We spent two weeks in the Canary Islands on the island of Tenerife. And we absolutely loved exploring it. Honestly, it was a visual feast!
The landscapes are incredibly diverse. The coastline is dry, with sunny and warm weather most of the time. Higher up, it gets humid and cloudy. You’ll find all kinds of vegetation: tropical forests, vast pine woods, desert-like areas with cacti and red/orange rocks.
In short, it’s truly exotic and you never get tired of the changing scenery!
The locals are very friendly, and the atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming.
For hiking enthusiasts, this is the place to be. We did amazing hikes every single day. You’ll also find great spots for surfing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing.
Only downside? Being in the middle of the ocean, swimming can sometimes be dangerous, and there aren’t many calm, swimmable beaches. But luckily, there are numerous natural pools, often called “charcos,” to make up for it!
Our Roadtrip:
- Budget: ~1000€ per person for 2 weeks
- Time: October
- Duration: 2 weeks
- Transport: Rental car
Quand partir à Tenerife et dans les Canaries ?
When to Visit Tenerife and the Canary Islands?
Pretty much any time of year!
The Canary Islands are known as the “Islands of Eternal Spring.”
That said, some periods are better than others. From May to November is a great window. The best months? May, June, September, October — ideal for diving too. July and August are more crowded and can get really hot.
We went in October and had very few crowds — a dream!
More information here
How Long Do You Need to Visit Tenerife?
To fully enjoy it and take your time: 2 weeks is perfect.
With just 7-10 days, you can still have a fantastic trip, but you’ll need to pick and choose activities.
Getting Around Tenerife and the Canaries
Between islands:
- Ferry / Boat
- Plane (more expensive unless you’re a resident)
You can compare ferry options on DirectFerry.
On the islands:
- Bus: Not super convenient but helpful to get back after hikes.
- Rental car: Highly recommended.
Our Tenerife Itinerary
(No strict order needed, it’s a 2-hour drive across the island)
| Nights | Date | Activity |
| El Tanque | 08/10 | Plane |
| El Tanque | 09/10 | Punta de Buena vista & Garachico |
| El Tanque | 10/10 | Icod de los Vinos & El Palmar – Cumbres de Baracan – Cumbre del Carrizal |
| El Tanque | 11/10 | Chinyero & Los Americanos |
| El Tanque | 12/10 | Teno – Faro Punta de Teno & Garachico |
| El Tanque | 13/10 | Los Gigantes |
| El Tanque | 14/10 | Masca |
| Santa Cruz | 15/10 | La Orotava & San Andres |
| Punta del hidalgo | 16/10 | Afur – Playa del Tamadite – Taganana |
| Punta del hidalgo | 17/10 | Faro Punta del Hidalgo & Bajamar |
| Punta del hidalgo | 18/10 | Cruz del Carmen – Chimanada – Punta del Hidalgo |
| Punta del hidalgo | 19/10 | San Cristobal de la Laguna |
| Punta del hidalgo | 20/10 | Teide |
| Punta del hidalgo | 21/10 | Benijo |
| Punta del hidalgo | 22/10 | Punta del hidalgo piscine naturelle Chill |
| Punta del hidalgo | 23/10 | Chamorga – Faro de Anaga |
| Punta del hidalgo | 24/10 | Tegueste |
| Marseille | 25/10 | Plane |
What to Do in Tenerife?
Hiking in Tenerife
For details, check out our full article on Top Hikes in Tenerife.
Some highlights:
- Anaga Park: Benijo loop, Cruz del Carmen to Punta del Hidalgo, Afur – Playa del Tamadite
- Teno Park: Teno – Punta de Teno (wild west vibes!)
- Teide National Park:
- Montana Blanca to Teide: Challenging but rewarding. 8h round trip to Spain’s highest peak.
- Chinyero Volcano: Gorgeous pine forest and lava gravel.
- Arenas Negras (we didn’t do it, but it’s recommended
Surfing in Tenerife
- El Medano
- Punta del Hidalgo
- Bajamar
- Los Americanos
Windsurfing & Kitesurfing
- El Medano: Best spot with strong winds. Better for experienced surfers.
Snorkeling
- Radazul: Meh location but incredible fish (trumpetfish, parrotfish, barracudas)
- Playa de la Arena (Puerto de Santiago): Colorful parrotfish
Diving
- Radazul: Diving Canarias, Deep Ocean Diver, Scubanana
- Los Gigantes: Diving Angel (we went there — great!), Los Gigantes Diving Center
- Los Americanos: Many options
Average cost: 60€ for a full dive session.
Whale & Dolphin Watching
- Best time: May to June
- Departures from: Los Gigantes, Los Cristianos, Puerto Colón
- Options:
- Catamaran (3h): 40€
- Classic boat (2h): 30€
- Private boat: ~60€ per person
You might see:
- Dolphins (common)
- Pilot whales (most common)
- Sperm whales (especially early summer)
- Bryde’s whales, and even blue whales or fin whales in season.
Stargazing in Tenerife
- Teide Observatory: Book on Volcano Teide, 38€ per person
- Mirador de El Corral del Niño: Free and stunning — we even saw Starlink satellites!
Towns & Villages to Visit
- San Cristobal de la Laguna: Must-see!
- Garachico: So charming
- Icod de los Vinos: Small, authentic, great views of ancient dragon tree
- La Orotava: Meh in our opinion
- Anaga Villages: Taganana, Chinamada, Chamorga
Where to Stay in Tenerife
Options:
- One home base + drive
- Split the stay (we did El Tanque + Punta del Hidalgo)
- Vanlife: Yescapa, Campanda
- HomeExchange: We love it! Swap homes to stay for free.
Recommended towns:
- West: Garachico, Los Gigantes
- East: Punta del Hidalgo, Bajamar, Puerto de la Cruz, San Cristobal
Avoid the overbuilt southern resorts and foggy inland villages.
2-Week Budget for Tenerife
- Total: €1195 per person
Breakdown:
- Accommodation: €240 pp (Airbnb ~30€/night)
- Transport: €233 pp (car rental, gas, minimal bus use)
- Food: €391 pp (restaurants + sandwiches)
- Activities: €219 pp (diving, Teide cable car, surf rental, observatory)
- Flights (Ryanair): €130 pp (with cabin luggage)
What to Pack
- One warm pullover
- Rain jacket
- Warm hiking gear (especially for Teide)
- Shorts, pants
- Sunglasses, sunscreen, cap
- Sneakers + running/hiking shoes
- Flip-flops
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Check Out Our Other Roadtrips: