Cueva del Viento Promotes Responsible Tourism to Protect Its Volcanic Landscape
Residents of Icod de los Vinos can now visit Cueva del Viento for free on the last Sunday of each month, as announced by Vice President Lope Afonso. This initiative aims to enhance local engagement with the unique volcanic site and encourage heritage conservation.
In 2025, Cueva del Viento, managed by the Tenerife Cabildo’s public company Ideco, welcomed 23,409 visitors from 63 countries, achieving a 96.5% occupancy rate. Afonso, alongside the island’s Culture and Sports Councillor José Carlos Acha and Icod de los Vinos Mayor Javier Sierra, visited the cave this week.
To safeguard the environment, tours are limited to groups of 15 people, reducing overcrowding and minimising ecological impact. Afonso also mentioned plans for a night-time tour and potential public access to additional sections of the cave, subject to conservation criteria.
Last year, 3,215 local Canary Island residents explored this volcanic tube, noted as the longest in Europe and the fifth in the world. A total of 1,552 guided tours were offered in 2025, with sessions conducted in Spanish, English, and German.
Acha emphasised that visiting the cave involves an adventurous experience, requiring helmets and personal lighting, as the natural galleries have not been altered. The management team uses Lidar technology to monitor geological stability and tracks various environmental factors including temperature and humidity.
Mayor Javier Sierra expressed gratitude towards the Tenerife Cabildo for recognising Cueva del Viento as a cultural and tourist landmark. He highlighted the importance of making this extraordinary natural treasure more accessible to local residents.
Visitor satisfaction surveys indicate excellent feedback, with German tourists rating their experience 5 out of 5, while British and Spanish visitors scored it 4.8.
Cueva del Viento, formed roughly 27,000 years ago by the flows from the Pico Viejo volcano near Teide, derives its name from the strong air currents inside. The cave features a complex network of galleries spread across three levels, with many areas still unexplored.
Besides its scenic value, the site has significant ecological, scientific, and archaeological interest, hosting endemic species and remains of ancient Guanche burials alongside fossils of long-extinct vertebrates.
Visits to Cueva del Viento require prior reservation through its official website. Ticket prices are £22 for adults and £7 for children aged 5 to 12, with reduced fees for local residents.
