Getting to Teide from Icod

There is no direct road up to Teide from Icod, even though part of the National Park lies within the municipality itself. There are two sensible routes, and the choice depends on the time of day and the time of year.

West route: via Chío and the TF-38

You leave Icod on the TF-82 towards El Tanque and Santiago del Teide, and at Chío you take the TF-38 up to Boca de Tauce, inside the park. The official western access is 8.3 km of TF-38 from Chío. It is the more comfortable option from the north-west: less traffic, longer bends, and it drops you straight into the Boca de Tauce and Roques de García area.

North route: via La Orotava and the TF-21

You drop down to the TF-5 motorway, drive to La Orotava and climb the TF-21 to El Portillo: 31 km of ascent from the town. This is the route to take if you want to stop at the El Portillo visitor centre or the Telesforo Bravo one in La Orotava. It is also the one that cuts through the pine forest and crosses the sea of clouds, which on a "panza de burro" day is a spectacle in itself.

Teide visitor centres: opening hours and what to see

The cable car

It climbs from the base station at 2,356 m to La Rambleta at 3,555 m in a few minutes, but it does not reach the summit: the last stretch to 3,718 m needs a separate permit. Book online and go early; in strong wind or ice it shuts down without warning.

In winter the road closes — here is how that works

The park's two road accesses are the TF-21 and the TF-24, and it is the Cabildo de Tenerife that decides whether they are open. When ice or snow builds up on the road surface it closes them as a precaution, usually overnight, and reopens them in the morning after clearing the snow and checking the road is safe. This is not a once-a-year event: in winter it is a procedure, and the Cabildo itself asks people to check road conditions and the forecast before setting off.

What to take

• Proper warm clothes. At 3,500 m it is cold and windy even when it is 25 ºC down at San Marcos. A thermal layer or fleece, and long trousers.
• Closed shoes. Boots if you plan to walk further than the viewpoint.
• Water. More than you think: the air is dry and you do not notice.
• Sun protection. Radiation at that altitude is far stronger.
• Fuel. There are no petrol stations inside the park.
• In winter, check road conditions before leaving: it closes for ice or snow on some days.

A stop on the way