Travel information
The island of Tenerife is served by two airports, the Los Rodeos or Tenerife Norte TFN and the Reina Sofia Airport or Tenerife Sur TFS.
Aeropuerto de Los Rodeos, the smaller of the two, is located near the metropolitan area Santa Cruz-La Laguna. It serves inter-insular flights as well as national and European flights, and for the last two years, a weekly service to Venezuela.
Aeropuerto Reina Sofía is the busiest Airport in Tenerife, ranking 7th in Spain. It typically serves the mass of regular and charter flights constantly arriving from most of Europe.
A network consisting of two fast, toll-free motorways (TF1 and TF5) encircles nearly the entire island, linking all the main towns and resorts with the metropolitan area.
Both airports are at about 2.5 hours flying time from Madrid, and about 3 hours from Barcelona.
All international flights and some domestic flights go to the TFS airport. On the other hand, most domestic flights go to the TFN airport. Most people travelling on scheduled flights will have to fly via Madrid or Barcelona and then onto the northern airport.
Online information about flights arriving at or departing from Madrid, Barcelona and TFS airports can be obtained at:
Local transport
Puerto de la Cruz lies 35 Km from TFN, and 90 Km from TFS with a motorway link covering the full journey to both airports. The easiest access is from the North Airport (TFN, or Los Rodeos) along the TF-5 motorway. This is an approximately 20 minute journey along the coast. The South Airport (TFS, or Reina Sofia) is more than an hour away along the TF-1 and then TF-5 motorways.
Bus: Public transport on the island is provided by an extensive network of buses (Guaguas) and run by TITSA who operate a fleet of modern, air-conditioned buses which, generally, run on time. From TFS to Puerto de la Cruz line 340 takes about 1½ - 2h. From TFN to Puerto de La Cruz line 102 takes about ½h.
NOTE: There is a (steep uphill) walk from the bus terminal in Puerto de La Cruz to the hotel and for this reason we recommend you to take a taxi from the bus terminal (~ 5€).
Car hire: If you wish to hire a car, at a very good rate, we recommend you to use the services of CICAR (info.at.cicar.com). You may find the CICAR desk at the airport hall. The rate is 30 euros/day, full insurance included.
Taxi: Taxi fares to Puerto de la Cruz are around 60€ from TFS and 30€ from TFN.
The metropolitan Area formed by Santa Cruz and La Laguna will be served by a tranvia (tram) working in early 2008, after 2 years of intensive works.
Changing Money
The most recommendable way to get cash is by withdrawal from any of the numerous cash-dispensing machines.
There is a bank within the international arrivals lounge at the TFS Airport which operates daily except Sundays and public holidays. If you are travelling through Madrid or Barcelona, the exchange bureau is permanently available in the International departure areas. However, NO currency exchange facilities are available in TFN Airport.
Many banks are available in Puerto de La Cruz, and open Monday to Friday from 09:00h to 13:00h. Credit cards are widely accepted in Spain, in restaurants, hotels, etc.
Health
All participants are strongly recommended to arrange for medical insurance for the duration of their stay in the Canary Islands. The LOC will not accept liability for sickness or accidents. Spanish public health centres have co-operation agreements with most European Union countries.
There are two large hospitals in Tenerife, the General Hospital (Hospital Universitario de Canarias) (phone:922 678 000), which is under the control of the Cabildo Insular de Tenerife; and the Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (phone: 922 602 000). Both are amply equipped with the most sophisticated medical facilities.
Also two very good private clinics in Puerto de La Cruz: Hospiten Bellevue (phone: 922-383 551) and Hospiten Tamaragua (phone: 922-380 512).
Red Cross centres and emergency telephones at regular intervals along the main motorways and roads of the island. For any kind of emergency, dial 112 directly.