Photo: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
The 8-day plan, rearranged for 5 days: the best-ranked places stay, and each day keeps to one part of town.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
The old colonial capital of the island, a grid of narrow streets and low painted houses with wooden balconies. Walk it slowly, with no plan.
Go when Morning, when the streets are quiet.
Local tip Walk the grid of old streets slowly, and look up at the carved wooden balconies. Duck into a courtyard if a door is open.
A calm, light church in the middle of the old town. Step inside and look at the vaulted ceiling.
Go when Morning, beside the old town.
Local tip Step inside and look up at the vaulted ceiling. It is a calm place to rest before the market.
The big covered market of Santa Cruz, with stalls of fruit, fish, cheese and flowers. An easy place to graze for lunch.
Go when Late morning, before the lunch rush.
Local tip Walk the stalls once before you choose. Local cheese, fresh fruit and fish are the strong points of the market.
A seaside lido of salt water pools set into the black lava rock, designed by the Canarian artist César Manrique. A swim here is calmer than at the open beaches.
Go when Afternoon, when the pools are warm.
Local tip Bring a towel and a hat, because there is little shade. The pools are calmer than the sea, but follow any flags and signs posted at the entrance.
A black sand beach at the west end of Puerto de la Cruz, backed by gardens and a promenade. The Atlantic can be rough here, so swim only where the water looks calm and others are in it.
Go when Around sunset, when the sand turns dark gold.
Local tip Black sand is hot at midday, so wear sandals. The Atlantic here is rougher than it looks, so wade first and swim only where others are in the water.
Puerto de la Cruz has a long fishing tradition. Look for the fish of the day, grilled and served whole with potatoes, in the streets near the old harbor.
Local tip Ask what came in that day, and let the kitchen pick for you.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A viewpoint and trail start in the heart of the Anaga mountains, where old laurel trees hang with moss and cloud drifts through. Take one of the short forest walks.
Go when Morning, when the cloud is thin.
Local tip Take one of the short loops through the laurel forest. The ground is wet and slippery, so wear shoes with a grip and carry a rain layer.
A rocky viewpoint on the ridge with a wide view over the mountains and, on a clear day, across to the peak of Teide. Check the sky before you drive up, because cloud can hide it.
Go when Early morning, before the cloud builds.
Local tip Look at the sky before you drive up, because the view is only as good as the cloud. If it is grey, skip it and come back another day.
A thick watercress and vegetable stew, a mountain dish of the Canary Islands, warming after a cold morning in the forest.
Local tip Ask for it in a village restaurant on the way down, and eat it with bread.
A small village tucked between the mountains and the sea, reached by a winding road. A quiet place to walk and have a late lunch.
Go when Afternoon, after the drive down.
Local tip The road is winding, so give yourself time and take a break at a viewpoint. Walk a few of the lanes and then sit down for a late lunch.
A wild, quiet black sand beach with rock stacks offshore, at the end of the road. Look from the shore, and go into the water only on a calm day and not far.
Go when Around sunset, when the rocks glow.
Local tip The waves can be strong and there are no easy exits, so enjoy the view from the sand and swim only in calm water. Ask a local if you are unsure.
The small coastal hamlets at the end of the road serve simple grilled fish, potatoes and salad, with the sound of the sea outside.
Local tip Book ahead on a busy evening, and allow time for the drive back in the dark.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A cable car climbs from the park floor high up the cone of the volcano. It is cold and breezy at the top, and the car can stop for wind or cloud. Check ahead for it before you plan the day around it.
Go when First thing, on a clear and calm morning.
Local tip The top is much colder than the base and the air is thin, so take a warm layer and go slowly. If you feel dizzy or sick, come back down.
The summit of the volcano is over 3,700 meters above the sea, the highest point in Spain. The last stretch up from the top of the cable car has its own entry rules and a permit, so check ahead.
Go when Early, and only on a clear day.
Local tip The path from the top of the cable car to the summit needs a permit that has its own rules, so check ahead and do not turn up hoping. Altitude affects people very differently.
Food up on the mountain is scarce, so buy local goat cheese, bread and fruit in the morning and carry it up. Eat it by the rocks with a view.
Local tip Take more water than you think you need, since the air is dry.
A line of strange rock towers and spires on the floor of the old crater, with the volcano rising behind. A loop walk takes you right under them.
Go when Afternoon, when the light is low and warm.
Local tip Walk the loop slowly in good shoes, as the ground is rough and uneven. The most famous rock stands at the start of the path.
A scientific observatory on the dry ridge above the clouds, a place known for clear, dark skies. Stargazing evenings here are guided visits that are booked ahead, so check ahead, and dress warmly.
Go when After dark, on a clear night.
Local tip Evenings of stargazing here are guided and booked ahead, so check ahead. It gets very cold at night at this height, so bring warm clothes and a hat.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A very old dragon tree in Icod de los Vinos, with a wide umbrella of branches. The dragon tree is a symbol of the Canary Islands, and this one is the best known.
Go when Morning, before the tour buses arrive.
Local tip Take your time under the branches. Then walk down into the old town of Icod and look at the church and the square.
A small harbor town whose port was largely destroyed by a lava flow in 1706, and which was rebuilt. Walk its old streets and the lava coast.
Go when Midday, then stay for a late lunch.
Local tip Walk to the lava coast and look at the black rock, which flowed over the harbor. The old streets around the square are the best part.
Queso asado is grilled local cheese, served hot with a spoonful of sauce. A simple starter that locals eat everywhere.
Local tip Share a plate, and follow it with the fish of the day.
A tiny mountain village hung on a ridge, reached by a very narrow road with sharp bends. Drive slowly, give way to buses and park where you are told.
Go when Afternoon, after the first tour buses have gone.
Local tip The road in is very narrow, with sharp bends and drops on one side. Drive slowly, let the buses pass and park only in the signed places.
Natural swimming pools formed in the black lava rock by the sea in Garachico. They are calmer than the open ocean, but the sea can still wash into them in a swell, so look at the water first.
Go when Afternoon, on a calm sea day.
Local tip Look at the sea before you get in, because waves can break over the rock into the pools. If the water is rough, enjoy it from the edge instead.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A deep ravine walk that climbs toward a waterfall. Entry to the trail is limited and has its own rules, so check ahead before you plan the day around it.
Go when Morning, with your visit arranged ahead.
Local tip Entry is limited and the rules change, so check ahead before you plan around it. Take water and wear shoes with a grip, since the path is rocky.
A wall of dark cliffs that drops straight into the sea, with a small harbor at its foot. Walk the harbor and look up.
Go when Late morning, when the sun is on the rock.
Local tip Walk the harbor and look at the cliffs from below. From the sea they look even taller, which is the reason for the boat trips.
The small harbor serves fish and octopus, grilled or boiled in the Canarian way, with wrinkled potatoes. Sit near the water and watch the boats.
Local tip Ask what is fresh that day, and avoid ordering a lot at once.
Boats go out along the cliffs and into the channel toward La Gomera, where dolphins and pilot whales live. Sightings are never certain. Choose a small boat that keeps a calm distance from the animals.
Go when Morning or afternoon, in calm seas.
Local tip Sightings are never certain, and the boat may turn back for rough seas. Take a layer and a hat, and choose a smaller boat that keeps a respectful distance from the animals.
A deep gorge that runs down from the village to the sea. The walk is steep and rough, with loose stones, and the way back is long. Access and the rules for the walk change, so check ahead, and never go down without a plan to get back.
Go when Early in the day, if the walk is open.
Local tip The walk is steep and rough, and the way back is long, so plan how you return before you set off. Rules and access change, so check ahead, and turn back if the weather changes.
It covers 5 days in Tenerife, planned for late October. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
Each day has about 21.2 to 42.3 kilometers between its stops, and 140.0 kilometers in all across 5 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
Other guides with a page about Tenerife. Each one opens in a new tab.
Photo: Berthold Werner on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: BrainMaY, CC BY-SA 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.
A trip idea · Updated October 2026
Want your own days planned like this? Plan your own trip on the web or get the Archie app.
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