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Wheelchair accessible van hire in Tenerife and Gran Canaria
Winter sun, flat seafront promenades and beaches with assisted bathing all year round make Tenerife and Gran Canaria two of the easiest islands in Spain to visit with a wheelchair. A van with a ramp lets you see the rest of the island too.
Updated 26 October 2026 · AbleVan · 3 min read
In short: Book Aena's free assistance at Tenerife South, Tenerife North or Gran Canaria Airport at least 48 hours ahead. Ramp vans are available on both islands but go quickly in winter, which is high season. Las Canteras and Las Vistas offer assisted bathing.
Arriving by plane
Tenerife South, Tenerife North and Gran Canaria are all Aena airports, so they all offer free assistance for passengers with reduced mobility. Request it at least 48 hours before the flight through the airline or Aena's website. Many rental companies on the islands deliver the van to the terminal; ask what the supplement is.
Book early for winter in Tenerife and Gran Canaria
Unlike mainland Spain, the busy season in the Canaries is from October to April, when many British and Northern European visitors come for the warm weather. That is when ramp vans run out. If you are coming for a few weeks or the whole winter, ask months ahead, and see our guide to long-term van hire.
Accessible beaches
- Las Canteras, Gran Canaria (Las Palmas): an accessible area with assisted bathing run by the Red Cross, with amphibious chairs and a hoist. It works all year, but you need to book a time in advance.
- Las Vistas, Tenerife (Los Cristianos, Arona): assisted bathing areas, a hoist and trained staff.
- Las Teresitas, Tenerife (Santa Cruz): amphibious chairs to reach the sand and the water.
Services and hours change, so check with each town council before you go.
Driving on the islands
Coastal resorts and promenades are mostly flat. Roads inland are steep and winding, for example up to Mount Teide or across Gran Canaria. A van with a decent engine and an automatic gearbox makes those trips easier: ask for one if you plan to explore. On parking, recognition of the UK Blue Badge depends on each local authority, so carry it with a translation.
Let us find your van
Tell us which island, your dates and a few details about your chair. We check with rental companies on Tenerife and Gran Canaria and send you one offer with the full price, delivery included, if we find a van that fits. Before that, make sure you know your chair's measurements.
Need a van with a ramp? Tell us about your trip and your chair, and we look for a van that suits it before we send you an offer. Free, no commitment, reply within one working day.
Frequently asked questions
Can I hire a wheelchair accessible van in Tenerife or Gran Canaria?
Yes, there are ramp vans on both islands, and many companies deliver to the airport. Winter is high season in the Canaries, so book months ahead for October to April.
Which beaches in the Canary Islands have assisted bathing?
Las Canteras in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has assisted bathing all year with prior booking. Las Vistas in Los Cristianos, Tenerife, has assisted bathing areas and a hoist.
Sources
- RTVC, the Canary Islands beaches among the most accessible in Spain (Spanish, 2025)
- RTVC, assisted bathing at Las Canteras (Spanish)
- RTVC, amphibious chairs at Las Teresitas (Spanish, 2025)
- GOV.UK, using a Blue Badge in the European Union
About AbleVan
AbleVan helps visitors to Spain who use a wheelchair hire a van with a ramp. We do not own vehicles: we find one from a Spanish rental company, check that it suits the traveller's chair and arrange the booking. This guide is written by the AbleVan team from official sources, listed above, and is reviewed when the rules change.