Visitors to Tenerife's iconic Teide National Park are now prohibited from smoking anywhere within the park's boundaries, following a new measure introduced by the Tenerife Cabildo to reduce the risk of wildfires.
The ban came into force today, 19th June 2026, and applies throughout the entire national park, one of the Canary Islands' most important natural treasures and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The decision follows a series of recent fires in protected natural areas across Tenerife, with authorities saying three separate incidents were allegedly caused by discarded cigarette butts.
Complete Ban in Outdoor Areas
Under the new regulations, smoking is no longer permitted in any outdoor public area within Teide National Park.
The ban covers:
The restriction applies to all visitors, residents, workers and businesses operating within the park.
Response to Recent Fire Incidents
The measure was formally approved by Blanca Pérez, Tenerife's Councillor for Natural Environment, Sustainability, Security and Emergencies.
Cabildo President Rosa Dávila said the decision was taken after three recent fires affected protected areas of the island.
According to the Cabildo, the fires are believed to have been caused by cigarette butts and mainly damaged areas of retama and rosalillo, two emblematic plant species native to Tenerife's high-altitude landscapes.
"These incidents show that a simple act of negligence can have serious consequences for unique and highly vulnerable ecosystems," Dávila said.
Protecting a Fragile Environment
Officials say the ban is particularly important at this time of year, when high visitor numbers combine with increasingly dry weather conditions and vegetation that can ignite quickly.
Technical reports cited by the Cabildo highlight smoking-related incidents as one of the leading causes of forest fires in and around the national park.
The risks typically arise from discarded cigarette ends, cigarettes thrown from vehicle windows or careless handling of smoking materials in natural areas.
The new measure has been introduced under existing Spanish and Canary Islands legislation relating to forestry protection, conservation of protected natural spaces and wildfire prevention.
Appeal to Visitors
The Cabildo is urging everyone visiting Teide to respect the new rules and help protect one of Tenerife's most valuable natural landmarks.
Welcoming millions of visitors each year, Teide National Park is home to unique volcanic landscapes and rare endemic species found nowhere else in the world.
Officials say preserving the park's biodiversity and scenery for future generations requires the cooperation and responsibility of everyone who visits.
With summer temperatures expected to rise in the coming weeks and fire risks increasing across the Canary Islands, authorities hope the smoking ban will significantly reduce the chances of preventable wildfires in Tenerife's most famous natural attraction.
