Spain is always among one of the top destinations in Europe and for good reason. This beautiful country has everything the avid traveller could want: nature, adventure, culture, history, heritage, and food.
Spain is also renowned as a beautiful coastal country with gorgeous islands, Tenerife being a popular one. It is the largest of the Canary Islands and is the perfect place to visit for people of all ages.
The best way to explore Tenerife is on a road trip. This nature’s paradise brings the best out of itself when you cover it through a road trip.
With that in mind, let’s create an ultimate Tenerife road trip itinerary for you to help you make the most out of your trip.
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Tenerife Road Trip Itinerary
- Where to Stay in Tenerife
- Best Time to Visit Tenerife
- What to Do on Your Road Trip to Tenerife
- Puerto de Santiago and Los Gigantes
- Parque Nacional del Teide
- Masca
- Garachico
- Icod de Los Vinos
- South of Tenerife – Playa de las Americas, Playa Amarilla, Playa de la Tejita
- San Cristobal de la Laguna
- Before You Leave for the Canary Islands
Where to Stay in Tenerife
Best Time to Visit Tenerife
Tenerife is a year-round destination. It witnesses warm and sunny weather throughout all seasons. However, the weather still varies in winter between the north of the island and the south of the island.
Tenerife is also known as the island of eternal spring because of its steady, mid-20s temperature, even during spring and winter. Easter time is a great time to visit for pleasant weather but it also the busiest period during spring.
Summer is another ideal time to plan a fun Tenerife road trip. During this time, the chance of rain is almost non-existent. The weather will be hot though, with temperatures often reaches above 30°C. But, being an island, the cool ocean makes up for it.
For a cooler road trip, Winter is a great time to visit Tenerife since the Canary Islands are one of the warmest places in Europe. It won’t be a skiing road trip as there is no snow here in winter. As previously mentioned, the island will be experiencing temperatures just above 20°C.
What to Do on Your Road Trip to Tenerife
Puerto de Santiago and Los Gigantes
Start your road trip from Puerto de Santiago. From there, you will be going to Los Gigantes. On the way, a visit to the beautiful town of Puerto de Santiago on the West Coast is a must.
Puerto de Santiago is located between Playa de la Arena and Los Gigantes and is a tiny fishing village that is gradually turning into a tourist resort. But with its description as a small village, don’t make the mistake of considering Puerto de Santiago a dull destination.
It comes with plenty of fun things to do to keep you on your feet, especially the beaches and great clubs and bars. In the south, there is a beautiful black sand beach, Playa de la Arena, which will treat you to some spectacular volcanic rock formations around it.
On the contrary, Los Gigantes is a popular tourist resort that attracts many tourists throughout the year. This seaside town is famous for the Los Gigantes cliffs, which are a key highlight of Tenerife.
Despite being a popular tourist site, Los Gigantes is relatively quieter and more serene than some of the main tourist resorts located further south. The best thing about this town is that it has an interesting marina which includes shops, restaurants, and small yachts.
There is a beach where you can soak in the views of Los Gigantes cliffs. In addition, there are more viewpoints in the town; one of them is located on the coastal path, the next one is above the sports club, and the final one is on the main road to Tamaimo at the Mirador Archipenque.
Parque Nacional del Teide
Also known as Teide National Park, Parque Nacional del Teide is one of the most beautiful places in Tenerife. Mount Teide, an active volcano, surrounds the park although it hasn’t erupted since 1909.
This charming area is even on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Spain. The whole region can be best described as a rugged, volcanic landscape adorned with lava streams, ash beds, and lava rocks.
However, the national park is extremely beautiful and is definitely an unusual one. The crater is also surrounded by a craggy rim which is known as La Caldera de las Canadas.
There are some great stopover options within the park’s vicinity. Staying in one of these lodgings would be an experience in itself. However, it is crucial to know that the weather in Teide National Park is different and more extreme than the rest of the island. Therefore it is highly recommended to check the weather beforehand.
Masca
Located 650 meters above sea level, Masca is another beautiful village on Tenerife Island. This stunning hamlet could only be reached by foot 50 years ago! However, things have changed now; today, you can reach here by car, a tour or regular bus.
The reason why Masca is often renowned as the most beautiful village in the region is because of the strategically located houses that appear to cling to the edge of the mountainside. And of course the breathtaking views of the surrounding lush greenery and the deep ravines.
Not just this, there is also a beautiful walking tour from Masca to the Bay of Masca on the coast, which passes through the weird rock formations and the majestic scenery.
From the village itself, you can capture the stunning views of one of the most famous Canary Islands – La Gomera. Besides, the nature of the village includes affluent flora, including cacti, forests of palm trees, colorful flowers, and cypresses. This is indeed a place where a photographer can show off their skills with some beautiful shots.
Note that the road leading up the pass to Masca is narrow and winding and whilst perfectly do-able, is not for nervous drivers. The scenes that greet you do make it worth it though and they start from the moment you begin your ascent!
Garachico
One of the pretty coastal towns in the northern part of Tenerife, Garachico, is known for being an unspoiled part of the region. The town is situated at the bottom of the tree-clad hills and is definitely one of the most beautiful natural attractions in Tenerife.
Despite being a coastal town, there are no real beaches in Garachico. However, there are areas to sit and sunbathe as well as beautiful sea-water swimming pools, created by the surrounding volcano. These are the perfect place to take a dip.
The town is equally as charming, dotted with cobbled and narrow streets that house beautiful buildings. The main square here is La Liberated, which is known for its old monasteries and gorgeous churches.
In the past, Garachico has gone through difficult times with volcanic eruptions, floods, fires, and bubonic plague. When you stroll around the town today, you wouldn’t be able to guess such devastating events had happened here.
Definitely one to explore here is the historic castle that survived a volcanic eruption in 1706. It is the oldest building of its kind in the town. Inside the castle, you can learn about the local history and beautiful local wildlife.
If you are traveling here in August, You may be able to catch the San Roque festival. The town hosts this amazing festival each year where locals can be seen in traditional dress and they travel in carts by oxen, just like in the old times.
The town of Garachico is also a popular diving destination as the volcanic columns under the water make for beautiful marine life and a unique experience.
Icod de Los Vinos
After Garachico, the next stop on your Tenerife road trip is Icod de Los Vinos. Here you will see unusual dragon trees, fertile valleys, and well-preserved colonial buildings. This town has the oldest and the largest dragon trees in the world!
There is also Parque del Drago, which is a spectacular botanical garden, and Drago Park, another popular tourist site in the region. A unique tourist site in Icod de Los Vinos is Mariposario del Drago. Here you can get to see more than 800 butterflies from different tropical areas across the globe.
Not only can you learn about wildlife and nature, you can learn about wine and wine creation at the Malvasia Museum. You’ll be able to taste and discover different types of Canarian wines, including the Malvasía.
Another museum to visit is Guanche Museum, located in the city center. It teaches you about the culture of the first indigenous inhabitants of this region, The Guanches. Here, you can also learn about their life and day-to-day activities.
South of Tenerife – Playa de las Americas, Playa Amarilla, Playa de la Tejita
From here, the next phase is exploring the island’s southern coast, where you will visit the top beaches on Tenerife Island. Of all, Playa de las Americas is the most popular beach, not just for nature lovers, but digital nomads and surfers as well.
From there, Playa Amarilla is the next stop which is just 25 minutes away. This unique beach adorned with yellow cliffs is more like Utah. If you are into photography or want to get some amazing shots for your Instagram, this is a not-to-miss tourist place in Tenerife. Here, you can also indulge in snorkelling and diving activities here at Playa Amarilla.
Next on your road trip, will be the only natural light sand beach on Tenerife Island – Playa de la Tejita. This place is popular with kite surfers and wind surfers due to being naturally windy because of its location. This does mean it is not a great swimming beach because of strong currents and you should be aware, this is a clothes-optional beach!
San Cristobal de la Laguna
San Cristobal de la Laguna is the final stop on this Tenerife road trip itinerary. This is another quaint, little town that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
San Cristobal de la Laguna is located in near the airport so a visit to this beautiful town is a nice way to sum up your Tenerife road trip.
There are many more places to explore here in San Cristobal de la Laguna, including Ermita de San Miguel, Palacio de Nava, Case Lercaro, the Museum of Science and Cosmos, and Plaza del Adelantado.
Before You Leave for the Canary Islands
Before you set off on your way to Canary Islands, there are a number of things you will need to get organised to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey. These include what to pack, where to stay and what is the best insurance for your trip to the Canary Islands. All of this is discussed in detail below.
How to Get to the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands are best travelled to by plane and can be reached from many destinations around the UK and Europe.
What to Pack for Your Trip to the Canary Islands
What you need to pack for the Canary Islands will rely highly on when you make your trip there. During the Spring and Autumn months, temperatures and weather patterns vary wildly between beautiful sunny skies and rainy days. During the Summer, you are pretty much guaranteed nice weather with temperatures ranging from 20-35 oC. The hottest months are July and August, so these will be the most popular for a Summer holiday.
During the winter months in th Canary Islands, the temperatures won’t be as high, however, they will still sit around 20 oC. If you need more inspiration on what to pack for your trip, check out our full packing guides for all-weather conditions over here.
When it comes to toiletries, we recommend that you don’t forget to pack sunscreen. The sun in the Canary Islands is very strong, especially during the summer months. Apply a lot of sun cream regularly to prevent a nasty burn from ruining your trip. We use this specific sunscreen to protect us as it is not as oily and irritating as other sunscreens.
Given the beautiful sights and scenery that you will see in the Canary Islands, we highly recommend packing a good camera for your trip. If you want to read more about the cameras we use and why we love them, check out the link below.
Photography Equipment
Main Photography Camera – Sony A7v Mirrorless Camera and Sony A7iii Mirrorless Camera
Microphone – Sony Mic ECM-B1M
Main Lens – Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8
Zoom Lens – Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8
Camera Tripod – ZOMEI Z669C Camera Tripod
Gorilla Pod – JOBY JB01507-BWW GorillaPod
Action Camera – GoPro Hero 11 and Insta 360 One RS
Drone Camera – DJI Mavic Pro 3
Camera Bag – Wandrd PRVKE 41L and The Nest by Tropicfeel
Phone Tripod – Manfrotto MKPIXICLAMP-BK, Mini Tripod with Universal Smartphone Clamp
Sturdy Phone Tripod & Selfie Stick – ATUMTEK 61″ Selfie Stick Tripod, Sturdy Phone Tripod Stand with Wireless Remote
Hard Drives – LaCie Rugged Mini, 5TB, 2.5″, Portable External Hard Drive
SSD – SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB Portable NVMe SSD
Travel Adapter –Worldwide Travel Adapter Universal Travel Plug with 4 USB Ports+Universal AC Socke
What is the Best Travel Insurance for the Canary Islands
I know travel insurance is the least enjoyable thing to purchase and look at when you’re planning a trip, however, you wouldn’t want to be without it in the event that something happened. Accidents can happen anywhere and the extortionate medical bills will ruin your trip if you are not covered.
To ensure you have a stress-free trip with no worries about potential medical bills, make sure you cover yourself when you travel. We can recommend using SafetyWing, a backpacker-friendly and cheap insurance company that provides good coverage and support. It is also nomad-friendly, unlike most other insurance companies, meaning you do not need to worry about being out of your home country for too long.
Get a quote for your travel insurance right here and get covered!
So there you have it, your Tenerife Road trip itinerary. If you are visiting this beautiful part of the world and have any other questions on what to expect, leave us a comment down below. We love to chat about this stuff! If you have already been, let us know how it was!
Also, remember to share this with your friends and family that you are going to share this amazing experience with. Sharing is caring and we want to ensure that everyone is fully prepared to maximise their experience.
If you are planning a trip to Spain soon, check out our other Spain content right here. Come and find us on social media to see where we are currently exploring. Tag us in your photos from your stay and we will share them with the rest of our community of explorers and backpackers.
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