Routes around Tenerife by car for days. Holidays on the Canary Island of Tenerife: review of an independent trip. Gas station and cafe “Estacion el mirador”
Welcome to the blog, I am very, very glad to see you!
From the travel diary article you will learn:
1. Holidays in Tenerife. How to arrange a trip on your own?
How to plan a trip on your own and why are tourists increasingly starting to do without travel agencies?
- Firstly, the matter in saving. An independent trip to Tenerife cost us... 2 times cheaper than a tour from a travel agency.
- Secondly, travel on your own much more interesting. This is not a banal vacation for 7 or 14 days, but a whole adventure! You get to know and understand the life of people in another country better.
- Thirdly itself waiting and preparation to travel independently - this is a real quest!
Planning a trip to Tenerife is very simple:
- We need to make a travel itinerary(in our case the route was: Kyiv - Barcelona - Tenerife and back)
- Book tickets on famous low-cost websites (English, low cost) airlines(flight to Barcelona - budget airline website Wizzair, flight from Barcelona to Tenerife - website of the most famous low-cost airline in Europe (the Barcelona - Tenerife ticket cost only 25 euros!)
- Book a hotel or apartment(the most famous and trusted sites that I always use. To book hotels - Booking.com, to order apartments - Airbnb)
- If you don't have a visa, then submit documents and obtain a visa. Typically, it is required that flights and hotel reservations be made.
Book flights and hotels in advance (1-2 months or even more). Then the cost is several times lower. For example, a ticket from Barcelona to Tenerife, purchased on the airline’s website 2 months in advance, cost only 25 euros. And a week before departure the ticket price increased to 70 euros.
All low-cost airlines have the right to reschedule a flight for several hours. Therefore, it is impossible for the connection between flights to be short. This may seem like a minus... But in fact, for us this “minus” turned out to be a plus. We got two trips in one (to both the Canaries and Barcelona). You can also stay 1 night in Barcelona. This is a fantastic city! We spent 2 days walking in Barcelona on the way to Tenerife and 2 days on the way back. Next I will tell you in more detail about how you can see all the sights of Barcelona in a few days.
Take only hand luggage with you. This will allow you to save money on your flight and travel light! Please note that the size of the bag or suitcase that you take on the plane for FREE must be no larger than 42 X 32 X 25 cm - in Wizzair And 50 X 40 X 20 cm - in .
Don't be afraid to book hostels in Barcelona. Hostels in Barcelona are actually small hotels with private rooms. The fact is that hotels in Barcelona are expensive and even the cost of a hostel starts from 40-50 euros per room for 2 people. We stayed at Pension Miami . This is a nice little hotel with helpful staff right in the center of Barcelona. A room for 2 (with a bathroom in the room) cost 50 euros in September. You can search using filters on the site Booking.com Cheaper hostel (further from the center of Barcelona).
Boqueria Market Barcelona Where to eat inexpensively in Barcelona? You can combine business with pleasure. An excursion to the famous Boqueria market on La Rambla is a must-have in your program to experience the authentic atmosphere of ancient Catalonia. You can also eat here - the jamon will be cut into the thinnest slices. The market has an abundance of fruits, crispy buns, and sausages. You can buy freshly squeezed juice for just 1 euro.
Why do travelers go not to the south of Tenerife, but to the north? The answer is very simple. The south of Tenerife is home to expensive hotels with white sand imported from Africa. A holiday here is similar to a holiday in a luxury hotel in Turkey on an all-inclusive basis. But is it really worth traveling so far for such a banal vacation? And in the north, in the oldest resort town of Puerto de la Cruz, you will feel the whole charming atmosphere of Spain!
How to get from Tenerife South Airport to Puerto de la Cruz? Tenerife has 2 airports - north and south. But even if your plane takes you to the southern airport, it’s not scary. Because there is a regular bus from the airport. The distance from the southern airport to Puerto de la Cruz is about 95 km. A ticket costs about 10 euros. The distance from the northern airport to Puerto de la Cruz is about 38 km.
But there is another, more comfortable way (especially if you are traveling with small children): you can order a taxi from the airport in advance at very reasonable prices Online famous Kiwitaxi service .
Which hotel to stay in Puerto de la Cruz? We were struck by the fact that hotels at this famous resort were cheap. I used to associate the Canary Islands with an expensive vacation. But this is a myth! In our hotel with a swimming pool and a large beautiful area - a room of 35 sq.m. with a balcony, bedroom and kitchen studio cost only 25 euros at the end of September. By the way, when I was looking for a hotel, I noticed that almost all hotels have a small kitchen in their rooms. We fell in love with our hotel. We liked that from the hotel we had to go down to the sea along a pedestrian street, passing cafes, shops, beautiful houses with carved balconies. You can see all hotels in Puerto de la Cruz.
Here is the view from the window of our apartment to the courtyard of our hotel
When is the best time to go on holiday to Tenerife? Here the air temperature ranges from 20 to 26 degrees all year round. That's why people don't have batteries or air conditioners. There is no need for screens on the windows either, because for some reason there are no mosquitoes here. Simply wonderful living conditions! The most ideal time for a holiday is early autumn. We were there at the end of September. The air temperature was 25 degrees. The water in the ocean was also about the same temperature. The whole city was buried in flowers. We only walked, enjoying the color of the Canarian streets with colorful houses and carved balconies.
3. Sights of Tenerife
The main attraction is the city of Puerto de la Cruz itself. It is absolutely not like other tourist centers. There are few hotels here and you unwittingly find yourself in the unhurried philistine life of the indigenous people, who do not bow down to tourists, as is often the case at resorts. In this city you feel not like a tourist, but like a relative who has come to visit.
Black sand on the beaches of Puerto de la Cruz. Black sand is the hallmark of Tenerife. It is of volcanic origin. I have no idea why it was necessary to bring white sand to the south of Tenerife, because it is such a banality, it is available on all the beaches of the world. Be sure to take a photo on the black sand beach!
ATTENTION! If you want to bring black sand as a souvenir, keep in mind that this is prohibited. I poured some sand into my jeans pockets for my friend and thus quietly carried it on board the plane :)))
Artificial lakes Lago Martianez with sea water. They were built back in the 70s with the participation of the famous architect Cesar Manrique. It is amazingly beautiful and cozy here - fountains, flowers, palm trees, cafes, sun loungers. When the ocean is stormy, you can relax here. The cost of a full day ticket is only 3 euros.
Lago Martianez This is a garden and zoo of extraordinary beauty. Every year, all EU countries allocate an amount with many zeros so that work is carried out to restore many endangered species of birds, animals and plants.
Loro Parque contains over 1,000 different native plants. There are several theaters on the water with shows of killer whales, dolphins, and fur seals. And even a parrot show. There are several performances per day lasting 30 minutes. Be sure to go to Loropark, even if the price seems high to you. You will not regret it. An adult ticket costs 34 euros, a child ticket costs 23. Opening hours: from 8:30 to 18:45.
Loro Park Volcano Teide- an important landmark of Tenerife. It is known that Columbus, Cook, and Darwin admired this volcano. Tourists try to visit it. We left this peak at 3718 m to conquer for the next trip. We definitely want to come to the Canaries again.
Tenerife Teide Ancient wine storage. Tenerife Casa del Vino is located just 10 min. drive from Puerto de la Cruz to the town of El Sauzal. There is a tasting room, a wine museum and a restaurant serving masterpieces of Canarian cuisine.
Architectural sights of Puerto de la Cruz. This is an old square. Charco, there is a statue of the Holy Virgin Mary. Also the church Nuestra Senora de la Pena de Francia, where weddings are held at night. Abaco's house is Casa Abaco, it houses a museum of Canarian architecture.
Miranda's home is Casa de Miranda, now it houses a restaurant and a souvenir shop. Castle of San Felipe, Royal Customs - Casa de la Real, small local fishing port.
Entertainment in Puerto de la Cruz. The most fun, crowded streets are the embankment, Charco Square, the streets of Quintana, Santo Domingo, San Telmo.
The Fiesta Canaria Concert Hall hosts Canarian folklore shows, and the Andromeda restaurant and Taoro casino host evening shows in the style of the Moulin Rouge. There is a wonderful Jazz bar Blue Not and famous discos - Castillo, Victoria, Joy, H2O, Playa, Jockey Night Club Cabaret.
Beaches of Puerto de la Cruz. The city has 2 large beaches for tourists with unique black sand - Playa Martianez and Playa Jardin. Martianez Beach (Playa Martianez) is wilder and unequipped, it is not protected from waves and there are no sun loungers, but there are fewer people there. Playa Jardin Beach has everything for a comfortable stay - showers, changing rooms, cafes, honey. paragraph. And protected from waves by a powerful concrete breakwater. There are lakes (pools) with sea water Martianez, which I wrote about above. And we also found one beach - a city one. It is very small (between Lakes Martianez and Jardine Beach). It’s very colorful and locals relax there. The beach does not have black sand, but volcanic rocks.
Where to eat in Puerto de la Cruz? Prices in cafes and restaurants on the embankment are higher than those far from the sea. In small cute cafes not far from our hotel, food was often served to us by the owners of the establishments themselves. The prices are ridiculous, and the portions are huge - you can take 1 portion of paella for two.
Pizza with seafood, freshly caught and grilled dorado fish - delicious. I also fell in love with Sangria. We bought it in supermarkets. Price - about 1 euro for 1.5 liters. You won’t taste such delicious Sangria here :)
4. Guide to Barcelona for independent travel
I promised to tell you how you can see almost all the sights of the city in a couple of days. This is the plan.
1. Arrive in the center of Barcelona(Plaça Catalunya) from the airport by bus. The bus runs every 5-10 minutes and costs 5.90 euros. You can also get there by taxi. The cost of a taxi ride to the center is about 30 euros. Using this service Kiwi Taxi You can inexpensively book a taxi online (not only from Barcelona airport, but from any airport in the world). You can place your order online and the taxi driver will meet you with a sign with your name at the airport.
2. On the main square of Barcelona - Plaza Catalunya you can buy a city tour of Barcelona at special kiosks. This is such a cool thing. It works like this: red 2-decker buses ply along the route. You get on any bus with a ticket, preferably on the 2nd floor, listen to the excursion (connect the headphones that you will be given with a ticket to channel No. 8 (audio guide in Russian)). Then get off at those stops where you want to take a closer look at the sights (you will be given a route map).
After seeing the attraction, take the next bus. And you travel like this all day. There is a tour for 2 days. Barcelona City Tour Cost for 1 day - €28.00 (adult) and €16.00 (child). For 2 days - €39.00 (adult) and €20.00 (child).
Don't forget to feed the pigeons in the square!
3. What is a must-see in Barcelona on the Barcelona City Tour? I indicated the metro stations in case you travel by metro.
- Sagrada Familia (Sagrada Familia) of the great Antonio Gaudi. Metro: Sagrada Familia
- Casa Batllo and Casa Mila (architect Antoni Gaudi). Metro: Passeig de Gracia
- Park Güell (architect Antoni Gaudi). Metro: Lesseps (L3)
- Las Rambla Boulevard, here you can buy a painting or order a portrait from local artists. On the boulevard is the Boqueria market. Metro: Catalunya, Liceu or Drassanes
- Gothic Quarter. Metro - Jaume I
- El Born (Born district) - Santa Maria del Mar Cathedral, Palace of Catalan Music and Picasso Museum. Metro: Urquinaona
- Mount Montjuic - Spanish Village Museum. Metro: Espanya
- Camp Nou is the largest stadium in Europe
- Barcelona beach
- Mount Tibidabo (perhaps the most gorgeous view of Barcelona from above, route options can be found)
5. Another useful life hack for independent travel
Book a transfer from the airport or train station or from the hotel in advance; a driver with a sign will meet you at the airport.
6. How much does a Tenerife + Barcelona holiday cost?
The cost of a tour at a travel agency in Tenerife with a direct flight for 10 days is from 1,500 euros per person. We spent so much in 2. Plus it was an amazing adventure! We didn't sit in our room or on the beach all day long.
We spent 4 days in Barcelona (2 days on the way to Tenerife and 2 days on the way back) and 6 days we spent in the colorful Spanish town of Puerto de la Cruz. We saw and learned so many interesting things.
Expenses: about 1500 euros for 10 days for 2:
- Flight – 300 euros. Purchasing tickets several months in advance (200 euros for a flight for 2 Kyiv - Barcelona - Kyiv, company Wizzair, 100 euros for a flight Barcelona - Tenerife - Barcelona, airline company).
- Accommodation (for 2 people) 250 euros. Booking hotels several months in advance Booking.com. 2 nights in Barcelona - 100 euros, 6 nights in Puerto de la Cruz - 150 euros.
- Excursions – about 130 euros. Loro Park - 70 euros, Barcelona City Tour - 60 euros.
- Transport(airport - city and back) - 100 euros.
- Food and Sangria:)))– about 800 euros.
- Visa— 70 euros
Summary
If you are planning a holiday in Tenerife, I recommend that you go without a tour company. You now know how to arrange a trip yourself. You will get an unforgettable experience plus:
- 2 trips in one (to Barcelona and Tenerife)
- Feel the true spirit of the Catalans and Canarians.
I am still indescribably delighted!
I have another nice bonus for you. If time permits, be sure to plan a trip from Barcelona to the city Figueres inMuseum-Theater of Salvador Dali. At the end of the article there is a video that may inspire you to take this trip. The driving time from Barcelona to Figueres is 53 minutes, the ticket costs from 20 euros.
I wish you a sea of unforgettable impressions!
P.S.
- I think when you start preparing for your trip, you will definitely have questions. Feel free to ask in the comments!
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As it turned out, Europe is also quite suitable for long-term independent travel :)
And to begin with, we chose Spain and in particular the Canary Islands (Tenerife and Gran Canaria), since it is quite warm there in February-March and you can swim; the water temperature is about 20 degrees.
As a result, we lived in Tenerife for a little over a month. And for 7 days.
How to get to the island of Tenerife?
There are direct flights from Russia to Tenerife, mostly charter flights, the cost of a round trip flight is from 15,000 rubles. You can also buy tickets with one transfer through any European city, for example on the Airberlin website
It’s also easy to get to Tenerife from Europe; for example, we flew from Belgium with the low-cost airline RyanAir first to Gran Canaria, and then a week later by ferry to Tenerife. The flight cost was about 50 euros. You can also fly to Tenerife directly.
Where to stay on the island of Tenerife?
The most popular resorts in Tenerife are Las Americas, Los Cristianos and Los Gigantes.
Las Americas is the most touristic place in Tenerife. That's where we lived.
Los Cristianos is the second most popular resort, smoothly transitioning into Las Americas. Quieter, calmer and somehow more soulful. In any case, I liked it there much more :) With a huge beach, which, by the way, is very rare for Tenerife, more than 2 km long.
Los Gigantes is a very cozy and soulful place, with beautiful steep cliffs. But with an almost complete absence of normal beaches. There are only 3 of them and they are about 200 meters wide. And it’s more suitable for people who like to walk uphill and downhill :)
How much does it cost to rent a property in Tenerife? And how to choose a hotel on the island of Tenerife
Apartment prices start from 120,000 euros for a one-bedroom apartment in resort areas. You can rent an apartment in Tenerife from 500 euros per month for a studio.
Our cozy one-bedroom apartment 12 minutes walk from the ocean cost 750 euros per month. If we rented for a longer period, then I think it would be quite possible to get a 15-20 percent discount.
We lived in this nice complex, with two swimming pools, one of which is heated.
And during this time, look at several options offered by local real estate agencies, of which there are many in the tourist area of Las Americas.
Or stay in one hotel for the entire duration of your stay, choosing it, for example, through booking.com The choice of hotels in Tenerife is very large, so read the reviews carefully and choose a hotel that best matches your criteria and ideally has an average rating above 8 points (according to 10-point scale).
What to see on the island of Tenerife?
One of the main attractions of Tenerife is the Teide volcano. A place with very unusual Martian landscapes and snow on the top :)
Loro Parque is an amazing zoo, especially cool shows of dolphins, killer whales and fur seals. I think these amazing and smart animals will not leave anyone indifferent.
Los Gigantes is a place with very beautiful rocks. Pleasure yachts also depart from Los Gigantes to admire dolphins and whales. We also went on such a trip - and it was one of the most extreme adventures of my life, since the waves were so huge that from time to time it seemed that they would overwhelm our small boat. You can't really see the waves in the photo, but there are rocks :)
Also from Tenerife you can easily travel to neighboring islands; one of the most popular islands for a day excursion is La Gomera island. You can read more about it in my article.
You can also easily reach by ferry. Which, by the way, I liked more than Tenerife for its beaches, although we only lived there for a week. But that’s another story, you can read more about our trip to the island of Gran Canaria in my article
How to get around the island of Tenerife?
The easiest way is to rent a car. Moreover, you can do this as soon as you arrive at the airport. And right on the spot. We rented a Citroen C3 automatic car for 3 days from a local agency in Las Americas. The cost was about 27 euros per day.
You can also rent a scooter, but the prices for renting it are not much lower than for renting a car. Somewhere from 15 euros per day. Yes, this is not Thailand where renting a scooter costs 5-7 dollars :)
There is also a bus service between the cities, and you can easily get to almost any point in Tenerife by bus. For example, we first lived for one day in the capital of Tenerife, the city of Santa Cruz, and then took a bus to the resort of Las Americas.
Prices in Tenerife.
According to my feelings, prices are about the same as in Russia. Fruits and vegetables are cheaper.
There are several very large supermarkets. One of which is Gran Sur. You could buy everything there :)
There are a lot of different cafes and restaurants on the embankment. And very tasty ice cream... Mmm...
What sports can you do in Tenerife?
Surfing is very popular in Tenerife, but I never decided to take classes. Since the bottom there is mostly rocky.
Also in Tenerife, I realized my old dream - yoga classes on the ocean. We had a fantastic Filipino instructor, Adriana.
In this photo, there is a sefr station, a cafe and at the same time a place for yoga :)
The classes were actually in Spanish, but since I already had basic skills by that time, and some of the terms were suggested to me by my friend Oksana, there weren’t any special problems. By the way, the classes were conditionally free. That is, at the end of the lesson we simply left a tip. Who wanted as much as they wanted?
This concludes the review part of our independent trip to Tenerife. More detailed stories about various attractions of the island of Tenerife are ahead.
If you have any questions, write in the comments. I will definitely answer you.
Success and good luck!
Elena Grezina
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12 Replies to “Independent travel to the island of Tenerife”
Elena, thank you very much for the detailed story. I'm interested in how you got your visa to Spain?
In June, my husband and I want to go to Tenerife, but what scares me is that I have to apply for visas myself.
Elena, good afternoon. We applied for a visa to Spain ourselves through the Spanish visa center; they have offices in several cities. There were no difficulties with the registration, the list of documents and all the necessary information is on their official website: http://www.spainvac-ru.com/russian/ By the way, what is the big advantage of the Schengen Spanish visa - I can give it multiple entries and for six months .
And in fact, to obtain a visa, you will only need to buy your own air tickets, book a hotel, and take out insurance. Well, plus, of course, prepare the remaining documents according to the list on the website.
But if something scares you about applying for a visa on your own, then just in case, contact a travel agency and find out from them the prices for ready-made tours to Tenerife. It is quite possible that in your case it will be more profitable to go through a travel agency. If you have any more questions, write. I'll definitely answer :)
Elena, hello! We are planning to go to Tenerife at the end of August; we have already decided on our holiday destination; we need to buy tickets ourselves. Tell me what is the best and most profitable way to purchase tickets, if you can, answer by e-mail. Thanks for the story and recommendations.
Good afternoon, Victoria! On my website in the lower left corner there is a search form for air tickets, enter the dates and route you need there. Click on the Find button and the site will give you all possible options for your dates, click on the most suitable one and issue a ticket through the agent’s website. You can also issue tickets on the website of the selected airline. I tried to enter dates for the end of August, the search gave me the best round trip price of about 20,000 rubles from Iberia airline with one transfer.
Just in case, I duplicated this message to your email. Successful booking and search for tickets and an unforgettable trip!
Hello! We are going to Tenerife in July. I would like to go to morning yoga classes. You wrote that you attended such classes, can you give more details? At what time? On which beach? Do you happen to know how to find a Filipino instructor, Adriana?
Good afternoon, Yulia!
When you are in Tenerife, ask around where they have a surf station near Las Americas beach. They also have a cafe right on the beach. Yoga classes are also held there. And you can find out the lesson schedule from surf instructors. If, of course, they are still there now. In general, it’s on a pebble beach somewhere between Las Americas and Los Cristianos; unfortunately, I don’t know the exact coordinates.
Classes were in the morning. In my opinion, either at 9:30 or 10:00. But everything could change. Good luck with your search! And have a wonderful holiday!
If you can then write in a comment about yoga and the exact location, I will be very grateful!
Hello, Elena! We traveled through a travel agency all the time. Never on your own, only on excursions. For the New Year 2013-2014 we are going to Tenerife on our own. I don’t really understand how you can get a visa if you’re traveling on your own? The list of documents includes a hotel reservation. And I would like to stop somewhere for 1-2 days and look around. Already on the spot we will find options for where we will live, or maybe not in one place, but in different ones.
Another question. Please tell me. Where else can you go inexpensively on your own for the New Year in December-January, so that the sea is warm, sunny, 28-40 degrees and the flight takes no more than 5-6 hours.
Thanks in advance for your answer.
Good afternoon, Evgenia.
To obtain a visa, you must make a hotel reservation. Therefore, you need to book the hotel in advance.
Good afternoon, Evgeniya. The flight is 5-6 hours - this is probably only the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and the island of Madeira. Everything else is much further. Moreover, the warm sea will most likely only be in the United Arab Emirates. In Morocco, as well as in the Canaries and Madeira, the water does not warm up much. And if in Morocco, then a ready-made tour is better. You can also go to India, but the flight there is a little further - 7 hours (if in Goa)
Elena, good afternoon. Please tell me, is a Russian license enough to drive a rented car around the country or do you need an international one?
Vladimir, good afternoon! It is better to issue international ones; in some countries they only accept them. Although in Spain standard Russian ones are usually sufficient.
Flight
Accommodation
Kiting
Trips around the island
Planning a trip to the Canaries
The Canary Islands are a piece of non-European Spain. A flight from Moscow, unlike short 2-4 hour European flights, takes as much as 7 hours, and buying a ticket is not so easy. You can fly to Tenerife, the largest Canary Island, either by direct Aeroflot flight (once a week, costs crazy money), or with a connection in Europe-Turkey-Morocco, or on a Russian charter.
We chose the charter option; at that time it was the most optimal in terms of price-labor ratio. The ticket was purchased 4 months before the trip.
Already on the plane, the views of the island of Tenerife blow your mind: lunar volcanic landscapes, the harsh Atlantic, no greenery at all.
Where to live in Tenerife
As with most long-term independent trips, we chose apartments as accommodation. Location - El Medano, half an hour by car from the southern airport, views of the ocean, kite beach and personal volcano. We found the apartment on a Russian-language website about El Medano and did not regret it at all: the guys were clear, all the descriptions were truthful, they allowed us to stay for free before the late flight.
El Medano from the volcano: a small town, few tourists, mostly European pensioners and cheerful kite guys.
Traveling around Tenerife is almost unthinkable without a rented car. This time we got the Skoda Yeti, an inexpensive, reliable car that coped well with steep serpentines and rocky roads. We looked for a car through EconomyCarRentals, an aggregator of offers from car rentals.
The driver in the Canary Islands is subject to increased demands: the asphalt is beautiful, but the turns are steep.
Kiting in El Medano in May
Our vacation plans are traditional: kiting for my husband, some girly fun for me, after the ride we drive around the island, go hiking, and admire the natural beauty.
There was an excellent wind forecast for May; in reality, out of 7 days, there was wind for 4.5 days. There are a lot of kiters, but not as much as in Mui Ne on New Year's.
El Médano has a large sandbar and several kite schools and equipment rentals. It is best to live in the city itself; apartment prices are more than reasonable. But the hotels are expensive and unclear.
My husband was generally pleased.
I had fun in the spa (swimming pools, saunas, massage rooms).
Basically, salons are located either on the coast or in 5* hotels.
What to see in Tenerife
I have long dreamed of trying paid fishing. Tenerife is a great place for such fun; we caught mackerel, stingrays, and tuna.
We made car trips every day, I’ll tell you about the most interesting ones.
Maska Gorge is a wonderful way to spend a few hours, descending to the ocean through boulders, streams, and thickets in a rather wild environment.
Birds sing around, huge pieces of lava lie, palm trees and cacti grow.
Very harsh nature.
You can drink water directly from the streams; the main thing is not to forget hats and trekking shoes.
There are not many people and it is very pleasant.
After finishing the route, it’s incredibly cool to sit in a restaurant on a cliff and contemplate this beauty.
Second trip to the eucalyptus grove.
Powerful trees stand right behind the roadside; that day fog fell on the mountains, and the forest became completely mystical. We walked around a bit and just sat in the car, enjoying the incredible eucalyptus air.
Coming to Tenerife and not climbing to the top of the main island volcano Teide is blasphemy. In the photo below is an endemic of the island of Tenerife (namely the area of the Teide National Park), a flower with a bunch of names: Wildprete's Bruise, Tower of Jewels, red buglos, Tenerife buglos, Mount Teide buglos.
It is better to spend a whole day to conquer Teide.
Travel around the national park, stopping at numerous observation platforms - miradors, have lunch at the state hotel - parador.
The nature is wild, there was a storm raging here just recently.
Climb to the very top of the island and try to see all the Canaries and even Morocco.
Another trip was to the northernmost point of the island, Faro Lighthouse. The roads in Tenerife are laid out in an interesting way: you need to drive either along the coast or through Teide.
There is an unruly Atlantic, lava fields and strong winds.
For some reason it doesn't feel like going into the water at all. Of course, we took our morning ablutions after a short run along the beach, but the water was very invigorating.
On the way back we stopped at Icod de los Vinos. The town is very authentic, with excellent restaurants.
We looked at the famous Drago Tree. This Dragon Tree is several thousand years old; botanists say its age is 2500-3000.
The small indoor park has many other interesting things to see.
A wonderful and educational trip can be made to the pyramids of Guimar.
Here you will plunge into several worlds at once: Great Geographical Discoveries, Kon-tiki, the history of South America and even Easter Island.
Here you can walk around the pyramids, visit the garden of the most poisonous plants in the world, and closed pavilions dedicated to Thor Heyerdahl. Then the sensations from this trip helped us fall in love.
Not far from the pyramids is the small coastal town of Candelaria with the main Christian value of the Canaries. In Balizika there is a statue of the black Madonna, which washed ashore on Tenerife even before the arrival of the Spaniards and the Christianization of the island.
On the beautiful embankment there are 9 statues: these are 9 brothers, the last leaders of Tenerife, who, after the death of their father, divided the island into 9 independent territories and, individually, could not withstand the onslaught of the Spaniards.
Need I say that according to one of the legends, the Guanches, the natives of the Canaries, are considered to be the inhabitants of the sunken Atlantis? True, we have already heard this version :)))
To feel the spirit of the Canarian cities, you need to go not to the capital, but to the town of La Orotava. There was a settlement here back in the days of the Guanches, and the colorful narrow streets, cobblestone streets and carved wooden frames have been preserved from the Spaniards.
The view from the observation deck gives a good idea of agricultural Tenerife.
It was a wonderful trip to the banana plantation BANANERA EL GUANCHE. It is located at Carretera del Botanico, 43, the ticket price includes a tour in English and a tasting of banana liqueur.
They tell, show, you can touch and ask... Very interesting.
Canarian bananas are considered one of the most delicious in the world (I confirm), but their sale in mainland Europe is prohibited because they are smaller than the standard size. Breeeeeed!
Incredible flowers grow here...
and cacti!
Trips around the island (there were more of them, but don’t tell me that Santa Cruz has excellent shopping, and there is a cult meat restaurant next to the banana plantation) were always very bright.
Before traveling to Tenerife, we were asked: “what to do there? the ocean is cold, there’s nothing to see…” - believe me, this is not so. Take the car and go to the beauty of the Canary Islands!
Before copying articles, please read the site materials.
Full report on an independent trip to the Canary Islands in May:
1. Independent travel to the Canaries: 1 week in Tenerife by car
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Tenerife is a unique island that combines the past, present and future. Modern monuments in Santa Cruz and ancient pyramids in Guimar, a huge archeology museum for history buffs and the gorgeous El Medano beach for windsurfing fans, the lost Cave of the Winds (Cueva del Viento) and the Teide volcano, which has not yet faded out.
From the end of February to the beginning of March, the island is transformed - the famous carnival begins in all the cities of Tenerife. Cheerful melodies are heard from everywhere, residents and guests dance and have fun until they drop. This is the second largest carnival after the Brazilian one.
Photo: Beautiful landscape of Tenerife Throughout the year, colorful romerias take place in different parts of Tenerife - religious processions organized in honor of a patron saint. As a rule, festive carts drive through the streets, from which musicians and procession participants happily treat passers-by.
On May 3, the city of Los Realejos after sunset resembles a city under siege due to the numerous fireworks and fireworks that soar into the air in hundreds. The organizers claim that the local show is one of the best in all of Europe.
Landscapes of the island of Tenerife can be seen in this video:
In June (dates vary from year to year) the city of La Orotava hosts an amazing Carpet Day. At the same time, the essence of the holiday has nothing to do with real woven carpets. All patterns are made using multi-colored sand. Tourists love to come to see the process of creating unusual patterns and ornaments.
On June 24, it is worth visiting the widespread festival of San Juan, when thousands of participants gather on the beaches and run to swim after midnight, as the water on this night is believed to have healing powers.
And local stores and shopping centers have big sales. The most significant, summer, begins on July 1 and lasts until the last day of August.
How to get there and navigate around the place
Photo: Map of Tenerife island There are plenty of flight options to Tenerife. Direct flights from Moscow cost about 1,000 euros round trip. A flight with a transfer will cost almost twice as much – about 600 euros per person.
Flights from St. Petersburg are a little more expensive: connecting flights start from 750 euros. There are no direct flights.
Tenerife has two airports: south and north.
Almost all tourist regular and charter flights arrive at South Airport. It is located 60 km from the capital of the island, Santa Cruz de la Tenerife, and only 20 km from one of the most popular resorts - Las Americas.
There are public buses to the capital. There are also separate routes to certain tourist cities. The fare is about 3-5 euros.
The most popular resorts can be reached by taxi. The cost of such a trip will cost 30-60 euros, depending on the destination.
North Airport serves flights connecting Tenerife with the neighboring Canary Islands, as well as with mainland Spain.
Municipal buses also run from the terminal to the main cities on the island. Ticket prices start from 3 euros per person.
You can use a taxi - the trip costs on average from 30 to 60 euros.
To travel around the island with a large group, we recommend renting a car. Thus, there is a greater chance of visiting the many attractions and remote beaches that abound on the island. The rental cost per day is about 20-25 euros.
What to see
Tenerife can easily compete for the title of island with the largest variety of attractions and entertainment to suit every taste and color. And it is true. We have collected the top 10 most popular tourist places:
- Teide Nature Reserve - the hallmark of the island is the volcano of the same name, which frames many mountain ranges of the Las Cañadas caldera with various interesting rocks, such as the Queen's Slipper, Roques de Garcia, God's Finger, Bear Mountain. It is especially beautiful here during the flowering period of numerous flowers and plants - from April to June.
Photo: Teide Volcano 2. Pyramids of Guimar - few people know that pyramids exist not only in Egypt, but also in the Canaries.
Photo: Pyramids of Guimar 3. Las Teresitas – beach near the town of San Andres. It is distinguished by a beautiful observation deck located nearby, which offers a wonderful view of the coast and its surroundings.
Photo: Las Teresitas 4. Lunar landscape – in order to see lunar craters and bizarre sculptures, it is not at all necessary to wait for the start of tourist flights to the Earth’s satellite. It is enough to walk along a special route near the village of Vilaflor.
Photo: Lunar landscape 5. Mask and Hell's Gorge - of course, there is no hell here, but the steep cliffs, rocks and tropical vegetation inspire awe of the forces of nature.
Photo: Hell's Gorge 6. Siam Park is the main water amusement park in Tenerife. Perhaps the best and most extreme slides were built here.
Photo: Siam Park 7. The Anaga relict forest is such a unique forest that still remembers dinosaurs and other ancient inhabitants of this planet.
Photo: Anaga relic forest 8. Black sand at the cliffs of Los Gigantes - local beaches have one distinctive feature: amazing black volcanic sand.
Photo: Los Gigantes Rocks 9. The Auditorium is an original Art Nouveau structure that appeared in the 20th century on the beach in the island's capital, and is also a well-preserved historical part of the city of Santa Cruz.
Photo: Auditorium 10. Loro Parque is an amazing reserve, which was originally home to 150 parrots, and is now a huge complex with a variety of entertainment for children and adults, as well as the old town of Puerto de la Cruz.
Photo: Loro Parque The popular TV project “Heads and Tails” released a separate program about Tenerife when they came to the island several years ago. Watch the program on video:
What to do
Tenerife knows how to please everyone who has ever come here to relax. We have prepared a list of things to do on this paradise island:
Photo: Holidays in Tenerife - Ride the highest slide in Siam Park.
- Take a photo on the black sand at Medano Beach.
- Climb to the top of the Teide volcano and feel like a pioneer.
- View the gorgeous coastline from the site near Las Teresitas.
- Swim in the gentle waves on the endless beaches from Los Cristianos to La Caleta
- Walk along the narrow paths in Mask and Hell's Gorge and feel the amazing atmosphere of these magical places.
- Understand the cardinal directions near the Guimar pyramids.
- Be amazed at the intelligence of animals in Loro Parque.
- Visit the former capital of La Laguna, in the narrow ancient streets many houses have been preserved that once belonged to the most noble and wealthy families in Tenerife.
- Dance until you drop at the local Carnival, dissolving in the general atmosphere of the holiday.
Shopping (hthen and where to buy)
Photo: Siam Mall Tenerife offers many good opportunities for quality and enjoyable shopping.
Firstly, there are two periods of big sales: summer and winter. The summer season lasts from July 1 to August 31, and the winter season begins after the end of the Christmas holidays on January 7 and ends on March 6, shortly before the start of the tourist season.
But in addition to sales, there are interesting offers.
First of all, shopping lovers are attracted by the so-called “Golden Mile” - the main street in Playa de Las Americas, where most of the shops and shopping centers with clothes and accessories of any price category are concentrated: from budget brands to luxury brands.
In the city of Costa Adeje there is a new modern Siam mall, which not only has shops, but also entertainment for children in the form of playgrounds and attractions.
At the same time, in the capital of the island - Santa Cruz de la Tenerife - there are many more shopping centers, so after a “warm-up” on the coast, shopping professionals go there.
- Honey - for many tourists it is an amazing discovery that Tenerife has excellent apiaries where delicious honey is produced every year.
- Sauces – most dishes have such an original taste because local chefs know how to select sauces for each of them.
- Jewelry and souvenirs made of pearls – in local shops you can find beautiful products made of sea pearls.
- Products or jewelry made from olivine, a semi-precious stone found in Tenerife as a result of past eruptions of the Teide volcano.
- Wine - the island is part of Spain, so on its territory you can find a full range of Spanish wines with different shades and tastes.
Well, for those looking for something old and unique, we recommend visiting the local flea market in Puerto de la Cruz, which is open in the morning two days a week - on Saturday and Wednesday, or in Santa Cruz on Sundays.
Prices
In Tenerife all prices are in euros. It is best to change the currency in advance before the trip, as otherwise the exchange rate will be very unfavorable. Most establishments accept credit cards.
Lunch in a small cafe or restaurant will cost 15-20 euros per person. You can eat delicious food cheaper in establishments that serve set meals (menu del dia). The cost of such a set is lower - about 10-12 euros. Drinking coffee in a restaurant costs about 1 euro.
Product cost:
Milk 1l – 0.80 euros
Bread – 0.60 euros
Chicken 1 kg – 4.50 euros
Tomatoes – 1.20 euros
Accommodation in a 3-star hotel costs an average of 30-35 euros per person. Hostels provide accommodation cheaper - about 15-20 euros.
Taxi services on the island cost about 15-30 euros, depending on the distance of the route.
On average, 1 day of holiday in Tenerife costs an average of 100-120 euros, including accommodation, food and sightseeing trips.
Where to live
Photo: Finca La Hacienda Rural Hotel The success of the event often depends on the right hotel for the duration of the trip. Therefore, we suggest paying attention to these 5 hotels with excellent reviews from many tourists:
- 4Dreams Hotel (Calle Agustin de Bethencourt 14, 38400 Puerto de la Cruz) is a small hotel with a high level of service. There is an outdoor swimming pool on the hotel's rooftop. There are many cafes and restaurants nearby.
- Apartamentos RF Bambi (Calle Enrique Talg 15, 38400 Puerto de la Cruz) – excellent value for money. The rooms have an equipped kitchenette for those who want to cook for themselves.
- El Sombrero (Avda Jose Gonzalez Fortes 28, 38683 Los Gigantes) is a cozy apartment with a large terrace where you can watch sunsets or drink your morning coffee.
- Finca La Hacienda Rural Hotel (Ntra. Sta. De Lourdes, 2, 38470 Los Silos) – Excellent service at this homely hotel, with delicious food and wonderful landscaping.
- Occidental Santa Cruz Contemporaneo (Rambla Santa Cruz 116, 38001 Santa Cruz de Tenerife) is a city hotel next to a shady park. Spacious rooms and hearty breakfasts.
Travel plan, tours for 1-3-7 days
Tenerife has a huge number of attractions, and in order not to get lost in this diversity, we have prepared a detailed route in which we have collected all the most interesting things on the island.
| Day | Morning | Dinner | Evening |
| 1 | El Medano beach with black sand. Surfing. | Santa Cruz de la Tenerife. Auditorium. Botanical Garden. For dinner, you should go to the restaurant La Taberna del Cortijo (Av. La Salle, 25), where we recommend trying the marinated tuna dish. | |
| 2 | City market. | Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Museum of Nature and Man. | Castle of San Cristobal. Plaza de España. In the evening, visit the restaurant La Hierbita (Calle Clavel, 19) - they serve juicy beef stew with one of the Canarian sauces. |
| 3 | Las Teresitas beach. Observation deck. | Benijo beach in the north of the island. Here you can simply walk on the sand along the picturesque cliffs going into the sea, or you can go diving. | Transfer to Puerto de la Cruz. Sitio Litre Gardens is a famous orchid garden. Visitors to the Edelweiss restaurant (Ctra. Botanico, 28) recommend ordering local steak and tiramisu dessert. |
| 4 | Loro Park. We recommend setting aside a whole day for your visit, as there is more than enough entertainment there. | And we suggest ending a day full of events and impressions in the Casa TATA restaurant (Calle Victor Machado, 9), where the dishes are perhaps tastier than at home. Squid dishes are especially often praised. | |
| 5 | Castle of San Miguel. Cave of the Winds (Cueva del Viento). | Teide National Park. | Lunar landscape. The town of Vilaflor. Try meat dishes at the family restaurant Casa Pana (Calle Castaños, 7). |
| 6 | Costa Adeje. Siam Park. We recommend spending the whole day at this amusement park. | ||
| 7 | Beach de Las Americas. | Mount Charoita, which offers beautiful views of the coast. | The evening should end at the Atlantis BBQ&Grill restaurant (S/N.C.C. Playa local 10) with amazing grilled ribs. |
What and where to eat
Photo: Original dishes in Tenerife Despite the fact that Tenerife is part of Spain, the island also has its own special dishes that are difficult to try on the mainland. We have selected the most delicious and original dishes in Tenerife:
- Conejo is a rabbit dish served with one of the local sauces.
- Papas are potatoes boiled in their skins, but according to a special recipe: this process takes place in very salty water and over low heat. After a long time, the dish is ready. Not everyone likes the appearance of papas, but it turns out really very tasty.
- Tortilla is a common dish, but with its own twist: in Tenerife, potatoes, onions, various greens and chopped chorizo sausages are added to it.
- Goat cheese – it is eaten raw or added as one of the ingredients. We recommend ordering the grilled version sometime.
- Padron peppers are roasted peppers with garlic and coarse sea salt. Most often they are served as an appetizer.
- Sancocho Canario - boiled fish with sweet potatoes. Seafood on the islands is loved even more than meat.
- Vieja is an original parrot fish whose taste is difficult to confuse with other types of fish. It's a little sweet.
- Canarian bananas are small in size but very sweet. They do a lot of things with them: boiled, fried and added as a side dish to other dishes.
- Papaya - despite the fact that it is a tropical fruit, it has taken root here well and is loved by locals and tourists.
- Conejo al samorejo is rabbit meat marinated in a special sauce, which is then fried and stewed.
All this and much more can be tasted in the most popular restaurants on the island. We have selected the establishments with the best ratings based on tourist reviews:
- La Casita De Taby (Avenida Rafael Puig Lluvina s/n | Local B1 - Shopping Center Salytien, 38650 Playa de las Americas) is a small family cafe with a friendly atmosphere and amazing cuisine. Specializes in fish and seafood dishes.
- Orange Cafe (Calle Paris 3 | Playa de Fañabé, 38660 Costa Adeje, Adeje) is a small, cozy cafe that serves huge portions. Calculate your strength well, otherwise you will have to pack half of it and take it with you.
- Restaurante Los Pinchitos (Calle Guillen 14, 38120 Santa Cruz de Tenerife) is an establishment for locals, although there are also plenty of tourists here. The waiters understand the order even without translation.
- Bar El Camino (Camino Cabras No 8, 38400 Puerto de la Cruz) - the choice of dishes is simply huge, but you can order a little of everything to try.
- Rincon del Pescador (Avda.Luis Diaz de Lozada Aptos.Royal Garden | Loc.8a,9a,10a, 38660 Playa de las Americas) is an oceanfront restaurant that serves traditional Spanish and Canarian cuisine.
- Las Rosas (Avenida Rafael Puig 28, 38660 Playa de las Americas) - located near the beach. The food is prepared delicious and served quickly.
Best excursions according to reviews
You can explore the island on your own, but sometimes it’s worth turning to professional guides to tell you interesting facts and also lead you along unexplored routes.
- Overview – briefly about a little bit of everything to get a general idea of this amazing island, which keeps many secrets and mysteries.
- Visit the Jolly Roger - a fascinating excursion to real pirate places.
- Unexplored Tenerife - there are still places on the island hidden from the eyes of curious tourists. That's exactly where we suggest going.
- Sunrise on the volcano - perhaps this sunrise will remain in the memory for a lifetime, because not everyone gets to celebrate the beginning of a new day on the Teide volcano! And while waiting for the first rays of the sun, excursion participants will be able to look at the huge starry sky.
- A trip on a yacht with a spinning rod - even novice fishermen will enjoy this trip away from the shore with the opportunity to personally catch some underwater inhabitant.
Look at examples of interesting excursions in the video “In search of adventures with Mikhail Kozhukhov - Tenerife”:
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Instead of hotels, you can book an apartment (on average 1.5-2 times cheaper) on AirBnB.com, a very convenient worldwide and well-known apartment rental service with a bonus of 2100 rubles upon registrationWe have already visited all or almost all interesting places in Tenerife. If you are coming to the island for the first time and want to do everything: lie on the beach, sleep, be with your family, see the island and get new impressions, we recommend a list of interesting places to visit in Tenerife, as they say, “minimum program”:
- Teide National Park + Esperanza Forest. Very beautiful, fantastic landscapes, the majestic Teide volcano, colorful lava. Be sure to take your cameras with you to capture the clouds passing under your feet. If you visit during the winter months, bring warm clothes with you. To go to the top of the volcano on a ski lift, apply for a permit in advance. In one trip you can visit the Esparanza National Park and the fabulous forest and even pick mushrooms during the season from November to January. There are many cafes and restaurants along the way where you can have a snack. The trip is safe and comfortable for children. The road is mountainous, but without extreme, everything is thought out, because... This is the most common tourist route on the island. You can rent a car and drive for half a day or a whole day, as you wish. If you want to see more sights in one sitting, it is better to book an excursion along a special route; on your first visit it will be difficult to find your way, you won’t be able to escape from the island, but it may turn out that you will spend the night in the mountains.
- Los Gigantes Cliffs + Masca Gorge. You can also visit both places in one trip. Very beautiful places with beautiful legends. Just be careful on the way to the gorge - a very steep serpentine road and a narrow road. If you don’t feel confident behind the wheel, it’s better to book a tour.
- Santa Cruz + Las Teresitas Beach. In fact, all the attractions are described in detail on this site, so all the most interesting things you can see in the capital of Tenerife and about Las Teresitas beach can be found in the section about Tenerife. In Santa Cruz, you can successfully combine a walk around the city's attractions with shopping. And then have lunch at a local restaurant and go to the beach, relax and enjoy the ocean.
- Candelaria. You can stop by after Santa Cruz on your way home to the south. A very cozy town, the most delicious ice cream on the island is sold here. Stop by the Basilica of the Black-Faced Madonna and stroll around the main square with statues of the Guanche leaders - the first settlers of the island - impressive.
- Loro Parque. It's best to go when you want to take a break from the sun and the beach. This zoo is surrounded by greenery; it will be pleasant to walk in the shade. Interesting for all age categories. The killer whale show is impressive. Please note that the front rows of the auditorium are wet. During the show, killer whales deliberately hit the water with their tails at the edge of the pool, and a fountain of spray drenches the ignorant from head to toe. If you don’t want to continue walking around the park wet, rent a protective raincoat or sit further away. There are many other enjoyable shows. To better navigate and plan your route around the park, pick up a map and schedule of performances at the entrance. Don't forget to check out the penguins. The conditions in which they are kept there are an achievement of science and technology!
- Siam Park- entertainment for the whole family. It is considered the largest outdoor water park in Europe. My husband and I love to lounge on the white sand by the wave pool while the kids run around the park and ride their hearts out on the various slides. And if you want to get your adrenaline pumping, take a ride on the Kamikaze slide with a free vertical fall. You can go to the park with your whole family, even with your grandparents, for the whole day, just plan your trip on a weekday, then there will be fewer people. You can have a snack at the buffet; we recommend beer with ribs, and for children, soup, grilled chicken, vegetables and pizza. During the active season - July, August, September - it is better to team up with a large group and buy a VIP package, then you won’t have to stand in queues for slides and free sunbeds.
- Icod de Vinos (Dragon Tree)+ Garachico. If you have a free day and want to plunge into the Middle Ages and walk through old Spanish towns with their own history. Look at the ancient Dragon Tree, take the children to the Butterfly Park, where it is interesting to watch beautiful butterflies emerge from their cocoons. And the most active ones can go down to the volcanic cave Cueva del Viento, it’s all nearby, you just need to book tickets to the cave in advance.
If this is not your first time coming to Tenerife and you completed the minimum program on your last visit, you may not have been here yet:
- Monkey Park or Lemuryatnik. It is comfortable here with children from 1 year old. You can cuddle fluffy tame lemurs and hand-feed turtles, see a wide variety of monkey breeds from tiny ones that fit in the palm of your hand to huge gorillas. A non-intrusive walk of 1.5 - 2 hours.
- Miniature Park, Eagles Park, Botanical Garden, Aqualand, Ostrich Farm, Camel Park. Aqualand is also a water park, like Siam Park, but smaller and cheaper. On the plus side, there are a variety of attractions for kids, a conveniently timed dolphin show - like a relaxation after lunch, a large heated swimming pool-jacuzzi in the center of the park. It's really nice here. In the Park of the Eagles, as a continuation of the theme of Loro Parque, it is also interesting: there are different animals and a key show of eagles, and it’s also convenient to get here, because... The park is located near Las Americas, you don’t have to go far. In the Botanical Garden you can admire beautiful orchids and many other endemics, relax in the shade of trees and organize a picnic, and at the same time take a walk around the city of Puerto de la Cruz, where the park is located. But we recommend the ostrich farm with caution. Here you can see ostriches and taste the poor fellows for lunch, but the prices are steep, and the service is not very good. Camel Park - well, camels are just like camels, unless your baby has never seen them in his life, as they say for general development.