In this article I’m going to share our one week roadtrip itinerary in Tenerife, dedicated to outdoors, local experiences and adventure, from a photographer perspective.
Amongst the 9 islands of the archipel of the Canary Islands, Tenerife is the biggest one, and certainly the most diverse one. Even though parts of the island have been developed to become tourist hubs (such as Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos, Playa de las América) Tenerife is cherished for its striking landscapes and rich cultural heritage.
We left France the last week of May 2021, we expected unbearable heats, but the weather was surprisingly mild with the constant soft winds. There are two airports in Tenerife, we landed in the South in order to do a tour by the eastern side and leave from the Airport of San Cristóbal de La Laguna (North).
Day 1 : Arco de Tajao
A short drive up the coast and here we are, stopping on the roadside, looking for a presumed arch according to the photos. We expected a long stroll to find it, but it seems that the arch can be found a couple of hundreds meters below the road. This impressive rock formation is located in the middle of a micro desert, with nothing but cacti and cracks in the ground.
On the way to the next stop, the following day, we stopped many times to capture the colorful and minimalist architectures, typical of the Canary Islands.
El Medano
Medano welcomes each year various windsurfing competitions and championships. Indeed, the conditions are often ideal for trying out water sports, though the intensity of the winds can get exhausting.
Playa Amarilla
The last halt in Costa del Silencio was dedicated to wander over Playa Amarilla. This beach is unlike every other place in Tenerife, and honestly I wouldn’t even call it a beach. The cliff alongside the main path is massive, with many interesting patterns and forms carved on its shape, probably because of the strong winds coming from the shore. At the beginning of the walk, the cliffs naturally form small platforms that from afar look like caves, making perfect nests to bask in and enjoying the view.
After an exhausting time on the coast, it’s time to head towards the heights of Teide National Park and its majestic volcano, which by the way is Spain’s highest mountain.
Day 2 : Teide National Park
The National park itself is a must see. The endless views will make you feel so small. We took time on the road to admire the overall moon-like sceneries : various sizes of craters and ancient lava fields that turned to rock. I recommend to visit the gigantic Roques de Garcia, and to save some time to head over the Teide Observatory, the road is very pleasant and the views on the Mount Teide are stunning.
The Teide National Park is also home to plenty of hikes, we opted for a short path around the Mirador de Sámara.
Day 3 : Los Gigantes
Los Gigantes is the best place to crush after a busy day around Mount Teide. The city of Puerto Santiago boasts three black sand beaches. Playa de Santiago was the most convenient for us since this one is located in the very heart of the city. Make sure to check out the Playa de Los Gigantes, which features the best views on the cliffs. This place is amazingly beautiful, the photos I got can’t convey the immensity of this place, I definitely was amazed by this piece of paradise.
Day 4 : Masca
Masca is a little hamlet nestled in an enclosed valley. The roads to get there are incredibly winding, but the pull off points and the village itself are worth it. To me the resemblance with Hawaii is uncanny, even though I’ve never been to Hawaii.
On our way to meet the North coast, I decided last minute to make a detour by the natural parc of Teno to reach the tiny village of Alto Teno. Up there, the weather had completely changed, the fog was so thick we couldn’t see much of the landscape. I still managed to take a few snapshots during a minute of brightness.
Punta de Teno
So far one of my favourite place of this trip. I thought I was going to see a lighthouse in the middle of nowhere, quite the contrary, the whole location is marvelous. Please note that Punta de Teno lies within the protected area of Teno Country Park, therefore the entrance is restricted. We had to wait patiently until 7pm to enter the park.
From the sea, you can admire the lighthouse with the cliffs of Los Gigantes as a backdrop.
Day 5 : Garachico
This seaside town is always a good choice for a peaceful afternoon. The city is filled with cheap local restaurants, flowery streets, and a park in the central area. Best of all, there are plenty of natural rock bathing pools where you can have your own little place to freshen up, sunbathe, and most of all relax, as long as the sea isn’t too rough.
Charco de la Laja
The Northern coastal line of Tenerife is home to plenty of “charcos”, meaning natural pool. We stopped to most of them but fell in love with the Charco de la Laja. This huge swimming pool is my personal favorite : swimming in a calm and crystal clear water, and getting soaked from the waves smashing the shell of the pool, how cool is that ?
Rambla de Castro, Playa Castro and the ruins de Gordejuela
After a morning well spent in the Charcos, we kept longing the coast towards the North East of the Island. We stopped at the Mirador de San Pedro which is a starting point to reach worthy viewpoints. The coastal paths boast terrific views over the sea with lush palm groves on the other side of the road. From the Mirador de San Pedro, after about 10 minutes walking, the path splits up in two stretches : one that goes down to “Playa Castro” with a pretty waterfall almost hidden at the edge on the beach (I would advise to bring a pair of sneakers, the stairs are pretty steep), the other one will take you up to the ruins of La Gordejuela.
Punta Brava
Punta Brava is the jewel in the crown of Tenerife. Because it lies next to the huge town of Puerto de la Cruz, this fishing village is often forgotten. If you’re seeking for a calm place to dine, Punta Brava has a few cozy restaurants and bars to offer. In hindsight, this place makes me think of the tiny village of El Roque in Gran Canaria.
Day 6 : Punta Del Hidalgo
After this busy and exhausting day of visit, it was time to hit the road again for the Anaga Rural Park. On our way we made a quick stopover in Punta Del Hidalgo to snack in front of the ocean and the rugged cliffs of the Anaga territory.
Anaga
If my girlfriend wasn’t there to get me out of this place, I probably would have stayed in this jungle for good. I was trying to get myself lost in these thick damp and lush forests on purpose. The photos speak for themselves.
Also, my adventurous spirit guided me over this amazing location. The day before, I spotted a photograph of this place, with no description, on the bedside table of our Airbnb. As it matters to the locals to keep this place secret, I will only leave this one shot as a clue and let you look for it … wishing you good luck !
Day 7 : Taganana
To wrap up this unforgettable trip, the village of Taganana and the beach of Benijo raised the bar even higher. Taganana is a village perched in the heights of the valley. It overlooks the baie of Benijo.
Benijo
Playa de Benijo is a long black sand beach, the many chunks of rocks sticking out of the water create a rather dramatic scenery at sunset, especially when the sea is rough.
Day 8 : Playa de la Teresitas
The morning before our departure to the island of Gran Canaria, we had a bit of time to kill. We decided to watch the sun rising above the Playa de la Teresitas. This beach felt more familiar to us, even if I personally enjoyed the black sand, this paradise-alike beach felt good.
