Top 5 things to do in Tenerife

Tenerife is truly unique island, perfect for a short (or longer) visit at almost any time of the year. Average annual temperature here is around +25C, so winter is particularly great time to visit. Thanks to numerous low cost carriers flying to Canary Islands, coming here won’t blow your budget. In fact, if planned correctly, you can have a pretty inexpensive holiday and lot’s of great memories!


No matter when you come, there is always plenty of things to do in Tenerife for any budget. Here are our top ideas for Tenerife points of interest and how to spend few days on this wonderful island.

Loro Parque – one of our favorite Tenerife points of interest

If you enjoy marine view and would like to get a good glimpse at the sea (and not only) animals, Loro Parque is a great place to visit. The park is somewhat similar to San Diego Sea World. You will get to see lots of parrots, tigers, lions, penguins and of course orca, dolphin and sea lion shows. Although I truly believe that animals should live in wild, Loro Parque is not just the tourist attraction. It’s also a foundation aiming at research and marine wildlife protection. You can easily spend a whole day full of fun and learning. The kids will especially love the park, as it is very child-friendly. The parking is also very well organized, so feel free to drive with you rental car or take advantage of direct transfer!

Garachico pools

Once you get bored of endless sand beaches, it’s time to head north for some seriously cool natural pools. It’s one of our favorite things to do in Tenerife! Formed by solid rocks of volcanic lava, these pools are fantastic for swimming and soaking up the sun. We drove to the village called Garachico and found these cool pools with crystal clear water (bring your swimming goggles!). Great cliff diving opportunities!


The water temperature was around +23C with ocean waves constantly mixing it up. Beware that officially you can’t really access the pools, you need to do some climbing over the small fence. Just follow other holiday makers and you will find your way.

Puerto de la Cruz

Surfer’s paradise! The town is second largest on the island and it’s not a regular tourist resort. In fact, it’s just a normal beach town. Due to its location on the Northern coast its easily accessible by winds thus resulting in giant waves, making it perfect for surfing. If this sport is for you, you can easily rent the equipment and take a few lessons.

Otherwise just relax at one of the numerous cafes spread across the promenade, try some local tapas (small snacks) and Sangria and turn on your “mañana” attitude (take it the easy Spanish way).

Masca village

Driving to Masca village is not for faint hearted. The road leading to the village is twisty and really narrow, making it difficult for two cars to pass each other. The views, on the other hand, are spectacular and well worth all the trouble. Once you arrive at the village, enjoy a drink and take a short walk. It’s a starting point for popular Masca Gorge Walk – 10km trekking route leading to the Masca Port.


I highly recommend you taking the trekking route to fully enjoy the beauty of nature in this region. The road through gorges and high cliffs will lead you to wild beach where you can take a refreshing swim in the ocean. Just be prepared for 3 hour descent – your legs might be sore the next day!

Teide

Teide National Park with Teide Volcano are an absolute highlight and a must for anyone visiting the island. If you love trekking, you may actually consider ascending the peak on your own. Alternatively, cable car may be used to ride to the summit. Make sure to take some memorable pictures of the fantastic lunar landscape. Plan your visit as early as possible due to high number of visitors coming to Teide every day. Cable car line may be as long as 2 hours!

Have you been to Tenerife before? What did you like about it?