Tenerife is blessed with 12-month spring weather which attracts over 6 million visitors a year, and for a good reason! Volcanic landscapes, idyllic villages, world-class entertainment parks, unforgettable cuisine and opportunities to catch adrenaline at every corner. A significant portion of Tenerife visitors decide to return – once you are there, you’ll understand why! Whether you are planning an action-packed vacation or a peaceful getaway – Tenerife will not disappoint.
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Teide National Park
Tenerife's Mount Teide is an active volcano. With a peak height of 3,715 meters, it is one of the tallest volcanoes in Europe and the highest point in Spain. Without visiting Mount Teide, a trip to Tenerife would not be complete. You can explore the best aspects of the park in a day, however, if you are not short on time, we recommend putting aside at least a couple of days to fully enjoy this absolute treasure of a landmark!
Shortly about what awaits you at the Teide National Park! Multiple hiking trails with views that will never leave your memory, the best of which are Roque de García and Mirador de Sámara. Mount Teide Cable Car ride and a full day Teide Jeep safari for the most adventurous of us! And last but certainly not least – you can enjoy one of the purest night skies in the world at the height of 3700m, resting above all pollution sources. The most romantic and unforgettable stargazing you will ever experience!
Siam park
Siam Park in Tenerife draws more than 1.2 million people annually and was named the "Best Waterpark in the World" by TripAdvisor reviewers for six years in a row! The park is entirely themed in Thai culture, as implied by its name, and is situated on a hillside, which allows the rides to follow the terrain naturally without the need for obvious support structures.
Adrenaline enthusiasts can ride the scary Mekong Rapids, take part in a genuine underwater Indiana Jones experience, or plunge headfirst down the Singha water coaster. Enjoy a break from the park's active side by floating down the Mai Thai River to take in the fascinating vistas of your surroundings. This tropical river includes both rapid and slow sections, as well as a designated "relax" area where you may relax in the sun. Siam Park has something for everyone!
Loro parque and Jungle Park
Loro Parque has become one of the most respected zoological institutions in the world, both for its beauty, the excellence of its facilities, and absolute respect for nature. It holds the largest and most diverse reserve of parrot species and subspecies in the world. Loro Parque features some of the best parrot and sea animal performances in the entire world!
The Jungle Park is well-known for the variety of animals, plants, and flowers it contains. You can explore the park and walk past waterfalls, caves, tunnels, lakes, and bridges. Along with other animals like crocodiles, orangutans, gibbons, penguins, reptiles, and many others, you will encounter tigers, leopards, and pumas. But the white lion, a native of South Africa and one of the few remaining examples in the world that is sadly in danger of going extinct, is the true attraction of the park.
Although we recommend visiting both if you have the time, Jungle park is not only cheaper but bigger and it features a wider variety of animals alongside truly immersive settings which are representative of the natural habitats of the showcased animals.
Masca Mountain and Valley
Masca Hike is one of Tenerife's most popular hikes. It starts in the village on the northwest side of the island and ends at the rocky beach below. The trail is about 7km (4.3mi) long, and local companies can arrange a guide, or you can explore on your own by heading downhill from Masca to the beach, where you can take a boat to Los Gigantes. Hikers will be rewarded with beautiful scenery and a rewarding swim at the end of the trail.
What else to visit?
Anaga Rural Park
Although the largest Canary Island in Spain is well-known for its resort towns and package tourism, it also has many unspoiled and mysterious locations, such as Macizo de Anaga. It is possible to eat in caves, hike through subtropical forests, and swim in natural pools here. Tenerife's Anaga Rural Park is a protected natural area on the Canary Islands' northeastern tip. Anaga was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in part because it contains the largest Laurel forest on the island, as well as many other endemic plants. It is also the oldest part of Tenerife, having formed 7 to 9 million years ago as a result of a volcanic eruption. You can visit the main parts of the park in a single day, however, this can turn into a 3-day visit if you have the time and the desire!
The beaches of Tenerife
It is impossible to recommend a single beach that will trump all others. In Tenerife, you will find the widest variety of beaches: from tourist-filled beaches featuring the best restaurants and extreme water attractions to wild, remote, scenic beaches on lesser-known parts of the island. Tenerife truly has it all. It will all depend on your time availability and the route you have planned.
Activities for adrenaline junkies!
You can make your trip to Tenerife exclusively about catching adrenaline in the most beautiful sceneries! While this will leave a bigger dent in your wallet than simply enjoying national parks, it is definitely worth your time and money. Tenerife is famous for paragliding, many people visit just for this reason alone. In addition, extreme and less extreme quad tours through national parks or off-road trails are available. A variety of water activities like Jet Ski adventures, snorkeling with sea turtles, and kayaking. Enjoy more modern water attractions like a FlyBoard, also called a Water Jetpack.
Whale-watching experience
Exclusive sailing excursion to see whales and dolphins off the island's south coast. Anchoring in clear waters for swimming and snorkeling. The fantastic @whitetenerife provides this incredible whale-watching experience!
Tenerife is the largest of the Canary islands and it belongs to Spain, however, it is much closer to Africa than it is to Spain. Either way, your only option is to travel there by plane. See our next section to see the best times of the year to visit.
It is very common for visitors to rent a car and it has been made as simple as possible for tourists, so you have nothing to worry about! We highly recommend it, as using public transport will be unreliable and for some destinations – impossible. Once you are there, you can do island hopping with one of the local ferry companies. Tenerife will offer plenty for a single visit, however, if your visit exceeds 2 weeks, we recommend visiting Gran Canaria.
The best seasons to visit Tenerife are spring and fall. The weather gets really hot from March to October, making beach activities ideal. Winter is the best time to go paragliding and explore the many trails, parks, and activities that Tenerife has to offer. If getting a tan by the beach is not essential, then winter will make for an excellent, less-crowded, and significantly cheaper vacation. Beware that the spring and fall student holidays will bring an extraordinary amount of visitors to the island which might take away from enjoying the island to its fullest.
Average costs
You should budget around €100 per day, per person, for your vacation in Tenerife, as this is the average daily price based on other visitors' expenses. Previous visitors spent an average of €30 on meals for one day and €50 on local transportation. In addition, the average hotel cost in Tenerife for a couple is €85. So, a one-week trip to Tenerife for two people costs €1,436 on average. All of these average travel prices were gathered from other travelers to assist you in planning your own travel budget.
We would not recommend Tenerife as a budget trip for most. Entertainment parks, transportation, extreme activities, and delicious cuisine are all essential to enjoy your stay and they do not come for free. We suggest not significantly deviating from the budget described above.
If visitors to Tenerife want to avoid generic tapas, paella, and sangria, they should do a little more research on what to eat in Tenerife and where to find them. This includes looking outside of the major resorts, in smaller cities and towns, and near local markets. Traditional Canarian dishes emphasize fish and seafood, as well as locally sourced meats like pork, goat, and rabbit. Almost every restaurant will offer traditional food, however, it can greatly vary in its quality. Look at reviews, talk to locals and seek food in less touristy areas to get the most out of Canarian cuisine.
Events
Tenerife Carnival
Tenerife's carnival, which takes place from January to March, is a spectacular display of color, culture, and dance. Every year, over 250,000 people flock to Santa Cruz, the state capital, to celebrate. The streets are decorated with traditional decorations, masquerade balls are held, and dances in costumes are performed, making it one of the most impressive carnival experiences in the world.
Semana Santa
Semana Santa, also known as Easter Holy Week, is a week-long religious celebration held in cities throughout Spain. Tenerife is home to several processions, the most notable of which is La Laguna. On Good Friday, the afternoon procession, 'Procesion Magna,' is the most anticipated of the week, followed by the evening procession, 'Procesion del Silencio.' The town falls silent, all streetlights are turned off, and the entire town is illuminated by candles. It's a sight to behold!
Fiestas de la Cruz
The Fiesta de las Cruces, also known as Cruz de Mayo, is a special holiday celebrated in many parts of Spain on May 3rd each year. On this day, the inhabitants of the islands take the time to decorate dozens of crosses with fruit, flowers, and colourful symbols. These crosses are then carried into the streets and displayed for all to see. Many firework displays are held at the end of the day, with a spectacular display in Los Realejos. It is well-known for having one of Europe's most impressive firework displays and has even been designated as a National Tourist Interest.
We are sure that if you decide to visit, it will not be your last time! We also have other places for you to visit, such as Gozo, Bilbao, and Seville. Do not forget to follow us @thewalkingparrot to be always updated on the new releases.