Canary Islands Travel Forum

I'm currently living in Gran Canaria and now my parents are coming here on holidays for two weeks. We will be travelling to Tenerife and La Gomera for 4 days and I have a lot of questions about this trip... ;) Well, here we go:

Is it possible to rent a car for the whole holiday and bring it on the ferry to and from Tenerife? And possibly La Gomera? Will we have any problems with the insurance? How much does it cost to bring the car on the ferry? Or will it be better to rent a car in GC first, then rent one in TF and then another one in GC when we come back...?

We will be driving from Santa Cruz over the mountains to Teide and then down to the south (Las Americas/Los Cristianos area). Hoping to catch the teleferico to the top of Teide if the weather allows it. Are there any places of interest along this way where we should make a stop? Any good, local restaurants on the way from Teide to the south where we should stop and eat?

We will spend one day exploring La Gomera, but I'm not sure which is the best way. Should we go on a guided tour from Tenerife? Or bring our car/rent a car and explore the island ourselves? Any special places we should visit, any local restaurants that can be recommended?

The next day we will spend in Tenerife again, probably Las Americas area. Any nice places nearby that we should visit? Any local restaurants that can be recommended?

The last day we will travel from the south to Santa Cruz along the eastern coast. Any places along the way where we should make a stop? We have been thinking about the pyramids in Güimar, any other places we should visit too? And again any local restaurants along this way that we should try out? Maybe some beautiful, hidden-away beaches that we should stop at?

Any suggestions and recommendations about this trip are highly appreciated!!! :)

Thanks!

Maria

The travel is over now, and it was a great experience! I just wanted to answer some of my own questions, in case anyone else are wondering about the same things... :)

BRINGING A RENTAL CAR BETWEEN THE ISLANDS
This is not allowed. You have to rent a new car when you get to the next island. Or bring your rental car and hope that noone will notice. I'm not too sure what will happen if you have an accident or something. Might be better to rent a new car in each island. Then you also save the ferry ticket for the car.

But be aware that if you rent through Hertz and is going to deliver it in the harbour - their office is not in the harbour but a few streets above. You have to drive out of the harbour, all the way back to the auditorium, then all the way along the harbour, then turn and drive halfway back the same street again where you hopefully will find Hertz drop-off-point. Would have been nice to know this earlier so we didn't have to lose our ferry back to Gran Canaria... Also check that the ferry actually leaves when it's supposed to leave so you don't have to sit at the harbour in Gran Canaria 4 hours waiting for the next one...

PLACES OF INTEREST OVER TEIDE
Plenty! Stop at every mirador and take pictures. Always keep your eyes open - there are plenty of fantastic photo opportunities everywhere.

TRIP TO LA GOMERA
If you are not to keen on driving on narrow hair-pin turning roads that balance outside steep cliffs 1000 meters above the sea - then go on a guided tour... If you go on a guided tour check that the guide doesn't speak in too many languages. Our guide spoke one hour in spanish, half an hour in german and ten minutes in english. Luckily I understood most of it, but many of the people that only spoke english were quite angry after the tour.

DRIVING FROM THE SOUTH TO SANTA CRUZ
Take the western/northern road. Much more to see than in the eastern. Start early so you can make many stops - there are plenty of things to see.

Also bring seasickness pills in case the sea is rough. That way you don't have to spend most of the time locked inside the toilet like I did... ;)

Maria
(happy to be back in Gran Canaria again... ;)