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An island of perpetual spring, Tenerife may well be one of the most stunning places in the world. The landscapes here are awe-inspiring and diverse. In a spare of an hour, you can see golden beaches, volcanic craters, rugged mountains and cascaded coastline. It is home to UNESCO-protected colonial cities like La Laguna as well as extra-picturesque mountain villages like Masca.
There are two ways to get to Tenerife by plane. Tenerife South Airport is usually used by those who will proceed to the famous resort towns of Costa Adeje, Playa San Juan, or Los Gigantes. It is located right at the southern edge of the island and is easily accessible by the TF-1 highway. Another way is through the Tenerife North which is next to La Laguna and Santa Cruz. Although the Canary Islands are next to the African continent, the road infrastructure here is on par with mainland Spain so you can expect excellent conditions.
As for car hire, there is a wide range of companies to choose from. The natural attractions of the island and great weather all year round guarantee millions of tourists. That’s why all universally-known brands like Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Sixt are represented. You have a wide choice of vehicles and various hire options. Booking in advance gives you a chance to save time in the airport and find the cheapest hire.
Quite typically for an island, Tenerife features loads of big and small car hire companies that can be found both in the Southern and the Northern cities. For instance, you can find many local offices in the popular resort Playa de las Américas. The general rule is to know what you're looking for in a car exactly and carefully study all the additional charges (like insurance, card deposit, damage waiver, GPS). Local companies tend to have cheaper prices but their fleet may be quite outdated.
As Tenerife terrain is very diverse, there are different driving conditions across the island. Highways and major roads are quite easy and very well maintained. However, if you decide to go to Teide volcano, or Masca village expect lots (we mean it) turns at high altitudes that can be quite a challenging drive for newcomers. Those visiting magnificent Anaga Natural Park in the North should be prepared by a narrow cliffside road with cars signalling each other and stopping next to a turn to let the incoming traffic go.
In the Southern resort towns parking can be a challenge during the high season. Nevertheless, except for extreme mountainous areas, Tenerife driving is generally comparable to the rest of Spain. Just prepare your trips beforehand, know your route and follow the road signs. And certainly avoid speeding at high-risk mountainous areas.
Hiring a car straight from Tenerife South Airport is a really straightforward process as there's only one terminal and you can easily find the right company. The majority of agencies have offices on both floors of the building ( except Europcar and Topcar that only have it on Floor -1). If you book in advance using holidaycars.com, it's possible to save time in the queues and have the keys straight away. Also, this way you will have a chance to thoroughly study the proposition and avoid hidden costs.
The bigger companies like Sixt and Hertz may offer more cars to choose from and more flexible options. CICAR is a great choice of a local supplier with many offices around Tenerife and a chance of leaving a car at the airport at a checkout. Be aware that costs for an automatic car in Spain are higher than the European average.
Few places in the world can compete with the grandeur of Tenerife. Being on the road here means driving through the incredible landscape that constantly changes bringing more and more awe-inspiring panoramas. In the South, driving to Spain's highest mountain Teide is an absolute must. Stop at many miradores (viewpoints) along the way.
Another fantastic journey filled with unrestricted beauty would be a trip to Masca and Garachico. Featuring some of the windiest roads on the planet and wonderful panoramas everywhere you look, it's the best thing to do while you're in Tenerife and looking for a natural escape.
Driving from Playa San Juan to Acantilados de Los Gigantes not only allows you to enjoy the coastal vistas but also take a dip next to Tenerife's most striking attraction, the mighty Los Gigantes cliffs.
Our customers rated Tenerife South airport with an average of 9.1 based on 112 ratings, and these are the most recent tips, experiences and highlights.
