Public Transport In Tenerife

Public transport. For those of you not wanting to brave the Tenerife highways and byways, driving yourself, there is this option. There are two main alternatives - and one extra, little one. (There's also a fourth in the pipeline - see bottom of page.)

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: TAXIS

This is, by far, the most convenient option, but, obviously, also the most expensive. If you've been to or are in Tenerife, you'll have seen these vehicles frequently and probably assumed that they're always white Mercedes cars. There are taxis about that are the odd exception to this rule and, if you've nothing better to do, you could see if you can spot one. (I saw a maroon-coloured one once...lucky me.)

Now, some stories abound that the blue-shirted Tinerfeño taxi driver tends to rip off anyone he believes to be a tourist. Equally, there are other stories saying the opposite. In any event, I’ve put a list of correct fares below.

Taxis now have a queuing area off to the right as you leave the airport terminal building. When a few flights arrive in quick succession, it is not unusual for there to be a shortage of taxis.

Official list of charges

• 1.70 for flagging down during the day
• 2.10 for night time and festivals
• 0.40 callout charge
• 0.40 per kilometre
• 8.37 per hour (!) waiting time
• 0.40 extra for Los Cristianos harbour
• 0.35 bag charge (it's not clear if this is per bag, or for all luggage)

Just to give you some idea, a taxi from the airport to Los Cristianos/Las Américas should cost between 22 and 25 euros. For Golf del Sur, for example, we’re talking around 13 euros or just under. If you’re unfortunate enough to have to be taken all the way to Los Gigantes, the fare is a whopping 42 euros!

There is a leaflet called “Guia de Horarios” [ghee-a day oh-RA-rioss] at the airport (you can get one from the information booth next to arrivals). This has the approximate taxi fares to various island destinations, so if a problem arises, you can point out the correct fare in this official guide.

Remember that (most) taxis, being Mercs are quite spacious and some are estates. They should be able to take four adults, all with large suitcases. If you need anything bigger, there are minibuses available (ask for "un grande" [grand-ay]).

It is said that it pays you to ask how much the fare will be before you get in the taxi. The phrase "Cuanto por [your destination]" is a useful one. If you end up thinking you've been ripped off, console yourself with the knowledge that you’re not the only one!

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: BUSES

Even when I lived in Tenerife and had my own car, if I had go to Santa Cruz for any reason, I would use public transport in the shape of the bus. There is an express one (number 110) which hardly ever stops and you are there in no time, travelling in comfort. It is possible to purchase a return ticket, which, as you’d expect, works out cheaper than buying an individual ticket for each journey. The phrase to use when asking for this is ida y vuelta [eeda ee vuelta] - literally "there and back".

If you're intending to use the bus from the moment you arrive, one of these cards can be purchased at the airport in the shop called "La Alpizpa", next to The Gift Shop.

They are available at either 12 or 30 euros, are fully transferable and valid for one year. A couple may share one, simply by inserting the card twice into the ticket machine.

Should you find yourself in the capital of Tenerife, Santa Cruz, they are also valid for the tram system there (see below).

I gather that single tickets for local bus journeys cost no more than 1:25 euros and most are under 1 euro. For full details of Tenerife bus times plus other information, visit the TITSA website.

(Bus image on this page licensed by Creative Commons. Click on it to view license.)

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: SANTA CRUZ TRAMS

Like so many other cosmopolitan cities around the world, the capital of Tenerife, Santa Cruz, now has its own tram system - albeit of a modest size. Whenever I visited the main city whilst living on the island, I'd never seen any of these trams - and it turns out that they've only been operating since 2007, well after I returned to the UK.

Photo: Axe

The company is known as Metrotenerife, or Tranvía, which literally means "tram" in Spanish and it operates two lines.

Linea 1

This is the main line and it connects Santa Cruz with La Laguna, stopping at such important landmarks as the University Hospital, Candelaria Hospital and Plaza Weyler, where the British Consulate is to be found.

Linea 2

Only added as recently as 2009, this smaller line links La Cuesta and Tíncer, merging briefly with line 1 for two stops.

These rainbow-coloured vehicles are a convenient way to get around the immediate Santa Cruz area and fares are comparable in price to a bus fare. More information on tram stops, fares and timetables is available (in English) on the Metrotenerife website.

Photo: Jtpr92

contact details:

Telephone: (+34) 922 024800
Email: comercial@metrotenerife.com
Website

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: THE TRANSRAPID TRAIN

What's the one mode of transport that Tenerife lacks? A train! Well, plans are afoot to rectify that situation. Cabildo President, Ricardo Melchior, has been in talks with the powers that be in Brussels to negotiate funding for this huge project.

Photo courtesy of Tenerife News Online

Intended mainly to provide a fast link between the north and south airports (a speedy 15 minutes), it is hoped to be also a tourist attraction, with people wanting to ride on it, or just merely see it.

When, if ever, this ambitious plan comes to fruition, you'll be the first to know.

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