being developed, and will be implemented by the Tenerife Cabildo.
Cabildo president Rosa Dávila has indicated that the new PRUG could come into force before summer 2026.
Outside peak hours, private vehicles will still be allowed, but parking will require a prior reservation. Through traffic across Teide will remain possible, though without the option to stop.
The new PRUG replaces regulations dating back to the early 2000s, which Zapata described as “completely outdated.” The aim is to ensure the sustainable management of the park, which faces intense pressure from more than 5 million visits annually.
Mount Teide is the most visited National Park in Spain and the European Union, with more than 5 million people visiting each year in an area of just 190 square kilometres. The vast majority of these visitors are tourists. However, the plan makes no distinction between residents and holidaymakers.
Meanwhile, the island and regional tourism departments continue to encourage more visitors to Tenerife, as well as to the Canary Islands as a whole, where nearly 19 million tourists are expected to arrive this year, breaking the record of 18 million reached in 2024 and well above pre-pandemic figures.
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