Tenerife & Gran Canaria 8 days among dunes, mountains, the ocean and volcanoes

On arrival at Gran Canaria Airport, your guide welcomes you before an air-conditioned vehicle transfer to Maspalomas, in the south of the island.

Maspalomas is one of Gran Canaria’s main seaside resorts. It is best known for its vast natural area of shifting dunes, a palm grove and a coastal lagoon frequented by migratory birds.

Check in at the 3-star hotel, with free time to explore the area, stroll beside the sea or simply enjoy the hotel facilities.

Dinner and overnight stay in Maspalomas.

Meals: dinner.

The day begins at the dunes of Maspalomas, a golden-sand landscape directly beside the ocean. The wind continually shapes the dunes, while the neighbouring lagoon and palm grove form protected ecosystems.

Continue to Puerto de Mogán, a small southwestern port often nicknamed “Little Venice” for its canals and footbridges. Pedestrian streets are lined with white houses, bougainvillea and colourful façades. Free time to explore the port, flower-lined streets and seafront.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, drive to Agüimes, one of eastern Gran Canaria’s best-preserved historic centres. Its old quarter combines traditional houses, small squares, outdoor sculptures and stone buildings. San Sebastián Church is a notable example of Canarian neoclassicism.

Return to Maspalomas, dinner and overnight stay.

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Head inland along a road climbing Fataga canyon. This deep ravine crosses arid terrain where palm trees and small villages contrast with rocky walls.

As you climb, the landscape gradually changes: dry southern areas give way to mountains, valleys and Canary Island pine forests. This diversity explains Gran Canaria’s common nickname, “a miniature continent”.

Visit an organic aloe vera plantation. Discover cultivation methods for this plant suited to the dry climate, and the main stages in processing its gel.

Continue to San Bartolomé de Tirajana, also called Tunte, a mountain village that was an important stopping point between the island’s south and centre.

Lunch in a local restaurant, then drive towards Tejeda, a village in the heart of a vast volcanic depression. Viewpoints overlook ravines, pine forests and great basalt monoliths, notably Roque Nublo and Roque Bentayga, which held an important place in pre-Hispanic culture.

Return to Maspalomas through the central mountains, dinner and overnight stay.

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Head to Arucas, a northern town surrounded by agricultural land. Its historic centre is dominated by San Juan Bautista Church, built

Visit the Arehucas distillery, linked to the history of sugar cane and rum production in the archipelago. The visit reveals cellars, ageing methods and the development of this island industry.

Continue to Teror, an important pilgrimage destination in Gran Canaria. The historic centre surrounds the Basilica of the Virgin del Pino, patron saint of the Canary Islands diocese. Cobbled streets and houses with wooden balconies illustrate the island’s traditional architecture.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, drive to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Free time in Vegueta, the city’s founding quarter, whose streets and squares preserve over five centuries of history. Depending on available time, walk towards Triana, a shopping district known for its modernist façades and lively squares.

At the end of the day, transfer to the port and board the ferry to Tenerife. On arrival, welcome arrangements and a transfer to your hotel in Puerto de la Cruz. Check-in, dinner and overnight stay.

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Head to Los Gigantes, a village beneath impressive volcanic cliffs. These dark walls fall almost vertically into the ocean and reach several hundred metres in height.

Board a catamaran cruise lasting approximately three hours. Southwestern Tenerife’s waters are home year-round to short-finned pilot whales as well as several dolphin species. The crew introduces the observed animals and explains how to respect their environment.

Lunch on board without alcohol service, while enjoying views of the coast and Teno massif.

In the afternoon, visitIcod de los Vinos, a former agricultural and wine-growing town. Its historic centre is known for squares, Canarian houses and the famous Drago Milenario, a large dragon tree that has become one of Tenerife’s natural symbols.

Return to Puerto de la Cruz, dinner and overnight stay.

Meals: breakfast, lunch on board and dinner.

The day begins by travelling through La Orotava Valley, a vast fertile slope descending from Mount Teide’s heights to the ocean. Trade winds bring more moisture, supporting crops, forests and denser vegetation.

Ascend to Teide National Park, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mount Teide rises to 3,718 metres and is Spain’s highest peak.

In the great caldera of Las Cañadas del Teide, discover a landscape of craters, lava flows, multicoloured rocks and formations shaped by erosion. The varied terrain explains the main volcanic stages that created Tenerife.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit La Orotava, a historic town known for its stately homes, courtyards, cobbled streets and carved wooden balconies. A walk through the centre recalls the history of northern Tenerife’s major farming and trading families.

Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Head to San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife’s former capital and a UNESCO World Heritage-listed city.

Founded in the late 15th century, La Laguna has an urban layout organised around straight streets and squares. Its colourful houses, courtyards and religious buildings reflect the colonial architecture that later influenced several cities in the Americas.

Visit the local market, where stalls display tropical fruits, vegetables, cheeses, fish, spices and other island products.

Lunch in a Canarian house converted into a restaurant, with a menu featuring local produce.

In the afternoon, drive to El Sauzal and visit the House of Honey and Wine, housed in an old hacienda. This stop introduces Tenerife’s beekeeping traditions, honeys produced in the island’s different landscapes, and the main wine-growing areas and Canarian grape varieties.

Return to Puerto de la Cruz. A final free evening to enjoy the town’s atmosphere before dinner and your overnight stay.

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

After breakfast, transfer by air-conditioned vehicle to Tenerife Airport according to your flight schedule.

Assistance with departure formalities, then fly to your final destination.

End of this Gran Canaria and Tenerife combination, after a week discovering the dunes, villages, mountains, historic heritage and volcanic landscapes of both islands.

Meals: breakfast.