Tenerife is the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, the island is subtropical making it popular destination for Europeans wanting to catch some sun. Here are my top 10 things to do in Tenerife.
1.Mount Teide Volcano
The island is home to El Teide a large volcano and the highest point in Spain. Jump on the cable car from the parking lot to the top of Mount Teide, the views from the top are amazing. Alternatively there are lots of hiking routes and trails you can take. Unfortunately the final few hundred yards leading to the summit is not open to the public.
2.Teide Observatory
The National Park is not only home to a dormant volcano but also a solar telescope. A great deal of Astrophysics research is performed here.
3.Los Gigantes Cliffs
Sunshine, scenery and the sea are Los Gigantes main attractions. These cliffs are located in a resort town on the west coast of Tenerife.
The best spot for photos is at the Mirador Archipenque on the approach road to the town. Head here at sunset where the suns rays bathe the cliffs in a golden glow.
4.Siam Park
This Thai themed adventure water park has won many awards including best water park in the world according to Tripadvisor. This is definitely worth a refreshing visit in the hot summer months.
5.Go Hiking
The Masca hike is one of the most popular hikes in Tenerife, the length of the trail is about seven kilometres. Many local companies provide guides to lead the way and tell you more about the area.
6.Whale and Dolphin watching
The waters surrounding Tenerife are home to more than 28 species of Whales and Dolphins. There are boat tours daily, departing from Los Gigantes or Los Cristianos. The trips tend to last around 3 hours with some including food and drink.
7.Go crazy at carnival
Enjoy the colourful, flamboyant and loud carnivals in Tenerife. They take place in February or March, the date changes yearly and the biggest carnival takes place in Santa Cruz. Many other towns celebrate their own carnival, when you go be sure to dress up to join in the local traditions.
8.Enjoy the beauty of Masca
Masca is a small mountain village with rural stone houses and magnificent views. Part of the charm of Masca is getting there snaking along the steep narrow mountain roads whilst witnessing some of the islands best views. The easiest way to get here is to go with a tour group.
9.Pyramids of Güímar
Güímar is a town located in Southern Tenerife where six of the Pyramids are found. There is still a mystery as to who built the pyramids and why they are there.
10.Loro Parque Zoo
This zoo is famous for its parrots but it’s also a sanctuary for many endangered species from around the world. The zoo is massive so you can easily spend all day here. I’ve written a post about my day out in Loro Parque zoo.
When to visit Tenerife?
Tenerife is warm all year round making it a great location to visit. Tenerife winters are extremely mild so if you fancy some sun in December or January then you can still enjoy decent weather in Tenerife. If you fancy something hotter than go in July or August.
Where to stay?
I stayed at the Santa Barbara Golf and Ocean Club and as you can see the pool was amazing! The restaurant and bar here were also really good.
