As the biggest Canary Island struggles against overtourism, local government in Tenerife is moving forward with an eco-tax on tourists wanting to enter the Teide national park, home to Spain’s highest peak.
Authorities in Spain’s Tenerife are to charge tourists up to €25 to access the famous Teide national park, the latest attempt to try and soften the effects of mass tourism on the island.
The measure will see the introduction of an eco-tax for access to the park, as well as capacity limits in certain areas. Teide National Park receives around 4 million tourists per year and draws visitors from around the world.
Coming into force in 2026, authorities will charge up to €25 for access to two trails (reportedly no.7 and no.10), as well as establishing permits and rules for climbing the Mount Teide volcano within the park.
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Tenerife residents will be exempt, while residents of other islands in the Atlantic archipelago will pay a reduced supplementary service fee of €6.
The fee will allow access to the Telesforo Bravo trail and areas leading to the Teide-Pico Viejo volcano, as well as the Montaña Blanca-Rambleta trail.
Reporting in the Spanish press suggests that the money will be used for information and interpretation services on the trails that will help visitors to understand the natural environment.
Regional authorities first floated the idea of an eco-tax on tourists back in 2024.
President of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, justified the tax in the Spanish media, stating that “Teide is not only a symbol of our identity, but also a natural heritage that we must take care of responsibly. With these measures we are seeking a balance between the enjoyment of visitors and the conservation of a fragile and unique ecosystem”.
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She added, “this is a brave decision and marks the first of many guidelines that will protect our national park, which belongs to all Tenerife residents. We must avoid its degradation and any tool that helps to conserve it will be studied.”
Canarios have carried out several mass protests against overtourism in the past year, with one of their main grievances being the destruction of the islands’ nature due to the sheer number of tourists, 10.3 million so far this year.
Some environmentalists are actually against the €25 entrance fee, arguing that it turns Teide National Park in to a “theme park” and that it won’t necessarily result in more protection for the unique ecosystem.
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In addition to the eco-tax, new rules and guidelines on capacity will also be brought in. For example, the capacity of footpath no.10 is set to limited to 300 people per day and permits can only be issued through the Tenerife ON platform.
Among the rules for those who want to climb to the summit of Mount Teide, they must carry a printed or digital permit together with an official identity document.
Failure to comply with the rules will result in penalties. These include fines of up to €600 for unauthorised access, a one-year suspension for guides who break the rules, or a temporary ban for those who book and do not use their permits without justifying it.
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