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Mount Teide, Tenerife

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Tenerife - Local transport

Air: 

All of the seven Canary Islands have their own airports - Tenerife has two; Reina Sofia in the south and Los Rodeos in the north. Most island connections are served by BinterCanarias (www.bintercanarias.com) and Islas Airways (www.islasairways.com).

Side of road: 
N/A
Road quality: 

In general the state of the roads is of a high standard with smooth surfaces and clear markings.

Car hire: 

Car hire: Several major car hire companies are represented at the two airports and in the main urban centres. Drivers must be over 21 to hire a car.

Bike: 

Motorcycles: Riders of motorcycles over 75cc must be at least 18. Crash helmets are compulsory.

Coach: 

Regulations: 

Regulations: Two red hazard triangles and a reflective vest or jacket must be kept in all vehicles - the latter in the car, not in the boot. Parking laws are rigorously enforced and towing is prevalent. The speed limit for motorways is 120kph (80mph). In built-up areas it's 50kph (30mph) and on other roads it's 90kph (56mph). Safety belts are compulsory front and rear. Drink driving is a serious offence in Tenerife. The legal limit is just 0.25%, equivalent to less than one pint of beer or two glasses of wine.

Breakdown service: 

Emergency breakdown service: Real Automóvil Club de España (RACE) (tel: 902 404 545; www.race.es).

Documentation: 

Documentation: Most foreign licences including Canadian, EU and US are accepted. Minimum third party insurance is compulsory. An original driving licence must be carried in the car at all times.

Getting around towns and cities: 

Most of the coastal resorts have central pedestrianised areas. Metered taxis are readily available and taxi ranks abound. The public bus service is a cheap and reliable way of getting around. A modern tram service operates between Santa Cruz and La Laguna.

Rail: 

There is no rail network in Tenerife, although a tram service operates between the northern cities of Santa Cruz and La Laguna (www.tranviatenerife.com).

By water: 

An alternative means of travelling from island to island is by ferry. Three companies operate the various routes: Trasmediterranea (www.trasmediterranea.es), Lineas Fred Olsen (www.fredolsen.es) and Naviera Armas (www.naviera-armas.com). In Tenerife the ferry terminals are in Santa Cruz and Los Cristianos.

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