REVIEW · TENERIFE
Private tour of the southwest and northwest of the island , minimun 3 person
Book on Viator →Operated by Natural tour · Bookable on Viator
Four towns, one smooth morning drive. This private Tenerife route takes you across the southwest and northwest in a tight, scenic loop, mixing classic coastal views with old-town walking and one of the island’s most famous living landmarks.
What I like most is the ease of private transportation and pickup. You start at 9:30 am and spend your time out in the towns instead of figuring out buses and connections, and the English-speaking guide keeps the pace clear and manageable.
The one thing to think about: this is built around short walks and specific stops, so if you want long hikes or long stays in each place, you may feel a bit rushed. Also, lunch isn’t included, so plan to eat before you go or budget time for a meal after.
In This Review
- Key highlights to expect
- Private Southwest and Northwest Tenerife in One 6-Hour Loop
- Los Gigantes Town Walk and the Included Ticket Stop
- Masca Valley Streets: A Village Stop Built for Local Flavor
- Garachico, Tenerife’s First 16th-Century Port Walk
- Icod de los Vinos and the Millennial Dragon Tree
- How the Walking Time Adds Up (and What to Pack)
- Price and Value: What $154.88 Gets You
- Who This Private Tour Suits Best
- A Balanced Take: When This Itinerary Might Feel Too Tight
- Should You Book This Private Tenerife Tour?
- FAQ
- How long is the private tour?
- Where does the tour take place?
- How much does it cost per person?
- What time does the tour start?
- Is pickup included?
- What language is the tour offered in?
- What stops are included?
- Are admission tickets included?
- Is lunch included?
- How many people do you need for the tour to run?
- What is the cancellation policy?
Key highlights to expect
- Pickup + private transportation so you can move between the southwest and northwest without stress
- Los Gigantes with a short town walk and an admission ticket included
- Masca Valley for an hour of village streets and local atmosphere
- Garachico walks in a historic port town tied to Tenerife’s 16th-century story
- Icod de los Vinos to see the millennial dragon, an 800+ year old tree
- Clear stop timing (about 20 minutes to 1 hour per place) that works well for a first-day plan
Private Southwest and Northwest Tenerife in One 6-Hour Loop
This private tour is designed like a smart “greatest hits” day, without pretending you’ll see the entire island. The total time is about 6 hours, which is long enough to get out of your hotel routine and still short enough to stay realistic on a vacation day.
You’re covering four main areas: Los Gigantes, Masca Valley, Garachico, and Icod de los Vinos. Each stop includes walking through town streets, with time blocks that keep the route moving. That structure is a big deal on Tenerife, where sights can be spread out and travel time adds up fast.
For groups, the tour is private, meaning only your group participates. The minimum group requirement is listed as at least 3 people for the private tour, while the pickup details also mention a minimum of 2 persons—so if you’re traveling as a small group, it’s worth checking availability closely for your exact dates.
Language is English, and you’ll get a mobile ticket. Pickup is offered, handled through the hosting link, which keeps it simple for you: you plug in where you’ll start, and the day is already planned.
You can also read our reviews of more private tours in Tenerife
Los Gigantes Town Walk and the Included Ticket Stop
Los Gigantes starts the day with a short town walk—about 20 minutes—so you get a taste of the area without turning it into a half-day commitment. The tour description keeps it focused on strolling the town streets, which is ideal when you want coastal atmosphere but don’t want to sprint between photo stops.
There’s also an admission ticket included for this first stop. The listing doesn’t spell out the exact site name, so I’d treat this as a “paying portion handled for you” moment. Practically, it means you can arrive, follow the guide, and not worry about additional entry costs right away.
Why this stop works: it sets the tone for the day. You’re starting in the southwest, then you’re heading north. That shift helps the whole route feel like a mini journey instead of four disconnected bus stops.
Possible drawback: because the Los Gigantes part is brief, you won’t get a deep “hang and explore” experience here. If you love waterfront towns and want extra time to browse shops, you’ll likely want to add a separate free day for this area.
Masca Valley Streets: A Village Stop Built for Local Flavor
Next comes Masca Valley with a walk through the small town streets for about 1 hour. This is the kind of stop that rewards slower attention: you’re not rushing through a viewpoint checklist. You’re getting local street character, which is often where you pick up the real Tenerife feel.
A private format helps here because it’s easier to adjust. If your group wants a bit more time meandering through the streets, you can usually make that happen better than on a fixed group bus tour. The tradeoff is that the itinerary is still structured, so you’re not going to turn Masca into a full-day hike.
Also, the tour listing text is a bit repetitive in how it describes subsequent stops, but the key practical takeaway is consistent: you get a solid hour here, not just a photo pull-over. That hour is enough to see the village vibe, take a few good photos, and feel like you actually visited rather than passed through.
If you’re someone who likes towns over only scenery, this stop is a strong match.
Garachico, Tenerife’s First 16th-Century Port Walk
After Masca, the tour moves to Garachico, a historic town described as Tenerife’s first port in the 16th century. This is one of the reasons the route feels more than scenic: Garachico is about streets, buildings, and the way a port town leaves marks on daily life.
The walking portion focuses on the older parts of the town—old streets, houses, and a church—so you get a sense of how Garachico looks in its “heritage core.” There’s also an emphasis on an old main square dated to the 17th century, which gives you a clear anchor point for the visit.
What makes Garachico valuable on this tour is pacing. You’re not spending all day in one place. You get a historical town experience in a time window that fits a 6-hour day.
What to watch for: if your group expects a big-ticket museum stop or a long guided deep dive, this itinerary style won’t fully match that. It’s built for walking and atmosphere, not long indoor sessions. Still, for many people, that’s exactly the sweet spot on Tenerife.
Icod de los Vinos and the Millennial Dragon Tree
The final major stop is Icod de los Vinos, also guided as part of the island’s classic highlights. The star here is the millennial dragon tree, described as a tree more than 800 years old. That’s the kind of thing that makes you pause, even if you’re not usually a plant-and-landmark person.
You’ll also see the old main square tied to the 17th century. Together, the dragon tree and the square create a strong “place snapshot”: a living monument plus a human gathering space nearby. It’s a blend that keeps the visit from feeling like only one standout photo.
How this plays into the overall route: Icod de los Vinos is where the day feels most “Tenerife famous.” Los Gigantes and Masca give you local setting. Garachico adds history. Then Icod delivers the landmark that people plan Tenerife trips around.
Potential consideration: this portion still has a time limit (about 1 hour is listed for the main walk), so you’ll want to be ready to move when the guide calls the group back to the plan. If your group wants to linger for extra photos at the tree, you’ll likely need that done quickly within the hour, or you can plan a return on another day.
How the Walking Time Adds Up (and What to Pack)
This tour is built around short, focused walking blocks rather than all-day wandering. Here’s the practical timing idea based on the stop list:
- Los Gigantes: about 20 minutes
- Masca Valley: about 1 hour
- Garachico: about 1 hour
- Icod de los Vinos: about 1 hour
Total driving time isn’t listed, but with pickup and the route between southwest and northwest, you should expect a full-feeling morning that still ends within the 6-hour window.
Pack like you’re doing city walks in warm weather:
- Comfortable shoes for uneven stone and long-enough strolls
- Sunscreen and sunglasses, since open-town time is part of the plan
- Water (especially if you’ll skip finding drinks until later)
- A light layer in case the morning air feels cooler near the coast
One more small-but-important point: lunch isn’t included, so plan your food. If you eat after the tour, consider bringing something small to hold you over until then, especially for families traveling with kids.
Price and Value: What $154.88 Gets You
At $154.88 per person for a private tour with transportation included, the value is all about what you’re buying: convenience and a route that strings together four major areas efficiently.
Here’s how to judge whether it’s a good deal for you:
- If you’d otherwise rent a car and handle parking and navigation between southwest and northwest, the private ride can feel like paying for stress relief.
- If you’re traveling as a group of 3+ and want everyone together, private transportation often becomes more cost-effective than piecing together buses and taxis.
- The itinerary includes entry where noted: an admission ticket is included for the Los Gigantes stop, which helps offset some costs. Other stops list ticket status as free in the details provided, so there’s less uncertainty later in the day.
On the flip side, this isn’t “all-day everything.” It’s a structured day with planned walking windows. If your ideal Tenerife day is long, slow, and flexible with no schedule pressure, you might feel like you’re paying for the convenience of timing rather than for deep time in each place.
Who This Private Tour Suits Best
This tour fits people who want an organized, walk-friendly Tenerife day without major logistical headaches.
You’ll likely enjoy it if:
- You’re a first-timer who wants a clean sampler of the island’s north and southwest highlights
- You’re traveling as a small group and prefer a private vehicle
- You like town wandering as much as viewpoints
- Your group can enjoy landmark moments like the millennial dragon without needing hours there
It also works well for families because the walking blocks are not extreme, and the day stays within a predictable time frame. The route is varied enough that kids don’t feel stuck in one type of place for too long.
For couples, it’s a nice mix: historic streets at Garachico, photo-worthy local personality in Masca, then the iconic tree in Icod de los Vinos.
A Balanced Take: When This Itinerary Might Feel Too Tight
The main drawback is built into the format. This itinerary is about moving between four places in roughly 6 hours, with stops that range from 20 minutes to 1 hour.
If you want any of these, you might need a different style of tour:
- Longer time at Los Gigantes (since it’s brief here)
- A deep, slow Garachico exploration (since the walk is limited)
- A long nature hike from Masca (the listing describes town-street walking, not a lengthy trail)
- Unstructured wandering with no group timing
Also, because lunch isn’t included, groups who dislike planning meals may find the day feels a bit more “you need to manage your food” than a fully packaged tour.
Should You Book This Private Tenerife Tour?
I’d book it if your goal is a smooth, high-efficiency Tenerife day that covers the island’s north-and-west personality without you handling transport logistics. The private setup and pickup are the big wins, and the stop lineup has a good balance: a coastal start, a village feel, a historic port town, and then the millennial dragon centerpiece.
Skip it (or plan to add extra time elsewhere) if you want long stays, long hikes, or a schedule-free day. This is a get-it-done tour in a good way—short walks, clear landmarks, and a day that stays manageable.
If you’re on the fence, the deciding factor is simple: do you want structure and convenience, or do you want time to linger? This tour leans firmly toward structure, and that’s exactly why it’s popular for limited-time visitors.
FAQ
How long is the private tour?
It runs about 6 hours (approximately).
Where does the tour take place?
It’s in Tenerife, Spain, covering the southwest and northwest areas of the island.
How much does it cost per person?
The price is $154.88 per person.
What time does the tour start?
The start time is 9:30 am.
Is pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. The pickup details are provided through the hosting link.
What language is the tour offered in?
The tour is offered in English.
What stops are included?
The main stops are Los Gigantes, Masca Valley, Garachico, and Icod de los Vinos.
Are admission tickets included?
An admission ticket is included for the Los Gigantes stop. The details list ticket information for other stops as free.
Is lunch included?
No. Lunch isn’t included.
How many people do you need for the tour to run?
It’s described as a private tour with a minimum group size of 3 people, and pickup information also notes a minimum of 2 persons.
What is the cancellation policy?
You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
