8-Day Tenerife North & South Self-Drive Tour

Day 1: Day 1 : ARRIVAL TENERIFE

1. 12h
   Arrive at Tenerife airport (You can get to Tenerife North Airport or Tenerife South) and meet with a rent-a-car representative to assist you in picking up the rental car. Then Drive directly to the town of Puerto de la Cruz, situated on the northern part of the island, where you spend three nights. Puerto de la Cruz contains attractions such as its protected historic center or a large seafront, perfect for long and peaceful walks.
   
   Overnight in Puerto de la Cruz.

Day 2: Day 2 : PUERTO DE LA CRUZ -OROTAVA-NATIONAL PARK, MT. TEIDE – EL SAUZAL-PUERTO DE LA CRUZ (120 km – 3 hrs)

1. 12h
   Breakfast at your hotel. Our routing recommendation for today: Start the day driving to the evergreen valley of La Orotava. Its streets and buildings are all monuments to its past cultural splendour; don´t miss a visit to House of Balconies. Did you know that Tenerife has more than 400 volcanoes? Learn more about it driving to National Park of Las Cañadas, which is a must while on this island. Through the impressive viewpoint of Roques de García visitors will get an astonishing view of Mt. Teide, the highest peak in Spain with 3.718 mtrs. Old flows of lava, volcanic and colourful rock formations in a unique landscape resembling the moon. Descending through La Esperanza´s forest, the smell and scenes of its cool forest of eucalyptus vegetation will take visitors down to a differente landscape. Visit the lovely village of El Sauzal, a settlement that goes back to the island´s prehispanic era with its 16th century Church of St. Peter and a walk to the 16th c. estate of the former Marquis of El Sauzal; La Garañona´s viewpoint is worth visiting with gorgeus views of craggy coastline and Atlantic Ocean. It is a charming stop before driving back to Puerto de la Cruz, a popular resort with a charming atmosphere where you can discover its colonial past or stroll by its sea promenade; on your way the Lago Martiánez, the famous salt waterpool designed by the well-known canarian architec and artist César Manrique, is all a symbol of the island.
   Overnight in Puerto de la Cruz.

Day 3: Day 3 : PUERTO DE LA CRUZ - SANTA CRUZ – TAGANANA – SAN CRISTOBAL DE LA LAGUNA – PUERTO DE LA CRUZ (125 km – 3 hrs)

1. 12h
   Breakfast at your hotel. Our suggestions for today: Enjoy the interesting story of the capital of the island, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Pass by the historical buildings like San Francisco´s Church, Plaza del Príncipe and its old part of the town with La Recova, Guimera´s theatre, Casa de la Carta and La Concepción´s Church. Continue to the Anaga Country park with its impressive cliffs and laurel forest that dates back to the Tertiary period. Its untouched vegetation is bathed in a blanket of clouds practically all year round. If you follow the meandering road down, you will reach the coast and its various secluded villages, including Taganana. The charm of this village lies in its fabulous beach, steep sloping landscapes and small restaurants. Continue to San Cristobal de la Laguna and discover the magic of this town walking through the historic quarter and city center, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Take a leisurely stroll down picturesque streets to get a taste of colonial architecture close-up. Return to Puerto de la Cruz.
   Overnight in Puerto de La Cruz.

Day 4: Day 4 : PUERTO DE LA CRUZ - ICOD - SANTIAGO DEL TEIDE-MASCA-PUERTO DE SANTIAGO (90 km – 2 hrs)

1. 12h
   Breakfast at your hotel. Today you will change hotel for your stay in the southern part of the island. We suggest following visits on route: First stop at Icod de los Vinos, known by its famous Dragon tree, el Drago Milenario , The famous "thousand-year-old Dragon" (although its age is officially 800 years) is one of the most important natural, cultural and historic symbols of the Canary Islands. The single road that links El Tanque to Santiago del Teide takes you through several beautiful hamlets as Ruigomez and Erjos. A stop at Santiago del Teide is recommended. Proceed to the hamlet of Masca with its cottages lined up along the mountain ridges. 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. 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. In fact, for years the only means of communication with the rest of the world was the trail of Camino de los Guanches, linking Masca to Santiago del Teide. Continue to your hotel on the southern coast area.
   Overnight in Puerto de Santiago

Day 5: Day 5 : PUERTO DE SANTIAGO – CANDELARIA – GÜIMAR – PUERTO DE SANTIAGO (180 Km – 2.5 hrs)

1. 12h
   Breakfast at your hotel. We recommend following visits on the southern coastline:
   
   Candelaria: In the late 14th century, a Gothic style sculpture of the Virgin of Candelaria was washed up on the shores of the Güímar valley, who the Guanche people worshipped under the name of Chaxiraxi. As from the year 1526, the figure was kept in the shrine built under the order of the governor Pedro Fernández de Lugo. The primitive figure disappeared as a result of the flood in 1826, so the current figure was made by Tenerife's Fernando Estévez in 1827. Candelaria is related to Guanches´memories and pilgrimage. Right by Plaza de la Patrona de Canarias stand the huge bronze statues of the nine Guanche "menceyes" (kings), created by Tenerife sculptor José Abad. Continue to Güímar, which is also an interesting stop; it lies on the south side of Tenerife, in the spectacular Güímar Valley. Its popular historic quarter is full of prominent buildings. You can set off on a walk around the streets passing by the San Pedro de Arriba chapel or the Town Hall. Return to you hotel IN Puerto de Santiago.
   Overnight in Puerto de Santiago

Day 6: Day 6 : PUERTO DE SANTIAGO

1. 12h
   Breakfast at the hotel. We recommend to just enjoy some of the nice beach areas in the southern part of Tenerife or just relax at your hotel or going on an excursion through any of the stunning landscapes of the south of Tenerife, dining in a restaurant with a terrace by the sea or having a fun day in a theme park are just some of the options offered by the south of the island.
   Overnight in Puerto de Santiago

Day 7: Day 7 : PUERTO DE SANTIAGO

1. 12h
   Indulge in a delicious breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure where you can take the opportunity to rest or repeat some place mentioned in days ago.
   Overnight in Puerto de Santiago

Day 8: Day 8 : DEPARTURE TENERIFE

1. Tenerife
   12h
   Bid farewell to Tenerife after breakfast at the hotel and drive back to the airport Tenerife (You can take your flight back from the Tenerife North airport or the south Tenerife airport) to drop off the car. You'll be told the return procedure and exact designated area by the rent a car company when you pick up the car on arrival day

Pickup details

Arrive at Tenerife airport (You can get to Tenerife North Airport or Tenerife South) and meet with a rent-a-car representative to assist you in picking up the rental car. Due to COVID 19 security measures, the Meet and Greet service might not be given at the airport, so exact directions will be shared with the travelers upon booking.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Please note that hired car can not be taken from one island to the other
• Drivers age from 26 to 75 years old (must have had their driver´s licence for a minimum of one year)
• Pick-up hours are from Monday to Sunday, 07:00 to 22:00 hrs. Pick-up outside of these times are subject to a surcharge.
• Drivers who are not citizens of the European Union must present an international driver’s licence together with the original from their country of origin.
• if the customer returns the vehicle earlier than the agreed upon drop-off date stated in the rental contract, the rental company will not refund the customer for any unused days
• Deposit credit card Visa or MasterCard only
• Accident/theft reporting must be notified within 48 hours of incident
• In cases where, following the return of the vehicle, additional cleaning is required due to the car being dirty beyond the level expected from normal vehicle use, an additional charge shall apply, against evidence of the cost of the service provided
• Instructions for car collection. Day 1: On arrival at the airport head to the hall to meet with an rent-a-car representative Day 8: Return procedure and exact designated area will be advised by rent a car company when you pick up the car on arrival day
• What do I need to bring? Comfortable and warm clothing is the most suitable for travelling. Visitors should not wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts or skimpy clothing when visiting temples, religious or official buildings. Sun protection, sunglasses, a hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay.