Locals in Tenerife are growing increasingly furious with the "unsustainable" impact of mass tourism on one of Spain’s most cherished natural landmarks. Mount Teide, situated in Teide National Park, is a 12,188-foot volcano at the heart of the park and Spain’s highest peak.

It draws an estimated three million visitors each year. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, it's long been a magnet for hikers and nature lovers. But according to local activists, the park is now suffering under the weight of its own popularity.

The Telesforo Bravo–Juan Coello Foundation, a Canary Islands-based environmental group, has issued a scathing rebuke of the current management of the park.

Director Jaime Coello Bravo has accused the Tenerife Island Council of enabling the "massification and destruction" of what the council itself has called "the crown jewel of the protected natural spaces of Tenerife."

“Tourists are wandering off trails, climbing on protected rock formations, and even moving stones,” Bravo said in a social media post.

He shared images showing crowded car parks, trampled terrain, and evidence of reckless behaviour in sensitive areas.

“It is a scandal and a shame, the lack of response, inaction, and complicity with an unsustainable situation,” he added.

The criticism comes just days after the local government introduced new measures to better manage foot traffic and environmental damage. A new online reservation system now regulates access to the more advanced hiking trails, including those that lead to the summit of Pico del Teide.

Hikers must register via the Tenerife On platform or app, and those aiming for the summit must also obtain a permit from the National Park Administration.

Park staff are tasked with checking permits, ensuring appropriate hiking gear, and educating visitors on trail etiquette. But for Bravo and others, the measures are too little, too late.

On April 15, Bravo posted another disturbing incident to his Instagram account, showing a vehicle that had driven off-road through the park. The occupants reportedly started a bonfire and left behind garbage, sparking renewed fury.

“Do more barbarities like this have to happen before those responsible for the Cabildo take action on the matter?” he wrote.

The situation in Tenerife reflects a growing wave of frustration across Spain and other popular European destinations, where locals are increasingly vocal about the environmental and cultural toll of overtourism.

Protests, restrictions, and tourist taxes are becoming more common, as authorities struggle to find a balance between economic benefit and ecological preservation.