Refugio de Altavista del Teide

Refugio de Altavista sits at 3,260 metres on the slope of Teide, within the municipality of La Orotava and inside the national park. It takes 54 climbers in three shared dormitories and provides warm bedding, so there is no need to carry a sleeping bag. Booking is done online and in advance, and only one night per stay is accepted, a limit that keeps places turning over in a high mountain shelter.

The usual approach is the Montaña Blanca trail, which takes around four hours of walking to reach the refuge; from there it is roughly two hours more to the summit. Guests who sleep here set off in the small hours along the Telesforo Bravo path up to the crater, so as to be at the top for sunrise. Outside that early window, the final section to the peak requires a specific national park permit that has to be applied for separately. Altitude, night-time cold and the exposed volcanic terrain make warm clothing, mountain footwear and enough water essential.

The refuge is run by Teleférico del Pico del Teide, S.A., the company part-owned by the Cabildo de Tenerife that also operates the cable car, so both services are booked through the same website. The site publishes a daily report on mountain conditions, worth checking before setting off.