Mount Teide Cable Car (Teleférico) & Summit Crater (3,718m)
Is the Mount Teide cable car operating with upper summit trails open, or is it suspended due to high-altitude trade wind shearing, rime ice, or cloud cap: observed conditions are currently within the favorable band for field operations and visitor access as of 17:42 UTC.
| Quantity | Favorable | Caution | Stop / Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summit Wind Speed (AEMET Izaña / Teleférico Anemometer) | Wind <30 km/h, steady direction, gusts <40 km/h | Wind 30-45 km/h, moderate cable sway, operations on standby alert | Wind >45 km/h, violent summit ridge gusts >65 km/h, or rime icing |
| Caldera Road Access & Freezing Level (TF-21 / TF-24 / TF-38) | Roads fully open, dry asphalt, temperature at base >5°C | Temperature 0-4°C, patchy black ice in shaded corners above Boca Tauce | Road closures enforced by Guardia Civil due to snowfall, black ice, or rockfall |
Thresholds represent published operating limits and safety parameters. They do not constitute official statutory dispatch or navigation permits.
Teide-Inversion & Wolkenmeer (Mar de Nubes) Orakel
Echtzeit-Passatinversions-Sondierung & Seilbahn-Windschranke
Driving 90 minutes from Costa Adeje or Puerto de la Cruz up mountain switchbacks to 2,356m, only to discover the cable car is wind-held, forfeiting non-refundable €40 tickets and national park summit permits, or risking hypothermia on an exposed 3,718m volcanic cone. Pre-verifying conditions through real-time telemetry prevents unnecessary travel commitments, non-refundable excursion fees, and exposure to adverse local weather.
Alternative routing: Explore the dramatic volcanic towers of Roques de García (elev. 2,150m) and the Martian landscape of Llano de Ucanca at caldera floor level, unaffected by high-altitude cable car shutdowns.
- AEMET (Agencia Estatal de Meteorología)
- Synoptic pressure charts, radio-soundings, and mountain high-altitude weather models.
- Puertos del Estado / REDCOS
- Deepwater directional ocean buoys and astronomical coastal tidal harmonics.
- Cabildo de Tenerife & Carreteras
- Insular civil protection alerts, alpine road gate statuses, and trail access bulletins.
- Capitanía Marítima
- Harbor master maritime security advisories and vessel boarding restrictions.
Why does the Teide cable car close so frequently?
At 3,555 meters, the upper terminal sits in the upper troposphere exposed to Atlantic jet stream shears and localized venturi accelerations. Even on sunny days, gusts over 45 km/h trigger automatic safety shutdowns.
What is the 'Mar de Nubes' (Sea of Clouds) phenomenon in Tenerife?
Moist trade winds blow against the northern slopes of Tenerife, creating a layer of dense clouds between 1,000m and 1,800m. Above 2,000m, a dry, warm thermal inversion keeps Teide National Park bathed in brilliant sunshine above the cloud sea.
Can I hike to the summit if the cable car is closed?
If the cable car is closed due to wind, Trail 10 to the crater is usually also closed by National Park rangers for safety. Hikers ascending on foot via Montaña Blanca must heed ranger closures.