OFFICIAL: Mount Teide will be monitored 24 hours a day to battle mass tourism
New measures have been introduced to better protect Teide National Park, with the Tenerife Cabildo confirming the area will now be monitored around the clock for the first time. The move comes after years of complaints about poor control, illegal camping, and damage caused by visitors.
The number of dedicated environmental officers has been increased from just two to 14, who will now be based permanently in the park. They will also be joined by night patrols, something that didn’t exist before, working alongside the SEPRONA and local police. This means the park will now be watched 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Until now, once it got dark, large parts of Teide were left without supervision. This led to people breaking the rules, including staying overnight illegally and damaging protected areas.
Tenerife’s island president, Rosa Dávila, admitted the park had been “neglected” for years and needed urgent action.
Visitor limits could be next
Officials say more changes are on the way, including possible booking systems and limits on how many people can visit certain areas. These measures aim to reduce traffic, overcrowding and pressure on the environment, although they may not be popular with everyone.
Mount Teide is not only one of Tenerife’s biggest attractions, but also Spain’s most visited national park.
With millions of visitors each year, authorities say stronger control is needed to protect both the landscape and public safety.
The new patrols should also mean quicker responses to emergencies, fires or environmental damage.
For now, the message to visitors is simple: rules at Teide will be more strictly enforced from now on.
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