Fourteen days is the dream length for the Canaries — long enough to truly unwind, and long enough to see the islands do more than one thing. A fortnight lets you settle into a place, dig into a single island's every corner, or combine two or three that feel like different countries an hour apart by ferry. This guide lays out three very different two-week itineraries: one island explored in real depth, a classic two-island combination, and a green western-isles nature trip for the seasoned traveller. Treat each as a day-by-day framework rather than a rigid schedule — the best fortnights leave room to do nothing at all.
For any two-week trip, rent a car for the touring days rather than the whole stay — you'll want wheels for mountains and beaches but not for the lazy days. Our car hire guide and driving guide cover the essentials, and the golden rule of hopping is to rent fresh on each island rather than ferry a car across.
Option A: One island in depth — Tenerife in 14 days
The biggest and most varied island rewards a full fortnight like nowhere else: Spain's highest peak, two utterly different coasts, ancient forests, buzzing resorts and historic towns. Split your stay between a southern beach base and a northern character base to see both sides of Tenerife.
- Day 1 — Arrive south. Settle into Costa Adeje or lively Playa de las Américas; a first swim and an easy dinner.
- Day 2 — Beach and waterpark. Golden Playa del Duque and the world-class Siam Park.
- Day 3 — Teide. Drive up to Mount Teide and its lunar national park; cable car and lava fields.
- Day 4 — Whales and dolphins. A boat trip from Los Cristianos, then a lazy afternoon.
- Day 5 — The wild west. The cliffs of Los Gigantes and the black sand of Playa de la Arena.
- Day 6 — Masca. The hair-raising drive to the mountain hamlet of Masca and its ravine.
- Day 7 — Slow beach day near your base, or the lava tube of Cueva del Viento.
- Day 8 — Move north. Relocate to Puerto de la Cruz; a stroll and the town's lido.
- Day 9 — Loro Parque. The famous animal park, then the seafront promenade.
- Day 10 — La Orotava & La Laguna. Historic La Orotava and UNESCO-listed La Laguna.
- Day 11 — Wild Anaga. The laurel forests of Anaga Rural Park and dramatic Playa de Benijo.
- Day 12 — Garachico. The lava-carved rock pools of Garachico.
- Day 13 — Golden sands. Palm-fringed Las Teresitas near the capital.
- Day 14 — Slow finish and departure.
Option B: Two islands combined
The classic fortnight: base on one island for the first week, hop by ferry to a neighbour for the second. It gives you variety without living out of a suitcase. Three pairings work especially well.
Tenerife + La Gomera
Beaches and volcanoes, then forests and calm. Spend days 1–8 on southern Tenerife (Teide, whales, Playa del Duque), then take the short ferry from Los Cristianos to La Gomera for days 9–14: the ancient laurel woods of Garajonay, the pretty capital of San Sebastián and the palm-filled valley of Valle Gran Rey. Two worlds, one hour apart.
Lanzarote + Fuerteventura
Fire-formed art and vineyards, then the archipelago's grandest sands. Days 1–7 on Lanzarote: the fire mountains of Timanfaya, César Manrique's landmarks, the market town of Teguise and the beaches of Papagayo. Then the frequent, short Playa Blanca–Corralejo crossing to Fuerteventura for days 8–14: the dunes of Corralejo, the lagoon of Sotavento and the wild sweep of Cofete.
Gran Canaria + a western isle
A "continent in miniature" then somewhere remote. Days 1–8 on Gran Canaria — the Maspalomas dunes, the monolith of Roque Nublo, the capital Las Palmas and its beach Las Canteras — then a short inter-island flight to La Palma for days 9–14 of hiking, stargazing and the vast Caldera de Taburiente.
Leave a day's slack before your flight home. Rough seas or a strong calima haze can occasionally delay ferries and small-plane hops, so never schedule a same-day connection to your departure.
Option C: The western-isles nature trip
For seasoned island-hoppers who want green over glitz, the quiet western islands are the Canaries' best-kept secret — and Tenerife makes the natural hub, with ferries and short flights fanning out to all three. This 14-day route strings together the wildest, most beautiful corners of the archipelago.
- Days 1–4 — Tenerife. Base in the north at Puerto de la Cruz; Teide, the Anaga forests and a taste of island life to ease in.
- Days 5–9 — La Palma. Ferry or flight from Tenerife to the "isla bonita". The Caldera de Taburiente, the laurel forest of Los Tilos, the black-sand Playa de Tazacorte and world-class stargazing. Base in Los Llanos or Santa Cruz de la Palma.
- Days 10–12 — La Gomera. Back via Tenerife to La Gomera for Garajonay's misty woods and the deep valley of Valle Gran Rey.
- Days 13–14 — El Hierro (or a slow Tenerife finish). The remotest island, El Hierro, for volcanic diving at La Maceta and end-of-the-world calm — or return to Tenerife for a final beach day before flying home.
The western isles are for walkers, divers and stargazers, not beach-club crowds. Pack proper footwear and a light layer for the mountains, and don't over-schedule — the joy here is the quiet.
Ferries, flights and pacing
Neighbouring islands are best linked by ferry — cheaper, more scenic and often quicker door-to-door for short hops like Tenerife–La Gomera or Lanzarote–Fuerteventura. For longer leaps, a short Binter or Canaryfly flight saves half a day. For working out the actual connections and transfers, our sister travel-logistics site is a handy planner for getting between the islands. Book crossings online in advance for the best fares and a guaranteed seat in the summer peak.
Which fortnight is for you?
| If you want… | Choose |
|---|---|
| Depth, variety, no packing up | Option A — one big island (Tenerife or Gran Canaria) |
| Contrast without going far | Option B — two neighbours by ferry |
| Nature, hiking and quiet | Option C — the western isles |
Before you book
Whichever route tempts you, weave in the local flavour — a plate of papas arrugadas with mojo, a glass of Canary wine and meals away from the resort strip. If a fortnight feels like a lot, our one week on one island guide makes the case for going slow, while island-hopping itineraries digs deeper into combining islands. Two weeks, though, is where the Canaries really open up — long enough to relax completely and still come home having seen something wild.