Private Teide tour

A private Teide tour is a visit to Teide National Park (Parque Nacional del Teide) in which the vehicle and guide are for your group only. It usually includes pick-up from your accommodation and a road route with stops at viewpoints and short walking areas. The cable car and the ascent to the summit are usually booked separately.

This page helps you decide whether the private format is worth it compared with a shared excursion, which format suits your group and what to ask before booking.

At a glance

What happens on a private Teide tour

The core is a drive through Las Cañadas del Teide, the great volcanic caldera surrounding the volcano, with short stops on foot of a few minutes each. The guide explains how the park formed, the types of lava, the high-mountain flora and the history of the area.

Teide National Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007. The whole visit takes place above 2,000 metres, which affects the cold, the strength of the sun and the effort involved in any walk.

How the day usually runs

1. Pick-up from your accommodation at the agreed time.
2. Drive up to the park along one of the access roads. From the south, the usual route is via Vilaflor; from the north, via La Orotava; from the east, via La Esperanza; from the west, via Chío.
3. Stops at viewpoints and points of interest. The order depends on the road in and the traffic on the day.
4. Short walks, optional, on easy terrain.
5. Cable car, if you have added it and it is running.
6. Return by the same road or down another side of the island, if the provider offers it.

The advantage of the private format is the pace. You decide how long to spend at each stop, when to eat and whether you want to walk more or less.

Available formats

Not every provider offers every format. Ask them to confirm yours in writing.

Where tours start and how much your accommodation matters

Where you are staying changes the actual length of the tour. The journey to and from the park takes up a large part of the total time.

• South (Costa Adeje, Arona, Los Cristianos): usually the pick-up area included in many operators’ base price.
• North (Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava): direct access via the TF-21 from the valley.
• West (Los Gigantes, Puerto de Santiago): some offers charge a supplement.
• Santa Cruz or the cruise port: if you are arriving on a cruise, read our page on the private excursion for cruise passengers, because the time margin for getting back comes before everything else.

Always give the exact name of your accommodation or an address. The pick-up time is calculated from there.

Who it suits

• Families with children, because you can stop whenever you need to.
• Older people or those with limited mobility, as long as the provider confirms access and the vehicle.
• Couples or friends who would rather not follow a coach timetable.
• Families and groups, as long as the provider confirms a vehicle suited to the number of travellers.
• Travellers with specific interests, such as geology, botany or landscape photography.

Who it may not suit, and what to weigh up

• If you want to reach the summit, this is not the right format. You need a guided ascent of Pico del Teide with a PNT 10 permit.
• If you are travelling solo or as a couple on a tight budget, a group Teide excursion usually costs less per person.
• If someone is pregnant, under 3 or has cardiovascular problems, they will not be able to ride the cable car under the operator’s rules. The rest of the tour is usually still possible.
• If you get carsick, bear in mind that every access road to the park is winding.

How to choose the right provider

These questions separate a clear offer from one that may bring surprises:

1. Who is guiding? Ask who will run the activity, what role each professional will have and which licences or qualifications apply to the route you are booking.
2. What vehicle is it and how many seats does it have? Check that everyone fits comfortably.
3. Is the duration door to door? A figure of 5 hours may be counted from pick-up or from arrival at the park.
4. Is the price per group or per person? Does it include taxes?
5. What about the cable car? If it is included, ask what alternative is offered if it closes because of wind and whether the amount is refunded.
6. Is there a supplement for the pick-up area?
7. What language is the tour in?
8. What is the cancellation policy, both if you cancel and if the weather intervenes?

What is usually included and what to check

Safety, health and requirements

• Altitudee. The whole route is above 2,000 metres. The cable car upper station is at 3,555 metres. If you have a heart or respiratory condition, consult your doctor before going up.
• Cable car. According to the rules published by its operator, pregnant women, children under 3 and people with cardiovascular problems cannot ride. Neither can people with reduced physical or motor mobility, because safe evacuation cannot be guaranteed. Closed shoes with grippy soles are compulsory.
• Summit. The final stretch to the crater (the PNT 10 Telesforo Bravo trail) requires a booking on the official Tenerife ON platform. A cable car ticket does not replace it.
• Accessibility. Ask the provider to tell you which stops are wheelchair accessible and whether the vehicle has a ramp or wheelchair restraints.

Weather and time of year

The weather in the park can be very different from the coast. You can leave the beach in short sleeves and find it several degrees colder at the top.

• Winter: occasional snow and ice. Roads may close temporarily.
• Summer: dry heat, intense sun and little shade.
• All year round: wind can close the cable car without warning.

The day before, ask the provider to confirm the status of the roads and the cable car. Also check the AEMET mountain forecast.

Price: what it depends on

We do not show a reference figure because the offers reviewed are not comparable with each other: they mix durations of 4 to 8 hours, different minimum group sizes and different sales channels.

The price of a private Teide tour is almost always set per group, with price bands according to the number of people. These factors move it:

• Duration: half day or full day.
• Group size: some providers set a minimum charge for several people even if there are fewer of you.
• Pick-up area: outside the base area there is usually a supplement.
• Cable car: usually added separately, and its fare can change depending on the product and traveller profile.
• Guide’s language and season.

Always ask for the final price including taxes, in writing.

What to bring

• Warm clothing, even in summer.
• Closed shoes; compulsory if you take the cable car.
• Sunglasses, a cap and high-factor sun protection.
• Water.
• ID if you have booked the cable car at a resident or child rate.
• Any regular medication you need.

Alternatives and how to compare them