26 May Tenerife Travel Guide: North vs South, Best Bases & Realistic Routes
Two trips.
30 days.
Three hotels.
Are you curious? Then, read on!
When I was a child, I remember that during winters, there were one or two families who always managed to return with a tan after the winter holidays.
For years I have associated Tenerife with sun, beaches, something extremely touristy.
This is one of the reasons why despite getting out of the country since 1996 I managed to tick Tenerife off my travel list just in 2023.
In all honesty, we were very skeptical. It was 2023, January and we just landed in Tenerife Sur for the first time.
Neither one of us had high hopes thinking this island was just sun and beaches but we were in January and wanted to escape the cold in Romania.
Nothing could ever prepare us for what we saw and felt in Tenerife.
We loved this island so much that we returned in 2024 for 22 days covering Christmas, New Year’s Eve and other minor Romanian holidays.
And to let you on a little secret? We are already planning to return there once more soon.
That’s how much we loved it.
The first time we visited Tenerife we based our stay in the south, in the Playa de las Americas area.
We had booked a lovely hotel, not far from the beach and it was the beginning of a love story with the island.
However, the second time we reached the island we picked our stays in Puerto de la Cruz and honestly, it was a game changer.
We loved our stay in Playa de las Americas and by booking a car we did daily trips around the island reaching even Puerto de la Cruz, Teide or a lovely beach near Santa Cruz.
However, by staying north we added an extra bonus to our stay.
Tenerife is split into two parts, the south drier, warmer, filled with beaches and sand and the north is rainier, a bit colder and filled with vegetation.
From the start I will say that for the next trip to Tenerife there is no way we won’t be looking for a place in Puerto de la Cruz.
We loved everything about this place, and we want to return here as soon as possible.
What we loved so much? Everything. There is a special feeling when in the morning you can bathe in the ocean, dry off then put a hoodie on you and drive to Teide, 3000 meters up looking at the snow caped peak.
Of course, there are two ways of doing Tenerife. One is the lazy way, sitting at the beach, maybe join a mount Teide tour and just sitting endlessly in the sun or the second way.
The second way involves driving, seeing so many places, bathing in charcos, swimming in the ocean, visit beautiful towns, driving through Teide Park, watch the rocky coastline, seeking rock formations and so on.
Does this sound good?
This article will tell you about Puerto de la Cruz, Los Cristianos, Orotava, La Laguna, Garachico, Masca, Icod de los Vinos and places like los Gigantes, Teide, El Medano, Anaga and more.
Because we spent a month on the island I will cover accomodation and food on different articles otherwise this piece will start looking like the beginning of a book.
So, let’s start…
Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas
Touristy yet is still worth it.
Now, when you land in Tenerife Sur and don’t feel like driving for an hour or an hour and a half, Playa de las Americas is really a great option.
There are plenty of hotels, good beaches, a few good restaurants (of course there might be more than those we tried), many interesting spots close, it is a good base for setting up camp and driving around the island.
I think that most people who get to Tenerife for the first time stay in Los Cristianos or mainly the south then if they return, they explore more and end up in the north like we did.
Depending on how much you want to drive you can reach even Benijo beach from the south so you cannot go wrong with accommodation here.
It is hotter and a bit busier than up north, but I guess it all depends on the type of holiday you want to have.
Los Gigantes
Imagine 600+ meters of cliffs falling into the ocean water.
This is Los Gigantes.
A place that is on every tour in Tenerife with a good reason.
Beach, great views, a small harbor, hiking trails, a place of departure for whales and dolphins sightseeing and overall, a place you should check when visiting Tenerife.
As a small bonus the beach has black sand so that gives a special contrast to pictures, especially around golden hour.
Masca
Ok, you will hate me for saying this but it needs to be said.
I think Masca is a nice place but I wouldn’t go there a second time.
First, the road is filled with bends and slow, parking is almost impossible to find, being so small even a group of 50 tourists makes it seem busy and lastly, unless you have special conditions like super clouds or golden hour, the place is dull.
Now, of course, if you have the time and are curious why so many people rave about this place then go there.
But for us it was something just OK, not an absolute must.
Teide
A super must. I am not exaggerating.
An active volcano, Spain tallest mountain peak, a national park, lots of viewing points, strange rocks formations, they all make up for a destination not to be missed.
Amongst the places you will love are Roques de Garcia, Pico Viejo Viewpoint, Mirador de la Tarta and many more.
Inside the park there are plenty of Miradors (viewing points) like Mirador de la Tarta, Mirador de Esperanza, Ventana de la Igueque, Mirador de Chipeque, all of them offering disting viewing points over Teide.
Enter the park, drive, stop, enjoy the views, take photos and repeat the process until you are tired.
San Cristobal de la Laguna
A charming town.
During my two trips to Tenerife I must have wandered around this place a couple of times and it is a great place to slow down.
Parking is a bit more difficult yet the streets of the town are not so busy like those of Puerto de la Cruz.
La Laguna is a special place, being included since 1999 on the UNESCO world heritage sites.
The main attraction area(for a tourist) lies on the old center of the town, the Cathedral and The University of La Laguna, the first University founded in the Canary Islands.
Many people will skip this place and focus on nature and beaches but if you are planning for a longer stay you could give La Laguna a chance.
Garachico
Not far from Puerto de la Cruz, this place holds a sad history, being the town that was most affected when the volcano errupted in 1706.
From a flourishing town to almost half the city affected by the volcano, fires, floods, many events affected Garachico along the years.
However, today, by exceptional efforts, Garachico is considered to be one of the best if not the best preserved town in Tenerife.
Besides the beauty of the old town, Garachico also has wonderful charcos along the coast, a delight for those who want to bathe in the ocean, when the weather permits it.
Between the town’s history, the castle, Plaza de la Liberdad and the charcos, Garachico offers quite a lot for visitors that want to explore an old town then dip their feet in the ocean.
La Orotava
Even closer to Puerto de la Cruz than Garachico, Orotava is a place that deserves a few hours of your time.
Being under 10 km away from Puerto de la Cruz you can easily grab a taxi if you plan to have a wonderful wine with your meals.
Between the City Hall, Casa de los Balcones, Iglesia de La Concepcion and the Quinta Roja Garden, Orotava can keep you busy for some time.
Before going further on this guide I am sure that many of you will be asking about Santa Cruz.
In all honesty, even though we spent a month on the island we weren’t the least curios about the town.
Every time we tried to reach La Teresita Beach or go up to Benijo, we passed Santa Cruz and it was just too crowded, the traffic was so slow, many moments of standing still that we didn’t feel like it was worth spending so much time in traffic, looking for a parking space and so on.
On our next visits we might reach it but it is not a must on our list.
Lastly, Puerto de la Cruz
Our favourite place on the island.
Amazing food, wonderful old town, lots of murals, charcos, beaches, our favorite cafe and that feeling when you ask yourself if this is the place you should move to.
We spent one day here on our first trip then picked it as pur base for the second trip where we stood for 22 days, split into two accommodations.
We walked for days, tried many restaurants, relaxed in the harbor or at the beach and just loved every minute of our trip there.
There is no debate when it comes to picking the place for our next stop in Tenerife since Puerto de la Cruz won our hearts.
Now that the cities are done with I will try to list the places we visited and loved on the island.
I will try to keep the list decent in size even though we loved so many places and we can’t wait to return to them.
Drago Siete Fuentes
Dragon trees, maybe a symbol of Tenerife. Even though the most famous tree sits in Santa Cruz I think this place here is more interesting.
While that tree sits in a park, this one sits in a place where you have different options to frame it against the mountains, the ocean, with the old, derelict house.
I think this place is lovely because it is free, it is not busy and it offers a glimpse into how amazing these trees are.
I cannot pinpoint it exactly on google maps but it is in the Los Realejos area, when you pass an amazing mural on Calle el Mar, you turn on Calle La Marina, walk it until it ends and go a bit left on the dirt road and you should see it.
Playa de Benijo
By far one of the most spectacular beaches in Tenerife.
A must if you enjoy landscape photography but please be careful of the tides and how fast water is advancing.
This is one of the places I would definitely return to.
Black sand, rock formations, boulders on a part of it, what more can you wish for?
Playa Amarilla
Something different and colorful.
Especially if you are accommodated in the south of the island, Plata Amarilla is a lovely sight.
Layers upon layers of colors, making this beach a special place.
Anaga rural park
Amazing. And not just the viewpoints or Camino Viejo al Pico del Ingles but the whole road.
loved taking my time driving through those ancient trees, the bends, curbs, glimpses of the ocean, small, remote houses popping, majestic cliffs, it is just lovely.
Anaga is a must see, especially since it is the way to reach Benijo beach.
Arco de Tajao
If you are in the south, this place is one of the most well-known sights.
It is a natural arch, visited by many people who arrive in Tenerife and since it is a quick stop you could consider it for your “to see list”
I don’t know if I would put it in my “wow list” but if it is on your way, why not?
Mirador los 500 escalones
This is a small place, lots of steps going up and down but if you catch a good sunset and you are passionate about photography, you can return home with some lovely memories.
This is also the kind of place you go to if you have lots of time to spare.
Mirador de El Pris
Maybe one of my favorite places, we stopped here after the Benijo trip on our way to Puerto de la Cruz.
If you are passionate about photography, this area provides lots of possibilities from El Pris but also going down, closer to the ocean and the rocks.
For me it’s a lovely place but depending on your time and location you might chose to skip this and that is totally understandable.
Bajamar
Spent quite a few mornings here, driving from Puerto de la Cruz, enjoying the almost empty beach, grabbing some pastries and a Barraquito from a cafe close by.
Swam both in the ocean and in the Natural pool, found a great restaurant, a lovely coffee place and just enjoyed the beach mostly to ourselves.
Mirador Sendero Punta del Hidalgo
Absolute love.
Do come here. Beware the strong wind but do come.
The ocean meeting the cliffs, few people, quite a few places to sit down and eat the sandwich you prepared in the morning, a superb experience with magnificent views.
One of our biggest regret is that we kept sating that we will return here but picked new places to see day after day and the trip finished before we got a chance to return here.
I would say that if you love nature, photography and the spunds of wind and ocean hitting the rocks, this place is a must.
Playa El Bollullo
Watching how close it seems to be on the map to Puerto de la Cruz, you’d be tempted to try a hike and get there by foot.
I wouldn’t recommend it especially since maps show no elevation, climbs, stepdown, etc and mostly because after enjoying, admiring the black sand or the stone rocks in the water it is not exactly pleasant to climb back and walk for miles until your reach your hotel.
The road by car is faster yet you need to take into account that the last portion is tight, with not many places to park.
I parked upstairs in a designated car park, near a restaurant (paid parking of course) then made my way down to the beach to photograph the rock formation here.
Even though this beach is not as well known as Benijo, we absolutely loved it and still remember how hard the waves hit the shores and the rock formations.
Now, before going further I must stress on one point.
Of course there are other destinations.
El Medano beach for example for kite and surfers, a wide beach that you’ll probably enjoy. Icod de los Vinos with its dragon trees and banana plantation that you can visit. Tens of charcos like Charco del Viento or de la Laja, Punta Teno with its lighthouse (we skipped it both times but will surely check it next time we reach Tenerife), Costa Adeje and so on.
I think that what is important is this. Unless you spend a month on the island like we did, chances are you’ll miss things. Even us, after a month, still discover places to see for our next visit.
So, what you could do is read the article, search for extra pictures online, decide what you can see realistically in the period you have and forget about it.
Don’t obsess. Give yourself time not only to see things but to walk leisurely, sit at a coffee, enjoy a good meal, and look at the ocean in silence.
Next, I will detail a few itinerary ideas in Tenerife based on your potential location and maybe these will help you get a better picture of what you could do on this beautiful island.
I won’t give much details for the locations since all/most are covered above.
TENERIFE – SOUTH-BASED ROUTE SYSTEM
(TFS entry | Los Cristianos / Playa de las Américas base)
ROUTE 1 — 7 DAYS | SOUTH ESSENTIALS
Best for: first-timers, beach + nature balance, no long drives
Base: Los Cristianos or Playa de las Américas
DAY 1 — Arrival + settle in
Land TFS, pick up car, check in. Evening walk in Los Cristianos harbour.
Enjoy your free time. The next days will be busy.
DAY 2 — Los Gigantes + Masca
Morning: drive to Los Gigantes. Cliffs, harbour, black sand beach.
Afternoon: Masca (optional).
HONEST NOTE ON MASCA: Road is slow and full of bends, parking is nearly impossible, the village is tiny. If you have 10+ days, go. If you have 7, skip it and spend that time at Los Gigantes properly or go to Costa Adeje
DAY 3 — Teide National Park
Full day. Non-negotiable. Roques de García, Pico Viejo viewpoint, Mirador de la Tarta, Mirador de Chipeque.
Drive slow, stop often, don’t rush this.
DAY 4 — Anaga Rural Park + Playa de Benijo
Early start — the drive through Anaga is the experience, not just the destination.
Ancient trees, ocean glimpses, remote houses, majestic cliffs.
End at Benijo beach — black sand, rock formations.
Watch the tides. Serious warning — water advances fast.
DAY 5 — La Orotava + Puerto de la Cruz (day trip)
Morning: La Orotava. Casa de los Balcones, Iglesia de La Concepción, Quinta Roja Garden. Allow 2-3 hours.
Afternoon: Puerto de la Cruz. Old town, murals, harbour, charcos.
This is a preview — if you love it, come back longer next time.
DAY 6 — Arco de Tajao + Playa Amarilla + slow south
Morning: Arco de Tajao — natural arch, quick stop.
Playa Amarilla — layers of color, great for photography.
Afternoon: Enjoy the beach. Any beach will do.
This is your recovery day before departure.
DAY 7 — Departure
ROUTE 2 — 9 DAYS | SOUTH + NORTH PREVIEW
Best for: travelers who want more depth, first contact with the north without changing base
Base: Los Cristianos or Playa de las Américas
(1 night Puerto de la Cruz mid-trip recommended)
DAY 1 — Arrival + settle in
Same as Route 1.
DAY 2 — Los Gigantes
Full day this time. No Masca rush. Cliffs, harbour, whale and dolphin watching tour.
Black sand beach at golden hour.
DAY 3 — Teide National Park
Full day. Same logic as Route 1.
DAY 4 — Anaga Rural Park + Playa de Benijo
Same as Route 1. Early start. Add Mirador de El Pris on the way back and if the light is good you might get some nice hotographs
DAY 5 — La Laguna + Garachico
Morning: San Cristóbal de La Laguna. Cathedral, university, old town. UNESCO listed since 1999 — slow walk, no rush.
Afternoon: Garachico. Old town, castle, Plaza de la Libertad, charcos.
Do bring your swimsuit and relax in a charco if the weater permits it.
DAY 6 — Puerto de la Cruz (overnight)
Check into Puerto de la Cruz for 1 night. This changes everything. Old town at night, harbor dinner, morning swim.
Drago Siete Fuentes if you have energy or even Bollullo for sunset photos.
DAY 7 — Playa El Bollullo + back to south
Morning: Playa El Bollullo if you didn’t visit last evening. Park up top, walk down. Black sand, rock formations, hard waves.
Less known than Benijo but equally spectacular.
Afternoon: drive back to south base.
DAY 8 — Slow south day
A relaxing day at the beach since you travelled a lot.
Last real day — don’t overplan it.
DAY 9 — Departure
ROUTE 3 — 10 DAYS | FULL SOUTH + NORTH DAY TRIPS
Best for: travelers who want everything covered without changing base twice
Base: Los Cristianos or Playa de las Américas
(1-2 nights Puerto de la Cruz mid-trip)
DAY 1 — Arrival
Same as before.
DAY 2 — Los Gigantes + whale watching
Full day. Book whale watching in advance.
DAY 3 — Teide National Park
Full day. Drive the whole park. Add Mirador de Esperanza on the way up.
DAY 4 — Anaga + Benijo + Mirador de El Pris
Full north-east day.
Anaga drive → Benijo → El Pris at sunset.
Long day but one of the best on the island.
DAY 5 — La Laguna + La Orotava
Morning: La Laguna old town.
Afternoon: La Orotava — closer to Puerto de la Cruz, sets up perfectly for the overnight move.
Check into Puerto de la Cruz late afternoon.
DAY 6 — Puerto de la Cruz full day
Charcos, old town, murals, harbour. Drago Siete Fuentes morning drive.
DAY 7 — Garachico + Playa El Bollullo
Morning: Playa El Bollulo
Afternoon: Garachico — castle, charcos, old town
DAY 8 — Arco de Tajao + Playa Amarilla
South landmarks day. Relaxed pace — this is the wind-down before departure.
DAY 9 — Free day
Beach. Food. Nothing planned. This is the day most people regret not leaving empty.
DAY 10 — Departure
ROUTE 4 — 12 DAYS | SLOW TENERIFE
Best for: photographers, slow travelers, people who want to feel the island
Base split: 6 nights south + 5 nights Puerto de la Cruz
DAY 1 — Arrival south
Settle in. Los Cristianos harbor evening.
DAY 2 — Los Gigantes full day
Cliffs, harbour, whale watching, black sand. Golden hour at the beach.
DAY 3 — Teide National Park
Full day. Every mirador. This is the day you remember for years.
DAY 4 — Arco de Tajao + Playa Amarilla + El Medano
South exploration day.
El Medano beach — kite and wind surfers, wide open beach, different energy from the rest.
DAY 5 — Anaga Rural Park
Full day in Anaga. Drive slow. Stop everywhere.
End at Benijo — black sand, boulders, tide warning.
DAY 6 — Travel north + La Laguna
Morning: check out south.
Stop in La Laguna on the way — 2-3 hours in old town.
Afternoon: check into Puerto de la Cruz.
Evening walk in the harbor.
DAY 7 — Puerto de la Cruz deep dive
Charcos, old town, murals, local restaurants. No agenda. This is what the north feels like.
DAY 8 — Garachico + Icod de los Vinos
Morning: Garachico — best preserved town in Tenerife.
Afternoon: Icod de los Vinos — dragon trees, banana plantation, different pace entirely.
DAY 9 — La Orotava + Drago Siete Fuentes
Morning: La Orotava.
Afternoon: Drago Siete Fuentes — free, quiet, spectacular framing against mountains and ocean.
DAY 10 — Bajamar + Mirador Sendero Punta del Hidalgo
Morning: Bajamar natural pools. Swim, pastries, Barraquito coffee.
Afternoon: Mirador Sendero Punta del Hidalgo.
Wind, cliffs, ocean. One of the best viewpoints on the island.
Go even if it’s windy — especially if it’s windy.
DAY 11 — Playa El Bollullo + Mirador de El Pris
Morning: Playa El Bollullo.
Afternoon: Mirador de El Pris — stay for golden hour.
Last real photography day.
TENERIFE – NORTH-BASED ROUTE SYSTEM
(TFN entry | Puerto de la Cruz base)
IMPORTANT NOTE BEFORE YOU START: Flying into TFN (Tenerife Norte) puts you 20 minutes
from Puerto de la Cruz. No long transfer, no wasted day. Pick up your car, drive north, check in. The trip starts immediately.
ROUTE 1 — 7 DAYS | NORTH ESSENTIALS
Best for: first-timers who want culture + nature without the beach-resort experience
Base: Puerto de la Cruz
DAY 1 — Arrival + Puerto de la Cruz first evening
Land TFN, pick up car, check in. Walk the old town. Harbour at sunset. Find a local restaurant — don’t eat at the hotel.
This evening sets the tone for the whole trip.
DAY 2 — Puerto de la Cruz full day
Charcos morning swim. Old town — murals, streets, small shops.
Drago Siete Fuentes afternoon. (Los Realejos area. Pass the mural on Calle el Mar, turn on Calle La Marina, follow to the end, take the dirt road left. Free, quiet, spectacular.)
Harbour evening. This is why you came north.
DAY 3 — Teide National Park
Full day. Non-negotiable from any base.
From Puerto de la Cruz the drive up is different —you pass through pine forest before the landscape opens into volcanic rock and silence.
Roques de García, Pico Viejo viewpoint,Mirador de la Tarta, Mirador de Chipeque.
Drive slow. Stop at every mirador.
DAY 4 — Anaga Rural Park + Playa de Benijo
Early start — non-negotiable.
The drive through Anaga is the experience. Ancient laurel forest, ocean glimpses through the trees, remote houses, vertiginous cliffs.
End at Benijo — black sand, rock formations, boulders.
Serious tide warning: water advances fast here.
Stay aware. Then: Mirador de El Pris on the way back.
Golden hour here is exceptional.
DAY 5 — Garachico + Icod de los Vinos
Morning: Garachico. Best preserved town in Tenerife. Castle, Plaza de la Libertad, old town streets. Then the charcos — swim if weather allows.
This is what Tenerife looked like before mass tourism.
Afternoon: Icod de los Vinos. Dragon trees, banana plantation you can visit.
Different pace, different energy. Allow 2 hours and don’t rush it.
DAY 6 — La Orotava + La Laguna
Morning: La Orotava. Under 10km from Puerto de la Cruz.Casa de los Balcones, Iglesia de La Concepción,Quinta Roja Garden.
Afternoon: La Laguna. UNESCO listed since 1999.Cathedral, university, old town.
Quieter streets than Puerto de la Cruz, slower rhythm, worth the half day.
DAY 7 — Departure
ROUTE 2 — 9 DAYS | NORTH + EAST COAST
Best for: travelers who want depth beyond the main landmarks, with photography stops
Base: Puerto de la Cruz
DAY 1 — Arrival + first evening
Same as Route 1.
DAY 2 — Puerto de la Cruz deep dive
Full day this time.
Morning: charcos and ocean swim.
Midday: old town, murals, coffee stops.
Afternoon: Drago Siete Fuentes.
Evening: harbour dinner.
DAY 3 — Teide National Park
Full day. Every mirador.Add Mirador de Esperanza on the way up – views over the north coast on a clear day are worth the extra 20 minutes.
DAY 4 — Garachico + Charco del Viento
Morning: Garachico old town and charcos.
Afternoon: Charco del Viento. Natural pool carved by lava, ocean water, one of the most photogenic spots on the island.
Time it with low tide for the best experience.
DAY 5 — Anaga Rural Park + Benijo + El Pris
Full east day. Early start.
Anaga drive — take your time through the forest.
Benijo beach — black sand, boulders, tide warning.
Mirador de El Pris on the way back.
Stay for sunset if energy allows.
DAY 6 — La Laguna + Bajamar
Morning: La Laguna old town. Cathedral, university, slow walk.
Afternoon: Bajamar. Natural pools, almost empty beach, good pastries and Barraquito coffee nearby.
This is a quiet, local experience —the kind of morning you remember without knowing why.
DAY 7 — La Orotava + Icod de los Vinos
Morning: La Orotava.
Afternoon: Icod de los Vinos. Dragon trees, banana plantation.
These two pair well — both slow, both worth 2-3 hours each.
DAY 8 — Mirador Sendero Punta del Hidalgo + Mirador los 500 escalones
Morning: drive to Punta del Hidalgo. Ocean meeting cliffs, strong wind, few people.
Bring a sandwich. Sit. Stay longer than planned.
Afternoon: Mirador los 500 escalones.
Steps up and down, effort required, but if light is right and you have a camera, you will not regret it.
DAY 9 — Departure
ROUTE 3 — 10 DAYS | FULL NORTH
Best for: slow travelers, photographers, people who want to actually live in Puerto de la Cruz for a few days rather than just visit
Base: Puerto de la Cruz
DAY 1 — Arrival
Settle in. Harbour walk. Local dinner.
DAY 2 — Puerto de la Cruz day 1
Charcos, old town, murals.
DAY 3 — Teide National Park
Full day.
DAY 4 — Garachico + Charco del Viento + Icod de los Vinos
Three stops, all close together, all worth it.
Morning: Garachico — castle, charcos, old town.
Midday: Charco del Viento — swim, photograph, stay.
Afternoon: Icod de los Vinos — dragon trees, banana plantation, slower pace.
DAY 5 — Anaga Rural Park + Benijo + El Pris
Full day east. Same logic as previous routes. This is one of the two best days on the island
regardless of how many days you have.
DAY 6 — La Laguna + Bajamar
Morning: La Laguna.
Afternoon: Bajamar natural pools.
Pastries. Barraquito. Ocean swim.
Quiet, local, completely different from the tourist circuit.
DAY 7 — La Orotava + Drago Siete Fuentes
Morning: La Orotava.
Afternoon: Drago Siete Fuentes.
Free, quiet, spectacular against mountains and ocean.
This is the hidden version of the dragon tree experience
DAY 8 — Mirador Sendero Punta del Hidalgo +Playa El Bollullo
Morning: Punta del Hidalgo.
Wind, cliffs, ocean. One of the best viewpoints on the island.
Afternoon: Playa El Bollullo.
Less known than Benijo, equally spectacular. Black sand, rock formations, hard waves.
Park up top, walk down, allow 2 hours.
DAY 9 — Mirador los 500 escalones + Puerto de la Cruz
morning: Mirador los 500 escalones.
Worth it if light is right and you have a camera.
Afternoon: final Puerto de la Cruz walk. Harbour, coffee, last meal at your favourite place.
DAY 10 — Departure
ROUTE 4 — 12 DAYS | SLOW NORTH
Best for: photographers, writers, people who want to understand the island not just see it
Base: Puerto de la Cruz throughout
(optional 1-2 night split to La Laguna area for east coast days)
DAY 1 — Arrival
Settle in. Harbour evening. Local restaurant.
DAY 2 — Puerto de la Cruz day 1
Charcos, old town, murals, harbour.
Drago Siete Fuentes afternoon.
This is orientation day — learn the town.
DAY 3 — Puerto de la Cruz day 2
Everything you missed yesterday. Different café. Different street. Different charco.
DAY 4 — Teide National Park
Full day. Every mirador. Drive slow.
Evening: star gazing if booked in advance.
This combination — day visit + night sky — is the single best 24 hours you can spend on the island.
DAY 5 — Garachico full day
Don’t rush Garachico.
Morning: old town, castle, Plaza de la Libertad.
Midday: charcos — swim, dry off, swim again.
Afternoon: walk the streets again at different light.
DAY 6 — Charco del Viento + Icod de los Vinos
Morning: Charco del Viento at low tide. Natural lava pool, ocean water, extraordinary light.
Afternoon: Icod de los Vinos. Dragon trees and banana plantation.
Slow afternoon, no pressure.
DAY 7 — Anaga Rural Park
Full day. Entire drive through the park.
Don’t skip any fork in the road if time allows.
End at Benijo — black sand, tide warning, stay for golden hour.
DAY 8 — Mirador de El Pris + Playa El Bollullo
Morning: El Pris — rocks, ocean, photography.
Afternoon: Playa El Bollullo.
These two back to back make one of the best photography days on the island.
DAY 9 — La Laguna + Bajamar
Morning: La Laguna — slow, UNESCO, cathedral.
Afternoon: Bajamar natural pools. Pastries. Barraquito. Ocean. Silence.
DAY 10 — Mirador Sendero Punta del Hidalgo + Mirador los 500 escalones
Full viewpoint day.
Morning: Punta del Hidalgo — wind, cliffs, packed lunch.
Afternoon: los 500 escalones — steps, effort, reward.
These two together = one of the most photogenic days on the island if light cooperates.
DAY 11 — La Orotava + free afternoon
Morning: La Orotava — final proper excursion.
Afternoon: free. Puerto de la Cruz harbour.
DAY 12 — Departure
What comes next?
This large guide is just the beginning. Accommodation, meals, experiences and many more will follow because Tenerife more than deserves it.
Stay tuned!
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