Spain’s Teide National Park Introduces Groundbreaking Ecotax to Manage Visitor Influx and Preserve Natural Heritage

Published on November 29, 2025

In order to address growing concerns about the impact of tourism on the environment, Teide National Park, the most popular natural area in the Canary Islands, is scheduled to implement its first-ever ecotax in 2026. Teide, one of Spain’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, draws more than 4 million tourists a year, making it both a natural wonder under unheard-of tourist pressure and an iconic representation of the Canary Islands. This ecotax is a component of a larger initiative by the local government to protect the park’s fragile ecosystems from the negative impacts of mass tourism and to guarantee the park’s long-term preservation.

The Need for an Ecotax: Balancing Conservation and Tourism

Teide National Park, renowned for its striking volcanic landscapes, has become a top destination for tourists seeking to explore the iconic Teide volcano and its surroundings. However, the increasing influx of visitors to key areas, such as Montaña Blanca and the Telesforo Bravo trail, has raised concerns over the park’s capacity to maintain its biodiversity and natural beauty.

The introduction of an ecotax is a response to this growing challenge. This tax will not act as a toll for park access but rather as a tool to regulate visitor numbers and fund environmental conservation initiatives. The aim is to strike a balance between preserving the park’s unique natural assets and offering an enriching experience for tourists.

A Sustainable Management Model Inspired by Masca

The introduction of the ecotax follows a successful pilot programme in the Masca natural space, which has served as a model for sustainable tourism management in Tenerife. The island’s authorities, building on this experience, are now expanding the ecotax system to Teide National Park. The primary objective of the tax is to provide environmental education and safety services to visitors, ensuring that their experience is both responsible and informed.

By applying these fees, the Cabildo of Tenerife intends to improve visitor management, especially on the most popular trails that are under significant pressure. The approach is designed to prevent overuse of these paths and protect sensitive areas from further degradation.

The Details of the Ecotax: Fees, Exemptions, and Control Measures

The ecotax will apply to two of the park’s most visited trails: the Telesforo Bravo trail, which leads to the crater, and the Montaña Blanca-Rambleta route. Both paths attract large numbers of hikers and tourists, contributing to the park’s overcrowding issues. Under the new system, residents of Tenerife will be exempt from the tax, while Canary residents will pay a reduced fee. For example, the cost for Canary residents will be €4 with a guide and €6 without on the Telesforo Bravo trail, while non-residents will pay €15 without a guide and €10 with one.

The Montaña Blanca-Rambleta trail will have similar pricing, with Tenerife residents again exempt, Canary residents paying between €3 and €5 depending on the day, and non-residents paying between €6 and €10. These pricing tiers are designed to promote sustainability while still allowing access to the park for a wide range of visitors.

A Focus on Controlled Access and Sustainable Tourism

One of the most notable aspects of the new ecotax system is its focus on controlling access to the park’s most sensitive areas. The crater, which is the park’s most iconic attraction, will see strict limitations on the number of visitors. A maximum of 300 people will be allowed to access the crater each day, and reservations will be mandatory through the official Tenerife ON platform. In addition, each visitor will need to present a permit, either digitally or on paper, along with a valid form of identification.

Morning permits will be allocated preferentially to visitors who stay overnight at the Altavista Refuge, promoting a form of tourism that is more in tune with the park’s natural rhythms. This initiative aims to reduce overcrowding during peak times, particularly during the sunrise and sunset periods. Special time slots, such as sunrise from 06:00 to 09:00 and sunset from 18:00 to 22:00, will be introduced to further regulate visitor flow.

Expanding the Reservation System to Other Trails

In addition to the crater, the park’s other trails, including the routes to Pico Viejo and Teide–Pico Viejo stratovolcano, will also be subject to a reservation system. Each trail will have a daily visitor limit, with 300 visitors permitted to hike each route, divided into segments of 100 people. Special consideration will be given to those booking through the official reservation platform, with strict penalties for those who do not adhere to the guidelines.

These measures are intended to provide better safety for visitors and ensure that each trail remains sustainable and well-preserved. The park has also indicated that there may be additional charges to cover environmental education and safety services on these trails.

Stricter Penalties for Violations

To ensure the effectiveness of the new system, the Cabildo of Tenerife has introduced stringent penalties for those who violate the rules. Visitors who attempt to access restricted areas without the necessary permits will face fines of up to €600. Furthermore, guides who breach the regulations may face temporary suspensions of up to one year, and users who fail to show up for their reservations without justification may have their bookings blocked.

These penalties are designed to encourage compliance and ensure that visitors respect the rules in place to protect Teide National Park’s delicate ecosystems.

A Step Towards Responsible Tourism

The ecotax’s implementation, which aims to address the mounting problems caused by mass tourism, represents a major turning point for Teide National Park. The Cabildo of Tenerife is taking decisive action to safeguard the park’s natural resources while guaranteeing that tourism continues to flourish in a sustainable manner by implementing visitor fees, controlled access, and a strong reservation system.

By taking these steps, the park is demonstrating how responsible tourism can contribute to environmental preservation for future generations and setting an example for other natural areas worldwide. The ecotax project is a vital step in preserving Teide National Park’s integrity and beauty for many years to come, given the park’s dedication to sustainability and conservation.