As a Spanish citizen and traveller of over 10 years, I wasn’t quite prepared for just how different the Canary Islands, in this case Tenerife, would feel. It’s wilder, the weather is completely different, there’s nature everywhere and the people and the food have a special quality to them.
Of course, that all makes sense, considering its location. Tenerife is an island roughly three hours from Barcelona by flight, which is a lot. Next to the African continent, it feels like stepping into a different world altogether.
We spend 10 amazing days here and have compiled our ultimate 10 day itinerary, perfect for anyone who is looking for a balanced trip between the North and the South, prioritising nature and swapping beach towns for wild beaches and tourist traps for unique experiences. This is not a resort trip, but one filled with the magic of the island.
We offer a three base experience, including the Teide volcano, whale watching and the amazing village you can only reach on foot.
TIP: If you’re doing it in a week, pick one spot in the north and one in the south. Here’s our recommended itinerary!
The route
- Days 1–3: Tejina, north coast (Bajamar’s natural pools, Playa de San Roque)
- Days 4–5: Rural stay near Tejina, inland (Teide National Park)
- Day 6: West coast day trip (Los Gigantes cliffs, Masca village)
- Day 7: Playa de Abama, then relocate south
- Days 8–10: Las Galletas, south coast (whale watching, Tasca Tierras del Sur, beach time)
All photos in this post were taken by our wonderfully talented friends Joan Victoria and Gabriel Montalvo. This post contains affiliate links, so if you book or buy something through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps us keep the blog running. Thank you for your support!
Days 1–3: North coast, based in Tejina
We landed and headed straight for Tejina, a quiet town just inland from the north coast that made a much calmer first base than staying near the airport or in a resort zone. It’s close enough to the coast for day trips but far enough from the tourist strip that it still feels like an actual town. Though to be honest, we didn’t really see anything in town except for a pharmacy, a bookstore and the big Mercadona.
In a rush? Where to stay in the North of Tenerife! 🦚
⭐️⭐️⭐️ El Rincon del Huroncillo. Our AirBnB and an amazing choice!
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Cave House. My favorite AirBnB ever. We split our time in the north between El Rincon del Huroncillo and here.
⭐️⭐️ Casa Justa. We love this cute place in Tegueste.
In our opinion, some towns are perfect for sleeping there but don’t offer anything we were looking for. We cooked foor at home, headed out all day on our adventures and then came back home. This is what we saw those first days:
Piscinas naturales de Bajamar were the first stop, and they reset our entire idea of what a “beach day” on Tenerife could look like. These are volcanic rock pools right on the coast, filled and refreshed by the Atlantic, so you’re swimming in the ocean, but with a natural wall between you and the swell. Go earlier in the day if you want them without a crowd; locals treat them as a proper swimming spot, not just a photo stop.
We also went one night, with a full moon, and the waves were crashing all around and it was a really fun experience! Just be careful if you’re not a good swimmer.
Playa de San Roque was our other north-coast stop, a black-sand beach with that moody look you only get on volcanic coastline. This is a great beach for walking, checking the scenery, and relaxing. It was actually my favourite beach for its breathtaking nature and surroundings. There are some restaurants right over the beach but we didn’t check them out.
We used the rest of these three days to just be in Tejina, decompress from travel, eat where locals eat, and get used to island time before the driving days started.
Days 4–5: Inland, near Teide
From Tejina we drove inland to a rural stay that put us within striking distance of Teide National Park, which is Spain’s highest peak and one of the strangest landscapes we’ve stood in. The drive up alone is worth it: you climb out of the green, cloud-forest zone on the lower slopes and break out above the cloud line into red-and-black volcanic terrain that looks more like Mars than Spain. Go early to beat both the crowds and the afternoon cloud that can roll in and block the views.
Where to stay! Click here to check out my favorite ever AirBnb I’ve ever stayed in. It was near Camino Batán de Abajo, close to Mirador del Escobonal. It’s a very rural area, but the views were amazing and the AirBnB alone was worth it.
Practical notes for anyone building their own version of this day: the cable car to the summit area needs a separate permit if you want to go all the way to the crater rim, and it sells out, so book that ahead, not on arrival. Even without the permit, the roadside viewpoints and short walks around the base are worth the whole day on their own.
Playa de las Gaviotas: We also visited this small, wild-looking beach tucked at the foot of the cliffs near San Andrés, just past the much more famous golden-sand Las Teresitas beach. You get there via a narrow, steep and winding road, and parking is pretty limited, so I’d go early. It feels a lot more local and untouched than most beaches on the island, with a couple of casual kiosks for food and drinks. Just a heads-up: part of the beach is clothing-optional, so don’t be surprised!
Sendero Bosque de los Enigmas: If you’re new to Anaga, start at the Cruz del Carmen visitor center, which has an easy forest trail right next to it. For something longer, the trail to the cave village of Chinamada is a classic, and the drive down to Taganana and the black-sand beach of Benijo is well worth it.
We did the Sendero de los Enigmas (“Forest of Enigmas”), an easy 5 km loop through the laurel forest. Information panels along the way explain the forest’s mysteries, and the mossy, twisted trunks and drifting mist make it feel like a fairytale.
The north is cooler and cloudier than the south, so bring a rain jacket even if it’s sunny when you set off.
In a rush? Where to stay in the near Teide National Park! 🦚
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hotel Spa Villalba. Great for a relaxing stay close to Teide National Park!
⭐️⭐️ Parador de Las Cañadas. This is right at the foot of Teide, the closest you will get.
⭐️ La Casa de Arona. Perfect little getaway with much better price!
Day 6: West coast — Los Gigantes and Masca
This was the single best day of the trip for photos. Acantilados de los Gigantes are sea cliffs that rise straight up out of the Atlantic, considered some of the tallest in Europe, and you can see them either from a viewpoint above or from the water on a boat trip that runs along the base of them. We saw them from the beach, right by the cliffs, with an impressive view upward.
The black sand beaches are crowded, but the water was calmer than in other parts of the island. We saw many places to hire paddleboards and other fun things so check that out! In terms of this beach, we visited many better beaches in Tenerife (such as X or X, but it’s worth a visit just to see the views of the cliffs from the bottom!
From there we drove up into the Teno mountains to Pueblo de Masca, a tiny village wedged into a ravine that you reach via one of the most dramatic mountain roads on the island.
Please keep in mind, the roads are scary. Though people drive by them all day, and there is some sort of barrier by the side, at times it was a small barrier, there were buses coming up from the opposite side, and we were a bit terrified. If you’re a fearful driver, going up and down the mountain to reach Masca might be challenging.
Moreover, add more driving time than Google Maps suggests, there can be traffic, it can be scary to drive fast, and people can get carsick (such as Miriam), so this is good to know and plan in advance.
The village itself is small enough to see in under an hour, but the surrounding gorge is a well-known hiking route if you want to turn it into a half-day trek instead of a drive-through stop. It’s hard to park, so expect some walking, luck, or arrive early.
See more on Masca at: We visited the magical town of Masca: our impression and what you need to know (post).
Day 7: Playa de Abama, then south
On the way down toward the south coast we stopped at Playa de Abama, a smaller, quieter beach than the ones you’ll hit further south: a good last stop before trading the wild west coast for the more built-up south. From here we relocated to Las Galletas for the second half of the trip.
Days 8–10: South coast, based in Las Galletas
In a rush? Where to stay in the near the South! 🦚
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Kn Hotel Arenas del Mar Adults Only. A luxury resort!
⭐️⭐️ Stilvolle Villa. Cute affordable villa in the south!
⭐️ La Casita de Emily. A cute little place to stay!
Las Galletas is a working fishing town that hasn’t been fully swallowed by the resort development further along the coast, which made it a better base than the bigger southern towns, meaning it is still close to everything, still has a fish market and a proper harbour.
Whale and dolphin watching was the big activity from this base. Boats head out from the south/southwest coast into one of the few places in the world where you can reliably see resident pods of pilot whales year-round, alongside dolphins depending on the day. (We saw both!) Book a operator that limits boat numbers around the pods rather than the cheapest tour you find; it makes a real difference to how the animals behave around the boats.
For food, Tasca Tierras del Sur was the standout meal of the whole trip. The place is barely visible from the outside, the owner and staff are so nice and the food is amazing.
We spent the last couple of days doing the thing we hadn’t allowed ourselves yet, which was nothing. Beach mornings, no itinerary, no driving. After a week of covering most of the island, it was the right way to end it.
Things you need to know
We’ve compiled a whole post of 20 things you need to know before planning your trip to Tenerife, based off our extensive research + our own experience.
Check it out before booking those tickets!
Common Questions
Is 10 days too long in Tenerife? Not at all. In fact, you could spend 2-3 weeks in Tenerife and still have enough to do, keeping in mind you must like spending time in nature, hiking, going to the beach and relaxing. If you’re looking for a fast-paced vacation, this is not the right place for long stretches of time.
How much do you spend on average in 7 days in Tenerife? Tenerife is a cheap place; however, there’s plenty of luxurious stays and hotel. We go more into this in our post on how much does it cost to visit Tenerife.
Is Tenerife safe to visit? Absolutely. We felt so safe, Spanish people are warm and welcoming. The same precautions that would apply to any country apply here. I’d recommend being careful with theft and also safe driving, as roads can be tricky. Otherwise, we felt really safe.
Is there anywhere you should avoid in Tenerife? Tenerife is very safe, but be careful on the Las Verónicas party strip in Playa de las Américas late at night (pickpockets, scams), ignore the timeshare touts in Las Américas and Los Cristianos, and leave nothing visible in your car at trailheads and viewpoints. Avoid swimming at unguarded north-coast beaches like Benijo and Almáciga, where currents are strong.
What to pack for 10 days in Tenerife? If you’re visiting the North and the South, you must pack for both weathers. We had one hiking jacket, one regular jacket, long pants, hiking gear, and then dresses, swimming gear, flip flops… it’s not an easy destination to pack for, so make sure you have enough space in your suitcase.
Check Out Our Other Tenerife Guides
Best Time to Visit Tenerife: When I’d Go Again
Things to Know Before Going to Tenerife: 15 Things I Wish I Knew
Things to Do in Tenerife: The 15 Best Things to Do in Tenerife
