Driving on Tenerife & the Canary Islands: 10 Things to Know
Renting a car and driving around Tenerife and the other Canary Islands is the best way to really explore the towns and coastlines.
In most countries in Europe, I use Discover Cars to book. Their search function is very user-friendly, and it includes international car rental companies, plus local car rental agencies that are specific to each destination.
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The Basics of Driving on the Canary Islands
- The Canary Islands are part of Spain, not the UK, so you’ll be driving on the right side of the road.
- Gas stations are easy to find, and they’ll have an attendant come fill the tank for you.
- Cell coverage is pretty solid, so your GPS or map app will work well.
- The roads, even over the mountain passes, are remarkably well-paved.
Renting a Car at the Airport or Port
You’ll find car rental agencies at all of the airports and cruise ship ports on Tenerife and the other Canary Islands.
For reference, it should cost around $200 for a weeklong rental.
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A few things to keep in mind when you book your reservation:
- Unless you enjoy driving a manual or stick shift, reserve an automatic transmission.
- Choose a small car. In the US, I usually go for a midsize SUV, but on Tenerife or the other Canary Islands, I choose a compact car.
- For convenience, choose a company with rental cars on site (listed as “in terminal”) to avoid having to get a shuttle to a lot away from the airport.
- CICAR is a popular local rental car company, with offices on all of the Canary Islands in different spots (airports, cities, ferry ports).
Driving on Tenerife’s Highways
The two major highways on Tenerife are easy to navigate and modern.
The main highway, TF-1, runs along the south and east coast, connecting the airports to the major cities:
- Costa Adeje
- Los Cristianos
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Traffic on Tenerife
You’ll find heavy traffic around the tourist destinations:
- Between Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos (photo below)
- Near the airports
- Around Santa Cruz
- Masca (more on that next)
Driving Over the Mountains
Driving on the island of Madeira, you’ll notice: they blasted lengthy tunnels through the mountains.
On Tenerife and the other Canary Islands, you’ll be driving up and over the peaks on zig-zagging roads.
The mountain roads often narrow down to one lane, forcing drivers who meet head-on to negotiate who has to back up to let the other pass.
While it might sound daunting, people don’t generally speed or drive aggressively, so it’s just a “fact of life” on the roads of Tenerife.
Driving to Masca
Masca is famously the prettiest hilltop village on Tenerife. It draws crowds each day, which creates bottlenecks on the road and a parking nightmare in town.
There’s a small lot on the way into Masca, plus a few street parking options. Unless you get lucky, you’ll have to loop around to compete for an open spot.
I’d suggest ditching the rental car somewhere and taking a tour to Masca. These are a couple of great options:
➡️ Click to Book: Tour to Masca (and more)
➡️ Click to Book: Masca Valley
If you’re driving from Garachico, one option is to park in Santiago del Teide and take bus #355 into Masca. There’s plenty of parking in Santiago del Teide, and the bus is only 1 Euro… BUT … it seats fewer than 30 people. You’ll have to line up early to snag a spot both going into Masca … AND … on the way out. Plus, it only runs about once an hour.
Still, I’d say it’s worth making the trip to enjoy the views!
Warnings About Driving on Tenerife
A few more things to be aware of if you’re renting a car to drive around Tenerife:
- While it might be sunny and warm on the coast, you could encounter thick fog or heavy rain as you drive up into the mountains. That’s the case when driving around any of the Canary Islands.
- Snow is even possible at higher elevations!
- Beware of cyclists. You’ll be sharing the road with them, even on the steep slopes in the mountains.
Driving Your Car Onto a Ferry
When you rent a car on the Canary Islands, check to make sure it’s allowed on the ferries which run between all seven islands. There are two ferry companies: Armas and Fred Olsen.
Prices vary by route and vehicle size, but generally, expect to pay $100 to $200, depending on:
- Your route
- The ferry line (Fred Olsen might be a few dollars more expensive)
- Your vehicle
- The number of passengers with you
Traffic Speeds and Enforcement
The speed limit is generally 120 km/hr (about 75mph) on the highways.
On the roads through the mountains, the speed limit will range from 30 to 60 km/hr. Honestly, you’ll likely want to keep it at the speed limits or lower as you navigate those hairpin curves!
While you’ll find civil parking police in many of the towns, it seems like they’re there more to keep the peace around the stressful parking situations!
On the highways, you’ll pass speed cameras, clocking people for driving too fast. There are very few police working traffic patrols.
Final Thoughts on Renting and Driving on Tenerife
I enjoyed driving around Madeira and the Azores more than driving around the Canary Islands. Still, it was very manageable.
The cell reception made navigation very easy, and the generally laid-back attitudes of the other drivers made driving very easy … ASIDE from the parking in Masca!
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