Wheelchair Hire in Tenerife: Your Complete Guide

Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, has long been a popular destination for British holidaymakers, cherished for its year-round sunshine and diverse landscapes. For those requiring a wheelchair or mobility aid, the good news is that Tenerife has made significant strides in improving accessibility, making it an increasingly welcoming destination. Whether you're considering bringing your own mobility equipment or prefer the convenience of hiring it upon arrival, this guide will provide you with all the essential information to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip to this beautiful island.

From well-equipped airports to accessible promenades and attractions, Tenerife offers a surprisingly high level of convenience for visitors with reduced mobility. Understanding your options for mobility aid provision is key to a stress-free holiday, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the island's charm without limitations.

Bringing Your Own Wheelchair or Mobility Aid to Tenerife

Many travellers prefer the familiarity and comfort of their own mobility equipment. If you're considering bringing your wheelchair or mobility aid to Tenerife, there are a few important considerations to bear in mind, primarily concerning airline regulations and insurance.

Airline Regulations for Mobility Equipment

Most airlines are generally accommodating when it comes to mobility aids, often allowing passengers to bring two items of equipment free of charge. However, it's paramount to verify specific rules with your chosen airline well in advance of your travel date, as policies can vary. This is especially true for power chairs and mobility scooters due to their batteries.

Power Chairs and Mobility Scooters: Battery Considerations

Power chairs and mobility scooters are classified as dangerous objects because of their batteries. The type of battery dictates how it can be transported:

• Dry Acid Batteries: Most wheelchairs use sealed dry acid batteries, which are generally straightforward to transport and can be carried and operated easily in the aircraft hold.
• Liquid (Wet) Batteries: If your wheelchair or scooter has a liquid battery, you must check with your airline before travel to ensure they will carry it. If permitted, the battery must be completely removed for the duration of the journey. Airlines will typically place wet acid batteries in a special sealed container within the hold.

It is always advisable to contact your airline's special assistance department to confirm their specific requirements for your equipment.

Dimensions and Information Required by Airlines

Airlines will only accept your wheelchair or scooter if its collapsed dimensions do not exceed their maximum allowance. Always double-check these dimensions with your airline. Furthermore, they will require specific information about your equipment before you travel:

• Make and Model
• Type of battery
• Number of batteries
• The TARE (un-laden) weight
• Dimensions (length x width x height)
• Operating instructions

Insurance for Your Mobility Equipment

Before embarking on your holiday, it is crucial to ensure your wheelchair or mobility aid is adequately insured. This protects you in case the equipment gets damaged during transit or while you are on holiday. Standard travel insurance policies sometimes exclude wheelchairs or mobility scooters from their cover, so always review the terms carefully.

Some household contents insurance policies might include your wheelchair under "personal possessions." Contact your insurer to inquire whether your cover extends to your mobility aid whilst abroad. Alternatively, several specialised insurance companies offer specific cover for wheelchairs and mobility scooters, providing peace of mind during your travels.

Hiring Wheelchairs and Mobility Aids in Tenerife

For many, the convenience of hiring mobility equipment directly in Tenerife outweighs the complexities of transporting their own. The island boasts a good number of companies specialising in mobility equipment hire, offering a wide range of devices and services, including delivery and collection to and from your holiday accommodation.

Key Mobility Equipment Hire Companies in Tenerife

Below is a selection of reputable companies operating across Tenerife, offering various mobility solutions:

These companies offer a convenient solution, ensuring you have the necessary equipment waiting for you upon arrival, eliminating the stress of airline transportation and potential damage. Many also offer additional equipment like shower chairs, raised toilet seats, and electric hoists, catering to a wider range of needs.

Tenerife's General Accessibility Landscape

Beyond mobility aid hire, understanding the island's overall accessibility is crucial for planning your holiday. Tenerife has significantly improved its infrastructure for visitors with reduced mobility over the years.

Airport Accessibility

Both Tenerife South Airport (TFS) and Tenerife North Airport (TFN) are well-equipped with excellent wheelchair access throughout. Special assistance services for disabled passengers are well-organised, ensuring a smooth transition from plane to ground transportation.

Accessible Resorts and Areas

The island offers varying degrees of accessibility across its regions:

• South of Tenerife: Resorts like Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas, and the newer Costa Adeje are among the most accessible. They feature long, flat promenades connecting the main areas, making them easy to navigate. The Municipality of Arona, encompassing Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas, has even won awards for its accessibility efforts.
• Puerto de la Cruz (North): The seafront area here is flat and suitable for wheelchairs. However, venturing further inland can become quite hilly, posing challenges for manual wheelchair users.
• Los Gigantes (West Coast): This area is generally more challenging to navigate due to its steep hills and partially inaccessible pavements.

Wheelchair-Accessible Beaches

Tenerife boasts several accessible beaches, equipped to enhance the experience for wheelchair users:

• Playa de las Vistas (Los Cristianos): Considered one of the best-equipped accessible beaches, it features a large wood-covered area with sunbeds, floating beach wheelchairs (Tiralo), an accessible shower, and a transfer lift. A friendly crew is often on hand to assist. Accessible restrooms with Eurokey access are also available.
• Playa de las Teresitas (near Santa Cruz): This gorgeous beach offers accessible beach paths, ample handicap parking, access ramps, and accessible restrooms and showers.

Wheelchair-Accessible Transport in Tenerife

Getting around the island is also increasingly feasible for wheelchair users:

• Specialised Accessible Transportation: Companies like LeRo and Active Mobility Tenerife provide specialised wheelchair-accessible transfers from airports to hotels and can also arrange excursions in adapted vans.
• Wheelchair-Accessible Taxis: Official Taxi Tenerife operates a fleet of wheelchair-accessible taxis across the island, with no extra cost for wheelchair users. This is a highly recommended option for reliable transport.
• Public Transport: While newer Titsa Tenerife public buses are generally equipped with ramps, it can be unpredictable which bus will be running. The Tenerife Tram (Tranvia de Tenerife), connecting Santa Cruz de Tenerife with La Laguna, is entirely wheelchair-accessible and a good option for exploring these cities.

Exploring Accessible Attractions in Tenerife

Tenerife offers a wealth of attractions that are either fully accessible or have made significant efforts to accommodate wheelchair users.

Teide National Park

A must-visit, Teide National Park, home to Mount Teide, Spain's highest peak, offers several accessible points:

• El Portillo Visitor Center: Fully accessible, providing insights into the volcanic ecosystem. A short, wheelchair-friendly path through the Botanical Garden leads to a spectacular Mount Teide lookout.
• Mount Teide Cable Car: Unfortunately, the cable car itself is not wheelchair-accessible. However, there are accessible restrooms behind the ticket booth and a cafe with great views.
• Accessible Roques de García Trail: A mostly flat, wheelchair-accessible trail offers fantastic views. Be aware that some parts have slightly deeper gravel, which might require assistance for manual wheelchair users.

Europe's Biggest Zoo – Loro Parque

Located in Puerto de la Cruz, Loro Parque is a major attraction:

• General Accessibility: The park is on hilly terrain, so manual wheelchair users will need assistance. It is widespread, which is important for those with limited mobility.
• Mobility Equipment Rental: Loro Parque offers manual wheelchairs free of charge and mobility scooters for hire (72 hours advance notice recommended).
• Restrooms and Seating: Several wheelchair-friendly restrooms are available, though sizes vary. Designated seating areas for wheelchair users are present in show theatres.

Anaga Rural Park

Near La Laguna and Santa Cruz, the 'Path of the Senses' in Anaga Rural Park is a short, accessible wooden walkway through a laurel forest. The 'Mirador del Carmen' lookout is also wheelchair-accessible via a wooden ramp, although cobblestone can be bumpy.

Icod de los Vinos and the Millenary Dragon Tree

While the Drago Park itself can be challenging due to poorly maintained cobblestone, the impressive 'Drago Mílenario' (Dragon Tree) can be viewed from the accessible Plaza Andrés de Lorenzo Cáceres.

Teno Rural Park

This protected natural site in the northwest offers glorious scenery:

• Punta de Teno: The westernmost tip offers impressive views. A partly accessible wooden walkway leads to a lookout, though it has one step, which might require a portable ramp or assistance.
• Road to Masca: The scenic TF-436 road has two wheelchair-accessible viewpoints: 'Mirador Altos de Baracán' and 'Mirador de la Cruz de Hilda'.

Ethnographic Park Pirámides de Güímar

This park, featuring mysterious lava stone pyramids, is generally very accessible. Manual wheelchair users might find some inclines, but power wheelchair users should be fine. Accessible parking and restrooms are available.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The capital city is quite accessible:

• Auditorium of Tenerife: An iconic, wave-like structure that is a top sight.
• Palmetum: A superb botanical garden with palm trees, generally accessible.
• Tenerife Tram: Fully wheelchair-accessible, connecting key areas of the city.

Candelaria

A Catholic pilgrimage centre known for the Basilica de Candelaria, the town is mostly flat and easy to navigate. Numerous handicap parking lots are available near the Tourist Information Center.

Los Gigantes – Giant Rocks

While the town itself can be challenging, the colossal rock formations are best viewed from the wheelchair-accessible 'Mirador Archipenque' lookout, which offers fantastic, unobstructed views.

Garachico

One of Tenerife's prettiest towns, Garachico, despite some cobblestone areas, offers good 'rollability'. Handicap parking is available near the tourist office.

Mobility Aid Repairs in Tenerife

Should your personal or hired mobility equipment encounter issues during your stay, several places on the island can provide specialist assistance. Companies like Le Ro Mobility Solutions, Paul Goldney Services, and Canarian Mobility, listed earlier, also offer repair services, providing a crucial safety net for your holiday.

Frequently Asked Questions about Mobility in Tenerife

Is Tenerife wheelchair accessible?

Yes, Tenerife has significantly improved its accessibility over the years, making it a very wheelchair-friendly destination. Many resorts, promenades, beaches, and attractions are accessible, particularly in the south of the island. Both Tenerife South and Tenerife North airports are fully wheelchair-accessible.

Can I bring my own wheelchair on a plane to Tenerife?

Most airlines allow passengers to bring two items of mobility equipment free of charge. However, it's essential to check with your specific airline regarding their policies, especially for power chairs and scooters due to battery regulations and dimension limits. Always inform your airline in advance.

Where can I hire a wheelchair or mobility aid in Tenerife?

There are numerous companies across Tenerife that specialise in mobility equipment hire. Popular providers include Le Ro Mobility Solutions, Orange Badge Tenerife, Paul Goldney Services (primarily in the south), A to B Mobility Scooters, Up2City Canarian Mobility, and Canarian Mobility (in the north and island-wide). Most offer delivery and collection services to your accommodation.

Are taxis accessible in Tenerife?

Yes, Official Taxi Tenerife has a fleet of wheelchair-accessible taxis available throughout the island. This service typically comes at no extra cost for wheelchair users, providing a reliable and convenient transport option.

Which parts of Tenerife are most accessible for wheelchair users?

The southern resorts, such as Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas, and Costa Adeje, are generally considered the most accessible areas on the island due to their flat promenades, accessible hotels, and well-equipped beaches like Playa de las Vistas. While Puerto de la Cruz has an accessible seafront, some inland areas can be hilly.

Conclusion

Tenerife offers a truly welcoming and increasingly accessible environment for travellers with mobility needs. With comprehensive options for hiring wheelchairs and mobility aids, coupled with excellent airport facilities, accessible transport, and a growing number of wheelchair-friendly attractions, planning an enjoyable and unhindered holiday on the island is more achievable than ever. By preparing in advance and utilising the services available, you can look forward to an unforgettable experience exploring the diverse beauty of Tenerife.

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