Tenerife, the largest island of the Canary Islands, is one of the most striking islands in the world. People come here for a variety of reasons. Some want to escape the Northern European winter. Others want a quintessential beach holiday. And, a growing number are passionate about exploring Tenerife on foot.
If you belong to the latter group, you’re going to love this Tenerife itinerary. In one week, you’ll experience the most dramatic and remote corners of the island. You’ll also hike in Tenerife’s most spectacular regions, including Anaga Rural Park, Teide National Park, and Teno Rural Park.
This Tenerife road trip isn’t for everyone. We’ve purposefully cut out all major tourist hubs with the exception of Los Gigantes. If you’re like us and you cherish the outdoors and local places to eat, this route is for you.
If you want to experience the south coast resorts (e.g. Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas, etc…), you can easily extend this itinerary to the south coast at the very end.
When to Visit Tenerife
Tenerife is an all-year-round destination. However, most visitors flock to Tenerife between November and February. For outdoor exploration, it’s best to visit Tenerife between November and May.
Driving in Tenerife
Driving in Tenerife isn’t difficult. The roads are in great condition and signage is pervasive. However, many locals drive quite haphazardly.
On a number of occasions, oncoming drivers would whirl quickly and negligently around corners (e.g. cutting into our lane), causing us to break unexpectedly. If you want to be safe, drive defensively.
1-Week Tenerife Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrive in Tenerife (North or South Airport), San Cristóbal de La Laguna
- Day 2: Anaga Rural Park, La Laguna
- Day 3: Anaga Rural Park, La Laguna
- Day 4: Northern Tenerife, Punta de Teno
- Day 5: Santiago del Teide to Masca, Los Gigantes
- Day 6: Teide National Park, Vilaflor
- Day 7: Teide National Park, Arona & Costa Adeje
- 3 Nights in La Laguna
- 1 Night in Buenavista del Norte, or in Los Silos
- 1 Night in Santiago del Teide, or in Los Gigantes
- 1 Night in Teide National Park, or in Vilaflor
7-Day Tenerife Road Trip Route Map
TENERIFE DESTINATIONS
Day 1: La Laguna
Day 2: Anaga Rural Park
Day 3: Punta del Hidalgo
Day 4: Northern Tenerife
Day 5: Teno Mountains
Day 6: Teide National Park
Day 7: Arona / Costa Adeje
Where to Stay
How to Book this 7-Day Tenerife Travel Itinerary
Accommodation
Book 3 Nights in La Laguna | Casa Del Casco Historico (budget), La Laguna Gran Hotel (midrange), or Hotel Boutique San Diego – Adults Only (luxury)
Book 1 Night in Buenavista del Norte / Los Silos | Casa emblemática Buenavista del Norte (budget), Luz Del Mar (midrange), or Melia Hacienda del Conde (luxury)
Book 1 Night in Santiago del Teide / Los Gigantes | Casa Fina (budget in Santiago del Teide), Hotel La Casona del Patio (midrange in Santiago del Teide), Klayman Diamond Aparthotel (midrange in Los Gigantes), or Royal Sun Resort (luxury in Los Gigantes)
Book 1 Night in Teide National Park / Vilaflor | Parador de Las Cañadas del Teide (luxury in Teide National Parl), Hotel Spa Villalba (luxury in Vilaflor)
Car Rental
We recommend using the Discovercars.com car rental reservation platform to search for and book car rentals in Tenerife. This easy-to-use booking platform compares car rental deals from 500+ trusted providers, so that you can choose the best option for your trip.
Tip: If you can only drive automatic transmission cars, as opposed to manual transmission cars (stick shift), book your car rental as early as possible.
Day 1: Arrive in Tenerife, Drive to La Laguna
Arrive in Tenerife
There are two international airports in Tenerife. You’ll either arrive in the Tenerife South Airport (Tenerife South–Reina Sofía Airport) or the Tenerife North Airport.
After picking up your rental car, drive to San Cristóbal de La Laguna (La Laguna). It’s a 40-minute drive to reach La Laguna from the South Airport and a 5-minute drive from the North Airport.
Explore La Laguna
San Cristóbal de La Laguna, endearingly referred to as “La Laguna,” is a city in Northern Tenerife, located 11 kilometers inland from Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife.
We recommend making La Laguna your home base for the first three nights of your Tenerife trip.
The historical center of La Laguna is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its Spanish colonial style, beautifully preserved buildings, charming city center, animated marketplace (Mercado Municipal De La Laguna), and plethora of dining options, La Laguna is the loveliest place to stay in northeastern Tenerife.
Most importantly, La Laguna is located at the foot of the Anaga Mountain Range. From the city, you’re well-positioned to drive to trailheads and tackle all of the best hiking trails in Anaga Rural Park.
Learn More: How to Visit Anaga Rural Park
Dinner in La Laguna
Here are two excellent options for dinner in La Laguna: Tasca El Obispado and La Tasca de Los Patos.
Stay in La Laguna
Budget | Casa Del Casco Historico is a centrally located guesthouse in La Laguna, walking distance to many restaurants and cafés in the historic center. Guests have access to a shared kitchen, lounge, garden, and terrace. Coffee, tea, and cookies are provided.
Midrange | La Laguna Gran Hotel is a top-rated hotel in the heart of La Laguna’s old town, featuring a stylish lobby entrance, clean and spacious bedrooms, a rooftop pool (seasonal), and an on-site restaurant. Highlights of staying here are the central location, breakfast buffet, and the warm and friendly atmosphere. You can park in the hotel’s parking garage (extra charge), or in a free car park behind the hotel.
Luxury | Hotel Boutique San Diego – Adults Only stands out with its elegant, yet cheerful interior design, intimate atmosphere, and lovely gardens. Guests love the breakfast featuring local products, the spacious and modern bedrooms, and the helpfulness of the hosts (booking dinner reservations and taxis, personal recommendations). The hotel is a 10-15 minute walk to the old town.
Look for accommodation in La Laguna.
Day 2: Anaga Rural Park – Benijo – Roque de Taborno
Day 2 of your Tenerife itinerary takes you deep into the Anaga Mountains. Get an early start, because parking is limited at your first stop.
Drive to Benijo
Start the day by driving to the tiny hamlet of Benijo. To get to Benijo, drive first to Santa Cruz. From Santa Cruz, take TF-11 along the coast to San Andrés.
At San Andrés, head inland on the TF-12. This narrow and windy road cuts through the Anaga mountain range. After about 30 minutes (18 km), turn right onto TF-134, which leads all the way to Benijo.
This is one of the most beautiful roads in Tenerife.
Benijo to Faro de Anaga Circuit Hike
Benijo is the starting point of the Benijo-El Draguillo loop hiking trail.
The trail starts at Restaurante El Frontón. Follow signs to El Draguillo and Trail PR – TF 6.
The coastal path leads east along a flat track. As you progress, the Roques de Anaga monolithic rocks come into view.
It takes about 30 minutes to walk 2 km to El Draguillo.
From El Draguillo, turn right in the direction of Chamorga. Hike uphill for almost 1 km (270 m elevation gain) to an intersection.
At the intersection, turn right, and start the glorious return journey to Benijo. The views of the Anaga coastline and Taganana village are spectacular.
If you’re interested in a longer loop hike, you can continue to the Faro de Anaga lighthouse and return to Benijo via Chamorga. Learn more: Benijo to Faro de Anaga trail guide.
Another nearby hiking option is to walk from Taganana to Playa de Tamadite. You can read more about this trail in Best Hikes in the Anaga Mountains.
Lunch in Benijo, or Taganana
There are several restaurants in Benijo, all of which were closed during our visit. Hopefully, you’ll have better luck than us.
- El Mirador in Benijo
- Restaurante El Frontón in Benijo
- Restaurante Playa Casa Africa in Taganana
- Restaurante Los Roques Casa Pepe in Taganana
- Bar-Restaurante La Ola in Taganana
Hike around Roque de Taborno
After lunch, drive back up TF-134 and then turn right onto the Anaga Mountain Road (TF-12) in the direction of Cruz del Carmen. Your next destination is the tiny hamlet Taborno.
Taborno is the starting point of an extremely scenic hike that circuits Roque de Taborno, a distinct thumb-shaped rock that rises 706 meters above sea level. Allow 1:50 hours for this hike.
Along the Roque de Taborno circuit, views of the Anaga coastline unfold spectacularly.
Read more about this hike here: Best Hikes in the Anaga Mountains.
Anaga Mountain Road
Continue driving the Anaga Mountain Road back to La Laguna. There are a few notable viewpoints along the route:
Mirador Cruz del Carmen | This viewpoint can be accessed from the parking lot at the Anaga Park Visitor Center. You’ll see the city of San Cristobal de La Laguna and Mount Teide in the distance.
Mirador de Jardina | Beautiful view of the fertile valley of La Laguna and Mount Teide.
Stay a Second Night in La Laguna
Budget | Casa Del Casco Historico
Midrange | La Laguna Gran Hotel
Luxury | Hotel Boutique San Diego – Adults Only
Look for accommodation in La Laguna.
Day 3: Anaga Rural Park – Punta de Hidalgo – Chinamada
On day 3 of your Tenerife road trip, we recommend driving to Punta del Hidalgo in order to hike to Chinamada and Carboneras.
Alternatively, you could take a bus to Cruz del Carmen and hike down to Punta del Hidalgo, and then take the bus back to La Laguna. Of course, the latter option is easier, but requires more planning.
Hike from Punta del Hidalgo to Chinamada and Carboneras
It’s a 28-minute drive from La Laguna to Punta del Hidalgo. To find the trailhead, head to the lookout and traffic circle: Mirador Punta Del Hidalgo.
Highlights of this trail included rugged mountain scenery, the terraced fields around Chinamada and Carboneras, and lunch in the cafe-restaurant Restaurante La Cueva (Open Wednesday – Sunday) in Chinamada.
Learn More: Hiking in Anaga Mountains.
Trail Stats
Distance | 15.6 km lollipop-circuit
Time Needed | 7 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss | 1577 meters
Difficulty | Moderately Difficult
Bathe in the Natural Pool at Punta del Hidalgo
After your hike, head to the natural swimming pool at Punta del Hidalgo (marked on the map). You can savor the sea safely in a large sheltered natural pool.
Stay a Third Night in La Laguna
Budget | Casa Del Casco Historico
Midrange | La Laguna Gran Hotel
Luxury | Hotel Boutique San Diego – Adults Only
Look for accommodation in La Laguna.
Day 4: La Orotova – Icod de los Vinos – Punta de Teno
Drive the North Coast of Tenerife
Day 4 of your Tenerife road trip takes you to some of Tenerife’s most charming villages. Follow TF-5 along the north coast.
There are a few notable places to stop on your route, including Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava, and Icod de Los Vinos.
Puerto de la Cruz is the tourist hub of the north and it can easily be skipped.
However, if you can look beyond the tacky tourist shops, Puerto de la Cruz harbors some of Tenerife’s most beautiful black sand beaches: Playa Jardin and Playa Maria Jiménez.
Eat Lunch in La Orotava
La Orotava is an exceedingly lovely town with beautiful architecture and a distinct local atmosphere.
We recommend eating lunch at Bar Los Castillos (Address: Calle Cólogan, 10, 38300 La Orotava). Featuring Canarian home-cooking, this authentic restaurant was one of the culinary highlights of our trip.
Mirador de San Pedro
As you continue west on TF-5, stop at the lookout point Mirador de San Pedro.
You can take a walk through banana plantations and along the coast if you follow the Rambla de Castro walking path.
Or, simply grab a coffee at Restaurante Cafetería Mirador San Pedro, the restaurant located at the viewpoint. We don’t recommend eating here.
Visit Icod de los Vinos
The city of Icod de los Vinos is another worthy stop on your drive today. People flock here to see the famous thousand-year-old Dragon Tree, reaching a lofty height of 22 m.
While the tree can be admired at a distance, there is a fee if you want to see it closely.
Beyond the impressive umbrella-shaped tree, Icod de Los Vinos is a tranquil destination filled with verdant plazas (e.g. Plaza San Marcos) and alluring places to eat.
We had a delectable meal at El Mortero (Address: Calle San Sebastián, 7, 38430 Icod de Los Vinos).
Walk around Garachico
Your drive continues to Garachico, a picturesque coastal town known for its beautiful lava rock pools.
The Piscinas Naturales el Caletón was formed as a result of a massive volcanic eruption that destroyed the town completely in 1706.
Visit Punta de Teno
Punta de Teno is a rocky headland that forms the northwestern tip of Tenerife.
Marked by a lighthouse, this cinematic location in Teno Rural Park (Parque Rural de Teno) delivers godly views of the Los Gigantes cliffs (Acantilado de Los Gigantes).
There are a few ways to visit Punta de Teno. We’ve outlined all your options in this guide to visiting Punta de Teno.
Note: the road to Punta de Teno is restricted during most of the day. Depending on when you visit, you may need to take Bus 369.
Stay in Buenavista del Norte, or Los Silos
Budget | Casa emblemática Buenavista del Norte is a charming and economical B&B located in an 18th-century house in Buenavista del Norte. Guests have access to a shared kitchen and garden. Note: bathroom facilities are shared.
Midrange | Luz Del Mar is a lovely hotel in Los Silos. It’s nice to unwind in the hotel’s sauna or take a dip in the outdoor pool, before treating yourself to dinner at the hotel restaurant.
Luxury | Melia Hacienda del Conde is an adults-only, luxury hotel in Buenavista. When you want a peaceful place to stay with access to top wellness facilities (fitness center, sauna, Turkish bath, pools), this is the #1 place to stay in Northwestern Tenerife.
Look for accommodation in Buenavista del Norte.
Day 5: Teno Rural Park – Masca – Los Gigantes
Hike in the Teno Mountains
Access to hiking trails in the Teno mountains keeps changing. Please reach out to local authorities to find out what’s open.
Santiago del Teide to Masca Hike
From Buenavista del Norte, or Los Silos, drive the TF-82 to Santiago del Teide. The drive takes about 40 minutes.
This point-to-point hike from the town of Santiago del Teide to the village of Masca was our absolute favorite hike in the Teno Mountains. For trail directions, read Hiking in the Teno Mountains.
The hike ends in Masca. To get back to your car in Santiago del Teide, take shuttle bus line 355.
Masca Gorge Hike
The most popular hike in Teno Rural Park is the Masca Gorge trail. You must secure a permit in advance in order to hike this path.
Eat Lunch in Masca
Masca is one of the crown jewels of Tenerife. After your hike, walk around the village and pick out a place to eat.
Stay in Santiago del Teide
Stay in Santiago del Teide if you crave local, authentic places to stay, and you want to avoid huge tourist hubs.
Budget | Casa Fina is an exceedingly charming and peaceful place to stay in Santiago del Teide. With its private courtyard, cozy beds, and a communal fully equipped kitchen, you have everything you need to feel right at home.
Midrange | Hotel La Casona del Patio
Look for accommodation in Santiago del Teide.
Or, Stay in Los Gigantes
Stay in Los Gigantes if you want to end your day on the coast.
Los Gigantes boasts staggering views of Los Gigantes Cliffs and divine places to swim, like the natural pool Piscina Natural Acantilado De Los Gigantes.
There are tons of tourist traps in Los Gigantes, but we can wholeheartedly recommend the no-frills Bar-Restaurante Paraiso for Canary cuisine and Restaurante Pizzeria Mamma Lucia for Italian classics. If you can’t get a reservation at Mamma Lucia, you can always order pizza to go.
Midrange | Klayman Diamond Aparthotel combines practicality with convenience. Apartments are well-equipped, modern, spacious, and immaculately clean. A highlight of staying here is the swimming pool and poolside bar overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the Los Gigantes Cliffs – a spectacular view.
Luxury | Royal Sun Resort is an aparthotel featuring modern, exceptionally-equipped apartments. The spacious, ocean view terraces are perfect for enjoying sunrise and sunset. Guests have access to an outdoor adults swimming pool, a kids pool, a solarium, two restaurants, a fitness room, children’s play area, 24-hour reception, and parking (extra charge).
Look for accommodation in Los Gigantes.
Day 6: Teide National Park
Explore Teide National Park
From Santiago del Teide or Los Gigantes, drive TF-38 into Teide National Park.
There’s a lot you can do in Teide National Park, including summiting Pico del Teide (permit needed), hiking across the Las Cañadas caldera, and driving across the park. Read How to Visit Teide National Park to figure out what to prioritize during your time in the park. The guide
With one full day, we recommend combining two of these hikes:
- Montaña de la Botija and Montaña Samara Circuit Trail – Easy, 1:45 hours Circuit Trail
- Roques de García Loop Trail – Easy, 1:30 hours Circuit Trail
- Parador Nacional to Montaña Guajara Circuit Trail – Moderate, 4:30 hours Circuit Trail
Learn More: Best Hikes in Teide National Park
Stay in Teide National Park
Tonight, you can stay directly in the park at Parador de Las Cañadas del Teide. This is the best option.
Or, Stay in Vilaflor
Alternatively, you can stay in the town of Vilaflor, which is situated at an elevation of 1417 meters. It’s a 30 minute drive from the heart of the park (Parador) to Vilaflor.
During our time in Vilaflor, we loved eating dinner at Fuente Hermano Pedro, a casual restaurant serving regional Canary dishes. They also have a tantalizing selection of cakes, which are worth sampling more than once, especially when paired with espresso.
Midrange | El Tejar Hotel & Spa
Luxury | Hotel Spa Villalba is the best place to stay in Vilaflor. Surrounded by forest and located in the mountains below Teide National Park, this comfortable hotel encourages you to unwind and relax. Our favorite thing about staying here was the breakfast buffet, featuring local specialties. It’s possible to eat dinner at the hotel, but we’d recommend eating in the town of Vilaflor instead.
Look for accommodation in Vilaflor.
Day 7: Teide National Park
Morning Hike in Teide National Park
Your Tenerife itinerary concludes with one final hike in Teide National Park. Use our Teide National Park hiking guide for inspiration.
Another option is to explore the nearby Paisaje Lunar (Lunar Landscape). This 12.9 km loop hike takes about 4 hours.
Or, simply have a luxuriously slow breakfast at Hotel Spa Villalba.
Lunch in Arona Town
If you’re flying out of Tenerife in the late afternoon, or evening, head to the small inland town of Arona for lunch. Here are two places we particularly enjoyed: Restaurante El Cobijo for local Canary food and La Cocina de Jose miniño for Spanish food.
Depart Tenerife
From Arona (town), it’s a 20-minute drive to the Tenerife South Airport and a 1-hour drive to the Tenerife Norte Airport.
Or, Extend Itinerary to Costa Adeje
Before heading home, you may want to end your Tenerife trip somewhere luxurious along the south coast. The south coast resorts, especially around Adeje, are home to the finest hotels on the island.
Luxury | Vincci Selección La Plantación del Sur is a luxury resort hotel on Costa Adeje, close to Playa del Duque. Built in a colonial style overlooking the Atlantic ocean, this stellar hotel boasts multiple pools and terraces, a hotel bar and poolside bar, several restaurants, and a gym. Rooms are bright and spacious. The staff is brilliant. You can book breakfast-only or half board.
Luxury | Iberostar Selection Sábila – Adults Only is a modern, adults-only seafront hotel on Fañabe Beach. Bright, minimalist-designed spaces combined with superb service and high-quality breakfasts makes this an ideal place to unwind in Costa Adeje. Guests can choose between breakfast-only, half board, or all-inclusive.
Splurge | Hotel Royal River & Spa, Luxury Hotel is the ultimate hideaway for couples, especially honeymooners, who are seeking privacy and exclusivity. All suites and villas feature private pools, or plunge pools. This hotel features five swimming pools, a spa, fitness center, three bars and four restaurants.
Look for accommodation in Costa Adeje.
More Ways to Expand this Tenerife Road Trip
If you have more time in Tenerife, definitely stay another night in Buenavista del Norte/Los Silos. That way you can hike the Camino Risco Path to Punta de Teno Circuit (learn more: Teno Mountains).
I’d also add another night in Vilaflor or Teide National Park, so you can have 2 full days exploring the park.
If you want to hike Masca Gorge, consider adding another night in Los Gigantes, or Santiago del Teide. Note: permits are required to access Masca Gorge. If you can’t secure a permit, consider booking a guided tour like Masca Ravine Hiking or Masca Hiking.
Spain Travel Guides
Tenerife:
Gran Canaria:
Mallorca:
Mainland Spain:
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