If you think you know all there is to discover about the Canary Islands’ largest offering, Tenerife, then think again.
Known as an all year-round paradise due to its splendid climate, impressive tourist facilities and excellent array of accommodation options, Tenerife has long been a popular tourist destination, and it’s easy to see why. Worldwide awarded wellness and spa hotels, natural wonders, excellent dining options and delectable food and wines to sample, this island is most definitely worth exploring, so if you’re looking for some inspiration for your next visit to Tenerife then read on for the perfect seven-day and three-day itineraries in paradise.
Seven-day itinerary – a week full of discovery and luxury
Day 1. Arrive in Tenerife
Arrive at Tenerife South Airport and head straight to your luxury accommodation.
Hotel Botánico and The Oriental Spa Garden is one of the most emblematic hotels in the Canary Islands, and lunch here is a must, so don’t delay. The gastronomic offering across its three a la carte restaurants includes Spanish, Italian and Oriental cuisine with the latter recently having been awarded the ‘Best Theme Restaurant’ prize by Mahou and the newspapers La Provincia and La Opinión.
After lunch at Hotel Botánico, visit La Orotava and the old town – the heart of the valley of the north – and discover traditional Canarian pastries at the pastry shop EGON which has been running for generations, almost 100 years. The historical centre of the municipality was declared a Historical Artistic Set in 1976 and its streets are sprinkled with buildings of great patrimonial interest and corners of great importance.
Visit La Casa de los Balcones. The large 17th century house is considered the most important craft complex in the Canary Islands, and the house combines architecture, history, traditions, folklore and craft products where you can enjoy not only its famous Canarian fretwork, but also what is perhaps the most unique house-museum of Canarian customs and traditions.
End your first day with dinner at Haydée where you can enjoy a gastronomy experience and taste a mix of excellent local products with a modern touch in an exemplary space.
Day 2. Discover the national park and the unique places around it
After enjoying a hearty breakfast at your accommodation, head to Vilaflor. The quaint village is truly unique, partly because of its privileged location in the highest part of the Island, surrounded by pine forests and its short distance from Mount Teide. Its houses and cobbled streets are beautiful and getting lost in them is always a pleasure as it means soaking up the peaceful countryside atmosphere that the town is draped in.
Indulge in a delicious lunch at Hotel SPA Villalba, located in a forest area, before you make your way to Tenerife’s most notable landmark at the National Park of Teide. Located in the centre of the island, at an average altitude of 2,000 meters, the summit of Mount Tiede represents the highest peak in Spain at 3,718 meters high. Its record figures also include the fact that it is the most visited national park in Spain and Europe, receiving around three million tourists a year.
One of the most exciting experiences that awaits you in the national park is the cable car ride. The base station is at 2,356m altitude and the upper station at 3,555m, and the transit between stations, which lasts about eight minutes, is electrifying. It’s worth it though, as the views that you see from the viewpoint are extraordinary.
While you are here it is certainly worth visiting the facilities of the IAC (Instituto Astrofísico de Canarias). Not many such important scientific organisations can boast such a unique setting and the work that goes on here is very important. You can visit them and learn about the secrets of the universe by contacting the Volcano Teide company.
Also, if you want to stay in the National Park then you can do so at one of the few hotels that sits within Spain’s national parks, El parador de Las Cañadas, otherwise you can return to your accommodation for a relaxing evening after such a busy day.
Day 3. Discover the most exemplary places in the north of the island
Today you should make your way to Garachico. The sea is one of the most charming aspects of Garachico, so it is not surprising that there are natural pools originated by eruptions – its high iodine content produces physical and therapeutic benefits, and small sheltered bays that allow visitors to enjoy a relaxing and refreshing bath.
If you prefer a more active day then you can climb the pine forest of La Montañeta, where the sand of the ancient volcanoes contrasts with the green of an immense forest of pines, which surrounds the shoulders of Mount Teide.
Garachico has always been concerned about its surroundings and has protected the most diverse cultural manifestations. For all these reasons, the Spanish government awarded the city the Gold Medal of Fine Arts, which was presented in 1980 by His Majesty the King.
For a lunch to remember, head to Mirador de Garachico Restaurant. “From Garachico, we would like to thrill and charm you with our cuisine, with very up-to-date dishes but which are based on traditional cooking, giving value above all to the produce of our own area, La Isla Baja. Unexpected combinations recreate the flavours of yesterday in a renewed and up-to-date manner. Eating at Mirador de Garachico is to experience the cuisine of the Canary Islands, of Tenerife and Garachico”.
After lunch, make a visit to Buenavista del Norte. This municipality, located in the northwest corner of the island, has origins in the sixteenth century and is a faithful conservator of its traditions. This is undoubtedly one of the areas of greatest scenic value on the island, an ideal environment for the life of its five thousand inhabitants.
The town has attractions of undoubted value, from its charming streets and its coast plagued with coves, to its plentiful areas of nature. 80% of the municipal territory is occupied by protected areas, and among them stands Teno Rural Park, a natural monument of some 7,500 hectares with spectacular rural and marine landscapes, with massifs and ravines of extraordinary beauty.
Take in a beautiful sunset and dinner at the Restaurant el Mesón del Norte. With a rich and varied menu full of the very best of Tenerife cuisine, the Mesón invites its clients to enjoy its gastronomy in a unique environment. Open to the public since 1999, the Mesón del Norte has always been committed to quality of service and expanding its menu, adding original dishes created from Canarian produce.
Make your way back to your accommodation.
Day 4. Adventure day in Masca
Another day of discovery leads you to Masca. The cottages in the hamlet of Masca are all lined up along the mountain ridges and they take up almost every inch of inhabitable space, balancing on the edge of the abyss created by the island’s deepest ravines. The Cherfe lookout point (on the road from Santiago del Teide) provides fantastic views over the hamlet. This has always been a narrow and remote place, which was only very recently supplied with electricity, and where the roads were barely more than dusty tracks up until not long ago.
Head to Bodegón Patamero for some lunch. This restaurant is located in a superb natural environment in the Teno Country Park, in the district of Las Lagunetas in Buenavista del Norte. Since it opened in 2003, it has offered quality Canarian cuisine and excellent service with a welcoming atmosphere.
After lunch, make your way to Icod de los Vinos. Located in a very fertile valley, it offers the most impressive views of the Teide and dense pine forests that descend from the peaks to the upper parts of Icod as a cascade of beauties on the hillside. Plantations of banana, vineyards and other fruits are the basis of strong commercial activity in the area.
Founded in 1501, the city is a cluster of manor houses, old stately homes, temples and convents. These include, above all, the church of San Marcos, with its Renaissance portal and baroque altarpiece; San Agustín, San Francisco and Plaza de la Pila, a particularly original corner of artistic and architectural importance. The millenarian dragon tree can be found here and is a true wonder of the world of plants. The sacred art museum is also worth a visit, while San Marcos beach, protected and safe, is also very popular.
Follow the road to San Juan de la Rambla to take in another stunning sunset.
Day 5. La Laguna and Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Check out of your accommodation and depart to San Cristóbal de La Laguna. Declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, it has maintained its historical centre of great value in an exemplary state of conservation.
In addition to important monuments and historical buildings, there is a valuable centre of commercial activity, which provides many an opportunity to buy souvenirs to remember your visit to the island, be it fashion, Tenerife wines, Canarian crafts or typical gastronomic products. The city also has an important university tradition, which provides the vivacity and the relaxed atmosphere of its innumerable pubs.
Make your way to Santa Cruz de Tenerife and enjoy lunch at the Michelin Star rated restaurant Kazán. One of the island’s leading restaurants with a name that translates as “volcano” in a nod both to the magical Mount Teide and to the explosion of flavours which awaits you here. The cuisine is typically Japanese, with a few local touches, and includes daily specials and Omakase menus that will surprise and delight guests in equal measure.
After lunch, it’s time to explore the city. The charming capital of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is located at the eastern end of the island of Tenerife. You’ll be pleased to know that you can reach these attractions on foot.
To cover the main attractions of the capital, we recommend you to start with the Plaza de España. You can visit the market of the city of Our Lady of Africa, the García Sanabria Park, the delicious Ramblas, the Plaza Pedro Schwartz, and the imposing and cutting-edge Tenerife Auditorium facing the sea, designed by the internationally renowned Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava.
Make your way to the south of Tenerife and check in at one of the best five-star hotels in the world, Bahía del Duque, which recently won the British Airways Customer Excellence Award. Bahía del Duque is located on Costa Adeje and its design is inspired by the traditional Canarian architecture of the 19th Century. With a great selection of restaurants, spa facilities, pools and delightful accommodation options such as Villas and Ducales houses for those who are seeking a personalised service and more privacy.
Day 6. Having fun in the south
Depart to Puerto Colón in Costa Adeje to enjoy a morning boat trip for a whale and dolphin watching activity.
After that, enjoy a lovely lunch at El Cine, which has, over time, become established as one of the best-known and best-valued business models in the holiday area of Arona, in great part as a result of the charisma of the owner. The place is visited by tourists from all over Europe and by a faithful local clientele who love the simple and traditional cuisine.
After lunch, you can take a walk through the commercial area of Bahia del Duque where you can find luxury brand shops. You will also find the famous beach where you can relax for the rest of the day, before tucking into a tasty dinner at one of the hotel’s restaurants, including the one-Michelin-Starred, Nub.
Day 7. More fun in the south
Today will be a day dedicated to fun, so pack your swimwear and head to Siam Park. Siam Park has been named the best water park in the world for the fourth consecutive year according to TripAdvisor, and with its fifteen spectacular attractions, its incredible beauty inspired by Thai culture and its luxuriant vegetation, it represents a real revolution among leisure parks.
After a fun and frivolous day you can fill up on another delightful dinner at Bahía del Duque, whether it’s Basque, Mexican, French, Italian cuisine or otherwise, you will be satisfied.
Day 8. Depart Tenerife and head home
Enjoy your last breakfast in Tenerife at your hotel before checking out and making your way back to Tenerife South Airport.
Three-day itinerary – perfect for a weekend break
Day 1
Arrive at Tenerife South Airport at around 1pm and meet your personal driver from Canarias.com at the taxi stop. Head to either La Laguna Gran Hotel or Hotel Botánico and The Oriental Spa Garden where your top of the range car rental will be parked in the hotel parking.
Enjoy lunch at the El Bejeque restaurant where you can enjoy the world cuisine with Canarian DNA.
Head to Teide National Park for an exciting activity with Volcano Teide company. Here, you can enjoy the sunset at Pico Viejo – the second highest peak on the island – with a glass of champagne and stargazing activity with an exclusive guide. Return to your hotel.
Day 2
La Laguna Gran Hotel Option
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before setting off for Anaga Rural Park at 9.30am. Your personal driver will be waiting at the hall of the hotel. Arrive at 10am and enjoy a gastronomic and cultural experience in the Anaga Rural Park, a Biosphere Reserve, that includes (as arranged with Senda Ecoway):
• Los Auchones Hiking Route – A historical and cultural route guided by a geographer and historian
• A guided tour of the vineyards and 18th century farmhouse El Boquerón
• A visit to a traditional cave winery, with wine and cheese tasting
• Lunch at Finca Boquerón with Marcos Tavío
After this experience, return to La Laguna Gran Hotel, before heading to Royal Garden Villas to enjoy a spa treatment session, and then return to the hotel for dinner in the restaurant.
Hotel Botánico option
After breakfast, check out and head to Garachico for an exclusive guide tour. Enjoy lunch at Mirador de Garachico Restaurant before following the road to Masca to check in at the The Ritz-Carlton, Abama where you can indulge in a spa treatment or a round of golf. Other spa hotels include Bahia del Duque and Royal Garden Villas, where you will find more top-notch facilities.
Day 3
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out and heading to Puerto Colón. At 10am embark on a private whale and dolphin watching trip with White Tenerife company, which includes brunch with local foods and champagne.
At 3pm it’s time to head back to Tenerife South Airport and make your way home.
AbamaAll imagery courtesy of Turismo de Tenerife.
