Tenerife Council Awards Altavista Refuge Management, Ending Five-Year Closure
The Tenerife Island Council has awarded a €5.9 million contract to Teleférico Pico del Teide to manage the Altavista Refuge, Spain's highest building, paving the way for its reopening after five years and creating 10 jobs.
The Tenerife Island Council has officially given the company Teleférico Pico del Teide the job of managing the Altavista Refuge. This refuge has been closed for five years, and this decision is a big step towards reopening it. The contract is worth 5.9 million euros and will last for two years, with an option to extend it for another four.
Island president Rosa Dávila explained that the company will be responsible for everything. This includes supplying the refuge, cleaning, maintenance, handling bookings, helping hikers and climbers, and even providing basic medical care. The Altavista Refuge is Spain's highest building.
The contract will create 10 jobs. Six of these will be for staff with special training and language skills, experienced in high mountain areas. The other four jobs will be for administrative tasks and managing the central booking office.
The Island Council announced that tomorrow, the new management team will visit the refuge. They will meet with the company finishing the renovation work to coordinate the handover and complete any remaining tasks.
The Altavista Refuge, which is very important for climbing Pico del Teide, has been shut for five years. The Island Council reminded everyone that the current island government always planned to get it running again and update its facilities.
The renovation work is expected to finish in December. The official handover to the new management will happen between December and January.
You will need to book your stay only through the official Altavista Refuge website, which is currently being updated.
To access the refuge, you'll still need to book in advance, whether you're coming up via Montaña Blanca or the Telesforo Bravo trail.
Once renovated, the refuge will have 49 regular beds and 4 extra beds for emergencies.
The prices will be:
The Island Council stressed that the refuge does more than just improve the experience for climbers; it also "saves lives." It's a vital high-mountain facility that helps ensure safety for those climbing Teide.
The Altavista Refuge is the highest place to stay in Spain and a key spot for anyone climbing the country's tallest mountain. Reopening it means bringing back a facility that's crucial for both nature tourism and the safety of visitors in Teide National Park.