Last week, I was staying on La Palma in the Canary Islands, where I activated all four summits. If you’re interested, I added some parking descriptions and pictures to each summit on SOTLAS (check LP-001 - LP-004). It was absolutely fantastic, and I would recommend this island to anyone who enjoys hiking in nature away from the crowds.
While I was there, I had three S2S contacts with our new mountain goat, Raúl EA8AMT, who activated summits on Tenerife on 2m FM.
Raúl informed me about the new rules this year, and I will share some of his experiences that I received today in English with you:
On Sunday, I climbed Pico Sombrero, and yesterday (Monday) I climbed Pico Guajara. They wouldn’t let me drive into the national park and all the trails require a permit. I can’t wait for the permits.
I climbed the two peaks on foot from the south side, starting from the village of Vilaflor.
They have put up wooden fences along all the roads to prevent people from parking, and the car parks are closed to everyone. If you don’t have a parking permit, you get fined.
Everyone in Tenerife is against these rules.
Yesterday, all the roads to Guajara were closed, with security guards present. I walked from the south, which took many hours.
You can drive to the National Park in the afternoon, but you need a permit. If you don’t have a permit, you have to continue your journey without stopping.
The problem is that car hire agencies for foreigners take up all the spaces to enter the national park every day, so those of us from Tenerife can’t get a space.
I discovered two relevant pages: The first is here and the second is here.
However, the Gemini abstract might be suitable for an overview, but please exercise caution when it comes to AI:
1. Entry Fees and “Ecotasa”
Starting January 1, 2026, a mandatory fee system is in place for non-residents:
- Non-Residents: Must pay a service fee ranging from €10 to €25 depending on the specific trail or area accessed.
- Tenerife Residents: Access remains free of charge.
- Canary Island Residents (Other Islands): Eligible for a reduced “local” rate (typically between €3 and €6).
2. Traffic Restrictions & Shuttle Services
To reduce CO2 emissions and parking chaos, vehicle access is strictly regulated:
- Peak Hours (09:00 – 13:00): Private cars are restricted in high-traffic zones. Visitors are encouraged to use the shuttle bus system (guaguas lanzadera) from designated hubs outside the park.
- Parking Reservations: If you plan to drive outside of shuttle-only hours, you must pre-book a parking space via the official website. Parking without a digital reservation is prohibited.
3. Permits for the Peak (Telesforo Bravo)
The rules for reaching the summit remain strict:
- Daily Quota: Only 300 people per day are allowed to hike the final stretch to the crater.
- Booking: Permits must be secured well in advance through the National Parks Reservation Center or the Tenerife ON portal.
- “No-Show” Penalty: If you book a permit and do not show up without canceling, you may be banned from making new reservations for 3 months.
4. Environmental Protection Rules
- Strict Prohibitions: It is illegal to collect volcanic stones, sand, or plants. Fines for taking “souvenirs” from the landscape start at €600.
- Forbidden Items: Drones (without special permits) and pets (except service dogs) are not allowed on the trails.
- Stay on Paths: Leaving the marked trails is strictly forbidden to prevent erosion of the delicate volcanic soil.
5. Safety and Sanctions
- Mountain Gear: Rangers may prevent access to high-altitude trails if you are not wearing appropriate footwear or clothing.
- Fines: Engaging in prohibited activities or entering restricted zones without a permit can result in heavy administrative sanctions.
BTW: I also took my FT-818 with me for the VHF/UHF SSB/CW challenge, but unfortunately nobody answered me despite Raúl’s efforts to drum up some attention on the islands. It was no problem to make 2m FM contacts with other islands, but SSB and CW on 2m were dead as a dodo. I didn’t even hear a beacon from 2,400 m altitude.
73 Stephan