There is no postal monopoly in Tenerife. As well as the state-run ‚Correos‘, there are also numerous private providers in the Canary Islands. These can be recognised by their differently coloured postboxes. Here you can find out what you need to bear in mind and how to ensure your holiday post reaches home safely.
The different stamps and postboxes on Tenerife
Since the liberalisation of the Spanish postal market, various private postal providers have emerged. Whether you’re sending letters or postcards, you need to take care when posting on Tenerife. Tourists who, for example, buy their postcards in souvenir shops or smaller shops are often given stamps from private postal services. Post bearing such stamps must be posted in special postboxes. Among the newer providers in the Canary Islands‘ urban areas are „Easy Post“, „Swiss Post“ and „Sun Post“, amongst others.
The state postal service’s postboxes are yellow. The word ‚Correos‘ appears on both the stamp and the postbox. Private providers, on the other hand, use postboxes of different colours. On the street, these postboxes are usually red. In addition, many shops also provide their own postboxes, which are likewise emptied by the private providers.
How long does post take to arrive from Tenerife?
The delivery time for postcards and letters sent from Tenerife varies. As a general rule, you should allow at least one week to ten days. In some cases, however, it may take longer. Different providers also take varying amounts of time to deliver holiday post.
What happens if post is put in the wrong postbox?
If you have posted mail bearing the state provider’s stamp into a private provider’s postbox, numerous readers have reported that the post may be significantly delayed or may never arrive at all. This is said to have happened the other way round as well. We have been informed of several cases where tourists have made precisely this mistake and their holiday post has not reached them back home.
When buying stamps, you should pay close attention to which vendor they come from. It is best to check in advance which postboxes are in your vicinity. If in doubt, the hotel staff can usually help you.
Have you had any experience with the postal service on Tenerife? If so, please do let us know via the Contact section.
By the way: Here you can find out what you need to bear in mind when sending parcels to Tenerife.
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