A winding asphalt road curves through rugged, volcanic mountain peaks in Tenerife under a clear blue sky. Low, light-colored stone barriers line the edge of the road, which overlooks a deep valley leading toward the blue Atlantic Ocean. In the distance, a neighboring island is visible on the horizon beneath a thin layer of white clouds.

Tenerife Island Tour from Adeje: The Perfect One Day Self-Drive Itinerary

ByAngela Price

This self-drive Tenerife Island Tour itinerary will help plan a perfect day, from Adeje in the South to Puerto de la Cruz in the North.

You will uncover the best places to visit in Tenerife by car. Stop off at the idyllic mountainside village of Masca, head to the stunning viewpoint in Mirador de la Cruz de Hilda, stroll the cobbled streets of Garachico, and finish your day by seeing the colourful street art in Puerto de la Cruz before returning to Adeje.

By following my Tenerife self-drive itinerary, you can see the island on your own terms. Spend as little or as long as you want at each spot without time constraints, and uncover hidden gems and hard-to-reach places.

A colorful mosaic map of the Canary Islands titled "ISLAS CANARIAS." Each island is rendered in a different color of tile against a multi-toned blue mosaic background representing the ocean.
Eight islands make up the Canaries. La Graciosa, off Lanzarote, was recognised in 2018 as the 8th island.

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Renting a car in Tenerife

First things first, you will need a car to get around the island. It's easy to pre-book a vehicle online with Discover Cars.

We booked a car for a full 24 hours. We picked it up early on the first morning in Adeje and returned it the next day. This way, we didn't have to rush to return it the same day, as we weren't sure how long we would want to stay out. I am glad we did because Tenerife is a large island, and we had an amazing time seeing it at our leisure.

Driving is on the right-hand side, and some of the mountain roads are switchbacks, which is a bit nauseating, but apart from that, the roads are good. Parking is hard to find in Masca, so get there early to stand a chance. Also, in Garachico, parking is strictly enforced, so be sure you understand the parking signs, or you will get a ticket (and I am speaking from experience!). Ask a friendly local to confirm what the signs say if your Spanish is limited!

Tenerife Map

Tenerife One Day Self-Drive Itinerary

I was staying in Adeje in March on a Jet2holiday from Gatwick. Being in the south, Adeje has a better spring climate than the North, perfect for sunbathing and coastal walks. After a few days, despite Adeje being a beautiful destination, I got a bit stir-crazy and wanted to see the rest of the island, so I hired a car to explore further afield.

A winding mountain road with sharp switchbacks carved into a steep hillside covered in green shrubs and cacti. The road is bordered by a low stone wall, overlooking a deep canyon with a glimpse of the blue sea in the far distance.
The switchback road into Masca Village.

Masca Village: Visiting Tenerife’s Hidden Mountain Village

Driving time from Adeje to Masca is 40 minutes.

Our first stop was Masca, which looks like a dream with its palm trees and red roofs, but the parking situation is a straight-up nightmare. Even with the traffic police managing the chaos, showing up at 10 am meant every inch of that mountain road was taken.

Our workaround: Mr P played chauffeur. He dropped me off and kept the car moving while I dashed down the steep, cobbled path into the village. We agreed on a 20-minute turnaround.

To be fair, Masca is small, so he didn't miss much. A coffee in the cafe would have been nice, but the universe had other plans. A few snapshots and a quick shop visit later, I was back in the passenger seat, and we were off to the next viewpoint.

A vertical landscape view of the small mountain village of Masca nestled among steep, dark volcanic cliffs. In the foreground, green prickly pear cacti and palm trees frame a prominent, sharp rock peak that towers over red-roofed buildings. The deep blue ocean is visible in the distance under a clear sky.
A wide, high-angle view of Masca village scattered across a lush green mountain ridge. Stone buildings with orange-tiled roofs are surrounded by palm trees and terraced gardens. The narrow valley slopes down toward the sea, which meets the horizon between two massive cliff faces.
A rustic outdoor shop and cafe entrance on a cobblestone path. Wooden shelves display local goods and souvenirs next to a white-walled building shaded by a leafy tree with pink flowers. A sign reads "BAR CAFETERIA" with an arrow pointing toward a scenic overlook.
The small, traditional stone chapel in Masca has white mortar and a dark wooden door. It features a simple stone cross on the roof and a commemorative plaque on the wall. The chapel sits on a tiled plaza shaded by a large tree, with mountain slopes visible in the background.
The sunny outdoor terrace of Restaurante La Piedra, featuring several black tables and chairs on a tiled patio. The restaurant is a traditional white stone building with a terracotta roof, set against a backdrop of rugged, sun-drenched mountain peaks.
The empty tables at the cafe were no indication of how many tourists were actually sightseeing in Masca.

Mirador de la Cruz de Hilda: Best Views in Masca Valley

Driving time from Masca to Mirador de la Cruz de Hilda is 10 minutes.

After leaving Masca, we drove along the winding roads to the Mirador de la Cruz de Hilda, which is a must-stop. The information boards here offer a great breakdown of the local geology for the sweeping, panoramic views of the Teno Mountains.

Much like Masca, parking is tight, so keep your eyes peeled for an opening. We had luck on our side this time and were able to park up so Mr P could enjoy the stunning views. We only needed 5-10 minutes here to simply take in the view and snap some photographs, then it was back in the car and on to Garachino.

There is a restaurant here with an outside terrace serving light bites like tuna sandwiches and apple pie. It's small and was full on our visit, so we didn't get a chance to sample the food, but by all accounts (TRIPADVISOR), it's pretty tasty.

Angie's Top Tip: There is a path that runs from the village of Masca to this viewpoint, so if you have a space in Masca, you can leave your car there and then walk back to it, saving you the hassle of finding another parking space here.

A wide-angle, high-altitude view of the rugged green mountains and deep valleys of Masca, Tenerife, under a bright blue sky. A winding mountain road snakes through the slopes, and a stone ledge sits in the foreground.
An outdoor information plaque at the Cruz de Hilda viewpoint in Tenerife, showing a map and geological details of the surrounding volcanic landscape. In the background, the actual mountain range and a winding road are visible under a clear sky.

Garachico: Why Garachico is Tenerife’s Most Beautiful Coastal Town

Driving time from Mirador de la Cruz de Hilda to Garachico is 45 minutes.

Unlike the sprawling concrete hotels we had seen in the south, Garachico is like a preserved treasure chest of whitewashed villas, cobblestone plazas, and hidden courtyards. As we approached the town, we stopped at the Risco Partido lookout, which offered views of the waves crashing against the volcanic shoreline. From here, the distant view of Garanchico's bell tower towering over low-rise buildings was sensational.

Right here, we discovered a moving tribute, Monumento al Emigrante Canario: a bronze statue dedicated to the Canarians who set sail for Venezuela in the 19th and 20th centuries in search of a brighter future.

We parked near the fort as the parking lot was full - though I’d suggest double-checking the signs, as we unfortunately got caught out by the local parking rules despite us thinking we were allowed to leave the car in the parking bays by the fort.

From there, we strolled past the historic stone walls and reached the El Caletón natural pools. The volcanic eruption of 1706 carved these turquoise swimming holes directly into the twisted, jet-black lava, creating an interesting landscape much like some of the natural volcanic attractions we have seen when visiting Lanzarote.

Wide-angle view of the Garachico coastline in Tenerife, featuring the iconic Roque de Garachico islet, crashing Atlantic waves, and the white-washed buildings of the historic town.
Travel blogger Angie sitting on a volcanic stone wall overlooking the blue Atlantic Ocean and the Roque de Garachico rock formation in Tenerife, Canary Islands.
The "Monumento al Emigrante Canario" statue in Garachico, Tenerife, depicting a figure carrying suitcases against a backdrop of steep volcanic mountains.
Monumento al Emigrante Canario.
The dark stone exterior of the Castillo de San Miguel, a 16th-century fortress in Garachico, Tenerife, featuring historic stone crests above the entrance.
To keep pirates at bay, the locals erected the Castillo de San Miguel.
An ancient rusty iron cannon overlooking the natural volcanic rock pools (El Caletón) and the crashing ocean waves in Garachico, Tenerife.
El Caleton swimming holes guarded by a rusty cannon.

Plaza de la Libertad

Strolling through the Plaza de la Libertad, we felt the history radiating off the massive, centuries-old wooden doors. It was great watching the locals claim their usual shaded benches, settling in to talk away the afternoon just like they have for generations. Naturally, we had to join the slow pace of life, so we grabbed a seat at a tiny corner café and ordered a barraquito, a delicious liquor-fueled layered coffee—the only way to truly experience Tenerife like a local.

The Iglesia de Santa Ana church and Plaza de la Libertad in Garachico, Tenerife, framed by tall palm trees under a bright blue sky.
A narrow cobblestone street in Garachico, Tenerife, flanked by a white building and a vibrant red-orange house with a blooming pink bougainvillea tree in the background.
A weathered yellow building in Garachico with peeling paint, traditional red wooden doors, and rustic architecture typical of the Canary Islands.

Puerto de la Cruz: Tenerife’s Street Art Centre

Driving time from Garachico to Puerto de la Cruz is 35 minutes.

The last stop on our Tenerife road trip was the town of Puerto de la Cruz. Rather than endless sandy beaches, we found dramatic volcanic shores, the world-famous Lago Martiánez saltwater pools, and a maze of narrow streets lined with colourful balconies and hidden tapas bars. It felt authentic, and the pace was relaxed and unhurried.

My love for street art drove our visit here, and the city certainly delivered. We barely walked a block before stumbling into La Ranilla, a neighbourhood transformed by murals.

A local regeneration program uses these colourful houses to tell the story of Puerto de la Cruz’s past. Today, you’ll find symbols on many facades that honour the traditional trades of the families who first called this fishing quarter home.

We saw images of fish, hammers, and wheat bags, noting that the families would have been fishers, blacksmiths, and bakers. You'll also see large murals of local people and industries, as well as a few whimsical characters like the mouse below.

It's a great area to stroll around, and you'll find some charming local tapas bars to slip inside for refreshment on a hot day.

A street view of brightly painted traditional houses in red, teal, and yellow in Puerto de la Cruz. A palm tree stands on the right against a clear blue sky, and the sidewalk is paved with dark grey stone.
A low-angle shot looking up at white buildings and tall palm trees against a bright, sunlit blue sky. A mural depicting traditional fishing scenes is visible on one of the white walls.
A street scene showing a row of colorful, weathered buildings under a bright blue sky. A large mural of a woman's face is painted on the side of a white building in the background.
A vibrant blue house facade with a white door and window frame. The wall features a religious tile, a painting of a small bag, and a stylized mural of blue and turquoise ocean waves.
A close-up of a vibrant red house facade featuring a dark green wooden door. To the left of the door is a small religious tile of the Virgin and Child, a painting of a fish, and a geometric green and yellow border.
A bright yellow exterior wall of a building with a dark brown wooden door and window. A small mural of a floating hammer is painted on the wall between the door and the window.
A charming, small-scale mural of a brown mouse peeking out from a circular "mouse hole" painted onto a textured white wall.

Playa de Martiánez

After viewing the street art, we swung by the beach and watched the surfers ride the waves at the black volcanic beach of Playa de Martiánez. Lago Martiánez saltwater pools are next to this beach, but on our visit in March, they were yet to open for the season. This complex of ocean-fed pools is the brainchild of César Manrique, who has left a mark on Tenerife much as he has done on other Canary Islands.

If you are planning on visiting Lanzarote, you will want to read this post: Ultimate Guide to César Manrique Attractions in Lanzarote, which will uncover all of his greatest works, now popular tourist attractions.

the black volcanic beach of Playa de Martiánez.
Playa de Martiánez.

Returning to Adeje from Puerto de la Cruz

Driving time from Puerto de la Cruz back to Adeje is 1 hour and 15 minutes

Having seen the snow-topped peak of Mount Teide on our flight into Tenerife with Jet2, we decided to try to drive closer to it as we were in the north of the island, but unfortunately, our hire car couldn't handle the steep hills. We had foolishly tried to take a route through the historic town of La Orotava that we thought would cut down our driving time rather than take the highway, but the hills beat us, so we accepted defeat and headed back to our hotel, Melia Jardines del Teide in Adeje, agreeing that we had visited some of the best places in Tenerife on our self-drive island tour.

View of snow-capped Mount Teide volcano from a Jet2 airplane window flying over Tenerife, Canary Islands.
A rare sight of snow on Mount Teide, captured from my Jet2 flight during the descent into Tenerife South Airport (TFS).
Panoramic, high-angle view overlooking the colorful coastal town of La Orotava in Tenerife, leading down to the blue Atlantic Ocean under a clear sky. In the foreground, a rugged hillside with green vegetation and a wire fence transitions into a dense cluster of white and pastel-colored houses, with more distant urban settlements visible along the hazy coastline.
The typical Canarian rooftops of La Orotava.
A quiet roadside view in Tenerife featuring a vibrant terracotta-colored house nestled against a backdrop of steep, rugged mountains. White clouds drift across the mountain peaks under a bright blue sky. In the foreground, a paved road with a wooden railing and a tall street lamp curves through a lush green landscape with scattered trees.

Is it worth driving yourself on a Tenerife Island Tour?

Yes, I believe it’s worth driving around Tenerife yourself. Having the freedom to stop whenever you like—and stay as long as you want—ensures you get the exact experience you're looking for. Just ensure you’re comfortable navigating a different country, as you'll need to stay sharp with Spanish road rules and directional signs.

When you hire a car in Tenerife, the company should give you a map, emergency numbers and some quick tips on driving in Tenerife. If they don't automatically provide the information you require, be sure to ask them for it. Better to be safe and sure of the road rules than not.

Want to see the sights in this post but don't fancy driving yourself? Book a guided Tenerife Island Tour!

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