If this is the first time that you visit Tenerife, you may not know it, but there is something that surprises all the travelers that reach its shores. The temperature changes in a few minutes. And Tenerife is the island of the five climates. An altitude of up to 3,718 meters in a condensed space of just 2.034 km2 is the responsible for having to wear a coat or a bikini in just fifteen minutes by car. For example, if you want to visit El Teide from Adeje and go up through Vilaflor, the highest altitude town in Spain, we can see that the temperature has dropped several degrees in just one hour. Those of us who live here joke that you should always wear clothes for all situations. And it is true. We must be prepared to go to the beach, to snow, to rain, to be windy or cold. Spending 7 days in Tenerife with family, with friends or as a couple is synonymous with experiencing different landscapes that exist thanks to this thermal oscillation; from the mountainous cold of Las Cañadas del Teide to the subtropical heat of the beaches of Arona. And all this in an island that is full of life, places to know and a beauty that is difficult to imagine in such a small space. Welcome to Paradise!
Sunset in El Teide, in Tenerife Canary island Spain
Travel plan to spend 7 days in Tenerife
The attractions in Tenerife are different if you travel with family, with friends, with a partner or if you travel alone, but the island welcomes all travelers equally, providing experiences tailored to your situation. However, some tourists want to know Tenerife in a very short time and that is a big mistake. That’s why we recommend visiting Tenerife in at least 7 days. We propose a week plan to travel from the south of the island. However, if your accommodation is in the north, there is no problem because we have designed it for all travelers. Usually, travelers staying in the north of Tenerife stay in Puerto de la Cruz, although there are many more places such as San Cristóbal de la Laguna, Santa Cruz, La Orotava, Garachico or Buenavista del Norte. In the south, you will stay in Costa Adeje, Puerto de Santiago, Arona, Las Galletas or El Médano. That said, let the journey begin!
El Medano, Tenerife, Canary Islands Spain
Day 1. El Médano and La Tejita beach
Tenerife South Airport is located very close to the town of El Médano and that will be your starting point if your flight lands early. This small town is the paradise on earth for Kitesurfers. Located at the feet of Montaña Roja Nature Reserve, El Médano has La Tejita beach and Los Abrigos natural pools as its two must-see tourist attractions. Are you thirsty? Have a drink at Chiringuito Pirata, a terrace bar on La Tejita beach with the best views of the Montaña Roja, the ‘Red Mountain’. The beaches of El Médano and La Tejita are other places of interest. In addition, there are many hiking trails to do from El Médano to the Montaña Pelada, where you will know the homonymous beach. Add a last discretionary stop in the small port of Los Abrigos where you will taste the cuisine of the area in one of the restaurants by the sea.
Day 2. Whale watching tour and Los Gigantes Cliffs
After recovering strength in the hotel, we propose one of the most unforgettable days on the island enjoying the awesome climate of southern Tenerife … from the sea. Among the things you can not miss this is the star activity of 2020, the whale watching in boat! It is among the best things to do in Tenerife with children, since seeing whales and dolphins in their habitat and with their natural behavior will be an enriching experience that will train future environmentally friendly adults.
It is also one of the best activities to do as a couple in Tenerife as you can enjoy stunning views from Los Gigantes Cliffs to Masca Bay where an idyllic swim in the sea will be waiting for you. Best of all, it is possible to book the tour to see cetaceans, the Giants and Masca Bay with lunch included throughout the year and in a single tour. See the bottlenose dolphins on a magical tour in both summer and winter.
Whale watching tour in Tenerife
While in the summer months you will return to Puerto Colón by day to take an unforgettable walk along the coast or have some cocktails, in winter you will see the cetaceans at sunset becoming one of the ideal romantic plans to live on this 7-day trip in Tenerife as a couple.
A paraglider near El Teide volcano – Tenerife
Day 3. El Teide National Park and La Orotava Valley
It is time to know one of the essential places in Tenerife (and also in Spain). The Teide National Park is the great expedition, the ‘must’ of the island. For that reason you will spend an entire morning visiting it. Wake up early at morning to avoid crowds! The visitor center of El Portillo, Los Roques de García and the martian mines of San José are three of the main tourist attractions in Las Cañadas del Teide.
It’s time to get on the cable car that will take you to 3,555 meters of altitude. You can buy tickets online or directly at the office. The journey lasts about 10 minutes in which the slope is more than 1,200 meters. Once up you will have an hour to take a walk in the area. Enjoy all the viewpoints and you may even be lucky if the day is so clear that you can distinguish all the islands of the Canary archipelago.
The more adventurous can request a permit to climb the volcano’s peak at 3,718 meters of altitude and if you are already a true lover of hiking, ascend from Montaña Blanca to the top of the Teide, avoiding the cable car. These two experiences are aimed for different travelers. The climb from the cable car to the peak of Teide does not require specific preparation. On the other hand, if you want to make the route from the Montaña Blanca to the peak of Teide you must be prepared for a difficult walk.
If you want to get the most out of this day, take the opportunity to visit a guachinche in the north of the island. This is how you will get to know a typical canarian restaurant that has its origin in the small wineries that sold their surplus wine accompanied by regional cuisine. Along the way, make a stop at some of the viewpoints to contemplate the stunning views of the La Orotava Valley with the Teide peak on the horizon. If you are lucky you may even witness the impressive sea of clouds that forms in the region. The Villa of La Orotava is also an ideal visit for colonial architecture lovers. Its historic center is impregnated with the beauty of its stately houses.
However, we have prepared an expedition to the north of the island later, so if you want to leave the visit to a guachinche and the Villa de La Orotava for later, you can return directly from the National Park and spend the afternoon at the beach. It’s up to you!
Day 4. Barranco del Infierno and free afternoon
Among the activities to do in Tenerife as a family, the official hiking trails of the local government of the island stand out. We propose the route to Barranco del Infierno in the municipality of Adeje, whether you are staying in the south or in the north, as it is one of the best equipped for a trip. The access time is from 8 to 13 hours. It costs € 8.50 per adult and € 4.25 per child up to 12 years. This route is not recommended with children under 5 years. This trail is located within the Special Natural Reserve of Barranco del Infierno and has a low difficulty with a distance of 6.5 kilometers (round trip). The fantastic environment is full of canarian forest, from the tabaiba plants to the drago trees. This is an ideal plan if you stay in the south and one of the most impressive things to do in Tenerife.
The route through Barranco del Infierno can be done in a short time so it is usual to book it early and leave it at 10 or 11 am. and thus to be able to take advantage of the day at the beach or in one of the theme parks of the southern area of the island.
View of the town of Garachico Tenerife Canary Islands Spain.
Day 5. North of Tenerife
We return to the north, but this time to enter the historic cities of Tenerife. The tour can be done by car or by one of the many bus and minibus tours offered by tour operators. These are some of of the places to take into account: a stop in the south, in Candelaria, and the hermitage of the Virgin where you can also buy Aloe Vera at the best price; Santa Cruz de Tenerife and its famous Plaza de España; the historic city of San Cristóbal de la Laguna, a World Heritage Site of the Unesco; Puerto de la Cruz and the Lago Martiánez, which are the work of the architect from Lanzarote César Manrique, and Garachico with its imposing natural pools.
Although this is the common route that the tourist who has never visited Tenerife usually does, born explorers will fall in love with unknown corners in both the south and north of the island. Some of them are the fishing villages of El Pris and Punta del Hidalgo, the pools of Bajamar and Jover or the town of San Juan de la Rambla. This is just a sample of everything Tenerife can offer you in just 7 days.
Puerto de Santiago city Atlantic Ocean coast Tenerife Canary island Spain
Day 6. Puerto de Santiago and beaches on the west coast of Tenerife
The penultimate day is to rest. In this case we will visit the towns and beaches of the west coast of the island so as not to have to spend much time in the car. Puerto de Santiago is still one of the most visited destinations for travelers who arrive on the island for the first time, so we recommend it. After having made the boat trip through the Cliffs of Los Gigantes and Masca days before, you will already have a sharper image of this whole area, although this time you can discover it from the ground. Its attractions are not few because in the town itself is the Playa de la Arena, known for its views of the cliffs. During your visit do not miss Guíos beach, also in a privileged place.
If you are one of those who love to impregnate themselves with the culture of the region, do not forget to make the “Route of Art” composed of a series of paintings drawn on the facades of Santiago del Teide and the Fisherman’s Museum of Puerto de Santiago.
Day 7.
All good things must end, but don’t worry! You can come back whenever you want and we know you will. If your flight leaves in the afternoon, take the opportunity to get to know the beautiful villages in the south that stand between the mountain and the sea. Stroll through the small historic center of Granadilla de Abona and visit the local History Museum. You will also love to go further and discover San Miguel de Abona, a beautiful town only a few kilometers from Granadilla.
After these 7 days in Tenerife we cannot assure you that you know everything, not at all, but of course you will have made the first raid, an unprecedented approach that we guarantee will be the one that will guide you back to the historic Nivaria.
