Day Trips from the South: Tenerife's Best One-Day Excursions

The beauty of the south is that everything else is a day trip. From Costa Adeje or Playa de las Américas you can reach the volcano, the forests, the colonial towns and the wild north coast — and be back for dinner. Here are the seven routes that work best, with honest drive times from the south.

The big ones

• Teide National Park — 75 minutes to the cable car; go by 08:30 to beat the queues and the clouds. Combine with the sunset and stargazing tour for a long, magical day.
• Masca and Los Gigantes — the famous cliff village is 60–90 minutes west; the Los Gigantes guide covers the whole west coast.

The north

• La Laguna and Santa Cruz — 60–70 minutes to the island's most charming old town, then the capital on the same drive; both covered in the Santa Cruz guide.
• Garachico — 70 minutes to the little town built on lava, with its natural pools; the north's most rewarding day trip.
• La Orotava — 50 minutes to the historic valley town with its grand wooden balconies and the views over the north coast.

South-east and hidden corners

• El Médano — just 20 minutes away, the windsurfing town with its long beach, a totally different vibe from the resorts.
• Hidden gems — the cave village of Chinamada, wild Benijo beach and the quiet coves of the south-east; a full day for explorers.

How to make it work

A rental car is by far the best option — the public bus reaches most of these but ties you to a timetable. Pack a jumper even in summer: the north and the volcano are 10°C cooler than the coast. Plan two or three day trips max in a week's stay, and balance them with beach days — the where to stay guide explains how to split your time without moving hotel.