10-day road trip in Tenerife

In January 2020, we discovered the Canary Islands for the first time by going to the island of Lanzarote: we loved it! The Canaries are the ideal destination for a cheap holiday in the sun in the middle of winter, only a few hours’ flight from Paris. So, to start 2022 well, we decided to book ten days or so on another island of the archipelago: Tenerife.

In mid-November, we got our plane tickets for this trip from 29 January to 8 February: the outbound from Paris CDG with Easyjet (160€ for two with the baggage option) and the return to Paris Orly with Vueling (101€ for two with the baggage option). For the car hire (essential to move around freely on the island), we were unfaithful to Sixt by booking with Cicar (267€ for the 10 days of hire, all insurance included). The local Canary Islands company has a very good reputation and we were very satisfied with it.

Our only nasty surprise on landing: the calima. This wind loaded with sand and dust that comes straight from the Sahara occurs several times a year and leaves the sky very hazy, even opaque and yellowish, for several days. You should know that this natural phenomenon exists because it takes you by surprise!

Our budget for 10 days in Tenerife

• Flights: 261€ return for two with extra baggage (that is 130€ per person)
• Hire car: 267€ for 10 days of hire (via Cicar)
• Petrol: 115€ of petrol (1.15€ a litre of SP95)
• Accommodation: 509€ for the 10 nights
• Groceries: 110€ for 10 days
• Restaurants: 216€ for 10 days
• Visits: 6€ for two
• Activity (dolphin trip): 50€ for two

A total of 1534€ for 10 days for two (that is 767€ per person).

Our accommodation in Tenerife

Tenerife is an island that is easily covered by car, in particular thanks to the motorways that go round it. To be able to range quickly around our accommodation, avoiding the overly touristy areas, we chose to stay on the north coast. So we stayed fifteen minutes by car north of Puerto de la Cruz, five minutes from the TF5, in La Matanza de Acentejo. Our flat rented on Airbnb was located facing the sea, with a lovely terrace, a view over the mountains and the Teide. We highly recommend it, excellent value for money!

Our favourite places to eat in Tenerife

• Zumaque in Puerto de la Cruz: a favourite for this lovely place which revisits Spanish dishes with an Asian touch, fusion cuisine (56€ for two)
• Naife Gastrobar in Puerto de la Cruz: a place with excellent value for money (traditional tapas revisited, 35€ for 4 kinds of tapas and a dessert to share)
• Mirador de San Pedro at la Rambla de Castro: a very good traditional restaurant with an exceptional view (60€ for two starters and a big meat dish to share)
• Guaydil in San Cristobal de la Laguna: a discreet place in the town centre, quite high prices for the quantity (33€ for two starters and a dish to share)
• Makika & Co in San Cristobal de la Laguna: a tea room set in a tree-lined patio in the town centre with a big choice of small hot dishes, pastries and drinks (20€ for two drinks, two desserts and croquetas)
• El Aderno in Buenavista del Norte: a good patisserie on the north coast of the island with “French style” desserts (9.75€ for four desserts
• Habatonka Factoria Dulce in La Orotava: a very good “French” patisserie in the heart of the town in a magnificent setting (11€ for two desserts and two cakes)

What we thought of Tenerife

We did not fall in love with Tenerife but we are happy to have discovered a second Canary island! By comparison, we preferred Lanzarote, wilder, more of a change of scene and less built up. But Tenerife is still worth seeing in our opinion, in particular for its impressive nature and its three natural parks (Teide, Teno and Anaga). You have to try to ignore the concreted coasts turned towards “mass” tourism which has considerably spoiled the landscape. However, if you like hiking, Tenerife is worth considering because there are dozens of walking trails all over the island.
If you are looking for an affordable destination idea, in the sun in winter, think of Tenerife, if you have already discovered other Canary islands like Lanzarote!

Read all our articles about the Canaries!