The Canary Islands have seduced explorers, astronomers, and sunseekers for centuries. Born of volcanoes and polished by trade winds, these Atlantic isles deliver a rare combo: otherworldly national parks, dolphins at your bow, and tapas that taste of the sea. In one week, you’ll trace lava fields, hike ancient valleys, and toast the sunset above a sea of clouds.

Expect variety. Tenerife offers the commanding silhouette of Mount Teide, black-sand coves, and laurel forests that feel prehistoric. Lanzarote is sculpted by César Manrique: whitewashed villages, cactus gardens, and art embedded in lava tubes. Both islands reward early risers, star-chasers, and anyone who packs a swimsuit and curiosity.

Practical notes: Pack layers (Teide can be near-freezing after dark), reef-safe sunscreen, and motion-sickness bands for boat days. Driving is straightforward, but day tours simplify logistics and parking. For La Gomera side-trips, bring passports as requested by tour operators.

Tenerife

Spain’s highest peak, Teide, anchors Tenerife—a UNESCO-listed national park where pumice plains and pine forests ring a sleeping giant. Down on the coast, Costa Adeje and La Caleta serve Atlantic-fresh seafood and long golden beaches. In the north, Santa Cruz and La Laguna trade surf for markets, museums, and vivid Canarian history.

• Top sights: Teide National Park, Masca Valley, Los Gigantes cliffs, La Laguna old town, beaches of Costa Adeje.
• Why go now: World-class stargazing (Starlight Reserve), winter-sun beaches, and year-round whale watching.
• Food highlights: “Papas arrugadas” with mojo, vieja (parrotfish), goat cheeses, local bananas, and volcanic wines from Tacoronte-Acentejo and Abona.

Where to stay (Tenerife)

• Browse apartments and villas: VRBO Costa Adeje | Hotels: Hotels.com Costa Adeje
• Classic city base: Iberostar Heritage Grand Mencey (Santa Cruz) | Silken Atlántida Santa Cruz | Hotel Escuela Santa Cruz | Hotel Adonis Capital
• Resort favorites in the south: Iberostar Selection Anthelia (Costa Adeje) | The Ritz-Carlton, Abama | Rustic escape: Hotel Rural La Correa del Almendro

Getting to Tenerife

• From Europe: check flights to TFS/TFN on Omio (3–5 hours from major hubs; fares often $60–$180 one-way).
• From outside Europe: compare long-haul options and connections via Madrid/Barcelona on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Day 1: Arrive Tenerife (Costa Adeje) — Beach Strolls and Canarian Flavors

Afternoon: Land at TFS and transfer 20–30 minutes to Costa Adeje. Check in, then shake off the flight with a barefoot walk along Playa del Duque and Playa Fañabé—calm waters, boardwalk cafés, and volcanic-gold sand.

Evening: Seafood with Atlantic views in La Caleta. Try La Vieja for grilled octopus and wreckfish rice, or Salitre for limpets with mojo verde and local white wines. For a classic Canarian feast, head up to Otelo in Adeje for garlicky fried chicken and wrinkled potatoes. Nightcap at the Anthelia’s terrace bar or a breezy promenade gelato.

Day 2: Teide National Park and Masca’s Dragon-Back Roads (Full-Day Tour)

Explore lava flows, lunar landscapes, and the jaw-dropping Masca gorge on a curated day out. Expect scenic stops, short walks, and time for photos around Roques de García.

Mt. Teide and Masca Valley Tour in Tenerife — door-to-door ease and expert commentary.

Food notes: Pack layers and water; altitudes can exceed 2,000 m. Lunch stops often include guiso (stews), goat cheese, and almogrote (cheese spread) with warm bread.

Day 3: Whales by Morning, Stars by Night

Morning: Head to Costa Adeje’s marina for a conservation-minded cruise in the Teno-Rasca Marine Protected Area. Pilot whales are resident year-round; dolphins often surf the bow.

Whale Watching Eco-Adventure from Costa Adeje (2 hours).

Afternoon: Beach time at Playa Troya or a lazy lunch at Mesón Castellano in Playa de las Américas—order Iberian ham croquettes, grilled prawns, and a cold beer. If you prefer city culture, taxi 1 hour to Santa Cruz’s Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África for goat-cheese tastings and a slice of tortilla at a market bar.

Evening: Chase one of Europe’s finest sunsets above the cloud deck, then stargaze with astronomer guides and telescopes.

Teide by Night: Sunset & Stargazing with Telescopes Experience

Day 4: La Gomera Day Trip — Laurel Forests and Misty Miradores (Full-Day Tour)

Ferry across to La Gomera, where Garajonay National Park shelters ancient laurel forests and lookout points that tumble toward the sea. Expect hamlets, balcony views, and culinary stops for almogrote and potaje soup. Bring passports as requested by the operator.

Full Day Guided Tour to La Gomera from Tenerife

Dinner back in Tenerife: Treat yourself to the two-Michelin-star El Rincón de Juan Carlos (Los Cristianos/Corales area) for inventive tasting menus rooted in Atlantic products. For cocktails in Santa Cruz another evening, La Azotea de Benito mixes impeccable classics on a leafy terrace.

Lanzarote

Lanzarote is a gallery in motion—lava seas, vine-laced craters, and white cubes trimmed in green, a design code championed by artist-architect César Manrique. Timanfaya National Park breathes geothermal theatre, while lava tubes hide concert halls and subterranean pools.

• Top sights: Timanfaya National Park, Jameos del Agua, Cueva de los Verdes, Papagayo beaches, Charco de San Ginés.
• Vibe: Minimalist beauty, vine-growing in ash pits (geria), and coastal villages serving the freshest vieja and moray fritters.

Where to stay (Lanzarote)

• Convenient beach base: VRBO Puerto del Carmen | Hotels.com Puerto del Carmen
• For Papagayo coves: VRBO Playa Blanca | Hotels.com Playa Blanca

Getting from Tenerife to Lanzarote

• Morning flight TFS/TFN → ACE (Arrecife): ~50 minutes, from ~$35–$90 one-way when booked ahead on Omio. You can also compare on Kiwi.com. Ferries exist but usually require a long connection via Gran Canaria; fly to maximize time.

Day 5: Fly to Lanzarote — Charco de San Ginés and Puerto del Carmen

Morning: Depart Tenerife on a morning hop (assume 50 minutes). Pick up a compact car or arrange hotel transfer; both are easy from ACE.

Afternoon: Settle into Puerto del Carmen, then head to Arrecife’s Charco de San Ginés—white boats bobbing in a saltwater lagoon ringed by tapas bars. Snack on puntillas (baby squid) and papas arrugadas with mojo rojo. Coffee and cakes at a local pastelería before browsing Marina Lanzarote’s shops.

Evening: Dinner at Naia (innovative Canarian-Mediterranean) or Lilium (seasonal Lanzarote produce in sleek surrounds). For sunset over masts and a digestif, stroll Arrecife’s waterfront, then return to Puerto del Carmen. If you’d like a crafted cocktail, try La Delicatezza Cocktail Bar for sours and spritzes.

Day 6: Timanfaya, Caves, and Manrique’s Masterstrokes (Full-Day Tour)

Spend the day threading the island’s greatest hits without driving or parking stress. Timanfaya’s “Montañas del Fuego” showcase geothermal demos and coach routes across a Mars-like expanse; the lava tube system hides two icons: Jameos del Agua and Cueva de los Verdes.

Tour to Timanfaya, Jameos del Agua, Cueva de los Verdes and Viewpoint

Lunch tip: Many tours stop for Canarian set menus—look for grilled fish of the day, gofio escaldado, and bienmesabe dessert. Post-tour, detour to El Golfo for sunset and seafood at Casa Rafa—razor clams and a crisp Malvasía Volcánica are a perfect match.

Day 7: Papagayo Coves by Catamaran and Departure

Morning: End on turquoise. Sail to the protected Papagayo beaches on a relaxed catamaran with lunch and time to swim or kayak. Bring a towel and reef-safe sunscreen.

Catamaran Cruise to Papagayo beaches, lunch and water activities

Afternoon: Quick seafood lunch at Marina Rubicón—La Casa Roja is a long-time favorite for grilled wreckfish and garlic prawns—then transfer 30 minutes to ACE for your flight home. For Europe-bound flights, compare fares on Omio; long-haul connections via Madrid/Barcelona are easily checked on Trip.com.

Extra Tenerife Activities (Optional Swap-Ins)

• Teide National Park Sunset & Stargazing with Dinner (Star Safari) — cava at sunset plus guided astronomy.

  

• Tenerife Grand Tour: including Teide National Park and Masca — a broader route if Day 2 is sold out.

  

Daily coffee and dining picks (highly-rated stalwarts)

• Tenerife breakfasts: market bars at Mercado de Ntra. Sra. de África (Santa Cruz) for café cortado and tortilla; beachfront cafés along Playa del Duque for fruit bowls and tostadas.
• Tenerife lunches: Mesón Castellano (Spanish classics), El Rincón de Juan Carlos (splurge tasting menu), guachinche-style grills inland (El Cordero for mixed meats and mojo). Cocktails: La Azotea de Benito in Santa Cruz.
• Lanzarote breakfasts: seaside cafés in Puerto del Carmen for tostada con tomate or pastries and espresso; mid-morning cortado near Charco de San Ginés.
• Lanzarote lunches/dinners: Naia and Lilium (Arrecife), Casa Rafa (El Golfo), La Casa Roja (Marina Rubicón). For a nightcap, La Delicatezza Cocktail Bar (Puerto del Carmen).

Transport within islands: A small rental car offers freedom for beach-hopping, but this itinerary can be done comfortably with the listed tours and taxis. For ferries within Europe (e.g., side excursions), browse schedules on Omio Ferries.

Safety & tips: Hydrate on high-altitude nights; bring a light jacket for Teide. On boats, wear non-slip sandals and pack a drybag. In protected areas, stay on marked paths—lava crust can be fragile.

In one week, you’ll catch whales at play, cross volcano calderas, and drift over aquamarine coves. Tenerife and Lanzarote pair starry skies with slow lunches and warm Atlantic swims—a balanced Canary Islands itinerary you’ll want to repeat with friends in tow.