Trekking Tenerife Maps & Facts

Link back to Blog post.

This page covers the Trekking Tenerife Maps & Facts with specific logistical details and insights.

Hike 1 Garacgico Loop Stats

Hike 2 Bajamar Loop Stats

Stroll 3 Punta Brava – San Vicente Stats

Hike 4 Callejon de Teno – Cumbre de Baracan Stats

Outing 6 San Andres Caves Loop beach Stats

GPS Track

Download the GPX tracks from GPS tracks page.

For Trekking Permits Info

See Pico del Teide Page

Trekking Tenerife – The Bad

Car Rental at Record Go Agency

Trying to rent a car in advance was very difficult. Each time I tried to pay for the selected car the website (and even the agency apps) failed. I eventually guessed that none of them would accept my American Express card (it has lots of protections when renting cars so is my preference).

I then picked Record Go using the Ryan Air app and managed to book a car and purchased full insurance coverage (using my Amx card). The insurance policy stated clearly DO NOT PAY ANY EXTRAS AT THE AIRPORT! Cool I as set.

However, once at the Record Go agency pickup desk at the Tenerife airport the game changed. I was first pushed to upgrade to a bigger car. I refused but the girl insisted on going through all the options (perhaps she gets a commission for each item she pitches). Finally, we moved on to insurance. I showed her my insurance documents and purchase on Ryan Air and refused all extra coverage. That was not acceptable (I felt like I was in Cancun). She insisted that I had to purchase additional insurance. Once again she insisted on going through all three options. I refused so she started adding costs to my bill and finally gave me a 1,300 Euro deposit bill. I gave her my Amx card. She refused to take it. She wanted a different card (specifically a bank debit card which is way more difficult to get customer refunds from). I finally gave up and gave her my Croatian bank card.

All set. I was given the keys and pointed to the parking lot. At the parking lot I found the car had a large amount of damage on the rear fender. I went to the parking area office and explained. The guys said I should take a picture of the dent and then dispute any charges with the photo. I refused to leave his office and inspect the car. Not his problem.

I took pictures and video and drove away.

I returned the car to the airport unattended night drop-off a week later. Once again, I took photos before dropping the keys in the boxl

I wonder if I will ever get my deposit back.

Tourist Office in Puerto de la Cruz

The tourist office was a disappointment. They keep banking hours and when we went in with questions about Pico del Teide permits were rebuffed with a simple statement. You need to use the Tenerife.on website or app to book permits but they are sold out a month in advance. Have a nice holiday.

We did manage to find a good hiking map on a shelf before leaving the rude lady. You can also download it from the See Maps & Facts page.

I wish the lady had been more helpful because there clearly is a way to book permits on short notice as I did eventually figure out how to use the app/website (it was not intuitive to me) but only later in the week, effectively limiting my options. I explain all the steps in the Maps & Facts page.

Tourist Trap Mexican Restaurant (Chingón Restaurante Mexicano y Discoteca)

Generally eating out in the town of Puerto de la Cruz was not a problem. We tried to go where we saw locals eating and were quite happy with the prices, quantity and quality. However, one night after a long day hike on the volcano we were corralled by a street hawker in front of a Mexican restaurant near our lodging called Chingón Restaurante Mexicano y Discoteca.

It was a tourist trap. The food options were basically over-priced snacks. The service was terrible (the waitress didn’t want to speak English and then disappeared after the order). Only one meal arrived but without cutlery. After a long search the waitress was found. She delivered cutlery and went off to find the second meal (snack).

Finally, the Sangria drinks that the waitress had recommended arrived and we asked for the bill.

I was not happy about paying full meal prices for two snacks but even less happy about the drink prices. I called for the waitress and a translator. We were informed that the drinks we ordered were not on the menu, so they charged us for the most expensive drinks on the menu. No amount of complaining resolved the issue and I had to pay the full bill.

Clearly this was a scam that they pulled on tourists every day. Everyone knew their part and were being paid on a commission basis.

Trekking Tenerife – The Ugly

Now let’s discuss the really Ugly elements of this trip to Tenerife.

Apartamento Puerto de la Cruz, via Booking.com (Sleep Away Services).

We booked a week at the Apartamento Puerto de la Cruz via Booking.com. It was a nice older unit in a sprawling 1970 complex. It wasn’t a 5-star unit or location but we were happy with what we were getting for the price. We didn’t cook in the unit and left it quite clean (even taking out our garbage when we left).

Then 4 days after arriving home we got a bill from Booking.com stating a 100 euro fine for smoking in the unit. That was crazy since neither of us smoke. Wee then started a round-Robbin chat with one of the parties (booking.com, Sleep Away Services or the owner, we aren’t sure).

The cleaning person had taken a photo of a cigarette butt in the toilet and yellow marks on the toilet seat.

The back-and-forth discussion is very disturbing and smells like a scam since we don’t smoke and the stains were already on the toilet seat.

Do they do this to every booking?

Back to Record Go Car Rental Agency

Will I ever get my rental deposit back? Are they going to charge me for the dent that was already on the car? Stay tuned. I will update this over time.