Meter starts at the T1 taxi rank outside arrivals
The official Airport Taxi Tenerife Sur line sits directly outside T1 arrivals, about a 1‑minute walk past baggage claim exit doors. Cars queue 24/7, and you rarely wait more than 5–10 minutes, even after the 09:00–11:00 wave from UK flights. Look for the signed "TAXI" rank, not the private transfer drivers inside the hall.
To Playa de las Américas, expect around 20 minutes on the TF‑1 and a fare in the €28–€32 range from T1, depending on traffic and exact hotel location. Los Cristianos usually runs a bit cheaper, around €25–€30, while Costa Adeje often lands closer to €35. Drivers use a meter, so you don’t need to negotiate a price at the curb.
From TFS to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the run from T1 normally takes 45–50 minutes and costs roughly €80–€90 on the meter. That’s for a standard white taxi, which typically seats four passengers plus two medium suitcases in the trunk. Bigger groups often just take two cabs instead of hunting for a van at the rank.
By law, official taxis here accept card, but individual drivers sometimes claim the terminal is "roto" and push for cash, especially on €30–€40 rides from T1. If you need to pay by card, say it clearly before you load bags: "tarjeta, por favor". ATMs sit about 30 meters inside arrivals if you need euros before heading to the rank.
Late night from T1, a Playa de las Américas ride creeps up a bit with night and weekend supplements, so budget an extra €3–€5 after 22:00 or on Sundays. There’s also a small airport supplement automatically added on the meter when you leave TFS, usually under €2, which shows as a separate line on the screen.
For the return to TFS, most hotels in Playa de las Américas or Los Cristianos can call a local taxi that reaches you in 5–10 minutes and runs the same €25–€35 band back to T1. Build a 30‑minute road buffer on top of the airline’s usual 2‑hour airport arrival time for short‑haul flights.
One tip: before the driver pulls away from T1, take 5 seconds to check the meter shows the correct base tariff and "Aeropuerto Sur" supplement, then relax and watch the TF‑1 signs for your resort.