Closest to the international airport, southern Tenerife is the most popular area of the Canary Islands. Sunny days and pleasant temperatures year-round lure visitors from Europe and beyond. Visitors lounge in the sun along its famed Costa Adeje area with its impressive selection of luxury resorts. For those wanting to explore the outdoors, Teide National Park is a top excursion. Whale watching and sea kayaking to Los Gigantes are both top bets as well. For your trip, here are the best things to do in Tenerife, Spain.
9 of the Best Things to Do in Tenerife Spain
Tour Teide National Park
Star Gazing at Teide
See Pino Gordo
Tour Vilaflor
Take a Guided Sea Kayaking Trip to Los Gigantes
Go on a Whale Watching Excursion to See Pilot Whales
Walk along the Boardwalk
Go to the Beach
Savor the Seafood of Tenerife
Top Things to Do in Northern Tenerife
Tour Teide National Park
Home to Mount Teide, a 12,188-foot stratovolcano, Teide National Park is one of the top things to do in Tenerife. In addition to Mount Teide, Pico Viejo, the second-highest volcano at 10,285 feet, is inside the park.
Protected in 1954, the Teide National Park is over 46,000 acres in size. This park is one of the top most visited national parks in the world, with over 4 million visitors per year. In 2007, UNESCO declared Teide National Park a World Heritage Site.
The original people of the island, the Guanches, used this area for worshipping. They believed the peaks were the gate to Hell.
After visiting, the Teide National Park reminded me of several U.S. National Parks. The barren landscape reminded me of Death Valley National Park in California. The lava fields looked like Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho. The striated rock formations reminded me of the Badlands National Park in South Dakota.
Like many national parks across the world, Teide National Park features several things to see and do during your visit. Since it’s about an hour away from the popular towns in South Tenerife, I recommend spending half the day at least. This is one of the best things to do in Tenerife’s Southern Coast.
Teide National Park At a Glance
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Year Established: 1954 |
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Located: Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain |
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Size: over 46,000 acres |
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Top Features: volcanoes Mount Teide and Pico Viejo |
Top Things to Do in Teide National Park
As you climb up the volcano from sea level, you will see different ecosystems, like a Canary Pine Forest between 3,200 feet and 6,800.
Above the pine forest, the plants become sparse, with intense conditions including volcano high altitude, extreme temperature variations, intense sunlight and lack of rain.
With a lack of plant life, there is also a lack of wildlife. The only mammals in Teide National Park are bats.
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Travel Along the Carretera de las Cañadas del Teide or Teide Canyons Highway
One of the best ways to see Teide National Park is to drive through it. The main route is TF-21 or the Teide Canyons Highway.
Visit the Ethnographic Museum Juan Évora and Viewpoint
This area also offers a viewpoint. During my visit, I saw a lava field. Visitors will find a small parking lot off the main scenic route, TF-21.
Located at TF-21, 38688 Guía de Isora, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. It is free to enter and features restrooms.
Stop by La Ruleta Viewpoint and See Roques de Garcia
One of the most popular viewpoints in Teide National Park. Here you will find the rock formation Roques de Garcia.
Rising up from the Llano de Ucanca plain, the Roques de Garcia reminds me of a hoodoo from other national parks.
During my visit, I found several areas with stairs with unique views. This area is best viewed at sunset.
Take a Photo at Mirador El Tabonal Negro
The landscape at the El Tabonal Nego viewpoint looks like a moonscape, as there is very little vegetation. The rock formations stand out against the sandy foreground with the mountain in the background.
This area is close to the cable car lower station. Parking is on the side of TF-21.
Hike on Sendero Montana Blanca 39
A 7.9-mile out-and-back difficult hiking trail that parallels the scenic route, TF-21. This trail starts at the Base lodge for the cable car with an elevation gain of 1,660 ft.
It returns to TF-21 near Montana Blanca. Then it continues to the Mirador de las Minas de San Jose. You can pick up the trail at any of those points and hike for as long as you’d like.
Take Teide Cable Car
Originally opened in 1971, a pair of cable cars head up to the top of Mount Teide. Renovated in the early 2000s, the 44-passenger cars depart from its base station at 7,729 feet (2,356 m) above sea level.
In an 8-minute ride, visitors will get panoramic views from 11,663 feet (3,555 m) at the upper station. Several hiking trails depart from the upper station. This station offers a restroom.
At the lower cable car station area, an exhibition for kids explains the volcanic history from a scientific point of view along with the Guanches. Open 9 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Adult admission is €3 and kids 13 and younger enter for free. The Lower Cable Car Station offers restrooms, a gift shop and a cafe.
Located at Parque Nacional del Teide, Cañadas del, 38300 La Orotava, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult cable car ride starts at €44.50 and kids (3 to 13) are €20.50. Those under 3 are not allowed on the cable cars. Reservations are recommended. Free parking at the base.
Stop by El Portillo Visitors Centre on the East Side
Learn more about Teide and the area’s flora and fauna. It offers a Botanical Garden in front with 75% of the Teide’s plants.
Located at TF-21, 38414 Los Realejos, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. Open 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Guided Teide Observatory Tour
The Teide Observatory is the largest solar observatory in the world, located at 7,779 ft (2,371 m). Like Hawaii and Chile, Teide is one of the best places for sky observations.
Located on the east side of Teide National Park, the most popular tour is the daytime tour, which includes a tour of the inside of the observatory. Guests also get to see the sun using a solar telescope.
Located at 38570 Izaña, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for tours. Adult admission is €21 and kids 8 to 16 are free. Kids under 8 are not permitted on the tour. English-guided tours are offered daily from Monday to Saturday. Reservations are recommended.
Night Sky Viewing at Teide
Teide National Park offers some amazing night sky viewing for stars and the moon on full moon nights. At Teide, 83 of the 88 officially recognized constellations can be seen.
For a DIY night sky tour, the cable car base station is popular. Another popular stop is La Ruleta Vista Point, where the rock formation Roques de Garcia is located.
Know Before You Go
The temperatures range from February Low temperatures at -18F to high 80s in August. When I visited in September, I wore a jacket for my sunset visit. Clouds can obscure the night sky, so check the weather before your visit.
When traveling to the Teide National Park, it can be obscured by clouds from sea level. During my visit, we drove through the cloud layer to find clear skies above it.
Complete Guide to Teide National Park
Hug the Pino Gordo
Literally fat pine. this Canary Pine is a must. Located minutes outside of Teide National Park, It is a popular photo stop.
Towering at 147 feet tall (45m) and 32 feet around (9.8m), the pine tree is one of the largest in Spain. During my visit, I snapped a pic.
Located at 38613 Vilaflor, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
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Stop by Vilaflor
While visiting Teide National Park, I stopped in Vilaflor, the closest town to Teide National Park. It makes a good pitstop, and it’s located in the Canary Pine forest, giving it a different vibe from the coastline area of Southern Tenerife.
During my visit, I walked around the historic area and found a couple of storefronts selling traditional treats and crafts of the Canary Islands. There is also a pilgrimage site for the first saint of the Canary Islands.
La Roseta
For traditional Canary Island crafts, stop by La Roseta. There I found an artisan crafting traditional handmade embroidery using a base and pins to create rosettes.
Located at C. Castaños, 10, 38613 Vilaflor, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, close to the Dulceria. It accepts cards.
Dulceria Hermano Pedro
I needed a pick-me-up, so I recommend the Dulceria Hermano Pedro for pastries and coffee. During my visit, I sampled the Rollitos Encarados, light cookie-like confections. The almond-flavored Tortas De Almendra are also a favorite treat. A cup of coffee was the perfect pairing with sweet treats.
Located at C. Castaños, 10, 38613 Vilaflor, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
Sanctuary of the Santo Hermano Pedro
The Canary Islands is home to many Catholic Churches. In Vilaflor, the Sanctuary of the Santo Hermano Pedro is a pilgrimage temple. It is dedicated to Saint Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur, the first Saint of the Canary Islands.
Located at C. Castaños, 8, 38613 Vilaflor, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
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Where to Eat or Stay in Vilaflor: Hotel Spa Villalba
For those wanting to stay near Teide National Park, the Hotel Villalba is a 27-room luxury retreat focused on wellness. While visiting Teide National Park, this is where I had dinner at La Vendimia Restaurant, overlooking the surrounding forest.
With a menu specializing in Canarian favorites, La Vendimia Restaurant is a fine dining option with a relaxed feel. I started my meal with a Smoked Salmon Timbale with avocado, accented with a tomato and mango vinaigrette. Then I sampled Canary Island classic Pork Tenderloin with a Pedro Ximenez reduction sauce, served with a potato galette basket and assorted vegetables. To cap off my meal at the Hotel Spa Villalba, I enjoy a traditional Canarian Grandma’s Cake with a Cherry Coulis.
Hotel Spa Villalba offers an extensive list of local wines. It also grows some of its vegetables in-house.
Located at Camino San Roque, s/n, Cam. de San Roque, s/n, 38613 Vilaflor, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
Take a Guided Sea Kayaking Trip to Los Gigantes with Tene Activo
West of Costa Adeje, the Acantilados de Los Gigantes rise up like a wall, towering from 1,640 to 2,625 feet about sea level. Visible from its nearby town, Santiago de Teide, Los Gigantes is a stunning and formidable site.
I recommend getting out on the water to see the rock formation up close. The best way to do that is a guided sea kayak trip with an experienced multi-lingual guide. This is one of the best things to do in Tenerife’s Southern Coast.
During my trip to Tenerife, I used Tene Activo, and they provided everything I needed for the excursion. Our guide started by heading out gear, then giving a short intro to kayaking before helping everyone into their tandem kayaks.
As we paddled out of the marina, we learned about the area’s geology and volcanology.
I have kayaked on numerous occasions and recommend doing a morning excursion for the calmest water.
Located at C. Pob. Marinero, 20, 38683 Santiago del Teide, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. Rrices start at 35€ per person. If traveling with a smaller kid, they can ride in a tandem kayak between two adult paddlers for €10
Go Whale Watching with White Tenerife
During my trip, I took a whale-watching excursion to see the pilot whales in the waters off Southern Tenerife. As a bonus, I got some excellent photos of Costa Adeje as we sailed away.
The pilot whales in Tenerife are year-round residents who swim in pods. They are a bit larger than dolphins, in which they are closely related.
For my trip, I used White Tenerife for a private guided 3-hour excursion. On a sailboat, we sailed out to an area off the coast of Costa Adeje where the pilot whales congregate.
On my excursion, we saw a pod. They surfaced and came close to our boat. On the return trip, our guide stopped in a cove for swimming.
Located at Pantalán 8, Marina Puerto Colón, 38660 Costa Adeje, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. Guided 3-hour excursions from €44.36 for adults (10+), €26.40 for kids (3 to 9) and €4 for those 2 and younger. Reservations required.
Walk along the Boardwalk of Costa Adeje
Along the shoreline, the Promenade or Boardwalk of Costa Adeje is a 5.3-mile paved walking trail that skirts the beach. It offers stunning views of the ocean and passes several beaches, or playas.
It starts at Puerto Colón, a marina where many excursions depart, like my whale-watching trip. Walkers will pass Playa La Pinta and Playa de Panabe. The trail goes behind the Casa del Duque that juts into the water. This stunning property was built in the 1930s by the Duke of Abrantes.
Farther along the Boardwalk, travelers pass the Playa del Duque. Resorts also line this strip of Southern Tenerife. The promenade is definitely worth exploring to get from place to place in Costa Adeje.
Travelers will find a slice of life along this route, from daily runners to baby strollers to leashed dogs out for a walk. It is free to use.
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Where to Eat on Tenerife’s Southern Coast
The Canary Islands prides itself on its culinary heritage, so I recommend carving out time to enjoy meals, especially dinner. Its menus are variable, and entrees include fish, seafood, pork and beef, along with vegetarian options.
There are numerous specialties of the island including its mojo, or sauce. It’s available in rojo and verde, or red and green. The Canary Island potatoes, or Papas Arrugadas, are wrinkled after cooking in salt water. Gofio is another ingredient that is common in the Canary Islands. It is a processed grain and is used as a cereal or a base for sweet desserts.
As an island, seafood and fish are available widely. During my visit, I saw octopus, codfish, sea bass, shrimp and more. Pork is another common menu item and is often served braised. Look for goat cheese or goat meat, cabrito.
If you need a pick-me-up, I recommend a Barraquito, a layered coffee drink with condensed milk, coffee, a sweet liquor like Tia Maria and frothed milk. For beer drinkers, I recommend Dorada Especial, made in the Canary Islands. The Canary Islands wine is another drink to try in Tenerife.
Masia Del Mar
For more Spanish cuisine, Masia Del Mar offers an expansive covered deck overlooking the water. During my visit, my group ordered Seafood Paella, and it was delicious and well-flavored.
Masia Del Mar offers a Caldoso Rice, Black Rice with Alioli and Bouillabaisse, all requiring two people to share. Families will find a kid’s menu, too.
Located at C. El Muelle, 3, 38670 La Caleta, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Reservations recommended for dinner.
Besame Mucho
Overlooking Playas de Troya, this refined yet relaxed open-air dining room is the place for a sunset. Its menu focuses on Canarian food, including fish and seafood.
During my visit, I sampled the Black Potato Salad and Fried Squid. I also recommend the Canarian Tomato Salad. I had its Grilled Wreckfish Loin, new to me, and it got its name where it can be found, in shipwrecks.
Located at Playas de Troya, Av. Rafael Puig Lluvina, 38660 Playa de la Américas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. Open Wednesday to Sunday for lunch from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. and for dinner from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. (11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday).
Where to Stay in Southern Tenerife
Tivoli La Caleta Tenerife Resort
This five-star resort is perched between the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean in the exclusive Costa Adeje area in southern Tenerife. The Tivoli La Calenta Tenerife Resort offers a tropical garden oasis with sweeping ocean views and three sparkling pools with plenty of gathering and lounging space. Founded in Portugal in 1933, each of the Tivoli Hotels is unique in its design.
The Tivoli La Calenta Tenerife Resort feautures 284 rooms and suites, many with ocean views. The resort features three restaurants, a beach club and several bars, many convenient to the outdoor lounging areas. To top off the culinary offerings, guests can enjoy afternoon tea with both English and Arabian tea selections and accompaniments. There is a sports bar for those yearning to keep up with their teams.
Disclosure
This article was created after a press trip. It also contains affiliate links.
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