Although quieter than the main airport in the south of the island, Tenerife Norte Airport is still well worth a visit. Whilst Tenerife South Airport accommodates most of the tourist traffic, Tenerife Norte mainly operates as an inter-island hub, serving all seven of the main Canary Islands and connecting them to other Spanish citites – there is almost no connection left to cities outside of Spain. So the traffic here mainly consists out of Binter, CanaryFly, Air Europa Iberia, Vueling and Ryanair. Sometimes Iberia or Air Europa also send aircraft up to their A330 or B787 down to TFN, but the rest of the time cargo aircraft like Swift ATR72 or B757 as well as Westatlantic B737 are the main highlights at TFN. If you are lucky, you may also be able to spot some of the rare military (base is located in the south and marked on the map) or coast guard/medical aircraft movements paying TFN a visit from time to time.

Plus, at the east end of the apron there is an old Vickers Viscount 806 EC-DXU which lost most of its colours, but maybe you will be able to shoot it our of your plane during taxi.

Tenerife Norte is located in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, 11km (6.8 Miles) by road from the capital, Santa Cruz. In 2023 TFN handled 6,1 million passengers and 75.000 aircraft movements. However, since 2007, cargo tonnage has gradually drifted downwards being on a constant level around 11.000 tons of cargo per year now already for years.

Until the south airport was inaugurated in November 1978, Tenerife Norte, or Los Rodeos as it was known then, was the island’s only airport. However, after the horrific crash of two Boeing 747s at the airport in thick fog on March 27, 1977, frantic efforts were made to get the south airport opened as soon as possible, and since then Tenerife Norte has played a secondary role to Tenerife South. Due to its altitude at 633 metres (2,077 ft), poor weather remains a potential issue at Tenerife Norte at any time, and it is not unusual for the rest of the island to be basking in warm sunshine, whilst Tenerife Norte is shrouded in low cloud, rain or fog.

Written by Clive Grant and Stefan Bratner. Last change: November 2024, Spot 2 updated

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
12/30	3.171m (10.404ft)
Terminals	One terminal is used for all flights
Spotting Information
Ladder	Useful at some spots.
Car/Public Transport	A car is useful as most locations are on the opposite side of the airport from the terminal, however most spots are accessible by public transport.  See details under each spot. Bus tickets and cards can be purchased at the bus station in La Laguna.  All details of Tenerife public transport (Titsa) buses are available here.
Drinks/Food	In the airport terminal or near some of the spots.
Hotels	The nearest hotels are about five kilometres away in La Laguna.
Season	Tenerife is an all year round destination although it’s busiest during the summer and winter peaks. That said, it is important to keep a close eye on the local weather forecast as Tenerife Norte Airport can be subject to cloud, rain and fog at any time of year – in addition to that, the direction of wind can change a few times a day. However, due to the orientation of the runway, the light is generally better in the winter months.
Runway Usage
12/30	Used in both directions according to the wind direction.

	Spot #1 – Bar Restaurante Argelio – 30 arrivals and departures
WHERE	From the airport terminal, take the TF-5 motorway one junction eastbound to leave at junction 9. At the roundabout take the second right onto TF-24. Follow the road around the right hand bend alongside the threshold of Runway 30 and take the next left turn which is a sharp 180 degree turn onto Camino del Medio. Once you’ve made this turn, continue straight ahead, past the Bar Restaurante Argelio on the right and park in Pasaje el Desvio in the parking area on the left. From here you have a raised view of the runway threshold and the taxiway beyond. If you’re walking from La Laguna, route south on Avenida Trinidad to the large roundabout over the Autopista del Norte, then take the fourth exit (TF-24, Carretera de la Esperanza), and follow this road to reach the spot; it takes around 20-25 minutes.
WHAT	All arrivals and departures on Runway 30 and the parallel taxiway beyond, although you may get the fence in your photos for departing traffic once it’s on the runway.
TIME	From mid morning onwards in the winter. In the summer, afternoons only until about 6pm.
MISC.	The Bar Restaurante Argelio is adjacent to this spot for food, drink and restrooms.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-300mm ATR72 on the Runway = 270mm / B737 arrival = 220mm

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This is what the Bar Argelio you have to head for looks like (behind you while spotting):

	Spot #2 – Cam Barranco el Rodeo – 12/30 movements
WHERE	From Bar El Patio de Pedro (Spot #3), take Cam Barranco el Rodeo eastwards for about 200m. Once you reach a small bulge by the roadside, you reached the spot: stop there, stay in your car as long as possible and only go to the fence once taking your pictures – then return to the car again.
WHAT	Pretty much all runway movements will pass here, either on the runway or the taxiway beyond. Be aware that due to the terrain and vegetation the view to the west is disturbed, you will only see the planes immediately once passing by.
TIME	From mid morning onwards in the winter. In the summer, afternoons only until about 6pm.
MISC.	There are no facilities here so bring what you need. Do not hang at the fence all the time as the entrance to the military base is quite close (marked on the map). The fence is broken up at several parts plus quite low, so you can try to shoot thru these holes – sometimes there is a big stone right in front of these holes perfectly places for spotters by accident… 😉
FOCAL LENGTH	200-400mm B738 on runway 280mm

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	Spot #3 – Bar El Patio de Pedro – 30 departures + fast climbing 12 departures
WHERE	From Spot #2 follow the road westward along the Camino Barranco el Rodeo to Bar El Patio de Pedro on the left hand side. Park outside the bar. The bar used to be named Bar Fortuny, but the name changed a while ago to El Patio de Pedro – keep that in mind in case some signs/etc. should be different.
WHAT	From outside the Bar El Patio de Pedro it’s possible to take photos of aircraft taking off from either end of the runway once they are above the level of the fence, however, much of the jet traffic from Runway 12 will not be high enough at this point.
TIME	From mid morning onwards in the winter. In the summer, afternoons only until about 6pm.
MISC.	Food, drink and restrooms are available at the Bar El Patio de Pedro. Plus there’s a wall to the left of the Bar which you can stand on to improve your position.
FOCAL LENGTH	200-300mm

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	Spot #4 – East of the Red House – 12 arrivals and departures
WHERE	From Spot #3 follow the road westward to the next junction on the right. Turn right onto Camino Alfredo Hernández Canino and follow this road until just before you reach the red house on the right. Park here and climb on the small brick wall to take landing and departing shots on Runway 12.  Photos of traffic on the parallel taxiway beyond are possible but heat haze is likely to be a problem. If coming by public transport, take bus 54 from La Laguna bus station to the stop called ‘Alfredo Hernández’, then walk for about five minutes to the spot.
WHAT	Traffic on Runway 12.
TIME	From mid morning onwards in the winter. In the summer, afternoons only until about 6pm.
MISC.	Food, drink and restrooms are available at Bar Restaurante Las Folías further to the west along the road on the left hand side. Heat haze can be an issue from spring to autumn, keep that in mind. If you do not wanna stand by the streetside and shoot over the fence, you can also switch onto a small wall on the other side of the street clearing your view nicely as well.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-300mm should cover most things.

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	Spot #5 – Camino la Hoya – 12 arrivals and departures
WHERE	From Spot #4, head west past the Urbaser depot and park by the second turning on the right, Camino la Hoya. Walk to the end of Camino la Hoya as it’s not wide enough to park your car on. If coming by public transport, take bus 54 from La Laguna bus station to the stop called ‘Alfredo Hernández’, then walk for about five minutes to the spot.
WHAT	From here it’s possible to take photos of traffic landing or lining up on Runway 12, although heat haze may be a problem for the departures.
TIME	From mid morning onwards in the winter. In the summer, afternoons only until about 6pm.
MISC.	Be aware that this is a quiet residential road so please respect the locals by being quiet and discreet. Food, drink and restrooms are available at Bar Restaurante Las Folías further to the west along Camino Alfredo Hernández Canino.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-300mm should cover most things.

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	Spot #6 – Runway 30 Touchdown Point – 30 arrivals and departures
WHERE	From Spot #1, route back past the Bar Restaurante Argelio and cross over TF-24 to join Camino El Matadero.  Spot #6 is a little further along on the right, by Crash Gate 6. If walking from La Laguna, follow the same directions as for Spot #1.
WHAT	Arrivals and departures on Runway 30 and the parallel taxiway beyond. Touchdown pictures are impossible now as the fence is fixed there facing the touchdown point. You may be able to shoot slowly moving planes on the taxiway through the mesh. But otherwise you can only shoot to the front now towards the line-up point as shown below.
TIME	From mid morning onwards in the winter.  In the summer, afternoons only until about 6pm.
MISC.	The Bar Restaurante Argelio is very near this spot for food, drink and restrooms. Earlier you were able to shoot sideways touchdowns thru some holes in the fence, which have been fixed in the meantime. So touchdown pictures are not possible anymore, only pictures to the front through two small holes on the right where a Canon 100-400 lens just fits thru neatly. Moving the lens in the hole is almost impossible, so spotting is tough here (especially arrivals) and we would recommend to switch to spot 1 instead, which is more comfortable.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-300mm ATR72 on taxiway in the back = 295mm

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Broken fence was fixed at most parts:

Only two small holes are remaining facing the line-up point:

	Spot #7 – Camino El Yugo – 12 arrivals and departures; slow climbing 30 departures
WHERE	By car from the airport terminal, join TF-5 westbound, but after 300m take exit 11 towards El Portezuelo/TF-152.  Go straight ahead at the roundabout and take the next right onto Camino El Yugo, following the sign for Distribuciones Juan Perdomo.  After the road bends left at the large white building, park in one of the spaces on the left for the lower location of Spot #7 or continue round the building to the end of the road for Spot #7 upper location. If on foot, walk west from the airport terminal to the roundabout and turn right onto TF-235, taking you over the Autopista del Norte.  Turn left onto Carretera General del Norte/TF-152.  After the roundabout take the next right onto Camino El Yugo and walk up the hill to spot #7 at the end of the road.  It’s about a ten minute walk from the terminal.
WHAT	Traffic taxiing on the adjacent part of the apron and arrivals and departures on Runway 12.  Slower climbing departures from Runway 30 are also possible from here.
TIME	Summer mornings only.
MISC.	There is a McDonalds restaurant back at the last roundabout for food, drinks and restrooms.
FOCAL LENGTH	You’re further away from the action at this spot than at the ones on the south side, so you’ll need a 400-500mm lens to catch the action from here.

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Upper level: