Hiring a Car in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife
A major resort in the green north, Puerto de la Cruz is an ideal base for Teide and La Orotava, and car hire in Puerto de la Cruz is easy to organise. Tenerife North airport is only about 30 minutes away by the TF-5, and several agencies are present in town. This guide complements our car hire in Tenerife with the detail specific to the north: where to hire, at what price, and which routes run from the resort.
The essentials at a glance
- Tenerife North airport (TFN) is ~25 km, i.e. about 30 minutes by the TF-5.
- Ideal base for the green north: Teide via La Orotava (TF-21), Loro Parque, the Anaga massif.
- Local and international agencies in the resort; the widest choice is still at the airport.
- Wetter and cooler climate than the south: expect sometimes-misty mountain roads.
Our approach: verified research, not first-hand experience (yet)
- We haven't visited Tenerife ourselves yet. This guide is built from thorough research — official sources, hire-company websites and up-to-date data — to help you plan your trip transparently.
- We'll enrich it with our own on-the-ground experience after our next stay. Until then, the prices and terms quoted are indicative: confirm them when you book.
Where to hire a car in Puerto de la Cruz?
The handiest option is to collect the car at Tenerife North airport, about 30 minutes away by the TF-5; see our page on car hire at Tenerife North Airport. In town, several agencies also let you hire a car in Puerto de la Cruz for a few days only.
If you arrive at the southern airport (the busiest for international flights), note that the drive to Puerto de la Cruz takes a little over an hour: in that case, weigh up hiring from the south straight away versus in the resort on arrival.
Airport or resort: which to choose?
Hire at the northern airport if you land there and want to be independent straight away. Take the car in the resort instead if you arrive on a transfer and only plan to drive for the odd excursion, which avoids hotel parking on the days you don't.
The price of car hire in Puerto de la Cruz stays close to the rest of the island: around €20-35/day off-season, more in summer. As the north's choice is narrower than the south's, booking ahead is particularly useful.
Puerto de la Cruz, the best base for Teide
This is the north's great asset: from Puerto de la Cruz, the climb to Teide National Park via La Orotava and the TF-21 takes about three-quarters of an hour, on a surfaced, toll-free road. Reaching the peak on foot (3,715 m) requires a free permit booked in advance, separate from the car hire.
Driving in northern Tenerife
The north is greener and wetter than the south: mountain roads can be misty and the surface slippery after rain. Drive carefully, anticipate tour coaches on the hairpins and allow plenty of time.
To plan the rest of your trip, head to our Canary Islands guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where to hire a car in Puerto de la Cruz?
At Tenerife North airport, about 30 minutes away, where the choice is widest, or in the resort itself, where several local and international agencies are based.
Which airport for Puerto de la Cruz?
Tenerife North (TFN) is best placed, ~25 km by the TF-5. The southern airport is possible but a little over an hour's drive away.
Can you reach Teide easily from Puerto de la Cruz?
Yes, it's one of the best bases: via La Orotava and the TF-21, Teide National Park is about 45 minutes away on surfaced roads. Reaching the peak on foot needs a separate free permit.
How much does hire cost in Puerto de la Cruz?
Around €20-35/day off-season and €40-70/day in summer. The north's choice is narrower than the south's: booking ahead is particularly useful.
Is driving harder in the north?
The north is wetter and its mountain roads sometimes misty. Nothing difficult, but drive carefully after rain and allow plenty of time.