Tenerife: Electric Car Eco Safari & Banana Plantation Tour

Summary

Electric car safari up Tenerife’s volcanic slopes with coffee tasting and banana farm walk

You’ll ride electric cars high into Tenerife’s mountains with a local guide, stopping for Canarian coffee in a village café, tasting fresh bananas at an export plantation, and sampling homemade jams. With only 10 guests max and plenty of fresh air along lava fields and quiet roads, you’ll feel both welcome and wide awake to the island’s quieter side.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t know what to expect when we climbed into those little Twizy electric cars near Puerto de Santiago — they look like something out of a cartoon, honestly. But as soon as we started winding up the mountain roads, the air got cooler and this sort of quiet settled in. No engine noise, just tires on old tarmac and sometimes the wind whistling through (no windows!). Our guide, Elena, kept popping jokes over the radio — she called us her “silent convoy.” I remember passing a patch of wild fennel and catching that sharp green smell for a second. It’s funny what sticks with you.

We stopped at this tiny Canarian café in Santiago del Teide for barraquito — it’s this layered coffee thing with condensed milk and cinnamon. I probably looked ridiculous trying to stir it without mixing everything up. Elena told us about how the island used to be all volcanoes and pirates (she swears her uncle saw a ghost ship once). Afterward, we wandered through the village; it felt like life moved slower there. An old man waved from his doorstep, then just went back to his crossword like nothing was happening.

The part that surprised me most was walking between rows of banana plants at a real export plantation. The ground was damp underfoot, smelled earthy-sweet, and we tasted bananas right off the stalk — smaller than supermarket ones but so much better. There was also a stop at this family-run kitchen where they make jams and mojo sauces; I tried one so spicy it made me cough (the lady laughed and handed me water). Driving back down through lava fields of El Chinyero, there were these weird black rocks everywhere — like another planet almost. We rolled past villages where kids played soccer in dusty courtyards. The whole thing felt quietly special in ways I didn’t expect. Sometimes I still think about that view from 4,000 feet up.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Electric car tour with cultural stops

• Drive electric car up to mountains
• Stop at traditional Canarian cafe
• Enjoy local coffee and soft drinks
• Learn about island history and culture
• Walk around Santiago del Teide village
• Visit gourmet cottage industry
• Taste jams, chutneys, and mojo sauces
• Visit export banana plantation
• Taste local bananas and learn cultivation

Top questions

How long is the Tenerife electric car safari tour?

The eco safari tour lasts about 4 hours from start to finish.

Is hotel pickup included in the Twizy safari?

No, hotel pickup isn’t included; you meet near Puerto de Santiago.

What is included in the price of the eco safari?

The price includes soft drinks, a local coffee specialty at a café, bottled water, and visits to stops like a banana plantation and gourmet kitchen.

How far is Puerto de Santiago from Santa Cruz?

Puerto de Santiago is about 110 km from Santa Cruz, Tenerife’s capital.

Do you need special driving skills for the Twizy electric car?

No special skills are needed; basic driving ability is enough for these small electric cars.

Are children allowed on this tour?

Yes, specialized infant seats are available so families can join safely.

What kind of food or drink do you get on this tour?

You get soft drinks, bottled water, Canarian coffee (barraquito), plus tastings of jams and bananas during stops.

Does the tour go inside tourist areas?

No, most of the route stays outside tourist zones—through villages, farms, lava fields.

What’s included

Your day includes driving your own electric car up mountain roads with bottled water provided along the way. You’ll stop for a Canarian coffee specialty at a traditional café (with soft drinks too), sample homemade jams at a cottage kitchen workshop if open that day, taste bananas straight from an export plantation while learning about cultivation methods—all guided by a local expert before returning downhill through peaceful villages.