Buses (Guaguas)
In the Canary Islands, buses are called “Guaguas” (pronounced: “Wa-was”) — a term from Canarian Spanish that originates from Cuba. The bus network is surprisingly well-developed on the larger islands:
Bus Companies by Island
| Island | Provider | Website | Network Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenerife | TITSA | titsa.com | Very good — covers almost the entire island |
| Gran Canaria | Global | guaguas-gc.com | Good — coastal towns and mountain villages |
| Lanzarote | Arrecife Bus / Interurbana | arrecifebus.com | Adequate — main towns connected |
| Fuerteventura | Tiadhe | tiadhe.com | Limited — rare, mainly coastal |
| La Palma | Transportes Insular | tilp.es | Limited — usable for hikers |
| La Gomera | Guaguas Gomera | guaguasgomera.com | Minimal — few lines, infrequent |
Practical Tips
- Bono Bus Card: Definitely buy! Rechargeable card with 30–50% discount on every fare. Available on Tenerife (TITSA-Bono, at the airport or bus station) and Gran Canaria (TransGC card). Worth it from the second trip.
- Punctuality: Good in cities, more flexible in rural areas. Check timetables on the website, but always plan for some buffer time.
- Last Buses: In rural areas, the last buses often run as early as 6–8 PM! Plan to return to the hotel before it gets dark.
- Mountain Routes: Bus rides across the islands are scenically spectacular — but not for weak stomachs. Hairpin bends on Tenerife (TF-28 to Teide) or La Gomera are extremely winding.
- Beach Shuttle: Many hotels offer free shuttles to the main beaches. Inquire!
Important Bus Lines
| Line | Route | Price (without Bono) | Travel Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| TITSA 111 | TFS Airport → Costa Adeje → Los Cristianos | €3.50 | 20–40 min |
| TITSA 343 | Costa Adeje → Teide National Park | €6 | 2h |
| TITSA 101 | Santa Cruz → Puerto de la Cruz | €5.45 | 1h |
| TITSA 108 | Santa Cruz → TFN Airport | €2.65 | 20 min |
| Global 30 | LPA Airport → Las Palmas Center | €2.95 | 30 min |
| Global 1 | Las Palmas → Maspalomas | €6.35 | 1h |
💡 Tipp
On Tenerife and Gran Canaria, you can surprisingly manage without a rental car — if you use the Bono card and study the timetables. On the smaller islands (La Gomera, El Hierro), a car is almost essential.
