The internet offers us wonderful opportunities, such as exploring Tenerife virtually. But it rarely replaces the real deal. If you want to truly experience the Canary Island, you should visit in person. Here are some of the fun things to do in Tenerife, which might entice you to spend your next, well deserved holiday here.
The Holiday Destination Tenerife
Tenerife is one of the top holiday destinations in Spain and the most visited of the Canary Islands. The most alluring thing about Tenerife is its landscapes, nature, and climate. It has anything; from beautiful beaches to subtropical forests, volcanic rock mountain ranges, and the largest number of endemic plant species in Europe.
Naturally, there are many nature reserves and hiking trails that let you explore these biotopes. On top of it all, Tenerife is light pollution free, meaning the light at nights is reduced to a minimum, making it a perfect spot for stargazing.
Things to do
Here are some things you can do in Tenerife to enjoy on your next holiday:
● Head to the beaches
The warm climate of the Island makes it perfect for a beach holiday. The many coastal beaches include anything from hidden coves to beautified touristic sand beaches and rugged untouched rock beaches. Especially beautiful are the volcanic sand beaches and their darker colour.
● Los Gigantes Cliffs
The aptly named Los Gigantes (giants) cliffs are located on the western coast of Tenerife. The massive sheer rock walls rise to 600 meters at their highest points. They stretch from the westernmost point of the Island across much of the coastline.
Naturally, they can best be admired from out at sea. Many boat tours allow you to enjoy the full view of the cliffs, also called the “Wall of the Devil” by the island’s original inhabitants. At one point in time, these steep cliffs were considered the end of the known world. The Archipenque Viewpoint, the Masca hiking trail, or the land tongue Punta de Teno are great options to catch a glimpse of Los Gigantes. Rentals and lettings in Tenerife allow you to find lodgings close to these locations.
● Go whale and dolphin watching
Many services offer hiking tours through the many coves on the island that are combined with boat tours that stop at the best spots for dolphin and whale watching. If you are already out on sea, consider combining the dolphin watching with the best sight for the Los Gigantes cliffs.
● Visit Teide National Park
The mount Teide (Pico del Teide) is the centrepiece of Tenerife, the largest mountain in Spain and the third-largest volcano on the planet. Thanks to it and the general geography of the Island, Tenerife has developed a wide arrange of different vegetation zones and landscapes. You can find snow at the peak of the mountain, volcanic rock and half-desert areas, lush and green subtropical vegetation and many beaches.
Many species of flora and fauna have developed here that can’t be found anywhere else. That’s why many nature reserves were created on the island. The biggest one is the Teide National Park, surrounding the Pico del Teide. It includes many guided hiking tours that even lead you all the way to the top of the mountain. Alternatively, you can take the cable car to skip some of the trek.
● Siam Park
Siam Park is Europe’s largest water attraction. The name comes from the visual theme of the water park, with many thai-inspired buildings and decorations. To realize this concept, the original owner asked the royal family of Thailand for permission and got it, providing he did not include religious imagery. Siam Park is home to four world records: the biggest dragon statue, the fastest water lift, the highest man-made wave and the biggest thai-building outside of Asia.
● Cueva del Viento
Tenerife’s origin are volcanic events that eventually led to the current island structure. A part of this landscape are many caves and coves made from volcanic rock. The Cuevas del Viento are a system of caves created by an eruption of the Pico Viejo volcano. There are tube shaped caves of roughly 18 km to explore on guided tours, including many stalactites, lava lakes and fossils.
● Loro Parque
The Loro Parque is a so-called “animal ambassy”, which is just a fancy word for zoo. To be fair, it is indeed a very fancy and well-reviewed one, with some sources like TripAdvisor calling it Europe’s best zoo. Here you can visit an aquarium with over 100 aquatic species, a free flight aviary with emus, cockatoos and more, and see animals of all kinds, like gorillas, tigers, red pandas, alligators and co.
● Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnevale
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital of Tenerife. Naturally, that alone means there are countless activities and things to discover in the city. However, if you pick the right time for your holiday, you can experience the joys of events like the local Carnevale. It is considered the second-largest carnival in the world, next to the famous festivities in Rio de Janeiro.
Conclusion
Tenerife isn’t the most visited Canary Island for no reason. Its geography gave rise to a very diverse variety of landscapes, biotopes, flora, and fauna. Nature lovers will get to enjoy many activities on the island, from its nature reserves to watching whales and dolphins. Additionally, there are many tourist attractions and exciting activities to be found all across the island. All in all, this makes Tenerife a great candidate for your next holiday trip.
