Epic Active Tenerife Itinerary

Taking a trip to Tenerife promises a blend of breathtaking landscapes, thrilling hikes, and relaxing moments by the sea. Here’s a meticulously crafted 7-day Tenerife itinerary that provides you with an active yet balanced exploration of this Canary Island gem. Los Gigantes on the west coast is your home for the first portion of the trip, giving you easy access to the west coast and Teide areas. You’ll then stay in La Laguna for the last few nights while visiting the Anaga Rural Park.

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Day 1: Arrival and Exploration in Los Gigantes

Upon landing at Tenerife South Airport, your itinerary begins with a quick 30 minute drive to your chosen accommodation in Los Gigantes. This itinerary is best done with a rental car, which we recommend renting through Discovercars.com. Be sure to purchase full insurance coverage in advance. It is typically much less expensive than buying this at the rental counter.

Los Gigantes has a distinctly British influence, rather than feeling truly Canarian. That said, we enjoyed being able to wander through the charming town, visiting the natural pools, picking new restaurants and enjoying the views of the cliffs. The main reasons we chose Los Gigantes were:

• Proximity to Teide and Masca for hiking.
• Smaller town vibe and less developed than the areas on the south shore.
• Easy access to groceries and restaurants.
• Though there were tourists especially on the weekend, it feels very different from the heavily developed and touristy areas in the south.
• If you are interested in taking boat tours, these depart directly from the Los Gigantes marina.

Natural Pools

Don’t miss the Piscina Natural Acantilado de Los Gigantes at sunset—a spectacular spot to soak in the natural beauty and ease into the Tenerife vibe. It is quite slippery, and we found it easier to walk across the rocks to the larger pool area. Water shoes are recommended here.

Watch for the signs posted regarding safety. This was closed one time we visited due to the wind. Even when it’s open, be careful swimming right up against the far edge (where you can see the waves crashing in the photo below).

Los Gigantes Accommodations

Day 2: West Coast Hiking and Beach Day

Kick off the day with an invigorating hike on the west coast. This is a great way to get familiar with the area.

Our recommended hike is Tamaimo – El Agujero – Cruz de los Misioneros. Check trail status here before heading out. This 5.7 mile (9.2 km) trail starts in Tamaimo, and is recommended for expert hikers only. The trail climbs steeply out of Tamaimo. The views back towards Teide on the hike and the views out towards Los Gigantes once you reach El Agujero make this hike worthwhile. It is very easy to lose your way. You’ll find red markings on the rocks, but we had to rely on our downloaded Alltrails map many times. This tour would be a great option if you’d prefer to hike this area with a guide.

For a detailed description of this hike, see our El Agujero post.

An alternative hike is the Masca Gorge trail. This classic and difficult trail requires a free permit, which can be difficult to get. You’ll see a lot of write-ups about doing this as a one-way downhill hike. We’d suggest hiking this as a one-way downhill, with boat pick-up at the beach in Mosca. This provides beautiful views of the Gigantes cliffs on the return trip.

A more leisurely trail option is the Acantilados Los Gigantes – Alcalá hike. While this is rated as moderate, you can go as far as you’d like on this 9.8 mile (15.8 km) scenic out and back trail before turning around. The trail runs south along the coast from Los Gigantes, passing through Arena Blanca Beach. There are plenty of options to stop for a swim on this trail.

Day 2 Afternoon: Relax at the Beach or on the Water

Post-hike, return to Los Gigantes and spend your afternoon unwinding with paddle boarding or simply relaxing at Playa Los Gigantes or Playa de la Arena. Playa Los Gigantes was closed in early 2024 due to the danger of rock falls from the cliffs. Playa de la Arena is a great alternative if it’s closed during your visit.

Culminate your day with a delightful dinner at the Fisherman’s Inn in Puerto de Santiago, savoring sunset views and wonderful seafood dishes.

Day 3: Teide National Park

Venture into Teide National Park for a day of hiking and exploring the unique landscapes. Bring along a picnic lunch and enjoy this at a stop along the trail. You have a number of excellent hiking options.

Many visitors enjoy taking the cable car up Teide, then walking to the top. Check here for permits for the summit or sign up for a tour including permits. The cable car area and the Teide volcano are extremely crowded. We chose to explore other trails in the area where we saw relatively few people.

The challenging 6.9 mile (11.1 km) Monte Guajara Loop Trail is a great alternative to hiking up Teide. This has steep sections, but has beautiful views to make the effort worthwhile.

For a more moderate option, try the Fortaleza Trail. This is a 6.4 miles roundtrip (10.3 km) out and back trail, which starts at the El Portillo Vistor’s Center. Note that when we visited in early January, the trail was labeled as closed, due to recent wildfires in the area. The visitor center was able to provide us with an alternative starting point, which added about 0.5 miles roundtrip. The out and back trail has beautiful views of Teide almost the whole route.

Day 3 Afternoon: Exploring the Park

After your hike, there are many viewpoints within the park that are worth stopping for photos or a quick walk. Some of our recommended stops are:

• Los Roques de Garcia has a circular walking trail through striking rock formations. This gets extremely crowded by mid-morning.
• Arenas Negras offers a quiet pine forest path with views up to Teide.
• Zapatilla de La Reina: the queen’s shoe rock formation can be seen from just off the road or after a short walk to the mirador.

For lunch or dinner on your way back towards Los Gigantes, Restaurante des Estrellas offers Canarian cuisine against a backdrop of mesmerizing views.

Try the highly rated dinner and stargazing experience on Teide. We were not able to do this, but it’s on the list for our next visit.

Day 4: Biking and Wine Tasting

Swap hiking boots for bike pedals and take on a leisurely downhill bike tour starting from Teide National Park. The tour begins in Los Cristianos with a shuttle ride to the starting point in Teide. While this tour isn’t physically demanding, it does require solid biking skills. This journey features stops at:

• Vilaflor, the highest town in Tenerife at 1400 meters
• an 800-year old Canarian pine tree
• Bodega Reverón vineyards and winery, where you’ll enjoy a wine and cheese tasting

You can find more details on our bike tour experience here.

Conclude your biking adventure with a late lunch in Los Cristianos and possibly a beach visit.

There are plenty of other bike tour choices, including:

• Electric Bike Tour of Teide National Park
• 1/2 day Guided Road Bike Tour

Enjoy your last evening in Los Gigantes with dinner and a beautiful sunset view at the Los Gigantes Wine Bar and Terrace.

Day 5: Anaga Rural Park and La Laguna

Day 5 Morning:

After checking out from your hotel, drive roughly 1.5 hours to the Anaga Rural Park and start your day with coffee and donuts at Restaurante Cruz del Carmen, near the visitor’s center.

Because you’ll spend your afternoon exploring La Laguna, our hikes this morning are a bit shorter. These are all in a fairly popular area. You’ll want to arrive before 9 or 10 am to get parking and avoid the crowds.

If you’re able to reserve a permit, visit the easy La Ensillada – Cabeza de Tejo Loop. Permits are free, but there are a limited number of spots available each day. An easy alternative is the Sendero de los Sentidos, which leaves from the visitors center. If you do all 3 areas (1-3), this is a bit over 3 miles (5k).

For a more moderate option, try Sendero El Bosque de los Enigmas. This trail feels somewhat similar to the Sendero de los Sentidos. Cruz del Carmen – Chimanada – Mirador de Aguaide is a more challenging option starting in the same area. It winds its way through forests, leading to spectacular views at the Mirador de Aguaide.

After your hike, make a stop at the Túnel de las hadas.

If you walk a short distance to the Mirador Pico del Inglés, you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous views over both coasts.

Day 5 Afternoon: San Cristobal de La Laguna

After exploring, drive the short distance back to San Cristobal de La Laguna. Check in to your lodging, or look for parking outside of the pedestrian area before you start exploring. For lunch, we happened upon Bodegan Viana, which was busy with mainly locals. They offer a mix of traditional Canarian dishes, which were delicious. The goat cheese appetizer was some of the best we had on the island.

Spend your afternoon exploring the historic city. Be sure to see:

• Church of the Immaculate Conception, enjoying the view from tower 
• Cathedral of San Cristóbal de la Laguna
• Plaza del Adelantado, with the Chapel Of San Miguel, town hall, and Palacio de Nava  
• La Laguna Market
• Calle San Agustín: stroll down enjoying the historical mansions. We especially enjoyed the ornate doors. 
• Gardens at Palacio Salazar and Casa de los Capitanes Generales

La Laguna Accommodations

Day 6: Playa Benijo and Playa Las Teresitas

Day 6 Morning: Playa Benijo

Journey to the island’s northern side for another day of hiking and relaxing at the beach. Park in Playa Benijo near the El Frontón restaurant. If the tide is low, explore the beach before your hike (there is almost no beach at high tide). Otherwise, you can save this for after your hike.

Look for the trailhead. You’ve got a few great choices from here. Choose between the challenging Playa Benijo hike- Cruz de Draguillo, or the more moderate Benijo – El Draguillo – Las Palmas trail. If you choose the hike to Cruz de Draguillo, it is easier on your knees to do this loop clockwise. You’ll have a very steep uphill first, followed by a more gradual downhill.

Enjoy a picnic with ocean views or at the beach if low tide. Alternatively, dine on the deck at El Frontón for its stunning scenery.

Day 6 Late Afternoon: Playa Las Teresitas

Spend the afternoon at Playa Las Teresitas, enjoying the protected waters at this beautiful beach.

Afterwards, return to La Laguna, or venture into Santa Cruz and attend a local show or an evening at the opera.

Day 7: Departure

If you are flying out of the Tenerife North airport, you’ll have a short, 5-10 minute drive from La Laguna. Tenerife South airports is about 40 minutes from La Laguna.

This itinerary balances active pursuits with moments of relaxation and cultural exploration, ensuring a comprehensive and memorable experience of Tenerife. Whether you’re hiking through breathtaking landscapes, biking down scenic routes, or soaking in the cultural vibes of the towns, this trip promises a plethora of experiences to cherish. You can easily extend this itinerary, exploring more hikes in these areas, or spending more time on the north shore.

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