Essential Guide to Las Islas Canarias Shuttles & Sightseeing

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Club Canary - luxury private boat trips in Lanzarote, Canary Islands

Taxis Tenerife - airport transfers, Santa Cruz de Tenerife

KuadriCar - taxi Aeropuerto Gran Canaria (LPA)

Getting Around Las Islas Canarias

The Canary Islands are an archipelago off the northwest coast of Africa, made up of several islands spread across the Atlantic Ocean. Travelling around Las Islas Canarias often involves a combination of airport transfers, shuttles, ferries, and local transport, depending on the island and your route.

Whether you’re heading from the airport to a beach resort, exploring volcanic landscapes, or moving between islands, choosing the right transport can make your trip far smoother.

Shared and Private Shuttles in the Canary Islands

Shuttles are widely used across the Canary Islands, particularly for airport transfers and longer point-to-point journeys.

Shared shuttles

Shared shuttles operate on fixed routes, collecting multiple passengers travelling in the same direction.

Advantages of shared shuttles:

Lower cost than private transport
Reliable for airport to resort transfers
Air-conditioned vehicles
Luggage included

Shared shuttles work best for travellers staying in popular resort areas with flexible arrival times.

Private shuttles

Private shuttles provide door-to-door transport for your group only.

Advantages of private shuttles:

Direct, non-stop journeys
Flexible pickup times
Ideal for families and groups
Comfortable vehicles
Useful for villas and rural locations

Private shuttles are often the easiest option for late arrivals, early departures, or travellers with lots of luggage.

Private Drivers and Airport Transfers

Each major island has its own airport, and airport transfers are one of the most common ways to get around.

Main airports include:

Tenerife South (TFS) and Tenerife North (TFN)
Gran Canaria (LPA)
Lanzarote (ACE)
Fuerteventura (FUE)
La Palma (SPC)

Private drivers are commonly used for:

Airport to hotel or villa transfers
Resort-to-resort travel
Day trips and custom itineraries

Popular airport routes include:

Tenerife South Airport to Costa Adeje
Gran Canaria Airport to Maspalomas
Lanzarote Airport to Puerto del Carmen
Fuerteventura Airport to Corralejo

Public Transport in the Canary Islands

Public buses, known locally as guaguas, operate on all major islands.

Advantages:

Very affordable fares
Extensive coverage on larger islands
Suitable for short daytime journeys

Limitations:

Slower than shuttles or private drivers
Limited late-night services
Less practical with luggage
Indirect routes to beaches and rural areas

Public transport works best for travellers with time and light baggage.

Ferries Between the Canary Islands

Ferries connect the islands and are essential for inter-island travel.

Common ferry routes include:

Tenerife to Gran Canaria – around 1.5 hours
Tenerife to La Gomera – about 50 minutes
Lanzarote to Fuerteventura – around 30 minutes

Ferries run frequently and allow passengers to travel with luggage, and on some routes, vehicles.

Getting to Popular Places in the Canary Islands

Tenerife

Tenerife South Airport to Costa Adeje – 20–25 minutes
Tenerife South Airport to Los Cristianos – around 15 minutes
Santa Cruz to Puerto de la Cruz – about 45 minutes

Gran Canaria

Airport to Playa del Inglés – around 30 minutes
Las Palmas to Maspalomas – 45–50 minutes

Lanzarote

Airport to Puerto del Carmen – about 10 minutes
Airport to Playa Blanca – around 30 minutes

Fuerteventura

Airport to Corralejo – 35–40 minutes
Airport to Caleta de Fuste – around 10 minutes

Car Hire in the Canary Islands

Car hire is widely available and roads are generally well maintained.

Good to know:

Driving is on the right
Parking is easy outside city centres
Mountain roads can be narrow and winding
Fuel prices are lower than mainland Spain

Many travellers still prefer shuttles for airport transfers and short stays to avoid parking and navigation.

Choosing the Right Transport

Getting around Las Islas Canarias is straightforward once you understand the options. Shared shuttles, private drivers, airport transfers, ferries, and public buses all play a role, depending on where you’re staying and how you plan to travel.

For comfort, reliability, and door-to-door travel, shuttles remain one of the easiest ways to move around the islands.

ShuttlesA2B.com connects travellers directly with trusted local transport providers worldwide.

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The Canary Islands Are Capping Tourism — Here’s What That Actually Means for Travellers

Over the past year, headlines about tourism limits in the Canary Islands have started to surface, often framed dramatically: caps, restrictions, protests, pressure. For travellers planning a trip, it can raise an obvious question — should I be worried?

The short answer: no.
The longer answer is more interesting — and actually good news for visitors who care about quality travel experiences.

Why the Canary Islands Are Talking About Tourism Limits

The Canary Islands receive millions of visitors each year, with certain areas — particularly parts of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote — feeling the strain of success.

Local governments have begun discussing measures such as:

Limiting new hotel developments
Regulating short-term holiday rentals
Protecting natural areas and infrastructure
Encouraging tourism beyond peak zones and seasons

This isn’t about stopping visitors. It’s about managing growth, especially in places where housing, water use, and transport are under pressure.

Are Visitor Numbers Being Cut?

For most travellers, nothing is changing at the border.

Flights continue as normal
Ferries are operating as usual
Hotels and resorts remain open
There are no tourist quotas for entry

What is changing is how future development is handled — not whether people can visit.

If you’re booking a holiday, island-hopping, or planning a longer stay, you’re unlikely to notice any restrictions at all.

What This Means on the Ground

Where travellers may notice a difference is in how tourism is being shaped, not whether it’s allowed.

You may see:

More emphasis on sustainable transport and infrastructure
Greater protection of beaches, parks, and volcanic landscapes
Stricter rules around holiday rentals in some towns
A push to spread visitors beyond the busiest resorts

For visitors, this often translates to better-maintained public spaces and a calmer travel experience over time.

Why This Is Actually Good News for Travellers

Tourism management tends to benefit people who travel thoughtfully.

It encourages:

Fewer overcrowded hotspots
More investment in transport and services
Better experiences in lesser-known areas
Longer stays rather than rushed trips

Repeat visitors to the Canary Islands have already noticed a shift toward slower travel, island-hopping, and exploring beyond the obvious resort zones.

Smaller Islands Are Gaining Attention

While Tenerife and Gran Canaria remain the busiest, interest is growing in islands such as:

La Gomera
El Hierro
La Palma

These islands offer quieter landscapes, strong local character, and excellent hiking and nature experiences. They’re also well connected by ferries and short flights, making them easy to combine with a larger island.

What Travellers Should Do Differently (If Anything)

You don’t need to change your plans — but a few small choices can make your trip smoother:

Travel outside peak school holiday periods if possible
Consider staying in more than one area or island
Book transport in advance during busy seasons
Use shuttles or ferries rather than driving everywhere

These aren’t restrictions — they’re simply practical ways to enjoy the islands at their best.

The Bottom Line

The Canary Islands are not “closing” or limiting visitors. They’re doing what many popular destinations are now doing: trying to balance tourism with livability.

For travellers, this usually means better planning, better infrastructure, and better long-term experiences — not fewer opportunities to visit.

If anything, it’s a sign that the Canary Islands are thinking ahead, ensuring they remain a place people want to return to, not just pass through once.