📌Municipality and island
Los Cristianos is a coastal town in the municipality of Arona, in the south of the island of Tenerife, province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands (Spain). It is not a municipality in its own right: the municipal seat, the village of Arona, lies about 9 km inland and some 630 metres above sea level. Los Cristianos had 15,945 inhabitants in 2020 according to the INE figures cited by Wikipedia, and the municipality of Arona as a whole has 87,793 (INE 2025), making it the third most populous on the island. It is best known for its port: ferries leave from here for La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro, along with dolphin- and whale-watching boats. It is also known for its two beaches of light sand and calm water, Los Cristianos and Las Vistas, and for a seafront promenade that runs without a break all the way to Playa de las Américas. Unlike neighbouring Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos was a village before it was a destination: a fishing hamlet that in the 1950s began welcoming Swedish patients drawn by the climate, and that has had a daily ferry to La Gomera since 1975. To the east it is closed off by Montaña de Guaza, a protected volcano over 400 metres high.
📌Currency and language
You pay in euros. People speak Spanish with a Canarian accent: the local bus is called a 'guagua'. In the tourist area you'll hear a lot of English. Watch out on TITSA buses: their website warns that cash is not accepted on board for the time being, so bring a bank card or buy the ten+ card.
📌Best time to go
The south of Tenerife has a mild climate all year round, so price is what makes the difference. According to Momondo, May is the cheapest month to stay in Los Cristianos (€106 a night on average) and February the most expensive (€211). If you're going to La Gomera, check the sea conditions before booking the day. If you plan to go up Mount Teide, check the mountain forecast, because it's cold up there even if you're in swimwear down below.
📌Visa and entry
Argentines, Uruguayans, Chileans, Mexicans, Colombians and Peruvians don't need a visa for tourism stays of up to 90 days in the Schengen Area, which includes the Canary Islands. Since 10 April 2026 the EES system has been running at all external borders: they take your fingerprints and photo instead of stamping your passport. If you enter through Madrid, you go through border control there. The ferry to La Gomera is a trip within Spain: there's no immigration control, but bring your passport, as Baleària asks you to have your documents ready to board. ETIAS (€20) is not yet required: it has been postponed to 2027.
💱 EUR exchange rate
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🌤️ Weather in Los Cristianos
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Los Cristianos is southern Tenerife with a real town underneath. It has hotels and apartment blocks like its neighbours, but also a bay with fishing boats, an avenue with a Swedish name and a port that works all day long. It's the gateway to La Gomera: 50 minutes on the ferry and you're on another island, with a laurel forest that is a World Heritage Site. That's why it's worth thinking of it as a base, not just a beach.
What works best here is combining sea, walking and day trips. One morning you climb Montaña de Guaza to look down over the bay. Another day you cross to La Gomera on your own or on a tour. In the afternoon, Las Vistas beach and the promenade to Playa de las Américas. And if you have a day to spare, the village of Arona, Roque del Conde or the Rasca lighthouse are a short bus or car ride away. All without having to change accommodation.
It's also one of the places in the south where you can travel best on a small budget. The beaches are public with calm water, the promenade is free, Monkey Park charges €10 and the bus to Mount Teide leaves from Los Cristianos itself. What's worth booking ahead is the ferry to La Gomera on public holidays and accommodation in winter, which is when it gets busiest: according to Momondo, February is the most expensive month of the year to stay here.
📖 History of Los Cristianos
The earliest mentions of Los Cristianos, in the 16th century, speak of a port: the notary Hernán Guerra describes it as a port. From the 17th to the 19th century it remained an important port, but with almost no residents, because pirate attacks made living by the sea dangerous. Life was up the hill, in Arona: in 1625 Antón Domínguez founded the hermitage of San Antonio Abad, around which the village grew, and in 1798 it split from Vilaflor and formed its first town council. Only around 1860 does a fishing hamlet appear in Los Cristianos, and in 1888 it is recorded with 29 houses and a cave. In 1909 the first pier, the 'Puerto Viejo', was built, and in 1914 Teófilo Bello Rodríguez brought water from Vilaflor, which made it possible to grow tomatoes and bananas. The port was expanded in 1934. During the Second World War three small forts were built on the coast in case of a British invasion. The turning point came in 1956, when the Swede Bengt Rylander, 'don Benito', arrived with multiple sclerosis in search of the climate; other Swedes with polio and rheumatism followed, and in 1965 the Vintersol rehabilitation clinic opened. Hence the name Avenida de Suecia. In 1975 the new port opened with a daily ferry to La Gomera, and in 1978 the opening of Reina Sofía airport sent tourism soaring. In the 1980s Los Cristianos and neighbouring Playa de las Américas grew, and in 1990 the last banana harvest was gathered. Today Arona has more than 87,000 inhabitants.
🗺️ What to see
Tours you can book
If you only have one day, take a guided tour on the first one: it sets up the rest of your trip and saves you a lot of walking. We look ours up on Civitatis: guided in Spanish and booked online with no fuss. They have 13 activities in Los Cristianos. Three are below so you get the idea: tap any of them and they all open.
If you book from here we earn a commission and you pay no more. Prices and availability come from Civitatis.
1
Port of Los Cristianos and ferry to La Gomera
The busiest port in southern Tenerife: ferries to La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro, plus whale- and dolphin-watching boats.
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The port is the reason Los Cristianos exists. It has had a daily ferry to San Sebastián de La Gomera since 1975, and today boats also leave for La Palma and El Hierro. Two companies serve La Gomera: Fred. Olsen Express and Baleària Canarias, the current name of the former Naviera Armas. Both take about 50 minutes.
Official prices per one-way trip: Baleària publishes fares from €42 for non-residents and €11 for Canary Islands residents. Fred. Olsen publishes fares from €10 for residents only; for non-residents it shows no fixed price and you have to search for your date on its website. Canary Islands residents pay much less thanks to the resident discount, which doesn't apply to tourists.
Even if you're not travelling, the port is worth a stroll. On the breakwater there's a mural of more than 2,500 m² showing underwater flora and fauna. Whale- and dolphin-watching boats, fishing trips and boat tours leave from the pier. Next door, facing the esplanade, are the fish restaurants.
If you're catching the ferry, get there early: Baleària closes boarding 20 minutes before departure for foot passengers and 40 minutes before for passengers with vehicles.
ℹ️ Distance: In the centre of Los Cristianos, next to the beach · Best time to go: All year round; for La Gomera, days with calm seas · Admission: Looking is free. Ferry to La Gomera: Baleària from €42 non-resident and €11 resident; Fred. Olsen from €10 resident (source: balearia.com and fredolsen.es, verified October 2026) · Duration: 1 hour's stroll; the ferry, 50 minutes each way
2
Day trip to La Gomera (Garajonay National Park)
The neighbouring island, 50 minutes away by ferry, with the Garajonay laurel forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.
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La Gomera is the most natural day trip from Los Cristianos. The heart of the island is Garajonay National Park, established in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. It covers some 3,984 hectares, more than 10% of the island, and holds the best-preserved example of laurisilva, the humid laurel forest that covered much of Europe in the Tertiary period. According to the Ministry for the Ecological Transition, it contains more than half of the archipelago's mature laurel forest. The highest point is Alto de Garajonay, at 1,487 m.
There are two ways to do it. The easy one: an organised tour that includes the ferry, bus, guide and lunch. Baleària sells 'La Gomera Experience', leaving Los Cristianos at 9:15 and returning from San Sebastián at 17:00. The independent one: cross on foot and rent a car on La Gomera, or cross with your own car. Fred. Olsen has a Día Express fare for a same-day return.
The park has a visitor centre at Juego de Bolas (Agulo) and a recreation area at Laguna Grande. In August 2012 a fire burned almost 750 hectares of the park.
Bring a light jacket: up top it's often misty and cool.
ℹ️ Distance: San Sebastián de La Gomera, 50 minutes by ferry; the park is in the centre of the island · Best time to go: All year round; ideally clear days with calm seas · Admission: No admission charge for the park, according to travel guides. Tour with ferry and lunch: Baleària from €99 (source: balearia.com, verified October 2026); Civitatis €110 (source: Civitatis, verified October 2026) · Duration: Full day
3
Playa de Las Vistas
The big beach of Los Cristianos: 850 metres of light sand, calm water thanks to the breakwaters, and step-free access.
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Las Vistas is the most used beach in Los Cristianos and one of the most visited in Tenerife, according to Spain's official tourism portal. It's 850 metres long and 80 wide, with light sand and calm water, because a row of breakwaters shields it from the waves.
It has everything: toilets, showers, foot washes, tourist information, bars, restaurants and rental of sunloungers, umbrellas and water sports gear. Access is adapted for people with reduced mobility, there's a car park with more than 100 spaces and intercity buses nearby. Spain.info lists it with a Blue Flag.
From the sand you can watch the ferry to La Gomera go by, with Montaña de Guaza behind. It works really well for small children, because the water has hardly any waves.
If you want to save money, bring a towel and umbrella: the sand is public and free. What you pay for is the sunlounger. It fills up by mid-morning, especially in winter, so go early or late in the afternoon.
ℹ️ Distance: Between the port of Los Cristianos and El Camisón, walking distance from the centre · Best time to go: All year round; early or at sunset · Admission: Free (public beach). Sunloungers and umbrellas are rented separately · Duration: Half a day, or as long as you like
4
Playa de Los Cristianos and the old town
The town's original beach, sheltered by the pier, with light sand, calm water and the old quarter just steps away.
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Playa de Los Cristianos is the beach that was here before tourism: the bay where the fishing boats anchored, right next to the pier. According to Turismo de Tenerife it is 345 metres long and 80 wide, with light-coloured sand and calm water. It has showers, foot washes, bars, sunlounger and umbrella rental, step-free access and parking.
It's smaller and more village-like than Las Vistas. Being next to the port makes it hard to keep its Blue Flag: according to Diario de Avisos it got it back in 2023 after not having it since 2016.
Behind the beach is what little remains of the old village: short streets with low houses, the church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen and Avenida de Suecia, which remembers the Swedes who came in the 1950s looking for sun to heal. The big festival is that of the Virgen del Carmen, on the first Sunday of September, and the Los Cristianos International Carnival is also held here.
It's the place to have a coffee watching the boats and pair it with a fish lunch on the pier.
ℹ️ Distance: In the centre of town, next to the port · Best time to go: All year round; mornings · Admission: Free (public beach) · Duration: 1 to 3 hours
5
Montaña de Guaza (Natural Monument)
The volcano of more than 400 metres that closes off Los Cristianos to the east, with two craters, Guanche remains and views over the whole bay.
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Montaña de Guaza is the great lookout of Los Cristianos. It's a Natural Monument of 725.7 hectares bordering the town to the west. According to Turismo de Tenerife it rises more than 400 metres above sea level and has two concentric craters; its lava flows formed the Mesas de Guaza and a small cliff above the sea.
It's not just scenery. There are pre-Hispanic remains (Guanche caves, huts and burials) and subfossils of extinct species. The vegetation is typical of the dry south: cardón, tabaibas and cardoncillos. It's a breeding area for Cory's shearwater, yellow-legged gull and trumpeter finch.
One thing to note: according to Involcan's geotourism factsheet, the mountain has no official waymarked trails, although there's a network of paths that people use. The Cabildo de Tenerife says the way in is from Playa Graciosa: from the TF-1 motorway take the Los Cristianos exit, go down the TF-655 and after about 2.7 km you reach that development, where you park and take any of the paths.
There's no shade or water. Set out early, with a cap, sunscreen and at least a litre and a half of water per person, and don't stray from the paths worn by use.
ℹ️ Distance: Eastern edge of Los Cristianos; access via Playa Graciosa · Best time to go: Autumn to spring, early in the morning · Admission: Free (protected natural area) · Duration: 2 to 4 hours there and back, depending on how far you climb
6
Seafront promenade from Los Cristianos to Playa de las Américas
A flat walk by the sea linking Los Cristianos, Las Vistas, El Camisón and Playa de las Américas without setting foot on the street.
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From the port of Los Cristianos a seafront promenade runs along Las Vistas and continues west to Playa de las Américas. It's the easiest and prettiest walk in the area, especially at sunset.
Along the way you pass El Camisón beach, already in Playa de las Américas: 350 metres of fine, light sand protected by groynes, with showers, sunloungers, bars and step-free access, according to Turismo de Tenerife. Las Américas also has Playa Honda and Playa de Troya.
Playa de las Américas is also part of the municipality of Arona up to the Barranco del Rey, where Adeje begins. It was born in the 1960s as a tourist extension of Los Cristianos, and most of its beaches are artificial, with sand imported from Africa. It concentrates much of the south's nightlife: bars, pubs, terraces and clubs. If you want peace and quiet to sleep, Los Cristianos is the better base; if you want to go out, Las Américas is a walk away.
Las Américas merges into Costa Adeje, so you can keep walking towards Puerto Colón. Bring water and sunscreen: there's no shade along much of the route.
ℹ️ Distance: Starts at the port of Los Cristianos and heads west · Best time to go: All year round; sunset · Admission: Free (public promenade) · Duration: 1 to 2 hours on foot, one way
7
Historic centre of Arona
The municipal seat, at around 630 metres: the church of San Antonio Abad, manor houses and protected cobbled streets.
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Above Los Cristianos is the village that gives the municipality its name. Arona grew up around the hermitage of San Antonio Abad, founded in 1625 by Antón Domínguez and his son; in 1796 it became a parish and in 1798 Arona split from Vilaflor and formed its first town council. The historic centre has been a Bien de Interés Cultural since 2006.
The church of San Antonio Abad dates from the 18th century and stands where the hermitage once was. Its most valuable piece is the image of the Cristo de la Salud. Opposite is the Plaza del Cristo de la Salud, surrounded by stately manor houses.
Turismo de Tenerife suggests a walking route that starts at the church, continues along Domínguez Alfonso and Duque de la Torre streets, turns into La Luna and El Medio, and ends at José Antonio Tavío and El Calvario. You can do it at a relaxed pace in an hour.
The patron saint festivities of San Antonio Abad are in January, with a blessing of the animals, and those of the Cristo de la Salud in early October.
It's the perfect contrast with the coast: cooler, no hotels, real village life. It goes well with Roque del Conde, whose trail starts in Vento, a neighbourhood of Arona.
ℹ️ Distance: About 9 km north of Los Cristianos; TITSA bus 480, about 25 minutes · Best time to go: Morning; January and early October for the festivities · Admission: Free (public space) · Duration: 1 to 2 hours
8
Roque del Conde
The table-shaped rock of around 1,000 metres that dominates the south, with a moderate trail starting in Vento, in Arona.
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Roque del Conde is the table-shaped mountain you can see from almost anywhere in southern Tenerife. Its summit is around 1,000 metres and lies on the Adeje side, although the trail starts in Arona. It's the walk with the best views you can do without leaving the municipality.
The trail starts on Calle Vento, in a neighbourhood of the village of Arona, and is linear. According to the Costa Adeje tourism website, it's about 3.7 to 4.2 km one way, with 484 metres of cumulative ascent, moderate difficulty and about 2 hours to climb. It starts at around 596 metres and ends at 999 at the summit. At the top there's a plateau with open views over the south coast.
The key thing: there's no shade along the entire route. Set off very early, especially from May to October, with plenty of water, a cap and shoes with good soles. Some hikers warn that the descent has stretches of loose rock and isn't for people with vertigo.
To get there without a car, take bus 480 to the village of Arona and walk to Vento.
ℹ️ Distance: Starts in Vento (Arona), about 9 km from Los Cristianos · Best time to go: Autumn to spring; early start · Admission: Free (public trail) · Duration: 4 to 5 hours there and back
9
Monkey Park
A small zoo of primates and endangered species, with contact areas, that you can see in an hour. Ideal with kids.
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Monkey Park is a small zoo in the Los Cristianos area, focused on primates and the conservation of endangered species. There are ring-tailed lemurs, De Brazza's monkeys, Cuban crocodiles and birds such as the sun conure. In 2026 it added Barbary macaques, Bennett's wallabies, a pied crow and hyacinth macaws.
The park itself says it's small and can be seen in an hour. What draws families are the interaction areas, where you get close to the animals. Touching them is forbidden and they can only be fed with the little box of food sold by the park (€3), never with outside food.
It's open every day of the year from 9:30 to 16:00, with last entry at 15:30. Tickets are bought at the ticket office on the day; online there's a €1 booking fee. Cash and card are accepted. There's no restaurant: they only sell water, soft drinks, ice cream, coffee and snacks. It's wheelchair accessible.
Getting there: it has no bus of its own. TITSA bus 467 stops at San Francisco and from there you need to continue by taxi; the park estimates €7 to €10 by taxi from Los Cristianos. It asks visitors not to walk, because there's no safe pavement. Parking is free.
ℹ️ Distance: On the outskirts of Los Cristianos; a few minutes by taxi · Best time to go: All year round; morning · Admission: Adults (over 12) €10; children aged 5 to 12 €5; under 5 free; no resident discount (source: monkeypark.com, verified October 2026) · Duration: 1 to 2 hours
10
Camel Park (camel ride)
A family farm since 1988 in La Camella, Arona, with 20-minute camel rides and Canarian farm animals.
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According to Camel Park, camels arrived in the Canary Islands more than 500 years ago. Camel Park is a family farm that has been running since 1988 in La Camella, on the main road between Los Cristianos and inland Arona. There are camels, horses, donkeys, goats and other farm animals.
The main activity is a 20-minute camel ride, with a cameleer leading the animal. Children can ride if they go with an adult on the same ride. There is a weight limit of 110 kg per person, and it is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
There are four official options: farm visit only, with a plate of fruit to feed the animals; basic ride; premium pack with photos and a snack; and a pack with pick-up between Callao Salvaje and Los Cristianos. Canary Islands residents get a 10% discount on the tours.
It opens every day from 10:00 to 15:30, and in July and August from 9:30 to 16:30. It closes on 1 January. In summer it is best to book online. There is a terrace with tables where you can eat any food you bring.
If you are concerned about how the animals are treated, check the animal welfare section of their website before deciding.
ℹ️ Distance: La Camella, Arona, a few km from Los Cristianos · Best time: All year round; morning, before the heat · Admission: Farm €7 adult / €5 child; ride €22 / €11; premium €28 / €15; with pick-up €35 / €20 (source: camelpark.es, verified October 2026) · Duration: 1 to 2 hours
11
Malpaís de Rasca and Rasca lighthouse
Nature reserve of lava and volcanic cones in Palm-Mar (Arona), with a 3 km coastal path to the lighthouse.
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South-east of Los Cristianos, past Montaña de Guaza, lies the Reserva Natural Especial del Malpaís de Rasca, covering 315.4 hectares. 'Malpaís' is what Canary Islanders call rough lava ground that is hard to walk on and hard to farm. The landscape is made up of tongues of black lava, tabaibas, Canary spurge and volcanic cones, above all Montaña Grande. Turismo de Tenerife points out that there are threatened species here, such as Canary incense (Artemisia ramosa).
The classic walk starts from the Palm-Mar development and follows the coast to Rasca lighthouse: about 3 km one way and 6 km there and back, according to the birdwatching guide Birdingplaces, which notes that inside the reserve you may only walk on the coastal path. It is flat and suitable for almost everyone. Some people return inland by climbing Montaña Grande, a crater about 150 metres high with a view of the Teide.
For birdwatchers, the best time is the migration season, when plovers and curlews pass through.
There is no shade, water or facilities. Driving is the simplest way to get there: TF-1 motorway, Guaza exit, then the TF-6222 towards Palm-Mar.
ℹ️ Distance: Palm-Mar, municipality of Arona, about 10 minutes by car from Los Cristianos · Best time: Autumn to spring; morning or late afternoon · Admission: Free (protected natural area) · Duration: 2 to 3 hours
12
Los Cristianos Market
The Sunday open-air market on Avenida Juan Carlos I: summer clothes, bags, crafts and souvenirs.
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On Sunday mornings, Avenida Juan Carlos I, next to the Arona Gran Hotel and opposite Los Tarajales beach, fills up with stalls. This is the Los Cristianos market.
Most of what you will find is summer clothing, bags, accessories and souvenirs. The Mercadillos.org portal warns that the stalls sell fairly similar things, so it is worth looking round several before buying and comparing prices.
The hours given by the guides are 9:00 to 14:00, although some say it runs until 15:00. Some sources say it is also held on Tuesdays, in the same place. There is no official Ayuntamiento de Arona website confirming this, so if it is your only chance to go, ask at your accommodation.
It is not a producers' market: if you are looking for cheese, mojo or island wine, a large supermarket or a specialist shop is a better bet. But as a Sunday outing, combined with Los Tarajales beach and the seafront promenade, it works.
Watch your wallet: with so many people packed together, this is the kind of place where it pays to wear your backpack on your front.
ℹ️ Distance: Avenida Juan Carlos I, opposite Los Tarajales beach · Best time: Sunday mornings · Admission: Free (public market) · Duration: 1 to 2 hours
13
Teide by bus from Los Cristianos
TITSA line 342 leaves Los Cristianos at 9:40 for the Teide cable car and returns in the afternoon: a day trip without a car.
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Teide National Park, home to the highest peak in Spain, is covered in detail in our Costa Adeje page. What matters from Los Cristianos is that you can get there by public transport.
TITSA line 342 runs Costa Adeje Station, Los Cristianos, Arona, La Escalona, Vilaflor, the Parador, Las Cañadas del Teide and El Portillo, in about 2 hours 15 minutes. The 342 has only one trip in each direction: it leaves Costa Adeje at 9:25 and passes through Los Cristianos at 9:40. The return leaves El Portillo at 15:15, the cable car at 15:40 and the Parador at 16:00. If you miss that bus, there is no other one heading south that day.
The €10-a-day TITSA tourist card is valid on this line. The cable car is paid separately, and in October 2026 it runs from 9 to 18 until the 13th, from 9 to 17:30 until the 24th and from 9 to 17 from the 25th. To climb to the crater you need a separate permit, booked at tenerifeon.es.
Bring warm clothes, water and sunscreen: it is cold at the top and the sun is strong. If you have heart or breathing problems, check with a doctor first because of the altitude.
ℹ️ Distance: Las Cañadas del Teide, 2 h 15 min by bus · Best time: All year round with a good forecast · Admission: Cable car return €42 non-resident adult, €21 children aged 3 to 13; residents €10.50 and €5.25 (source: volcanoteide.com, verified October 2026) · Duration: Full day
💵 Prices
Tickets
| Type | Price |
|---|
| Ferry Los Cristianos - San Sebastián de La Gomera (Baleària Canarias, ex Naviera Armas) | From €42 per journey for non-residents; from €11 for Canary Islands residents (source: balearia.com, verified October 2026). Buy on the Baleària Canarias website or at the port; foot-passenger boarding closes 20 minutes before departure |
| Ferry Los Cristianos - San Sebastián de La Gomera (Fred. Olsen Express) | From €10 per journey for Canary Islands residents on the cheapest fare (source: fredolsen.es, verified October 2026). For non-residents the website does not publish a fixed price: an aggregator showed €42.80 (source: Ferryhopper, aggregator, November 2025, verified October 2026). Día Express same-day return fare from €13.44, without stating who it applies to (source: fredolsen.es, verified October 2026) |
| La Gomera Experience (ferry, bus, guía y almuerzo) | From €99 per person; departs Los Cristianos at 9:15, returns from San Sebastián at 17:00 (source: balearia.com, verified October 2026). Bought on the Baleària website |
| Monkey Park | Adults (over 12) €10; children aged 5 to 12 €5; under 5 free; no discount for residents, students or groups (source: monkeypark.com, verified October 2026). Ticket office at the park or online with a €1 fee |
| Camel Park | Farm visit €7 adult / €5 child; 20-minute ride €22 / €11; premium €28 / €15; with pick-up €35 / €20; Canary Islands residents 10% discount (source: camelpark.es, verified October 2026). Online booking recommended in July and August |
| Teleférico del Teide (ida y vuelta) | Non-resident adult €42; children aged 3 to 13 €21; residents €10.50 and €5.25 (source: volcanoteide.com, verified October 2026). Does not include the crater permit |
| Parque Nacional de Garajonay (La Gomera) | No admission charge according to travel guides (source: spainguides.com, aggregator, verified October 2026); I could not find this confirmed on the official website. You pay for the ferry and transport on the island |
| Playas de Los Cristianos, Las Vistas y El Camisón | Free (public beaches). Sunloungers and parasols are rented separately |
| Montaña de Guaza, Malpaís de Rasca y Roque del Conde | Free (natural areas and public trails, no booking needed) |
| Casco histórico de Arona y mercadillo de Los Cristianos | Free (public spaces) |
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
Activities and tours
Dolphin and whale watching by boat from Los Cristianos harbour
OperatorOperators at Los Cristianos harbour (choose boats with the Barco Azul label)
Schooner trip with whale and dolphin watching
Trip to La Gomera with ferry, lunch and guide
Price€110 per person; small group €149 (source: Civitatis, verified October 2026). Baleària sells its own version from €99 (source: balearia.com, verified October 2026)
Kayak and snorkelling in Los Cristianos (with sea turtles)
Try-dive in Las Rayas bay
Submarine trip off the south of Tenerife
OperatorOperators departing from the south (Los Cristianos, San Miguel de Abona, Las Américas)
Camel ride with farm visit (resale)
Price€26.10 discounted from €29 (source: Civitatis, verified October 2026); on the park's own website, ride €22 adult (source: camelpark.es, verified October 2026)
Trip to the Teide, Icod, Masca and Garachico from the south
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
🚌 How to get there and distances
Getting around
TITSA buses: 1-day tourist card
Price€10 per day of unlimited travel plus €2 for the ten+ card (source: titsa.com, verified October 2026)
NotesValid on all buses and the tram, including the 342 to the Teide. Buy it from machines at the airports, stations and kiosks, or in the ten+ móvil app. It pays off on a day with a long excursion; you don't need it for getting around Los Cristianos.
TITSA buses: 7-day tourist card
Price€50 for 7 days of unlimited travel plus €2 for the ten+ card (source: titsa.com, verified October 2026)
NotesPersonal. Worth it if you will use the bus almost every day: airport, Teide, Arona, Santa Cruz. TITSA notes that for now it does not accept cash on board.
Bus 480 Los Cristianos - Arona (old town)
PriceTITSA distance-based fare; same-day return from €4.25 depending on the route, or tourist card (source: titsa.com, verified October 2026)
NotesStops at La Camella (Camel Park), Chayofa and the Hospital del Sur. The 482 also links Los Cristianos with Arona and continues to Vilaflor. Check timetables at titsa.com or in the app: there are departures every one or two hours.
PriceLos Cristianos - Monkey Park €7 to €10; Playa de las Américas - Monkey Park €10 to €12; Tenerife South Airport - Monkey Park €26 to €30 (source: monkeypark.com, park estimates, verified October 2026)
NotesUseful as a guide to what a short trip in the south costs. Taxis use a meter. For the airport, compare with a pre-booked transfer.
PriceAverage of €10/day on weekdays and €27/day at weekends at Tenerife South airport; deals from €4/day; insurance extra (source: Momondo, aggregator, verified October 2026)
NotesUseful for Malpaís de Rasca, Roque del Conde and the north of the island. Bring your national driving licence and an international driving permit. Check carefully what the insurance covers and the fuel policy.
On foot along the seafront promenade
Free
NotesAll of Los Cristianos is walkable. The promenade links the harbour, Las Vistas, El Camisón and Las Américas, and continues to Costa Adeje.
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
How to get there
Tenerife South Airport (TFS) → Los Cristianos by bus
Airlines / operatorsTITSA line 40 (Costa Adeje Station - Los Cristianos - South Airport); at night, line 711; also the 343 from Puerto de la Cruz and North Airport
Avg. priceTITSA distance-based fare with a bank card or ten+, or tourist card at €10 a day + €2 for the card (source: titsa.com, verified October 2026)
DurationAbout 16 km according to MyTransfers; check the journey time in the TITSA app
Tenerife South Airport (TFS) → Los Cristianos by private transfer
Airlines / operatorsTransfer platforms (MyTransfers, Civitatis) and taxis from the airport rank
Avg. pricePrivate saloon for up to 4 people €51.50; minivan for up to 6, €58.50 (source: mytransfers.com, verified October 2026). Shared transfer from €7.50 per car on Civitatis (source: Civitatis, verified October 2026)
Santa Cruz de Tenerife → Los Cristianos
Airlines / operatorsTITSA line 111 (Santa Cruz Intercambiador - Costa Adeje Station, express via the motorway; some trips stop in Los Cristianos) and night line 711
Avg. priceTITSA distance-based fare; return trip with 10% discount on journeys of 20 km or more; or €10 tourist card (source: titsa.com, verified October 2026)
La Gomera, La Palma or El Hierro → Los Cristianos by ferry
Avg. priceFrom La Gomera: Baleària from 42 € non-resident and 11 € resident (source: balearia.com, verified October 2026); on aggregators 44,03 to 65,66 € (source: Ferryscanner, aggregator, May 2026, verified October 2026)
Duration50 minutes from La Gomera; 2 h 30 min from La Palma and 2 h 20 min from El Hierro according to Ferryhopper
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
🏨 Where to stay
No exact prices: a scale from $ (budget) to $$$$$ (luxury), with 2-3 options per category.
Budget (guesthouses and hostel)
Recommended optionsPension Casa Blanca 46 € a night; Tenerife Hostel 60 €; Pensión Playa 76 € (source: Momondo, verified October 2026). The average for 2-star hotels is 69 € according to the same source. February is the most expensive month (211 € on average) and May the cheapest (106 €)
Apartments (ideal for families and long stays)
Recommended optionsCastle Harbour 59 € a night; Comodoro 76 €; Ona Beverly Hills Suites 83 €; Torres del Sol 89 € (source: Momondo, verified October 2026). With a kitchen you save quite a bit: you shop at the supermarket and eat out a few nights
Recommended optionsOna Hollywood Mirage 103 €; Paradise Park Fun Lifestyle 146 €; Sol Arona Tenerife 152 €; Labranda Reverón Plaza 154 €; Spring Arona Gran Hotel (adults only) 230 €, all as the average price per person per night (source:
btravel.com, verified October 2026). Momondo gives an average of 172 € per room at 4 stars
Luxury (in neighbouring Playa de las Américas)
Recommended optionsI didn't find any five-star hotels within Los Cristianos. A walk away along the promenade, in Playa de las Américas, the Hotel Mediterranean Palace costs 172 € a night and the 5-star average is 236 € (source: Momondo, verified October 2026). For luxury beachfront resorts, see our Costa Adeje guide
🍴 Where to eat
Menú del día en el pueblo
Options / signature dishMany eateries in the south offer a three-course menú del día with a drink for 10 to 14 € (source: Teneriffa News, verified October 2026). In Los Cristianos, Fortuna Nova had a three-course menu at 15 € according to a recent review (source: Gastroranking, verified October 2026). Raymond, on Avenida Los Playeros, is a home-cooking bar with low prices according to its reviews
Cocina canaria: papas arrugadas, mojo y carne fiesta
Options / signature dishOrder papas arrugadas (small potatoes boiled in very salty water) with red or green mojo, and carne fiesta (fried marinated pork). In the old quarter, Guaza or Las Galletas, traditional Canarian food costs 20 to 35 € per person without drinks (source: Meliá restaurant guide, verified October 2026). For something more rustic, Arona guachinches such as Cas Toñito
Pescado fresco en el muelle
Options / signature dishTry vieja (the Canarian parrotfish) or cherne (wreckfish) with potatoes and mojo. Rincón del Marinero, on the esplanade by the Los Cristianos pier, is a go-to spot with average prices according to Gastroranking. Fish and seafood at the port and along the promenade costs 30 to 55 € per person without drinks (source: Meliá restaurant guide, verified October 2026). Ask the price of fish sold by weight before ordering
Options / signature dishEl Rincón del Arroz, on Avenida Sabandeños, is a Los Cristianos classic: creamy lobster rice, carabinero prawn rice and paella. Around 45 to 60 € per person (source: Gastroranking, verified October 2026). Booking is a good idea, especially in the evening
❓ Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to go to Tenerife?+
No, if you hold a passport from Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Mexico, Colombia or Peru and travel as a tourist for up to 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. The Canary Islands are Spain and part of Schengen. Since 10 April 2026 the EES has been in operation: at your first border check they record your fingerprints and photo instead of stamping your passport. If you arrive via a connection in Madrid, you go through that check there. ETIAS (a 20 € online authorisation) is not required yet: it has been postponed to 2027. Bring a return ticket, an accommodation booking and travel insurance in case you're asked for them.
How do I get to La Gomera and how much does it cost?+
Fred. Olsen Express and Baleària Canarias (formerly Naviera Armas) sail from the port of Los Cristianos. Both take about 50 minutes to San Sebastián de La Gomera. Baleària publishes fares from 42 € per trip for non-residents and 11 € for Canary Islands residents. Fred. Olsen only publishes the resident fare (from 10 €); as a tourist you have to enter your date in their booking search. Resident discounts don't apply to people on holiday. If you want everything sorted, there are excursions with ferry, bus, guide and lunch from 99 € (Baleària) or 110 € (Civitatis). Bring your passport to board.
Is it better to stay in Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas or Costa Adeje?+
It depends on what you're after. Los Cristianos has a town feel, a port and calm beaches, a good range of apartments and cheap guesthouses, and it's the most practical option if you're crossing to La Gomera. Playa de las Américas, right next door, is where the nightlife is: handy if you want to go out, but it can be noisy if you want an early night. Costa Adeje, a little further west, has more luxury hotels and beaches like El Duque. All three are linked by the same seafront promenade, so the real difference is price and noise.
How many days should I stay?+
With four or five days you can cover the main things in Los Cristianos without rushing. A full day for La Gomera. Another for Teide on bus 342, which leaves Los Cristianos at 9:40. A morning for Montaña de Guaza or Roque del Conde, and the afternoon in the town of Arona. Half a day of whale and dolphin watching from the port. The rest, beach and promenade. If you have a week, add Malpaís de Rasca, Masca and Los Gigantes (they're in the Costa Adeje guide) or a trip to the north of the island.
Do I need a car?+
For Los Cristianos, no: everything is walkable and the promenade takes you to Las Américas. TITSA buses (guaguas) connect with Tenerife South airport (line 40), Santa Cruz (111), the town of Arona (480 and 482) and Teide (342). The tourist card costs 10 € per day or 50 € per week, plus 2 € for the card itself. Note: TITSA doesn't accept cash on board for now. A car is useful for Malpaís de Rasca, the Roque del Conde trailhead or the north of the island, and according to Momondo there are rentals at Tenerife South airport from 10 € per day on weekdays.
Is Los Cristianos safe?+
It's a busy tourist area with lots of families and European tourists. The more concrete risks are of a different kind. On the mountain: Montaña de Guaza has no official waymarked trails, and neither it nor Roque del Conde has any shade; set off early, with water and good footwear, and if something happens call 112. In the sea: respect the flags, although Las Vistas and Los Cristianos have calm water. On the street, the usual: backpack on your front at the Sunday market and nothing in sight in the car or on the beach.
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