5 activities in Tenerife that you shouldn't miss
Planning your getaway to Tenerife? We help you spend an unforgettable holiday by compiling in this article the best activities in Tenerife. Our island has a lot to offer, and we assure you that no matter how much you visit you will always find something new to do. Read on and take note!
Index
Visit the Teide National Park
The Teide National Park, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2007, is a must-see in Tenerife. Its imposing volcanic landscapes with cones, lava flows or caves will leave you speechless. It is one of the most spectacular and important volcanological sites in the world.
In addition to admiring its undoubted beauty, in the Teide National Park you can do some of the best activities in Tenerife:
Climb to the top of the El Teide volcano by cable car, the highest point in Spain at 3718 meters. The tour lasts approximately 8 minutes and throughout the journey you will enjoy wonderful views. A highly recommended experience!
Do a trail. The best way to connect with the environment is by taking one of the many routes that you will find in the Teide National Park. They vary in degree of difficulty, length or duration. Some examples of trails: Arenas Negras, La Fortaleza, Risco Verde, Roques de García, Degollada de Guajara, Siete Cañadas…
Spend the night at the Altavista Refuge and watch the sunrise from the Pico del Teide. The early morning will be worth it!
Visit Mount Teide at night and watch the stars. Marvel at one of the best skies in the world for astronomical observation. Tenerife has the international certification of Startlight Destination, which guarantees that the conditions are perfect for seeing stars, planets, satellites…
Local tip: In the Teide National Park there are two Visitor Centres, which are open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Here they will solve all your doubts and can provide you with more information.
Remember to bring a coat, sunscreen and a hat (even a raincoat). The climate of the Teide National Park is very changeable, so it is better to be prepared.
Whale watching
Among the activities in Tenerife is whale watching. An experience that is ideal especially if you are traveling with your family, as the little ones will love it. In particular, the southwest coast of the island is the ideal place to observe these animals in the wild. The boats that make these excursions set sail from Los Cristianos, Puerto Colón and Los Gigantes.
The duration varies between 2 and 5 hours and you will be able to spot up to 21 different species: bottlenose dolphin, pilot whale, spotted dolphin, rough-toothed dolphin, pilot whale, sperm whale, among others. You can check all the species on the official website of Turismo de Tenerife.
And if you are looking for activities in Tenerife that you can share with the family, don’t miss this article on the best things to do on the island if you are travelling with children.
Local tip: San Cristóbal de La Laguna is characterized by its humid climate, as well as being colder than the rest of the areas of the island (with an average of 16.5 degrees per year). It is advisable to wear warm clothes to walk through its streets, especially in winter.
Hiking
If you are a lover of sports and especially hiking, you are in luck, as Tenerife has a wide network of trails. You will reach beautiful places that can only be accessed on foot, thus getting to know the island from another perspective. Coastal trails, trails between laurel forests or pine forests, volcanic trails… For all tastes!
Local tip: on the Turismo de Tenerife website you can find out about the different routes that await you on the island and their technical data: where it starts and ends, degree of difficulty, type of route, distance, duration, among others.
Sport
The island’s weather conditions or its relief make it the perfect destination for sports lovers. Here is a brief compilation of the sports you can practice… And there are many more!
Water sports
Into the water! Fun will be guaranteed by practicing sports such as jet skiing, flyboarding, parascending, kayaking, paddle boarding, diving, surfing, windsurfing, sailing… Without a doubt, one of the activities in Tenerife that you should not miss if you are looking for strong emotions or simply to spend a different day. It is the perfect option to complement your day at the beach.
Cycling
Can you imagine cycling through some of the most spectacular landscapes on the island? Cycling is another activity that you can do in Tenerife thanks to the extensive network of roads. You can pedal along the coast or even at an altitude of more than 2000 meters. Conditions that have made Tenerife the training place for many professional cyclists.
Climbing
If you don’t have vertigo, climbing is your sport! There is no better feeling than observing the landscape from the heights after finishing the ascent.
Golf
In different parts of Tenerife you will find golf courses such as Abama Golf, Amarilla Golf or Buenavista Golf where you can practice this sport. Visit our article about the exclusive golf courses on the island!
Deep-sea fishing
Fishing is another of the activities in Tenerife that cannot be missing from our list. We have an entire article dedicated just to it: “Fishing in Tenerife: What you need to know before you start”.
Cultural visits
Science, art, gastronomy, astronomy, history of the islands, archaeology… All this and more awaits you in the museums of Tenerife. Some of them: Museum of Science and the Cosmos (San Cristóbal de La Laguna), TEA, Tenerife Espacio de Las Artes (Santa Cruz de Tenerife), MUNA, Museum of Nature and Archaeology (Santa Cruz de Tenerife), among others.
Or if you are more of an outdoor activity person, we recommend strolling through the streets of the island’s historic centres and enjoying the traditional Canarian architecture. San Cristóbal de La Laguna, La Orotava or Garachico are some of the most recommended locations.
And that’s it for our article on the 5 activities in Tenerife that you shouldn’t miss. And if you want more information, don’t hesitate to take a look at our blog. We have several articles published that you will surely find very interesting to organize your trip.