Teide National Park Completes €1 Million Upgrade to Improve Visitor Access and Sustainability

The Canary Islands government has completed a major upgrade to the parking areas at Teide National Park’s La Ruleta and the Cañada Blanca Visitor Center. Funded by a one-million-euro grant from the European Next Generation program, the project aims to better manage the high number of tourists visiting one of the archipelago's most popular sites.

Minister Mariano Hernández Zapata recently inspected the work, which focused on improving how visitors move around the Parador Nacional and the Roques de García. To better blend in with the volcanic landscape, crews used local stone to widen pedestrian paths to two-and-a-half meters. These changes are designed to protect native plants from foot traffic, with new barriers now in place to keep visitors on designated trails.

In addition to safety and aesthetic improvements, the project included upgrading underground pipes and utility infrastructure to support future needs. This work reflects Spain’s commitment to balancing public access with the protection of fragile ecosystems. By modernizing these access points, the park aims to improve visitor safety and create a more sustainable way to manage crowds at this World Heritage site.