Brochures can be found in most telephone boxes, or on walls (usually held in place with a couple of stones). They do not have a website and you cannot prebook any of the tours. Places are allocated on a strictly first come first served basis.
There are 4 major pick up points in the South with stops at several hotels in each area (approximately 40 hotels in total) and about 3 coaches service these.
Costa del Silencio
Golf del Sur
Playa de las Americas
Los Cristianos
And one pick up in the North stopping at around 17 hotels.
The €11 tours consist of visiting Millers HQ in Tacoronte and listening to a salesman talk for approx 40 minutes while trying to sell you bedding (this is why the trips are locally known as ‘The Blanket Trips’). However there is no hard sell and while you are listening you get tea, coffee, biscuits and even a glass of wine.
Free gifts are handed out at the end of the sales pitch (a bottle of wine and some other little gifts) and lunch or tapas are also included with each trip. Just don't go especially for the free gift of wine.
All the tours have English speaking guides, they leave around 8.00 am and return you to your hotel for around 7.00 pm.
The trips are as follows:
Mercedes Forest – Travelling to the capital Santa Cruz and then on to the golden beach of Las Teresitas at the foot of the Anaga Mountains. You then are allowed time for a photo shoot. On a clear day Gran Canaria can be seen in the distance. Then, down through the hills to Taganana a famous fishing village to one of the oldest restaurants on the island for lunch.
Masca – Passing Icod de los Vinos with its famous dragon tree the trip reaches Garachico where a stop is made so you can take photos of this town that was destroyed in 1706 by the worst recorded eruption on the island. The trip then continues towards Buenavista del Norte and to the village of Masca. Legend has it that treasure is still to be found in one of the many caves. Before returning to your coach you are invited to try the national drink La Mumba (hot chocolate with brandy and fresh cream).
Teide National Park – Heading through the Esperanza forest in the National Park of Las Canada the guide explains how the eruptions and craters were formed. You reach the top at 2700 meters and if you want you can go to the Pico del Teide at 3718 metres. The trip rounds off with a visit to Vilaflor and a pearl exhibition where you fish for your own oyster with the guarantee of a pearl inside.
The Villages – Visit the Bodega Alvaro and try the wonderful wines, red, white, rose, something full of herbs that looks like a fish tank, muscatel and Canarian champagne (Cava) the wines come from the 5 regions of the island. This is then followed by a drive through the Valle Guerra with its famous Bird of Paradise Flowers, carnations, roses and tobacco plants. Down then to La Laguna and on to Santa Cruz where you will change coaches to return to your hotel.
Island Tour - From the panoramic views along the west coast road, through Icod de los Vinos, the monastery San Marcos to Tamaimo and finally to Los Gigantes where you catch a boat for a trip out to see the Pilot Whales. If it is clear you could see the islands of La Palma, El Hierro and La Gomera.
Sunday Special – Only run on a Sunday and only in the winter months, you get a chance to see the black Madonna, the patron saint of the Canary Islands in Candelaria and visit to El Monasterio above Puerto de la Cruz a beautiful country estate with wine caves, vaults, a small farm.