How do you get to Tenerife or La Gomera?

If you are reading this, you are probably not one 100% sure how to get here.

Maybe you think the journey is complicated or full of small steps that could go wrong. I see this all the time. People arrive at Cactus and say, “Maria, I thought getting here would be harder.”

After hosting over 1000 colivers at Cactus, I’ve seen the routes that work, those that don’t, and the little details that make your arrival calm instead of chaotic. 

Let me walk you through it <3

Few things to check before you travel

Before you grab your suitcase and head to the airport, there are a couple of small things worth checking. It only takes a minute, and it helps you arrive without surprises.

Entry rules

If you’re coming from outside the EU, check the current entry requirements. Europe is starting to use the new Entry-Exit System (EES), which may include giving biometric details on arrival.

Passport stamps

If your passport isn’t stamped when you enter or leave, keep your boarding passes as proof of travel.

If you’re a British resident in Spain

Bring your TIE card. Showing it at the border exempts you from the EES process.

Useful documents

You may be asked for:

- a return or onward ticket

- travel insurance

- proof of funds

- your accommodation details

Most people never need to show these, but it’s good to have them ready, especially if you’re starting a longer stay in the islands.

So, how do you get to Tenerife?

Getting to Tenerife is pretty straightforward, and that’s one of the reasons so many remote workers choose the island as their base. 

Tenerife has two airports, south and north.

Tenerife South Airport (TFS)

The main international airport, and the one with the biggest choice of flights. 

Most of our colivers arrive through the south airport because it has the strongest international connections, and also the closest to both of our colivings, the one in Valle San Lorenzo, and the other one in Adeje. 

If you’re flying in from Europe, this is the airport you’ll likely use.

It’s also the best choice if you’re heading straight to Los Cristianos, where ferries to La Gomera leave every day. The two ferry companies, Naviera Armas and Fred. Olsen Express, operate the route with around 6 ferries per day, so you usually have plenty of options to choose from.

Tenerife North Airport (TFN)

This airport is great for flights inside Spain or between islands. The north airport is ideal if you’re flying in from mainland Spain, or if you want to stay close to Santa Cruz or La Laguna.

It’s also the airport used for inter-island flights to La Gomera, so if you’d rather fly than take the ferry, TFN is the best option.

Because of these two airports, Tenerife is the best-connected island in the Canaries. You can reach it from most places in Europe, and if you’re travelling from Morocco, the US or Latin America, you usually pass through Madrid or Lisbon. 

Ferry from mainland Spain

There’s also another option that many long-stay nomads love: the ferry from mainland Spain. It’s ideal if you’re staying for long term, bringing your car, or travelling with pets.

You might ask: how long is the ferry from mainland Spain to Tenerife?

It depends on where you start your journey.

- If you leave from Huelva, the trip usually takes 32 to 39 hours. 

- From Cádiz, the journey is a bit longer, around 42 to 44 hours. 

I’ve taken this ferry a couple of times myself, and honestly, it’s one of those trips that surprises you. It’s a good moment to disconnect from the world, even though there is Wi-Fi if you need to work a bit. These big ferries are very comfortable, with areas to sunbathe, a buffet restaurant, jacuzzis to relax, and even private cabins with your own bathroom if you want more privacy.

It’s not the fastest way to arrive, but for slow travellers, it can be a really nice way to start the journey.

Some travellers also arrive through Gran Canaria, depending on where they’re coming from, but Tenerife remains the easiest and most flexible island to land on.

Travelling to Tenerife from Europe?

This is the easiest route of all. 

Europe has the strongest connections, short flight times, and plenty of airlines that work well for long stays and remote work life. Most of our guests arrive from Europe, and it’s usually a smooth, no-stress trip. 

Direct flights from major European cities 

You can find flights to Tenerife from Europe from many big cities, and most routes take around 4 to 6 hours. 

Here are the airports our colivers use the most (of course there are more airports to fly from to get to tenerife): ‍

- Spain: Seville, Valencia, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Madrid‍

- Germany: Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Cologne, Stuttgart

- Italy: Rome, Milan, Pisa, Bologna, Naples

- Netherlands: Amsterdam, Rotterdam 

- United Kingdom: London, Manchester

- France: Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Nantes, Nice, Marseille

- Belgium: Brussels

- Switzerland: Basel, Zurich

Tenerife South Airport (TFS) is the main hub for European arrivals, but Tenerife North Airport (TFN) is ideal if you’re already in Spain or connecting from another island.

Travelling from another canarian island

Moving between the islands is much simpler than people imagine. Everything is close.

Inter-island flights

Binter runs quick flights, usually 30 to 50 minutes. You take off, look at the ocean for a moment, and you’re already landing.

Ferries

There are also frequent ferries between the islands, a nice option if you’re carrying more luggage, sports gear, or just prefer being on the water.

For island-hoppers or long-stay nomads already in the Canaries, this is one of the easiest ways to travel, fast, flexible, and no big planning needed.

Getting to Tenerife from the US, Latina America and Africa

If you’re coming from outside Europe, below are a few flight connections.

Most long-haul travellers arrive with just one connection, usually through Spain or Portugal, and these airports handle the canarian islands routes every day.

From the US

The easiest way from the US, is to connect through one of the main hubs: Madrid, Barcelona, or Lisbon.

A common route looks like this: New York → Madrid / Barcelona / Lisbon → Tenerife

From Latin America

Travellers coming from Latin America also use the same main hubs: Madrid, Lisbon, and Barcelona. These airports have the most frequent flights to Tenerife.

Popular long-haul routes include: 

Mexico City / Buenos Aires / São Paulo → Madrid / Barcelona / Lisbon → Tenerife

It’s a long trip, yes, but the second part of the journey inside Spain is way shorter.

From Africa

If you’re coming from Africa, there are direct flights:

Casablanca / Marrakesh / Agadir → Tenerife

Is it better to fly or take the ferry to La Gomera?

The airport in La Gomera does not have international flights. Most guests choose the ferry, because it is close to Tenerife South Airport, fast to board and very friendly for long stays with luggage or sports gear.

You can also fly from Tenerife North or Gran Canaria, and the flights are quick and beautiful on a clear day. But if you ask me what works best for most people, I would still say the ferry.

I love watching people step off the ferry for the first time. They always have that same expression: “Okay… this place already feels different.”

Ferry from Tenerife (South) to La Gomera

Since I mentioned earlier why most guests choose the ferry, here’s the practical part.

The route from Los Cristianos → San Sebastián de La Gomera takes around 50 minutes, which makes it the fastest and simplest way to arrive once you're in Tenerife.

It’s very luggage-friendly, so if you’re carrying work equipment, a big backpack, or sports gear, this option usually feels the easiest.

Two companies run the route: Fred Olsen Express & Naviera Armas

Ticket prices are normally €35 - €55 one way. Fred Olsen sits closer to €45 - €55, and Naviera Armas around €35 - €45, depending on the season.

If you land at Tenerife South Airport, this is the connection that makes the most.

Flying from Tenerife North to La Gomera

If you’re already up north, this route is worth it too.

From Tenerife North (TFN), the flight to La Gomera is short, about 30 minutes, and it feels more like a scenic shortcut than actual travel.

I always recommend this option to guests landing directly at TFN. You grab a coffee, blink, and suddenly La Gomera is below you with all its deep greens and cliff edges.

Flying from Gran Canaria to La Gomera

And yes, you can fly in from Gran Canaria too.

This is perfect if your trip starts on the eastern islands or you’re already spending time in Las Palmas.

The flight is around 40 minutes, operated by Binter, and I swear these inter-island planes have the friendliest crews. Outside the winter months, tickets can be surprisingly affordable.

It’s a good option when you’re hopping between islands, or when the ferry schedule doesn’t quite match your day. You take off, watch the ocean for a moment, and next thing you know, you’ve arrived in La Gomera.

Which are the cheapest months to fly to Tenerife and La Gomera?

Perhaps you’re pretty flexible on when to travel and want to keep costs low. In that case, the best months to fly are May to September.

These months are actually the ‘quiet season’ in the canaries, even though the weather is still warm and sunny.

For digital nomads, this off-season is perfect. Flights are cheaper, the islands feel calmer, and you have more space to settle into your routine without the winter crowds. It’s one of my favourite times of the year, slower mornings, empty cafés, and that relaxed island pace.

The busy season is October to April, when most of Europe comes looking for sunshine. Prices go up, and everything gets livelier.

So if your schedule is flexible, travelling between May and September is a great way to save money and enjoy the islands with a little extra peace.

Practical tips for digital nomads and remote workers

Here are a few things I always tell my colivers when they land on the islands.

SIM cards and internet

One of the first things people ask me is (mostly people coming from outside of Europe): “Maria, where do I get a good SIM?”

You can buy a SIM card at the airport or once you settle in town. The providers with the most reliable coverage are Movistar, Vodafone, and Orange. 

Transport options that work for long stays

Here’s what usually works best for remote workers staying a few weeks or a few months.

Bus cards

Tenerife’s buses are clean and reliable. If you’ll use them often, get a Ten+ card for cheaper fares, you can buy it at the airport or most stations.

Just keep in mind: buses work well for short trips, but they’re not ideal for exploring the whole island.

Renting a car

If you like slow exploration, morning laptop, afternoon beach, weekend hikes, a car gives you a lot of freedom.

A small insider tip? Renting at the airport is usually cheaper than renting in town. 

Taxis and shuttles

Both airports have taxis waiting outside with fixed prices. If you prefer something pre-booked, airport shuttles are easy to organise and great if you’re carrying a big backpack and half your office in your luggage.

If you're staying with us at Cactus, you already know, you can message me anytime and I’ll point you to the best option.

Settling in for work

The timezone (GMT in winter, GMT+1 in summer) is one of the biggest advantages of working from the Canaries. It fits well with almost every region we usually see at Cactus:

• Europe: 0 to +2 hours
• UK & Ireland: same time
• Africa (North & West): same time or +1 hour
• East Coast US & Canada: 4 to 5 hours behind, great for calm mornings and afternoon calls
• West Coast US & Canada: 7 to 8 hours behind, perfect for early deep work and later meetings
• Latin America: usually 3 to 6 hours behind depending on the country, so there is plenty of overlap for mixed teams

There are also plenty of cafés and coworking spots, but most nomads end up working from our colivings because it’s calmer and you save time.

And this is why many people choose coliving: good workspaces, a steady routine, and a community that understands remote life from day one.

Distances to Cactus Coliving locations

To help you plan your route, below is a quick look at how far each of our houses is from the main airports and ferry ports. I added this because guests often ask me: 

“Maria, how long will it take to get there?” 

So here you go:

Getting to Cactus Coliving Valle

• From Tenerife South (TFS): 15 min drive / 1 hr bus
• From Tenerife North (TFN): 1 hr drive / 2 hrs bus
• From Los Cristianos Ferry: 20 min drive / 50 min bus

Getting to Cactus Coliving Adeje

• From Tenerife South (TFS): 20 min drive / 1 hr bus
• From Tenerife North (TFN): 1 hr drive / 2 hrs bus
• From Los Cristianos Ferry: 15 min drive / 20 min bus
• From Cactus Coliving Valle: 20 min drive / 1 hr bus

Getting to Cactus Coliving La Gomera

• From San Sebastian Ferry Port: only 13 mins of walking ;)

These are the average travel times based on typical conditions. Actual travel time may vary based on traffic and time of day, of course!

Where to stay when you arrive

For long stays, coliving is usually the easiest choice. Your workspace is ready, the community is waiting, and you can settle in from day one.

Tenerife has great options in both the north and the south, each with its own pace. 

La Gomera? It's perfect if you want calm, nature and small-community energy. 

And if you want to stay with us, in either Tenerife or La Gomera, check our availability at Cactus Coliving.

PS: We’re usually booked out from November to May, so if you manage to find a room during those months, consider yourself lucky!

Saludos,

Maria 🌵