A Tenerife itinerary beyond the beach: Teide, Anaga and Masca
Tenerife has two faces: the sunny resort south and the green, cooler north, with the volcano Teide in the middle. Where you stay changes everything, and the Teide summit needs a permit. This prompt has your todo.is agent split your week sensibly, plan the drives and point out what to book early.
The prompt
- Plan a [NUMBER OF DAYS]-day Tenerife itinerary for [WHO IS TRAVELLING] in [MONTH]. We're staying in [BASE] and [CAR]. Include Teide National Park (cable car, and how to get a summit permit), Masca village, the Los Gigantes cliffs, a whale and dolphin boat trip, San Cristobal de La Laguna, the Anaga mountains and Puerto de la Cruz. Mix in beach days at [BEACHES] and keep driving reasonable. Suggest Canarian food (papas arrugadas with mojo, a guachinche wine house) and a stargazing evening. Tell me which things to book ahead and give a cloudy-day swap. Email me a PDF with links to official sites. Don't book anything.
What to change
- [NUMBER OF DAYS]: E.g. "7". A week lets you mix sights and beach days.
- [WHO IS TRAVELLING]: E.g. "a couple", "family with kids aged 4 and 7", "hikers".
- [MONTH]: E.g. "March". Tenerife is mild all year; Teide can have snow in winter.
- [BASE]: E.g. "Costa Adeje", "Puerto de la Cruz", "split: 4 nights south, 3 north".
- [CAR]: E.g. "renting a car", "using buses and tours".
- [BEACHES]: E.g. "Playa del Duque", "El Medano", "Las Teresitas", "a natural pool".
Example result
- Tenerife in 7 days, a couple in March
- Staying in Costa Adeje · rental car
- Book ahead
- • Teide cable car tickets; the summit trail from the top station needs a free permit from the national park, which runs out weeks ahead.
- • Whale-watching boats: pick a licensed operator that keeps distance from the animals.
- Day 1: Settle in
- • Beach and a walk along the Adeje promenade to Playa del Duque.
- Day 2: Teide National Park
- • Drive up through the pine forest (about 1 hour).
- • Cable car to about 3,550 m; the summit trail only with a permit. Altitude can make you breathless, so take it slow.
- • Roques de Garcia rock formations and the lava fields of Las Canadas.
- • Stay for sunset and stargazing; the park has some of the darkest skies in Europe. Bring warm layers.
- Day 3: Whales and a slow afternoon
- • Morning boat trip from Puerto Colon or Los Cristianos: pilot whales and dolphins live off this coast all year.
- • Afternoon at the beach.
- Day 4: Masca and Los Gigantes
- • Drive the hairpin road to Masca village, tucked in a ravine (slow, narrow, park early).
- • Los Gigantes cliffs from the marina; a swim in the natural pool if the sea is calm.
- Day 5: The north: La Laguna and Anaga
- • San Cristobal de La Laguna, the UNESCO-listed colonial town with pastel houses.
- • Anaga Rural Park: the Sendero de los Sentidos laurel forest walk; lunch in a mountain village.
- • Las Teresitas beach on the way back, near Santa Cruz.
- Day 6: Puerto de la Cruz and Garachico
- • Lago Martianez pools, the old harbour, the botanical garden.
- • Garachico's lava rock pools and a guachinche dinner (simple local wine house).
- Day 7: Easy day
- • Beach, spa, or El Medano for the windsurfers.
- Good to know
- • The north is often cloudy while the south is sunny; check the forecast and swap days.
- • Check opening times and permit rules on official sites before you go.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in your days, travellers, month, base, car and beaches.
- Paste it into todo.is on the Today screen or send it to your agent on WhatsApp.
- Your agent plans north and south days and emails a PDF with a book-ahead list and links.
- Reply "add the Masca hike" or "fewer drives" and book your car, tickets and boat trip yourself.
Tips for a better result
- Apply for the Teide summit permit as soon as you have dates. Without it you stop at the top cable car station.
- Pick your base by what you want: the south for sun and beaches, the north for greenery, hiking and local towns.
- Drive to Masca early. The road is narrow with tight bends, and parking in the village is very limited.
- Ask your agent to check the Teide weather and cable car status the night before. Wind can close it.
Tenerife itinerary: FAQ
- How many days do you need in Tenerife? Five days covers Teide, Masca, the north and a whale trip. A week lets you add beach days and a second base in the north.
- Is it better to stay in the north or south of Tenerife? The south is sunnier with more beaches and resorts. The north is greener and cooler, with old towns like La Laguna and Puerto de la Cruz.
- Do you need a permit to climb Mount Teide? Yes, for the final trail to the summit crater. The permit is free but limited, so apply on the national park's official site well ahead.
- Can my agent plan an island hop to La Gomera? Yes. Ask for a day trip to La Gomera and it will add the ferry from Los Cristianos with times and links.
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