TLDR
In January 2024, my friends and I spent 7 days in Tenerife. We mainly flew there to try surfing – fulfilling one of my mini dreams and bucket list items :). Besides that, we visited the world’s top-rated water park and climbed the island’s highest point – volcano – Pico Del Teide.
Trip Preparation
We were unsure whether to buy wetsuits (water temperature was 20 degrees, air temperature 22+). I bought one, knowing I would enjoy surfing and use it again. However, renting them on-site was quite easy and reasonably priced.
Flight
We flew from Prague to Rome and then to Tenerife with WizzAir :). Wizz offers great prices. Plus, if you fly often or in groups, the Wizz club might be beneficial, offering even cheaper tickets, you’re welcome.
+tip - there's a wider range of flights from Vienna or Rome. Wizz flies to Rome quite often and for a good price.
The flight from Rome to Tenerife took about 4/5 hours, which was manageable. I recommend pre-downloading movies on Netflix and podcasts and songs on Spotify.
+tip - Netflix also has a great feature where you allow it to use a specific disk space to keep personalized movies downloaded for you.
Arrival in Tenerife – Car Rental and Check-In
We arrived in Tenerife around 8 PM. Jackets from the Czech Republic weren’t needed as it was a beautiful 20 degrees even in the evening. We had a check-in at the hotel until 10 PM, but we also wanted to pick up our booked car. The first mishap occurred here. The rental company assigned by our booking was about 2.5km from the airport. We got directions to the rental place, but they were totally wrong and inaccurate. Fortunately, we figured it out and found the bus stop between the airport and the rental. It was “funny” that there were no signs of the rental company (as stated in the email), but a lady with a notebook was standing in the parking lot, catching us with a question if we were going to the rental. She crossed our name off her list and sent a bus for us. About 20 minutes later, a bus for about 40 people arrived for us 3 and about 2 other people. Luxury. Mercedes. So thanks, saving the environment.
There was a ridiculous queue at the rental. We were feeling KO after the journey and looking forward to our accommodation and sleep. When we finally got to the front of the line, we found out we had to pay quite a lot for car insurance because we didn’t have a credit card, although they had written to us that it was possible to deposit with a debit card. So, in the end, the car wasn’t rented as cheaply as it seemed at first glance. Lesson for next time… don’t rent a car through booking, because they will assign you some rental company at the last minute that may have such stupid conditions. You can read the terms in advance, but if you only know them a few days in advance and getting a credit card takes about a week, then you’re screwed. We also found out that there are quite a few negative reviews for this rental company :). So we definitely do not recommend OK Mobility as a rental company. Two thumbs down. Nevertheless, we had a “car”… a Dacia 😀
We had our accommodation in the Chayofa area – Chayofa Sunset Apartment. For a relatively super price, with a kitchen, terrace, pool… Beautiful. From the accommodation to the ocean was about 7 kilometers. We booked the accommodation traditionally through booking. I recommend booking well in advance – we could find even cheaper accommodations closer to the beach, which we missed before we decided.
Day 1 – Reconnaissance
In the morning, we needed to buy supplies and have a proper meal. About 200 meters below our hotel was a mini-shop where we bought basic things for breakfast – eggs, olives (yes, I have recently started to like having olives for breakfast :D). We planned to do a bigger shopping in a larger store where prices would be slightly more favorable :).
Strengthened by local food, we went to check out the sea. The first thing is to find parking. There are usually no restrictions or zones here.. it’s just quite packed if you go out later in the morning. But over time, we caught a few spots where we left the car. There’s no point writing the places here, you’ll definitely find something :).
The waves from a distance were mildly startling. We were a bit freaked out. The waves were about 2.5 meters that day, and considering none of us had surfed before :D… Well, we had to mentally prepare ourselves :D.
With the car parked, we went to scout our future surf hood. The weather was absolutely perfect – 22 degrees, clear, mountains and a volcano behind us, the sea full of surfers in front of us, people sunbathing and practicing yoga on the beach, and lots of people sitting in bars and summer gardens (more like year-round gardens in Tenerife :)). Almost perfect atmosphere. We popped into a convenience store for refreshments. Alright, now it’s got everything :). We toasted to a successful flight and the start of the holiday, soaking up the local vibe. There was also mental preparation for surfing and deciding whether to rent just equipment or sign up for some beginner lessons. As lunchtime approached and to avoid making decisions on an empty stomach, we went to the local McDonald’s (yes, there’s a Mcdonald’s by the coast :D). After careful consideration and two Big Macs, we decided it would be better to take an instructor at least on the first day and see how it goes from there.
We planned to surf at the famous Playa de las Americas beach. It’s an ideal place for beginner surfers. There are lots of surf schools within a few hundred meters of each other. We spotted a school called Ika Ika Surf School on the beach, so we headed there to find out the details of the lessons. The guy told us that surfing would be better tomorrow and that lessons are at 9, 11, and 16. So we agreed on tomorrow’s 11 o’clock. He wanted 35 euros for a 2-hour lesson, including board rental, wetsuit, and shoes. He also asked us if we wanted a solo lesson just for our group of friends, or with more people… more people, more fun, and also a greater chance that you won’t be the worst on the surf :D, so the choice was clear. The most important thing arranged, we headed back to our accommodation. On the way, we stopped by a local supermarket. Prices here are quite similar to those in the Czech Republic. A whole chicken – the cheapest meat per kilo – can be bought for 3 euros. The pool water at the accommodation was a decent icebox, so we just lounged on the sunbeds.
Day 2 – D-Day – Surf Day
Breakfast and off to surf. We had our surf booked for 11 o’clock. In Ika Ika, they got us into wetsuits, lent us shoes, and chose boards according to our height. Longer boards are definitely better to start with. In the end, we had a private lesson, as the guys somehow messed it up. But I must say, it was better. From the “selection” of instructors that we had the opportunity to see, there was a young, small, smiling guy – a typical Spaniard. We liked him because he looked the most relaxed. Like he had a really good mood to withstand how we might ruin it. Then there was a strict Indian guy, we didn’t want him :D. He didn’t look like he was in the mood for total beginners on the board. And the third guy was something in between – relaxed but responsible. We ended up with him. The boards were quite heavy, and we hurried to the beach. The coach explained a few basic safety things… jump off behind the board when going into the waves, hold the board with both hands,.. He showed us when and how to jump on the wave, how to paddle… all the basics. We drilled everything a few times. Probably because he saw that we were 3 athletes, he took it a bit faster with us and while others were still doing some warm-up, we were already heading into the waves. What can I say, it was a massacre :D… the waves were over 2 meters. If the waves are that big and roll one after the other, the most challenging thing is to get through them. Of course, we managed it and soon found ourselves in a group of other surfers waiting for their wave. Then the instructor asked who’s going first – so I went :). He helped me spot the first wave. I lay on my board and started paddling. The wave gave me the first push. I did two more quick strokes. The board started to tilt – so I jumped on it – and then I was riding my first wave :D. An incredible feeling.. I used to skateboard, I still snowboard, but nothing compares to this. I rode the first wave all the way to the shore and of course jumped off before the shallows as instructed :)).
It wasn’t always just a breeze. A few times, we all got spun around quite a bit. The waves were really big and gave us a good soaking :D. It’s incredible to see and feel the power of the sea. That’s one of the reasons why it’s definitely good to take an instructor for the first lessons. You have a somewhat greater sense of security. Additionally, the coach gave us several useful tips that would have taken us a long time to figure out.
After a few dozen minutes, even someone who exercises regularly has quite tired arms and shoulders. One friend a bodybuilder, another a cyclist, me a crossfitter.. a common feature – we were all screwed :D.
Anyway, we enjoyed it incredibly and most importantly survived in good health. The 2 hours were washed away like the salty water that spins you around a few times and runs into your nose.
Day 3 – Masca
On day 3, we decided to visit an older area of the island – the village of Masca. The village is located in the north-west of the island. We drove to the village of Santiago del Teide and then used local transport. It is recommended not to drive to Masca in your own car. One reason is that there isn’t much parking space, and another – narrow winding roads lead there, where barely two cars fit next to each other. If you’re going to Masca by car, be 100% sure of your driving skills.. the roads are really narrow, with a slope on one side and a steep cliff on the other :).
The local transport was quite a ride :D. More like a rally than public transport. We were quite glad we survived the trip to Masca. I had pretty much worn out the floor from braking. Anyway, it was worth it, see for yourselves :).
And because we’re always eating, we bought a papaya from a local guy – sweet, delicious. Almost like from Kaufland.. But not at all.
We took some photos for Instagram and went to check out information and local trails. We wanted something for 2-3 hours. The informant recommended a walk to Las Portelas. The trail was fine, leading up slowly along the contour line to the north. From the highest points, on a clear day, you can see the neighboring island of Grand Canaria. In Las Portelas, we spotted a few restaurants because we were hungry again. The restaurant was ideally located at the bus stop where we would go. Beautiful. It just had one tiny little catch – the restaurant was closed.. all the restaurants in Las Portelas were closed :D.. So we had a fast 2/22 (we didn’t eat for about 2 hours of the day :)). After the hike, we waited in Las Portelas for the bus back to Masca and from Masca, we took another bus to Santiago del Teide, where we parked our pimped Dacia :D. We used regular Google Maps for local transport – the times matched :). After the challenging journey – both mentally and physically 😀 – we returned to our base to check our beer supply, good food, and pool temperature. The pool was still an icebox, almost unswimmable btw.
Day 4 – Siam Park
On Tenerife, there is the world’s best-rated water park – so the plan for day 4 was clear :). I recommend buying tickets to the park online. There was quite a queue at the cash desk :). Online, it was written that parking is about 20 euros per day, so we left the car at the neighboring Siam Mall. However, the parking at Siam Park didn’t seem to be charged, so it’s hard to say. Definitely take a twin to Siam Park if you have one.. you’ll get cheaper tickets (Siam twins:), no kidding..). The water park is really great. We definitely recommend going through all the attractions :). There are various attractions for individuals, for boats for 2 or 4 people. The difficulty is always rated at the slides. I think the rating starts with green, then yellow, and the toughest is red. Of course, we enjoyed the red Dragon slide the most :D. See the video below.. but it wasn’t that rough.. my friends are hysterical :D:D
We had a blast in the park like little kids, what can I tell you :D. You can also eat well there.. or you can take some snacks with you in a bag :). We packed Reigns from the local Siam Mall because this energy drink is not so easy to find in the Czech Republic :).
We definitely recommend the park. Plus, at the beginning of the year, there weren’t really big queues for the attractions :). We managed to go through all the attractions from morning to closing time – the park is really big.
Day 5 – Surfing Day Numero Two
Since we were surfing waves like Johnny Utah in the movie Point Break https://www.csfd.cz/film/781-bod-zlomu/prehled/, we decided to rent boards this time without an instructor. As I may have already written, you can get boards for the whole day from 5 euros. I recommend checking out the board size your teacher recommended on the first day. I rented a slightly smaller one, and to be honest, it was quite wobbly. Besides, I barely fit on the board while paddling. Shorter boards are for pros who surf several times a week. Which I actually was. I surfed precisely several times a week, just that it was the first week… so rent a board that suits you :)).
We spent the whole day at the beach. It was an incredibly relaxing day. Of course, it was a posing day. We could peacefully take memorable photos with the boards, to have proof that we surfed. The funniest was an older gentleman, more like a grandpa, who came and started speaking German to us… we understood that he wanted to rent a board so he could also take a photo with his lady :D. Hopefully, he won’t claim he was riding two-meter waves :D.
Day 6 – Pico del Teide
Day 6 awaited us with a hike to Pico del Teide – the highest point of Tenerife and a dormant volcano at the same time. To set the fighting mood, I played Viking music for breakfast. Danheim – Berserkyyyyr, and off we went.
You can’t get to the very top of the volcano without a permit. You have to book it well in advance (maybe even half a year) for a specific day and time (definitely read more on the national park’s website. Another option is to buy a guide who has extra permits and will pull you to the very top.. of course, it costs something). We didn’t buy a permit or a guide, we wanted to do a proper hike and even without a permit, you can almost reach the top. The journey to the top is written as 5 hours, a similar time – about 4 hours for the descent. We climbed up in just under 3 hours. And even though it doesn’t look like it from the video, we went quite fast, overtaking most people. So definitely leave enough time if you’re going up on foot, so you don’t go back in the dark :). The climb starts at Montaña Blanca and can go up to La Rambleta and then along the contour line to the cable car – that was also our route. If you wanted to go to the volcano, i.e., about 200m higher, you would continue up from the cable car gate. (at the time of writing, this was the only possible way up). I haven’t mentioned yet that in Montaña Blanca there are only a few parking spaces.. for about 10-15 cars. We were unlucky because we arrived a bit later and had to leave the car about 3/4 hour walk away in a parking lot (probably Montaña Rajada). Oh, and one more thing.. We are all athletes.. the ascent is quite challenging. Really very challenging… Firstly, from 2,500m, the air is thinner and it’s harder to breathe (I think you can feel it even earlier.. it seemed a bit strange to me even in the car and at 2.2km where we started) and secondly, you climb 1600 vertical meters in about 5km, which is no joke. And then you have to walk down those 1600m :). So safety first.. If you’re not physically fit, better take the cable car up and maybe walk back down, it’s definitely safer. However, you can see the high difficulty of the ascent, or subsequent descent, in the video.. we were pretty fed up and we’re no weaklings :D. Definitely take enough food and drink for the ascent. As I said, the hike starts at about 2.2km above sea level, where it was around 13 degrees, but at the top in 3k+ it was quite cold, windy, foggy, and damp – so take a windbreaker in your bag !:D. A cap, gloves, sun glasses, and some extra clothes in case it’s really cold will come in handy. You can also find the weather forecast directly for the top of the cable car meteostation :).
This day was very intense, the descent was a bit of a struggle :D, but we made it and on the way back we had a great meal. As Johnny said, “I need to eat well, you never know with Denny when it’s going to be the last time :D. First, we almost died in the waves, then in the water park, and now on the volcano :D.”
We ate at the restaurant El Chamo – a gorgeous local restaurant.. quite posh. It was a beautiful reward for us. We arrived there torn, dusty, and smelly. Which probably wasn’t a reward for everyone else. But the important thing is, we didn’t care :D. The staff was nice, prices were reasonable. A menu with an appetizer, soup, main course, drink, and dessert for 15 euros. And on day 6, our first local meal. A beautiful end to the day. Plus a beautiful sunset. Romance. With three guys.
Day 7 – Bye bye Tenerife. TY 4 having us
The end of our stay was inevitably approaching, and we had to pack up from our beautiful apartment by lunchtime. After lunch, we still went to the water where we enjoyed the last January views of the ocean, Spanish beer, and soaked up the ubiquitous relaxed atmosphere.
The trip was great, definitely not the last time I visited Tenerife, and certainly not the last time I flew somewhere warm by the sea during the Czech winter months, and definitely not the last time with this group of friends :).