5 days in Tenerife

Day by day

1. Day 1: Teide National Park and Teide cable car and summit

   Teide National Park, Teide cable car and summit and San Cristóbal de La Laguna old town, then Auditorio de Tenerife in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Teide National Park

      Arrive early or late in the afternoon to avoid tour coaches at the Roques de García, and bring a warm layer: it can be 15 °C colder than on the coast. (Half to full day, free).

   2. Late morning

      Teide cable car and summit

      The altitude can cause dizziness and breathlessness; move slowly at the top, and skip the ride if you have heart or breathing problems or are pregnant. (2–3 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Papas arrugadas con mojo

      Almost every Canarian restaurant serves them as a starter or side; guachinches in the north often use local heritage potatoes.

   4. Afternoon

      San Cristóbal de La Laguna old town

      Walk the old streets in the morning, then come back for tapas around Calle Herradores in the evening, when students fill the bars. (Half a day, free).

   5. Evening

      Auditorio de Tenerife

      Combine a walk around the building with the Palmetum, a palm garden built on a former landfill a short walk south along the shore.

2. Day 2: Los Gigantes cliffs and Whale and dolphin watching

   Los Gigantes cliffs, Whale and dolphin watching and Loro Parque, then Veronicas and Starco, Playa de las Américas in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Los Gigantes cliffs

      Stay for sunset, when the cliffs turn orange and La Gomera is silhouetted across the channel. (2–3 hours by boat, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Whale and dolphin watching

      Choose a boat with the regional government's 'Barco Azul' whale-watching licence, which sets rules on distance and speed around the animals. (2–5 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Rabbit in salmorejo

      Guachinches and rural restaurants in the Orotava Valley, Tacoronte and La Matanza.

   4. Afternoon

      Loro Parque

      Buy the combined ticket with Siam Park if you plan to visit both; the two parks can be visited on separate days. (Full day, expensive).

   5. Evening

      Veronicas and Starco, Playa de las Américas

      The island's main party strip, with British-style bars, live music and clubs that stay open into the early morning.

3. Day 3: Siam Park and Anaga Rural Park

   Siam Park, Anaga Rural Park and Masca village and gorge, then La Laguna in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Siam Park

      Arrive at opening to claim sun loungers and ride the big slides before queues build; a fast-pass add-on can save hours in summer. (Full day, expensive).

   2. Late morning

      Anaga Rural Park

      The Sendero de los Sentidos at Cruz del Carmen is an easy, short forest walk for children; hikers can continue to Chinamada and its cave houses. (Full day, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Gofio

      Supermarkets and local mills sell it in bags; escaldón, gofio stirred into fish or meat broth, appears on traditional menus.

   4. Afternoon

      Masca village and gorge

      Drive the road early in the morning to avoid meeting coaches on the hairpins, or take the TITSA bus from Santiago del Teide. (2–3 hours for the village, free).

   5. Evening

      La Laguna

      Students fill the bars around Calle Herradores and the 'Cuadrilátero' near the university, especially from Thursday to Saturday.

4. Day 4: Day trip to La Gomera

   About 50 minutes by ferry each way. Getting there: Ferry from Los Cristianos to San Sebastián de La Gomera.

   1. Morning

      Travel to La Gomera

      About 50 minutes by ferry (Ferry from Los Cristianos to San Sebastián de La Gomera); about 40 km.

   2. Day

      La Gomera

      Tenerife's small neighbour is a steep, green island of ravines and terraces whose centre is Garajonay National Park, a UNESCO-listed laurel forest often wrapped in mist. Best for quiet stays, culture and couples.

   3. Evening

      Back in Tenerife

      Dinner: try Grilled goat's cheese.

5. Day 5: La Orotava old town and Garachico and El Caletón

   La Orotava old town, Garachico and El Caletón and Drago Milenario, then Calle La Noria, Santa Cruz in the evening.

   1. Morning

      La Orotava old town

      Wear sturdy shoes: the old town climbs steeply, and the upper streets give views across the valley to Teide. (2–3 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Garachico and El Caletón

      Only swim in El Caletón on calm days; Atlantic swells can sweep over the rocks without warning. (2–3 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Grilled goat's cheese

      Starter menus everywhere; cheese stalls at the Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África sell whole local cheeses.

   4. Afternoon

      Drago Milenario

      Combine it with Garachico, a short drive west along the coast, for a half-day in the northwest. (1 hour, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Calle La Noria, Santa Cruz

      A short street of restored colonial houses near the Iglesia de la Concepción, packed with tapas bars and terraces in the evening.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Teide cable car and summit before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Puerto de la Cruz keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Costa Adeje ($$$$) suits families, luxury and beach. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 38–54 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.4 hours in December to 13.9 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Tenerife
• 2 days in Tenerife
• 3 days in Tenerife

Questions travellers ask