Tenerife Itinerary: 7 Day Road Trip

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 kilomters 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
• 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 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

You’ll 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), you’ll turn right onto TF-134, which you’ll take all the way to Benijo.

This is one of the most beautiful roads in Tenerife.

Benijo Loop Hike

At Benijo, you’ll embark on your first hike in Anaga Rural Park.

To start the hike, head to Restaurante El Frontón and follow signs to El Draguillo and Trail PR – TF 6.

The trail hugs the coastline along a flat road. As you progress, you’ll see two striking rocks jutting out of the ocean, known as Roques de Anaga. It takes about 30 minutes to walk 2 km to El Draguillo.

From El Draguillo, you’ll turn right in the direction of Chamorga. You’ll hike uphill for almost 1 km (270 m elevation gain) to an intersection. From here, 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. We’ve outlined this hike in our 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 that option in our guide to the Best Hikes in the Anaga Mountains.

Lunch in Benijo, or Taganana

Here are a few eating options close to Benijo. When we visited, every restaurant was closed. Hopefully, you’ll have better luck than us. But, definitely bring hiking snacks with you just in case.

• 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.

From here, a short (1:30 hours), but extremely pleasant hike circuits Roque de Taborno, a distinct thumb-shaped rock that rises 706 meters above sea level. As you encircle Roque de Taborno, the views of the Anaga coastline unfold spectacularly.

Read more about this hike here: Best Hikes in the Anaga Mountains.

Anaga Mountain Road

After your hike, continue driving the Anaga Mountain Road back to La Laguna. There are a few viewpoints you shouldn’t miss:

• 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 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.

Today, you’ll head to Punta del Hidalgo and hike to Chinamada and Carboneras. We decided to drive to the Punta del Hidalgo trailhead and do a return (out-and-back) hike.

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 a bit 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. We’ve described this hike in detail in this Hiking in Anaga Mountains post. Here’s a quick summary:

• Total Distance: 16.1 km
• Elevation: 800 m ascending / 800 m descending
• Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
• Time Needed: 6 – 7 hours

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.

Take a Dip 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 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.

Drive the North Coast of Tenerife

Day 4 of your Tenerife road trip takes you to some of Tenerife’s most charming villages. You’ll 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.

Stop at Mirador de San Pedro

As you continue west on TF-5, make sure to 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

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. When we visited in January 2020, the pools were closed (temporarily).

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 | B&B 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.

Mid-Range | 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.

Hike from Santiago del Teide to Masca

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

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.

Take the Shuttle Bus back to Santiago del Teide

To get back to your car in Santiago del Teide, take the shuttle bus line 355. This bus schedule was accurate when we visited in Jan 2020. Please double-check bus times before setting off.

• Weekdays: 9:25 am, 10:25 am, 12:30 pm, 3:15 pm, 4:10 pm, 4:15 pm, 6:25 pm
• Saturdays: 10:00 am, 12:30 pm, 4:15 pm, 6:25 pm
• Sundays & Holidays: 10:00 am, 12:30 pm, 4:15 pm, 6:25 pm

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 | 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. Though highly touristic, 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.

Budget-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.

Midrange-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.

Explore Teide National Park

From Santiago del Teide or Los Gigantes, take TF-38 into Teide National Park.

There’s a lot you can do in Teide, including summiting Pico del Teide (permit needed), hiking across the Las Cañadas caldera, and driving across the park. Read our How to Visit Teide National Park to figure out what to prioritize during your time in the park.

With one full day, we recommend combing two of these hikes:

• Montaña de la Botija and Montaña Samara Circuit Trail – Easy, 2 hr Circuit Trail
• Roques de García Loop Trail – Easy, 1:15 hr Circuit Trail
• Parador Nacional to Montaña Guajara Circuit Trail – Moderate, 4 hour Circuit Trail

If you want to summit Pico del Teide, read how to get permits and how to pick your ascent route in our Teide National Park guide.

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.

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 | Hotel Spa Villalba is the best place to stay in Vilaflor. Surrounded by forest and located in the mountains below Teide National Park, this peaceful hotel encourages you to unwind and relax.

Guests have access to a wellness area featuring saunas and an indoor/outdoor pool. Bedrooms are comfortable and spacious. But, our favorite thing about staying here was the breakfast buffet, featuring local specialties and everything else you’d ever want. It’s possible to eat dinner at the hotel, but we’d recommend eating in the town of Vilaflor instead.

Book your stay at Hotel Spa Villalba.

Look for accommodation in Vilaflor.

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
• 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.

When we visited Tenerife (Jan 2020), the Masca Gorge was closed. If it’s open during your visit, then consider adding another night in Los Gigantes, or Santiago del Teide.