Tenerife – The Ultimate 5-Day Itinerary
Unlock the wonders of Tenerife in just 5 days with this carefully crafted itinerary. This Canary Islands gem offers a diverse set of experiences, from the volcanic landscapes of Mount Teide to the beaches along its coast. Whether you’re into cultural activities, outdoor adventures, or simply soaking up the sun, this guide will ensure you make the most of your time on this wonderful island.
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Table of Contents
Itinerary
Day 1
If, like me, you’re arriving in Tenerife at Tenerife Sur airport, exploring the south of the island and its beaches and natural pools is the ideal plan for your first day.
Playa Amarilla
Playa Amarilla is on the Costa del Silencio and is unique for its rock formations. The beach has no sand but the view is incredible, and there are steps for bathers to get into the water. A perfect little stop to discover a unique place in Tenerife.
Los Abrigos
Continuing up the South Coast, you’ll reach Los Abrigos Natural Pools, a beautiful but small natural pool, and only for the brave on swell days.
Playa de la Tejita
Further on, you can stop off at a more conventional beach, Playa de la Tejita, with views of Montaña Roja. Unfortunately, when I passed by it was so windy that I was eating sand, so I carried on.
Arco de Tajao
Continuing your ascent along the south coast you can find the Arco de Tajao, a rock formation in the shape of an arch that is very popular in Tenerife.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The next stop was Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital, where you can have lunch. It was so hot (30º in March!) that we opted not to spend too much time in the city and explore the beaches and nature more, but we had to stop by the auditorium, which is impressive!
Playa de las Teresitas
The afternoon began with a swim at Playa de las Teresitas, Tenerife’s most famous beach. It is beautiful, with crystal-clear water and incredible views of the mountains. By car, we drove up the road alongside the beach to the Semáforo de Igueste, an incredible viewpoint.
La Laguna
The plan was to spend the evening in the Parque Rural de Anaga, but we didn’t check that it closes at 4 pm… (the “plannerholic” sometimes fails too!) So we headed to La Laguna, which by the way was deserted… maybe because it was March, but there was no one in the street and there were no restaurants or cafés open? After this disappointment, we headed to Costa Adeje, where we would be staying for the duration of the trip, just in time to see an incredible sunset.
Day 2
Mount Teide
On the second day, we planned to visit the Teide National Park and then enjoy the incredible beaches of Costa Adeje. We had marked on the map some places and viewpoints in the Teide National Park that we wanted to see, the first of which was the “Paisaje Lunar”.
After missing the first exit on the highway, we ended up taking the alternative route suggested by Google Maps, and after a few minutes on perfectly normal roads, our nightmare began. We drove up very narrow roads through remote villages, then along very narrow roads (where two cars should be able to cross) on the edge of cliffs, and finally (no, we didn’t reach our destination, we had to turn back), we were told to take dirt tracks.
We gave up on this point in our itinerary for our safety, and so that you can run the same risk as us, here’s a tip: if you want to visit Paisaje Lunar, put the location “Vilaflor de Chasna” in your GPS, and only when you get there do you look it up.
Mount Teide is an active volcano and the highest point in the Canary Islands. The entire park is perfectly preserved with as little human presence as possible and is even one of the best places in the world to observe the starry sky, as it has very little visual pollution. There are several trails and viewpoints throughout the park, as well as a cable car to get to the top. We opted not to go up and only visited a few viewpoints:
- llano de Ucanca
- Mirador Azulejos II – the iconic road in front of Mount Teide, the photos here are incredible
And others that we didn’t visit due to lack of time, given the hours we lost on that initial detour, and the excessive heat, but which I recommend to anyone who has extra time:
- Roque Cinchado
- Roques de García
- Queen’s Shoe
Los Gigantes
It was time to leave Mount Teide park in direction of Costa Adeje. We stopped for a late meal at the Archipenque viewpoint, overlooking the Acantilados de Los Gigantes. We stayed there to rest and cool off a bit, soaking up the incredible view. This area contains unique natural pools, such as the Isla Cangrejo Charco, and a little further south of the Cueva La Vaca and Charco el Diablo.
Playa de la Arena
We spent the rest of the afternoon at Playa de la Arena, a black sand beach next to these last two pools. On the way home we were once again surprised by an epic sunset.
Day 3
Los Cristianos
This was a super relaxed day on the wonderful Costa Adeje, but with a fascinating adventure in the morning. We went to Los Cristianos for a snorkeling session with Club Canary, intending to see turtles!
I highly recommend this experience to everyone, it was incredible, you really feel at peace underwater and we got to see so much of Tenerife’s marine life! Unfortunately, the sea was too rough, so the turtles were hidden and we couldn’t see them, but these things happen and we still managed to see lots of marine species. Our instructor was amazing and took a little detour while we were returning by boat to show us some dolphins.
Playa de las Américas
We spent a good part of the afternoon at Los Cristianos beach and then took the opportunity to stroll along Playa de Las Américas, a lively area with lots of shops and luxury hotels. The beach itself is mainly rocky, which is why it’s mostly frequented by surfers. It was here that we watched the sunset, on a terrace, with some strawberry daikiris to accompany it.
Day 4
Masca
The first stop of the day was Masca, a small remote village in the north of Tenerife. As we climbed the mountain towards Masca, the road became increasingly narrow and curvy. There’s very little parking at the entrance to the village and it’s limited to 2-hour stops, so I advise you to check in early. No, you can’t stop the car further on and walk, because after this small parking lot, there’s just more tight road, with no chance of stopping the car. As it’s a remote but touristy village, take everything you need with you: food, water, sunscreen, a hat… all these things are quite expensive in Masca.
But beyond all these technical details, I was enchanted by Masca, it’s a lovely village, really worth a visit!
Garachico
We then decided to continue exploring the north coast of Tenerife. We had lunch in Garachico, next to the natural pools, which were unfortunately closed due to the low season.
In the meantime, a cold, unbearable wind blew up, forcing us to give up on the north coast and head back to the warmth of Costa Adeje, but here’s the rest of the itinerary we had planned:
Charco de la Laja
This natural pool is formed by volcanic rocks and filled by the clear Atlantic waters, creating a beautiful contrast between the black volcanic rocks and the vibrant blue hues of the ocean.
Playa de Castro
Playa de Castro, near Puerto de la Cruz, is still not under the radar of most tourists. On the path down to the beach you will be surrounded by beautiful palmtrees and you will arrive to a stunning beach with a small waterfall.
Puerto de la Cruz
Puerto de la Cruz is a charming coastal town located on the northern coast of Tenerife. Renowned for its historic charm and scenic beauty, Puerto de la Cruz is a popular destination for both tourists and locals. Puerto de la Cruz has stunning black sand beaches, such as Playa Jardín, and the iconic Lago Martiánez, a large artificial lake surrounded by pools and gardens designed by the renowned architect César Manrique.
Day 5
Anaga Rural Park
On your last day in Tenerife, if you’re departing from the North Airport, you can take the opportunity to explore the Anaga Rural Park and its incredible viewpoints. This park is another symbol of Tenerife’s natural beauty, a unique ecosystem with lush green landscapes and beautiful trails.
Siam Park
If you’re departing from the South Airport, the famous Siam Park could be a good option for a more fun program. It has unique attractions, such as an enclosed vertical slide that crosses an aquarium of sharks and rays! The park is prepared with attractions for the whole family to make for a fun day out.
This is how my trip to Tenerife ended! I loved the island and I cannot wait to explore more of the Canary Islands!
I hope this article “Tenerife – The Ultimate 5-day Itinerary” helped you plan your trip to Tenerife! Leave your opinion in the comments and follow me on social networks so you don’t miss my next trips. Use #travelplannerholic to get noticed.
With Love,
Catarina Vieira
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