Santiago del Teide Radio Taxis with taxi ranks in Los Gigantes, Puerto Santiago and Playa Arena

Don't forget these are just suggestions - why not ring (0034) 922 86 16 27 and plan your made-to-measure excursion. The cost per person with 4 people sharing - even on local journeys - works out less than a bus or excursion ticket and you make your trip on the day and time that suits YOU

including 3 hours free time to explore

70 euros

Icod boasts a famous dragon tree (Dracaena draco), said to be thousands of years old. In fact, no study seems to have confirmed such longevity for the tree, which is more likely to have an age in the hundreds of years. In any case, it is a tree that never goes unnoticed, and it has always been the symbol of Icod. No one speaks of the city without mentioning the dragon tree.

A tour of Icod is a stimulating opportunity. One route might follow all of the local shrines: Buen Paso, San Felipe, El Tránsito, Las Angustias, San Antonio, El Amparo... Within these shrines we can observe a wide variety of rich artistic treasures. You should also visit the Plaza de la Pila, with its ancestral homes; the Cáceres house, the former Franciscan convent and its chapel of Dolores, the former San Agustín chapel, León Huerta Plaza, Lorenzo Cáceres Park, and above all, the church of San Marcos and its Sacred Art Museum. Images by the most famous sculptors, altarpieces and works of fine gold- and silver, like the celebrated Filigree Cross, are part of the important artistic treasure that may be observed in Icod.

including 2 hours free time to have lunch or explore

44 euros

Masca is a small mountain village located to the north of Los Gigantes. Access is by a narrow winding mountain road. The village is home to around 150 inhabitants. Until the late 1960s the only access was by donkey track -it was inaccessible by road.

High mountains surround the tiny village and forests dominate the nearby areas and includes plants, cypresses and palm trees. Farming production includes potatoes and wheats and also fruits and vegetables in small quantities. The village has an ample water supply and is very green.

Some of the homes in the village have been abandoned- many of the inhabitants left for larger towns and cities on Tenerife and on other islands and to mainland Spain.

There are some excellent restaurants serving local specialties, or just have a drink and admire the breath taking views. There is also a small gift shop selling local products.

Fitter and more adventurous visitors can undertake the Masca walk - a 2-3 hour descent down the ravine of the same name to the sea, there you can arrange to be picked up by one of the local whale watching boats and taken back to Los Gigantes by sea - not for the feint hearted!

including 3 hours free time to visit the attractions, have a leisurely lunch, or explore the town

90 euros

Puerto de la Cruz is located on the north coast of Tenerife, within the Orotava Valley. A cosmopolitan, old colonial town known to tourists from all over Europe and beyond. Puerto de la Cruz attracts some 900,000 visitors each year.

The old part of town is a network of tree lined avenidas, narrow winding streets, shady plazas and steps running from one level to another. Many of the fine old houses with their distinctive Canarian balconies have survived.

The town is a shoppers paradise. A very large variety of goods are available from many hundreds of shops, often at good prices. Especially cheap are electronic items of every description, photographic gear, perfumes and alcohol.

Attractions include: the LORO PARQUE which is Spanish for "parrot park" It is a zoo located on the outskirts of the town which was opened in 1972 with 150 parrots. There are now over 3000 parrots representing over 300 species, claimed to be the largest collection in the world, as well as the largest "penguinarium" in the world, dolphins and various other animals including gorillas, chimpanzees and tigers and four young orcas on loan from SeaWorld. www.loroparque.com

EL MONASTERIO: This is truly one of the most fascinating experiences for eating out, the Monasterio is built on the grounds of an old Monastery set on a hill overlooking the spectacular Oratava valley in Puerto del La Cruz.

When entering the Monasterio you can choose from five different restaurants within the grounds, from slumming it with the chickens, hens running around to lunching or dining in one of the most attractive restaurants with a glass panel side offering an amazing view across Puerto de la Cruz and the valley below; the monasterio has something for every taste.

Its not just fine Canarian food that attracts people, its the spectacular buildings from the original distillery to the unbelievably extravagant decor in the main reception hall; it's actually an excursion.

 

3 hours free time to explore the city

118 euros

The Plaza de Espana is Santa Cruz's main plaza, dominated by the memorial to the men who fell fighting for Franco during the civil war and by the Cabildo Insular, the rather sombre looking neo-classical building that is the seat of the Island's government.

"The Market Of Our Lady Of Africa" is surrounded by a wall that is entered via a lovely archway and inside stalls fill the courtyard and shops line the outer wall. The market sells fresh fruit and vegetables but on Sunday mornings there is a flea market taking place in the streets between the Cathedral and the Market buildings.

The Church of San Franciso and the adjacent former convent are two of central Santa Cruz's nicer buildings. They date from the 18th century and the latter now houses the museum of fine arts. Behind these buildings is the Plaza del Principe there is a pleasant city centre park.

The Church of Nuestra Senora de la Conception
The streets and squares around the church are quiet and peaceful and are the home to some nice cafes and bars that come alive later in the evening. The church contains a relic of the Sacred Cross of the conquest after which the city was named

Ermita de la Virgen de la Regla - This small red & white church stands by the road opposite to the Auditorium . It was built in 1643 and is one of the city's oldest surviving buildings.

Auditorio de Santa Cruz
The distinctive, overhanging "wave" curving out over the white concrete Auditorio de Tenerife is the latest creation of renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.
Many concerts take place here, but it is worth a look at in its own right

Castillo de San Juan
This is the sole remainder of Santa Cruz's forts and dates from 1679. Built from the black basalt rock that forms the basis of so much of Tenerife's historic buildings, it is also known as Castilla Negra (the black castle). It was once the centre of Santa Cruz's slave trade, where Africans were traded on route to the Caribbean.

Santa Cruz Docks
The harbour and docks are on the seaward side of the city for several km in each direction of the Plaza de Espana, the uglier side of things (oil processing etc) taking place at the two extreme ends. The container dock is quite close to the city centre, by the Parque Maritimo and the Auditorio.

including 2 hours free time to explore

95 euros

Inaugurated in 1959, the Basílica at Candelaria is very beautiful both, inside and outside. In the nearby Plaza de la Patrona de Canarias there are 9 statues made of bronze, representing the Menceyes, the kings of the Guanche aboriginal people who were reigning the island when it was conquered by the Spanish in 1496.

Legend has it that Guanches found an image of a Black Madonna washed up on the beach - frightened by this unexpected apparition they tried to stone her, but their arms were paralyzed. Convinced this was a supernatural force, the chief of Guimar picked the image up and took it to his cave, where it remained for almost half a century. Later on, a Guanche convert made the Achbinico grotto its sanctuary, until 1526 when Don Pedro Fernandez de Lugo ordered a proper sanctuary for its worship to be built. The image stayed on its designated site for three centuries, until 1826 when it disappeared in a flood which returned it to the sea. The popular devotion to the image made it necessary to replace it and the sculptor Fernando Estevez was charged to carve the new figure.

The image of the Black Madonna of Candelaria is kept in great basilica created on this site. Building on the church was completed in 1958. Every summer many people make pilgrimages to Candelaria. On 14th of August the square outside the basilica fills with hundreds of pilgrims and the conversion of the Guanches is re-enacted.

including 3 hours free time to enjoy the park

85 euros

A tropical paradise in the south of Tenerife, with more than 75.000 m2 of forest, more than 300 animals, a route of tunnels and suspension bridges, waterfalls, lagoons and caves, displays of exotic birds flying free and predatory birds like the Great Condor from the Andes with a 3 meter wing span. Open every day of the year from 10 am http://www.aguilasjunglepark.com

OR 27 euros one way (up to 4 adults) and make your own way back

including 3 hours free time to enjoy the park

85 euros

Octopus Aquapark (near Playa de las Americas)
The Octopus water theme park, situated near Playa Las Americas, is open all year round, 10am to 6pm daily. One of Tenerife's great attractions, it features superb selection of sun bathing areas, slides, tubes, pools, diving boards , dolphins shows and a relaxing 'lazy river'. Attractions include safe, supervised climbing and playing structures for children, and high safety standards. Facilities include restaurants and changing rooms

OR 27 euros one way (up to 4 adults) and make your own way back

including 3 hours free time to explore

75 euros

Teide at 3717 m above sea level is the highest mountain in Spain, the highest mountain in any Atlantic island, and the third largest volcano on Earth

A cable car (Teleférico Teide) goes from the roadside at 2356 m most of the way to the summit, reaching 3555 m. Access to the summit itself is restricted; a permit (obtainable from the Park office in Santa Cruz) is required to climb the last 200 m.

It is currently dormant, having last erupted in 1909 from the subsidiary vent of Chinyero on the west slope of Teide. There is a visitor centre and gift shop.

75 euros

80 euros

130 euros

119 euros

120 euros

110 euros