Why transport to the Canaries is different
There is no road-only route from Europe. A lorry, trailer or car drives to Huelva or Cádiz and boards a ro-ro ferry; containers arrive by ship from the big northern European ports (Hamburg, Rotterdam, Antwerp) or from Asia and the Americas; urgent goods fly. In Tenerife, sea freight comes in through the ports of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Granadilla.
However it arrives, the cargo goes through customs in the Canaries: the islands are in the EU customs union but outside the VAT area, so a declaration and IGIC are needed even from mainland Spain. Freight affects the tax too: the IGIC base is the customs value plus transport costs to the first place of destination in the Canaries.
The options, one by one
- Ro-ro ferry (road + sea): the lorry, trailer or vehicle boards in Huelva or Cádiz. There are scheduled services from Huelva to Tenerife, and the crossing to Santa Cruz takes roughly 32–38 hours depending on the operator and port calls. Suits vehicles, removals and full loads from Europe.
- Full container: a container just for your cargo. Makes sense with enough volume, goods from Asia or the Americas, and large removals.
- Groupage: you share a container or lorry with other shipments and pay for your space, in exchange for more handling.
- Air freight: the fastest option and usually the most expensive per kilo. For urgent aircraft or marine spare parts, samples or high-value goods.
How to choose: cost, timing and cargo
- Volume and weight: the bigger the shipment, the more sense sea freight makes.
- Urgency: a part for a machine that has stopped justifies air freight; planned stock does not.
- Type of goods: dangerous, chilled or oversized cargo has its own restrictions and options in each mode.
- Origin: from mainland Spain or Europe, ferry or groupage; from Asia or the Americas, container or air.
- Total cost: besides freight, count port or airport charges, clearance, IGIC and final delivery.
We do not publish generic prices or transit times: they depend on route, season and cargo. With your details we propose the most efficient option.
How we organise it
- Online enquiry: on WhatsApp or by phone, with origin, destination, goods, weight, dimensions and date.
- Documents: we check the invoice and packing list for customs.
- Choosing the transport: we compare ferry, container, groupage and air, and coordinate the chosen route with our partners.
- Declaration and taxes: we file the declaration and handle IGIC, AIEM and duty.
- Delivery: we coordinate final delivery in Tenerife or, for exports, at destination.
What we need from you
- Exact collection and delivery addresses.
- Description of the goods, weight, dimensions and number of packages.
- Whether the goods are dangerous, chilled or fragile.
- Your preferred delivery date.
- Invoice or pro forma.
Transport questions
Which is the cheapest option?
It depends on volume, origin and urgency. For large loads sea freight usually pays off; for small urgent parts, air. We compare the options using your details.
How long does a shipment from the UK or Germany take?
The 32–38 hours of the ferry are just the crossing from Huelva. Add the road leg, port time and clearance, and shipments from the UK also need export and import formalities. We give you realistic timing for your case.
Is there customs if I send by air from mainland Spain?
Yes. The mode of transport makes no difference: anything entering the Canaries from the mainland needs a declaration and IGIC.