Mount Teide Tenerife

[stoofur]

Hello everyone,

I am going to Tenerife in October and I really want to go up Mount Teide. My girlfriend is not so keen. We are not mountain climbers by any means (although I have climbed Snowdon and Ben Nevis). Therefore we are going to drive to the cable car and take it to the top. Is it worth applying for the permit to access the summit? Also how difficult a climb it is from the cable car (top station) to the summit?

Thanks for your feedback.

[micmak]

All you need to know is here....

http://www.realteneri...om/Mount%20Teide.html

[sara3]

I did it by coach many moons ago. the coach journey made me feel really sick and I wasn't the only one.

but it is great, if you can miss out the driving element you'll love it.

[TWR]

Go for it Stoofur, when you are there, there is a place called Masca! not so far from a place called Buenavista, you get there off the TF82 the place is very Scenic, there is a lot of history here, if you can manage, there is a gift shop in the village centre, ask the owner can you see his bedroom where the fire ball came throught the back door of the house missed the living room went through his bedroom & then went out of the window. you will enjoy.

[boxtops]

I believe they only grant limited licences up to the top, to protect the environment. We go to the bottom of the cable car in the bus, then those who don't mind cable cars go up that way. Never thought about trying the rest of the climb, I found the air quite thin at cable station high and found it hard to get my breath so wouldn't contemplate going higher.
Not sure why sara felt sick, it is a fascinating journey through the lava fields (and part of Star Wars was shot there). We've done the coach journey several times now.

[buildersmate]

If you are reasonably fit, the climb is a doddle and takes about 40 minutes (from memory) from the top of the cable car.
As others have pointed out, you have to apply for a permit from some bureaucrat's office in Santa Cruz.
We didn't do this, but took the first cable car of the day up (most climbers also do this - the views are generally better early morning). At that time of day the jobsworth that mans the gate wasn't on duty that early and we climbed the mountain with all the other 'pros'.
Coming back down again wasn't so funny as the jobsworth was on duty on our return and got quite shirty that we didn't have a permit - but there wasn't too much he could do about it. This was about 5 years ago - things may have altered.

[stoofur]

Thanks everyone for your answers. It looks like you can now apply for a permit online so I think I will do it. It does not cost anything as far as I can see so even if we don't go all the way we have lost nothing.

Wow TWR the fireball bedroom sounds interesting!

I like the idea of the morning thing (although my girlfriend is not really a morning person).

Really looking forward to it! It's a pitty October is so blinking far away!

[carlton23]

I drove a hire car up to the cable car a couple of years ago and couldn`t find a spare parking spot anywhere, so came staight back again. Enjoyed looking at the cloud below us, just like being in a plane.

[joggerjayne]

Yes, it's worth going to the summit.

It's incredible at the top.

It's so barren and rocky. It's like being on the Moon.

Not that I've been on the Moon.

Obviously.

[stoofur]

I love your answer Jogger Jayne!

[malagabob]

Check on the day as sometimes the cablecar can be shutdown do to wind conditions, but that won't stop anyone climbing from base station

[stoofur]

Thanks for the advice Bob. So I can get a permit on the day then?

[Booldawg]

we went there in May. didnt go right up to the top though. The tour guide said if you dont get there before 9am there can often be a 3-4 hour wait for the cable car (peak season)

also worth walking up the stone steps (as seen in the '10 commandments' film!)

[stoofur]

The Stone Steps? Where are they? I have not seen the 10 Commandments but I may look out for it now.

[malagabob]

Dont know if you can get permit online was under impression you had to go to Santa Cruz in person.