Private tours from Puerto de la Cruz

I am Daniela Mira, an official tourist guide of the Canary Islands. I work with travellers based in Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava, Los Realejos, Santa Úrsula, El Sauzal and the valley, and this page answers one question: what you get most out of setting off from there.

The advantage of the north

The north has a reputation for being cloudy, which leads some travellers to write it off. In logistical terms it is the opposite: from here you reach nearly everything that makes this island singular.

• La Laguna and Anaga are close to each other and close to you. In driving terms it is one of the best-resolved days on the island.
• Teide National Park is reached by climbing through the Canary pine forest, and the change of landscape is part of the journey.
• The wine landscape and the valley towns are on your doorstep.
• Garachico, Icod and the north-west are within easy reach.
• The southern resorts are at the far end and rarely repay the drive.

And something I say often: an overcast morning in the valley does not mean the day is lost. Above the cloud layer it is usually clear, and that is precisely the logic of driving up to Teide from the north.

What suits you best from the north

La Laguna and Anaga

Heritage and forest in the same day. The historic centre of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999, and then the Anaga massif, a Biosphere Reserve since 2015, with an agreed walk through the laurel forest and a food stop.

→ La Laguna, Anaga and a guachinche, six hours.

The wine route

The north is where Tenerife’s wine makes sense: vines on volcanic slopes, and an arranged visit to a winery. The visit, the tasting and, where applicable, the meal are booked and paid directly with the establishment.

→ La Laguna and Bodegas Monje, six hours.

Teide, in the afternoon and at night

From the north the climb crosses the pine forest and gains height quickly. What tends to work best is arriving in daylight, staying for sunset and observing the sky once it gets dark. I am Starlight Guide no. 40 and I work with a Celestron NexStar Evolution 8 telescope.

• Estrellas Express, three hours, sky only.
• Sunset & Stars, four hours.
• Teide Completo, six hours, with a walk.

The north-west

Garachico, Icod, the Teno massif and the village of Masca. From the north this is a logical day with no absurd detours. Check access conditions first, because in this district they change: I explain it in guided hiking in Teno.

→ Full Day Tenerife, eight hours.

Walking

Low and mid-mountain routes agreed according to your level, the date and the conditions. Qualification as a low and mid-mountain trail guide (AFDA0611), with the activity registered for active tourism (TA-4-0026356.16) and the insurance the regulations require.

→ Private guided hiking.

How pick-up works

It is agreed before booking. Tell me where you are staying and I will confirm the point and the time in the proposal, along with the route and the price for your group. Nothing left to discover.

What to tell me when you write

• Possible dates.
• Exactly where you are staying within the north.
• How many of you there are, and ages if minors are travelling.
• What you would like to see and what you have already seen.
• How many hours you genuinely have.
• Language: Spanish, English or Italian.
• Any mobility, health or dietary needs.

Frequently asked questions

Is it worth driving up to Teide if Puerto de la Cruz is under cloud? Very often, yes. The cloud layer forms on the northern slope at mid-altitude, and above it the sky is usually clear. It is one of the things that most surprises travellers based in the valley.

Can I take an excursion to the south from here? You can, but it rarely repays: the south is at the far end and the day fills with road. If your interest lies there, giving it a full day with a different logic almost always works better.

What do I get most out of, staying in the north? The combination of La Laguna and Anaga, without a doubt. It uses the least road time and offers the most contrast: a World Heritage city and a cloud forest in the same day.

What if it rains? In the north, damp is part of the landscape, and Anaga looks better for it. What gets checked is safety and the visibility from viewpoints. If conditions do not cooperate, I say so beforehand and we adjust the stops.

Is there pick-up at my accommodation? It is agreed before booking. Tell me where you are staying and I will confirm it in the proposal.

How many of us can there be? I do not publish a maximum. The logistics adapt to the group.

Can a winery and Anaga be combined in one day? It depends on real driving times and on the winery’s availability for that date. It does not always fit sensibly, and I would rather say so beforehand. If you want to try, it becomes a tailor-made proposal.

Which language is the tour in? Spanish, English or Italian, agreed before confirming.

Check availability

Tell me where you are staying in the north, what dates you have and what appeals to you, and I will prepare a realistic proposal.

→ Check availability · See all private tours · About Daniela

And if you are still deciding, what to see in La Laguna and Anaga and walking help you get a feel for it.