(A blog post for Eat Wander Explore)
One of the main eight islands of the Canary Island, Tenerife is considered as the most populated island in Spain. With about five million tourists visiting each year, Tenerife is known as the most visited island of the archipelago. This island is also where the famous Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is held each year.
So, what to do in Tenerife? Other than beaches and seafood restaurants, Tenerife is the home to the third-highest volcano in the world! At 3,718 meters, Mount Teide is considered Spain’s highest peak. The beautiful nature surrounding this island combined with the great weather is why this island is the top destination for tourists all over the world. You can lie around on the breathtaking beaches, go for a hike at their national park, enjoy fresh plates of seafood, and many more!
If you are currently planning for day trips in Tenerife, go ahead and continue reading below so that we can help you fill your itinerary. We’ve listed some of the top places to visit in Tenerife, so get ready with your pen and paper!
Puerto de Guimar
Located on the east coast of Tenerife, the name Puertito de Guimar simply means a small port of Guimar. It was originally founded by fishermen from Guimar, which is a larger part of town a few kilometers away from the coast. This area is not too crowded with tourists and is more of a relaxed town filled with low colorful buildings accompanied by tall palm trees.
At Puertito de Guimar Tenerife, you can find a 700-meter dark lava sand beach called Playa del Cabezo. This beach is safe for swimming as there are rarely waves because of the breakwaters. However, there are no watersport activities but along the beach, you can find a few good restaurants and cafes to dine in such as the Chibusque Terrace Restaurant where you can enjoy a range of delicious fresh fish and shellfish while enjoying the view of the beach in front of you.
Malpaís de Güímar
Also known as Badlands of Guimar, this unique volcanic landscape is the home to a variety of succulent plants and Lagartos Tizones or the Black and Blue Lizards. This is indeed the perfect place for those who love hiking and nature.
At Malpaís de Güímar, you have to go through an easy 10 kilometers hiking trail where you will go around an extinct volcano that erupted about ten years ago! Following this trail will lead you to the beautiful sea where you get to see a small fishing village. The red sand combined with the black solidified lava will definitely make you feel like you’re at a different part of the planet.
Puerto de la Cruz & Castillo San Filipe
Located on the north coast of Tenerife Island, Puerto de la Cruz is one of the first tourism destinations in the world. The highlight of this location is called the Old Town of Puerto de la Cruz. This beating heart of the city is a must-visit especially at night when it becomes even more alive with some bands playing music around the area. You can also find great boutique restaurants and bars along the narrow streets. A few steps away is the Plaza del Charco - a spot surrounded by palm trees and Indian Laurel. Also acts as the main meeting point in Puerto de la Cruz, you can find even more restaurants and ice cream stalls here.
If you feel like swimming, head on to Lago Martianez, a leisure complex that has a huge artificial lake surrounded by emerald pools and restaurants! Designed in the ’70s by Cesar Manrique, this 100,000 square meters open-air swimming pool complex is a perfect spot for both adults and children.
Other than a leisure complex and bars, you can also find a historical port in Puerto de la Cruz called El Castillo San Felipe Tenerife. Built in the early 16th century, it is said that the fort was constructed as a protection against the pirates. Castillo San Felipe Puerto de la Cruz might look slightly forbidding from the outside, but a visit here during the sunset will not disappoint you - so get ready to snap some pictures during the golden hour!
Loro Park
Loro Park Gran Canaria, which directly translates to Parrot Park is a 33-acre zoo that houses about 4,000 parrots as well as both aquatic and non-aquatic animals. At this park, you can get a chance to see various species of beautiful and colorful parrots such as the Eclectus Parrot, Hyacinth Macaw, and even the Great Black Cockatoo! Other than that, you can also find dolphins, sharks, western gorillas, sea lions, and jaguars in the zoo.
There are four different shows that you can watch at the park including the Sea Lions Show, Parrot Show, the Dolphinarium, and Orca Ocean. These shows usually last around 30 minutes, so plan your visiting time properly if you want to watch all four!
The Loro Park tickets cost around 38 Euros for adults and 26 Euros for children. However, you can get lower prices if you buy the Loro Parque tickets online!
Playa de Benijo
This heaven on earth is located to the north of Tenerife and in the municipality of Anaga. You’ll also get to see a beautiful view along the journey to this remote beach. However, those who are prone to car sickness should be extra prepared as you have to endure a lot of road curves.
Once you’ve arrived, you need to get down a set of stairs to get to the Benijo beach. Do keep in mind that this is considered as a wild beach - this quiet beach is not crowded and there are no sunbeds or bars around. If you are planning to go to this beach, it is highly recommended for you to stay until sunset. The magical view when the glimmering seawater meets the red horizon will leave you in awe! Also, keep in mind that Playa de Benijo Tenerife is also a nudist beach, so don’t get stunned if you see some people lying around in their birthday suit!
Parque Natural de Anaga
One of the pearls of the island, Parque Rural de Anaga Tenerife is a great destination if you want more adventurous activities that will reward you with a spectacular view at the end. Located on the east side of Tenerife, Anaga Rural park was formed by a volcanic eruption 9 million years ago! Today, this place is filled with various species of animals, trees, and vegetables.
The Anaga Rural Park Walks or the hiking trails found here are from easy to medium difficulty and it takes only less than two hours. So, this place is suitable even for those who are traveling with families! However, do wear appropriate clothing and bring along your jackets since the journey could be quite windy. The starting point of this adventure is at the mountain village called Chamorga. From there, you can just follow the signs and enjoy the beautiful scenery. At the end of the trail, you’ll be rewarded by a spectacular view of Roques de Anaga - two monolithic rock formations in the middle of the deep blue ocean.
Parque Maritimo Cesar Manrique
This is another entertainment complex designed by the architect Cesar Manrique. This complex can be found in the city of Santa Cruz and next to the Palmetum of Santa Cruz de Tenerife - a botanical garden filled with tall palm trees. You can even see the Auditorio de Tenerife, a Tenerife auditorium building that is famous for its great arched roof from the entertainment complex!
The moment you entered this 22,000 square meters complex, you’ll notice that the whole place is designed with the elements of nature such as volcanic rocks, palm trees, and ornamental plants. There’s even a small beach at the park! Here, you can find a total of three pools, a beautiful artificial waterfall, a hot springs jacuzzi, and a children’s play area. There are a lot of other facilities in Parque Maritimo Cesar Manrique Tenerife that you might need to spend more than just a couple of hours here!
Parque Nacional del Teide
The Teide National Park is considered as the biggest park on the Canary Islands and is centered on Mount Teide - the highest mountain in Spain. The landscape of the park is no doubt spectacular from every angle and this place had also been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The volcanic scenery, combined with the frozen lava fields and amazing rock formations will make you feel as if you’re standing on the moon itself!
Other than that, you can also find small villages around the area and if you’re not scared of heights, go ahead and get on the cable car to get even more breathtaking views of the whole park. However, do keep in mind that you’ll be needing the Teide National Park Permit to climb the mountain - check out their website here to apply for the permit.
Described by NASA as a window to the universe, Parque Nacional del Teide is rated as the third best place in the world to stargaze. During this stargazing tour, you can gaze at the shiny stars with the prehistoric rock formations and pine forests as your background! Also, if you’re planning to visit Tenerife during the springtime, be sure to look for the Red Burgloss, a unique plant with thousands of tiny red flowers that can grow up to 3 meters high!
Observatorio Astronomico
Other than the sun and beaches, the island is also famous for science and its volcanoes. The Teide Observatory is located on Mount Teide, at an elevation of 2,390 meters above sea level. It first operated in 1964 and focuses mainly on solar observations and robotic astronomy.
At this Mount Teide observatory, you can get a guided tour where you’ll get to learn about the importance of the sky in the Canary Islands. You can also get a chance to observe the sunspots and solar flares through the telescopes as well as explore the inside of a nocturnal telescope!
Acantilados de los Gigantes Tenerife
Translated as Cliffs of the Giants in English, these vertical cliffs surrounding the ocean could reach the height of 500 meters! Other than that, a lot of activities can be done here such as whale watching where you will be on the Los Gigantes boat trip searching for a group of pilot whales swimming freely in the deep blue ocean. Along the tour, the guide will fill you in with endless info about the whales and other aquatic lives. You can also get a chance to look at other friendly marine animals such as dolphins and turtles swimming toward your boat.
Besides that, another fun activity that you can join here is the kayak Acantilados de los Gigantes where you’ll be touring around the cliffs while paddling your kayaks! If you have no experience with kayaks before, don’t worry as the guides will provide you with a double kayak which is suitable for beginners!
Masca Hamlet
The beautiful Masca Valley Tenerife is a tiny hamlet that can be found in the folds of the ancient Teno Massif, west of Tenerife. On your way to this small village, you can stop by Cherfe Lookout Point where it offers an amazing view of the whole hamlet.
In the remote village, you can find small cottages lined up along the mountain ridges. Even though the area is small, you can go for the Masca Tenerife tour where you can find a few valuable treasures such as Casa de Los Avinculados as well as a tiny church that dated back to the 18th century.
The Hamlet of Masca is definitely worth a visit as it is the best example of the natural architecture of the Canary Islands. Plus, this place had also been declared as an ethnographic and architectural site!
El Drago
Also known as Drago de Icod de Los Vinos, this magnificent 20-meters tall tree is the oldest living specimen of Dracaena Draco in the world! Located in the northern part of Icod de Los Vinos Tenerife, this Tenerife Dragon Tree had been declared as a national monument back in 1917.
However, the age of this specimen has been much disputed - some people believed that this dragon tree is about 2,500 years old while other studies suggested that it is not more than 1,000 years old. In fact, some folks even believe that this is the oldest tree on the planet! Due to its huge size, El Drago is visible from the village nearby, but to get a closer view of the park, a small ticket fee is required which will cost you 5 euros.
Adeje
Adeje is a town that can be found about 60 kilometers southwest of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Other than having the best seaside resort for families, there are actually a lot of Costa Adeje attractions that you can find! For instance, you can find one of the most scenic beaches here called Playa Fanabe - an amazing beach overlooking the blue waters of the Atlantic Sea.
There are also plenty of restaurants and bars along the coastline to keep your stomach full.
Besides lying around the beaches, turn your Costa Adeje holidays even more memorable by joining a Costa Adeje Tours for canyoning activities! By joining this adventurous activity, you can get a chance to practice rappelling techniques at the Gula Ravine, one of the most exciting ravines on the island! You can also experience the beauty of the underwater world here in Adeje by going for a snorkeling tour to get close to the turtles, dolphins, and other small marine livings. Other than that, kayaking is also available in this town.
Siam Park
Also located in Costa Adeje, this Siamese themed water park is said to be the most thrilling water attraction in Europe! The water park is filled with a variety of slides and rides that both adults and children will enjoy.
There is an area called the Wave Palace where you can dive in and experience the biggest artificial waves in the world! For kids, they can play in the area called The Lost City where towers, bridges, and 15 water slides can be found. If you are an adrenaline junkie, do not leave this place without getting on the Tower of Power - a water slide with a height of 28 meters where you’ll be sliding 80 km/h through a huge aquarium full of sharks and rays!
The theme park opens daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Siam Park tickets cost around 38 Euros for adults and 26 Euros for children.
For more detailed information about the Siam Park Tenerife prices, log on to their website here.
Jungle Park
Located close to Adeje and Los Cristianos, the 7.5 hectares Las Aquilas-Jungle Park is the home to more than 500 animals. The park consists of several walking paths with tunnels, waterfalls, caves, as well as suspension bridges. Other than leopards and Bengal tigers, the main star of this place is the two white lions from South Africa - Nanouk and Magda.
The park also has a few shows that demonstrate the hunting skills of falcons and eagles. You can also watch a show where exotic birds like macaws and hornbills showing off their skills. Other than learning about animals, there is also an attraction called Bob where you will be driving the bobsleighs through the 800-meters jungle crossing track - be sure not to miss this!
The Jungle Park opens daily from 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.The Jungle Park Tenerife Tickets will cost you around 28 Euros for adults and 20 Euros for kids aged 5 to 10. Feel free to check out their website for more information about the Jungle Park Tenerife prices.
Tenerife, Canary Islands surely do have a lot to offer. Not only amazing views of the beach, but this island also has a wide variety of fun activities that can be done - from thrilling water parks to stargazing at Mount Teide. So, don’t forget to apply your sunscreen and make sure you have enough energy as you will be spending most of your time outdoors and participating in those fun Tenerife activities all day long!
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