Tenerife was one of the most surprising trips many travellers have done. You land expecting modern beach resorts, and while those exist, you also discover some of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful nature you’ve ever seen — hairpin mountain roads, moon-like volcanic landscapes, ancient misty forests, and coastal cliffs dropping 600 metres into the Atlantic.
All of it is accessible by rental car. Most of it is impossible to reach any other way.
This 7-day itinerary is built for travellers flying into TFS (Tenerife South Airport) with a rental car already booked, spending a week driving the island end to end. It’s designed to move logically — south to north, west to east — so you’re never backtracking unnecessarily. It covers Teide, Masca, the west coast, the north coast, Anaga, La Laguna, and the southern resorts without trying to do everything in a single day.
Each day has a primary focus, backup options for different paces, and an honest note on driving time and difficulty.
🚗 Before You Go — The Essentials
Car: A compact or small car handles every route in this itinerary. An automatic gearbox is strongly recommended — Teide, Masca, and Anaga all involve sustained gradients and tight bends. Book at least 3 weeks ahead. See our complete car hire guide for companies and pricing.
Insurance: Know your excess before you arrive at the desk. Several days in this itinerary involve mountain roads where tyre and undercarriage contact is a real risk. Zero-excess cover or a third-party excess policy is recommended. Full details in our insurance guide.
Pickup: This itinerary starts at TFS. If you fly into TFN, reverse the itinerary — start with Day 5 (Anaga) and work south.
Fuel: Fill up before mountain days. No petrol stations inside Teide National Park. Fill up in Vilaflor before the TF-21 ascent, and in Buenavista del Norte before approaching Masca.
📋 7-Day Overview at a Glance
| Day | Area | Highlights | Drive Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South coast | El Médano, La Tejita, Playa del Duque | ⭐ Easy |
| 2 | Teide National Park | TF-21 via Vilaflor, Roques de García, cable car | ⭐⭐ Easy-Medium |
| 3 | West coast — Masca | TF-436, Mirador de Cherfe, Los Gigantes | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hard |
| 4 | Northwest — Garachico | El Caletón, Icod dragon tree, north coast | ⭐⭐ Easy-Medium |
| 5 | Puerto de la Cruz | Loro Parque, Lago Martianez, Playa Jardín | ⭐ Easy |
| 6 | Anaga Rural Park | Ridge road, Taganana, Benijo beach, La Laguna | ⭐⭐⭐ Medium |
| 7 | Santa Cruz + south | Capital, Las Teresitas, return TFS | ⭐ Easy |
🌞 Day 1 — Arrive & Explore the South Coast
Pick up: TFS Airport | Base: Southern resort of your choice Driving: ~35 km total | Difficulty: ⭐ Easy
The first day is deliberately low-key. You’ve just landed, you’re adjusting to right-hand traffic and a left-hand drive car, and you need to find your accommodation. Keep the driving simple and the distances short.
Morning: Pick up your rental car at TFS. Film a 360° video of the car before leaving the car park — every panel, the roof, the underside of doors. This is your evidence if a damage dispute arises on return. Drive to your resort (15–25 minutes from TFS to most southern hotels).
Afternoon: Drive to El Médano (12 minutes from TFS on TF-64) — Tenerife’s most natural beach town and its kitesurfing capital. Wide golden sand, consistent trade winds, a relaxed town atmosphere nothing like the resort south. Walk to La Tejita (5 minutes further) — a quieter, more sheltered beach with Montaña Roja rising dramatically behind it.
Evening: Return to your resort. Dinner at any of the seafront restaurants in Las Américas or Costa Adeje. Early night — Day 2 starts early.
Day 1 practical notes:
- Don’t attempt mountain roads today — let your driving adjust first
- Fuel up before leaving El Médano for tomorrow’s Teide ascent
- Check the Teide cable car weather webcam tonight — if tomorrow looks clear, confirm your cable car booking
🌋 Day 2 — Teide National Park via Vilaflor
Starting point: Southern resort | Base: Return south or stay in Vilaflor Route: TF-1 → Arona → Vilaflor → TF-21 → Teide caldera → TF-21 return Driving: ~95 km round trip | Difficulty: ⭐⭐ Easy-Medium
Leave your resort by 7:00am. This is the most important timing instruction in the entire itinerary — the cable car car park fills by 9:30am on clear summer days, and arriving early means the mountain roads to yourself before the tour coaches begin.
The ascent via Vilaflor: Drive the TF-1 northeast, exit at Arona, and follow signs to Vilaflor via TF-21. Vilaflor is Spain’s highest village at 1,400 metres — its bakeries open early and the pine-scented air at altitude is a genuine contrast to the coast. Stop for coffee and a pastry before the final climb.
Above Vilaflor, the road enters Teide National Park through increasingly dramatic landscape — pine forest gives way to bare volcanic rock, then the full caldera opens ahead. Roques de García at 2,100 metres — the definitive Teide viewpoint, ancient volcanic formations with Teide rising directly behind — is your first major stop. Aim to arrive before 9am.
Cable car: If pre-booked, the base station car park is 10 minutes further along TF-21. The cable car rises to 3,555 metres in 8 minutes. Book well in advance — it sells out on clear days. If the cable car is closed (wind, volcanic conditions), the drive and viewpoints alone justify the day.
Afternoon: Explore the caldera at your own pace — Mirador El Tabonal Negro (obsidian lava field, otherworldly), Boca Tauce (western viewpoint, looking toward the coast far below). Return via TF-21 south before sunset.
Detailed Teide guide: see our complete guide to visiting Teide by car.
🏔️ Day 3 — Masca and the West Coast
Starting point: Southern resort | Day trip Route: TF-1 → TF-82 → Santiago del Teide → TF-436 → Masca → Buenavista del Norte → TF-42 → Los Gigantes Driving: ~90 km | Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hard (TF-436 section)
The most dramatic day of the week. Start early — very early.
Leave by 7:30am. The TF-436 to Masca is narrow, winding, and fills with tour coaches by 10am. Before 9am it’s quiet, flowing, and yours.
Mirador de Cherfe (28.2997, -16.8240) — the essential viewpoint on TF-436, the only one with a dedicated car park. The Teno ravine drops 600 metres below you, Masca village visible on the opposite face. Stop here for 20 minutes.
Masca village: Parking limited to approximately 40 spaces, 2-hour limit until 2pm. Arrive before 9am. Walk the village (30–45 minutes), look into the ravine from the lower viewpoint, have coffee at one of the small cafés before they fill.
Continue through TF-436 north to Buenavista del Norte — the less-photographed northern section passes through agricultural villages and banana plantations with the coast appearing below. 30–40 minutes from Masca.
Los Gigantes: Drive south on TF-47 coastal road — one of the finest short drives on the island. The cliffs of Los Gigantes visible from Mirador de Archipenque above the town. Lunch at one of the harbour restaurants. Consider a boat trip to the cliffs if time allows.
Full Masca guide: our TF-436 road trip guide.
🌊 Day 4 — Garachico, Icod and the Northwest Coast
Starting point: Southern resort | Day trip or move north Route: TF-1 → TF-5 → TF-42 coast → Garachico → Icod de los Vinos Driving: ~80 km one way | Difficulty: ⭐⭐ Easy-Medium
A gentler day after yesterday’s mountain workout. The TF-42 coastal road from Puerto de la Cruz to Garachico is one of the finest easy drives on the island — banana plantations, black lava cliffs, quiet fishing villages.
Garachico: Arrive before 10am for parking near El Caletón. The lava pools — carved from the 1706 volcanic eruption — are free to enter and extraordinary. Swim, explore the pools at different depths, photograph the Castillo de San Miguel beside them.
Old town: 2 minutes from the pools — Plaza de la Libertad with its giant laurel tree, the Franciscan convent (€2 entry), narrow alleys with local shops. Lunch at Esquina del Puerto or El Caletón restaurant overlooking the pools.
Icod de los Vinos: 10 minutes east on TF-42. The Drago Milenario — a dragon tree claimed to be over a thousand years old — is genuinely extraordinary in person. The Parque del Drago surrounding it is well-maintained and pleasant. Allow 45–60 minutes.
🚗 Discover Tenerife – Best Car Rental Deals
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Option if moving north today: continue east on TF-42 to Puerto de la Cruz (20 minutes from Icod) and check in for Days 5–6.
Full Garachico guide: our Garachico day trip guide.
🌺 Day 5 — Puerto de la Cruz and La Orotava Valley
Base: Puerto de la Cruz (recommended overnight) Route: TF-5 → Puerto de la Cruz → La Orotava → return Driving: ~30 km | Difficulty: ⭐ Easy
A town day — relatively low driving, high experience. Puerto de la Cruz is the island’s original resort town: four centuries of history, a waterfront that predates package tourism, and access to the Orotava Valley — the most fertile and dramatic agricultural landscape in Tenerife.
Morning: Jardín Botánico — created by royal decree in 1788, home to over 200 plant species, and genuinely extraordinary. Opens at 9am. Allow 2 hours.
Midday: Walk the old town — Plaza del Charco (the main square, lined with 18th-century buildings and Indian laurel trees), Casa de la Real Aduana (the colonial customs house), the historic waterfront streets.
Afternoon: Drive 15 minutes south to La Orotava — one of the finest colonial towns in the Canary Islands. The Jardines Victoria overlook the entire Orotava Valley with Teide rising beyond. The old town streets are lined with traditional Canarian mansions, their carved wooden balconies a regional speciality. Allow 2 hours.
Evening: Return to Puerto de la Cruz for dinner. The seafront restaurants serve fresh fish from the Atlantic daily — try papas arrugadas con mojo (small wrinkled potatoes with spicy sauce) as a starter, grilled fish as a main.
Full Puerto guide: our Puerto de la Cruz by car guide.
🌿 Day 6 — Anaga Rural Park
Starting point: Puerto de la Cruz or La Laguna Route: TF-5 → La Laguna → TF-12 ridge road → Taganana → TF-134 → Benijo Driving: ~60 km | Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ Medium
The most atmospheric day of the week. Anaga Rural Park — UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, ancient laurisilva forest, dramatic coastal villages — is the part of Tenerife that most tourists from the south never see. Today you do it properly.
The ridge road (TF-12): Start from La Laguna (or drive there from Puerto de la Cruz — 30 minutes). Head northeast on TF-12. The transition from urban Tenerife to ancient forest happens within 10 minutes of leaving La Laguna.
Key stops on TF-12:
- Mirador de Jardina — first viewpoint, La Laguna valley and Teide in the distance
- Mirador Cruz del Carmen — Anaga Park Visitor Centre, maps and trail information
- Mirador Pico del Inglés (967m) — both coastlines visible simultaneously on clear days
Descend to Taganana: The road descends through the forest to the coast — white-washed houses on steep terraced slopes, an ancient church, a bar with a terrace. Park in the upper village.
TF-134 coast road to Benijo: 8 km of narrow, dramatic road along the north coast — Playa de Almáciga, Playa de Roque de las Bodegas (seafood restaurant, excellent lunch stop), then Playa de Benijo and the famous mirador above it. One of the finest coastal viewpoints on the island.
Evening: Return to La Laguna or Santa Cruz for the night — 30–40 minutes from Benijo.
Full Anaga guide: our Anaga road trip guide.
🏙️ Day 7 — Santa Cruz, Las Teresitas and Return TFS
Starting point: Santa Cruz or La Laguna Route: Santa Cruz city → Las Teresitas → TF-1 south → TFS return Driving: ~40 km | Difficulty: ⭐ Easy
The final day keeps things relaxed — you’re returning the car and don’t want to arrive at TFS stressed and late.
Morning: Santa Cruz de Tenerife — Tenerife’s capital is more interesting than most tourists expect. The Auditorio de Tenerife (Calatrava’s extraordinary concert hall on the waterfront) is worth seeing from the outside. Plaza de España and the surrounding pedestrian shopping streets are pleasant for a final morning coffee and walk.
Mid-morning: Drive 15 minutes north on TF-11 to Playa de las Teresitas — the golden-sand beach near San Andrés. Imported Saharan sand, a protective breakwater, calm water, Anaga mountains as backdrop. One of Tenerife’s finest beaches and almost entirely used by locals rather than tourists from the south. A perfect final swim.
Lunch: San Andrés village — the small fishing harbour beside Las Teresitas has excellent seafood restaurants. Order grilled fresh fish with the beach visible through the window.
Afternoon: Drive south on TF-1 to TFS. Allow 75 minutes from San Andrés to the airport including car return. Return the car, film a final video of any potential damage before handing back keys, keep all fuel receipts.
💡 Practical Notes for the Full Week
Base options:
| Strategy | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| One base (south resort) | Simplest logistics, familiar home | More driving on north days (Days 4–6) |
| Split base (south + north) | Less driving, more immersive | Two hotel check-ins, packing twice |
| Mobile (move daily) | Maximum flexibility | Admin heavy, slower pace |
Most first-time visitors choose one base in the south. Split north/south (2 nights in Puerto de la Cruz or La Laguna for Days 4–6) significantly reduces driving on north coast days.
Driving time summary:
| Day | km | Approx. driving |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | ~35 km | 40 min |
| Day 2 | ~95 km | 2 hrs |
| Day 3 | ~90 km | 2.5 hrs (inc. TF-436) |
| Day 4 | ~80 km | 1.5 hrs |
| Day 5 | ~30 km | 45 min |
| Day 6 | ~60 km | 1.5 hrs |
| Day 7 | ~40 km | 1 hr |
| Total | ~430 km | ~10 hrs driving |
Across 7 days, that’s an average of 60 km and 90 minutes of driving per day — very manageable, with most days leaving 5–6 hours for exploration at stops.
What to pack in the car:
- Warm jacket (for Teide days — 15–20°C colder than the coast)
- Water shoes (El Caletón, north coast rocks)
- 1.5L water per person minimum for mountain days
- Sunscreen SPF50+ (altitude UV is intense)
- Offline maps downloaded (signal patchy in Anaga and Teide)
- Rental company emergency number saved before Day 1
🔗 Detailed Guides for Every Day of This Itinerary
Every day in this route has a dedicated page on rentcarstenerife.com with full details:
- 🚗 Complete car hire guide — book your car before anything else
- 🛡️ Car hire insurance explained — sort your cover before you fly
- 🛣️ Driving in Tenerife — first timer tips — rules, roundabouts, mountain roads, parking
- 🌋 Teide by car — complete guide — routes, parking, cable car, altitude tips
- 🏔️ Masca TF-436 road trip — viewpoints GPS, parking reality, timing
- 🛣️ Best roads to drive in Tenerife — all 7 routes ranked and rated
- 🌊 Garachico day trip — El Caletón, parking, town guide
- 🌺 Puerto de la Cruz by car — Loro Parque, Lago Martianez, parking
- 🌿 Anaga road trip guide — 3 routes, viewpoints, coast road, villages
- 👁️ Best viewpoints in Tenerife — 14 miradors with GPS and timing
- 🏖️ Best beaches by car — 12 beaches from famous to hidden
- ✈️ Car hire at TFS Airport — pickup guide for Day 1
- ✈️ Car hire at TFN Airport — if you fly into the north, reverse the itinerary
🙋 Frequently Asked Questions — 7-Day Tenerife Road Trip
Is 7 days enough to see Tenerife by car?
Seven days is an ideal length for a Tenerife road trip. It’s enough time to cover the island’s main highlights — Teide, Masca, the north coast, Anaga — without rushing. You could easily spend two weeks exploring in more depth. If you have 5 days, prioritise Teide, Masca, and one north coast day. If you have 10 days, add La Palma ferry day trips, more hiking, and slower exploration of the Anaga interior.
What is the best base for a Tenerife road trip?
A southern resort (Costa Adeje, Las Américas) works well as a single base — TFS Airport is close, the beach is available every evening, and it’s a manageable drive to all parts of the island. For a more immersive experience, consider splitting between south (Days 1–3) and a northern base like Puerto de la Cruz or La Laguna (Days 4–6) to reduce daily driving distances on north coast days.
What car is best for a 7-day Tenerife road trip?
A compact automatic is the ideal vehicle for this itinerary. The automatic gearbox handles Teide’s sustained climb, Masca’s hairpins, and Anaga’s winding lanes significantly more comfortably than a manual. A Seat Ibiza, VW Polo, or similar small compact covers every road in this itinerary without difficulty. Book at least 3 weeks ahead — automatics sell out in peak season.
Which day is the most difficult to drive?
Day 3 — Masca and the TF-436. The road is narrow, winding, and requires passing oncoming vehicles on tight sections. It’s manageable for confident drivers but not recommended for nervous drivers or anyone in a large vehicle. Going early (before 9am) dramatically reduces the stress. Days 2 and 6 involve mountain roads that are wider and more straightforward.
How much does it cost to rent a car for 7 days in Tenerife?
A compact car for 7 days ranges from approximately €70–€130 in low season to €180–€300 in peak season (July–August, Christmas). An automatic in the same category adds roughly €40–€80 more per week. Book in advance on Discovercars.com for the best pricing — last-minute airport rates are significantly higher.
Should I book the Teide cable car in advance?
Yes — book it before you travel. The cable car sells out on clear-weather days and cannot be reliably purchased on arrival. Tickets cost approximately €40 per adult return. Check the live webcam on the morning of Day 2 — the cable car closes in high winds or adverse volcanic conditions. If it’s closed, the drive and viewpoints still make for an outstanding day.
This itinerary is part of our wider Tenerife by Car guide.
