Altavista Refuge

What spending the night at 3,260 m is like

The Altavista Refuge is on the slope of the Teide, at 3,260 m, on the Montaña Blanca trail. It is run by the cable car company and is open every day of the year. It has 49 bunk places in shared dormitories: 39 in the main building, spread over two floors, and 10 in an annex. You sleep in it for one night only, and the reason is the next morning: the booking includes the permit for the Telesforo Bravo trail to reach the peak at dawn, between 6:00 and 7:30, without arranging anything separately.

It is cold. Even in summer the website asks for a fleece, long trousers and a thermal blanket, and in winter gloves and a hat; without warm clothing you can be refused entry to the trail. There is a rest room with a fireplace and a dining room, but there is no bed linen: a sleeping bag is compulsory. There are no showers either: two toilets for everyone. The refuge is not connected to the water mains and the electricity comes from solar panels, so use little and take your rubbish back with you. Quiet from 22:00 to 6:30. At 3,260 m you feel the altitude: if you feel dizzy or have a headache, the rule is to descend as soon as possible.

Hours, rates and food

You book only on its website; nobody is admitted without a booking. The general rate is €71; FEDME members pay €56.80 and Tenerife residents €29. Check-in is from 19:00 to 22:00, and you cannot enter the dormitories earlier. At 8:00 you vacate them. Between 8:00 and 11:00 and between 17:00 and 19:00 it closes for cleaning; from 11:00 to 17:00 passing walkers use the toilets and the machines outside.

There is no meal service. Carry up your dinner already made: there is a kitchen with a microwave and fridge to heat it, but no cooking. The machines sell water, soft drinks, hot drinks and snacks, and accept coins and card, not notes. No alcohol, fire, candles or smoking.

Going up and coming down

On foot along trail 7, which leaves from km 40.7 of the TF-21: 4 to 5 hours' climb, between 9:00 and 17:00. Or on the cable car, with a separate ticket, and an hour's walk from La Rambleta via the La Fortaleza viewpoint. If wind stops the cable car, you climb the whole way on foot, so do not cut it fine. The next morning you come down via Montaña Blanca between 7:30 and 12:00, or by cable car if it is running, with a ticket that can only be bought at the top, by card. By bus, line 348 from Puerto de la Cruz and the 342 from Playa de las Américas reach Las Cañadas.

From age 14, and under-16s with a responsible adult. Pregnant women and people with heart, respiratory or mobility conditions cannot sleep here. No animals are admitted.