Go diving, visit themes parks such as Loro Parque or Siam Park, go hiking in nature, go horse riding, plan an excursion to Mount Teide, hire a boat or go whale watching… Countless experiences are waiting for you in Tenerife that will make your stay a unique and unforgettable trip. Here’s a list of the essential activities you can’t miss on your holiday to the island of a thousand experiences.
Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands and a land of contrasts; it’s the perfect place to enjoy beautiful, long beaches, gorges and cliffs, exotic forests, banana plantations, lunar landscapes, fascinating museums and countless places for leisure and fun. It’s the island of eternal springtime – if you don’t have much time, make sure you fit in a visit to Teide National Park, home to the tallest peak in Spain at an altitude of 3,718, and the historic centre of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Siam Park
- Loro Parque
- Jungle Park
- Aqualand Costa Adeje
- Excursion to Mount Teide
- Karting and quad biking in Tenerife
- Diving in Tenerife
- Boat trips and whale watching in Tenerife
- Catamaran in Tenerife
- Horse riding in Tenerife
- Jet skis
- Helicopter ride
- Paragliding in Tenerife
- Jeep tours around Tenerife
- Excursion to La Gomera
- Island tour
- Where to stay in Tenerife
Tenerife’s beaches are its biggest tourist attraction but don’t forget that this Canary Island is far more than just sun and sand. Once you’ve taken a look at the numerous leisure options to enjoy, you’ll be all set to plan a fun and unforgettable holiday on the island. Read on to discover the best activities to do in Tenerife:
Siam Park
Considered by many to be the best water park in the world because of its high-quality facilities, technological innovation and environmental management. Siam Park is in Costa Adeje and has incredible, fun attractions for all the family. Each area is packed with excitement for adventure-lovers and thrill-seekers.
Loro Parque
Loro Parque is in Puerto de la Cruz and is one of the most beautiful zoos in the world. Se inauguró en 1972 por iniciativa de dos alemanes. It was opened in 1972 by a German company and was originally home to 150 parrots, putting on the first parrot show in Europe. Today, the park has grown to ten times its original size and has welcomed almost 50 million visitors since it first opened its doors. Loro Parque also has numerous species of tropical and subtropical plants, including a collection of 2,000 palm trees from around the world and a dragon tree garden.
Jungle Park
This zoo and botanical garden takes you into the heart of the jungle, even though it’s right by Los Cristianos in southern Tenerife. One of Jungle Park’s big attractions is its bird of prey show with free flying falcons and eagles, plus its exotic animals: tigers, caimans, monkeys, lions and more. Perhaps its most unique inhabitant is the white tiger, and a visit also means navigating waterfalls, lagoons, rope bridges and tunnels.
Aqualand Costa Adeje
Es el único parque acuático y delfinario de Tenerife. The only water and dolphin park in Tenerife, this is the perfect place to cool down and have fun on the park’s amazing rides. Get ready to enjoy the curves and turns of the Tornado, the speed of the Kamikazes, the Lava River, the Tsunami, the Twister Race, and the Ciclones. But the stars of Aqualand Costa Adeje are the dolphins and their spectacular show. A great day out for all the family.
Excursion to Mount Teide
A trip to Tenerife without an excursion to Teide National Park would be no kind of trip at all – it’s the island’s most important symbol. Es el gran símbolo de la isla. Hay muchas opciones para disfrutar de este singular espacio. There are lots of different ways to enjoy this unique space: ascend by cable car, visit at night to see the stars, go hiking, do a quad bike or ATV tour, or book a guided tour of Teide Observatory.
Karting and quad biking in Tenerife
If you’re an adrenaline junkie, don’t miss Karting Las Américas. The centre has different kart types so every age group can join in the fun, and several different circuits. There are also companies that organise quad bike and buggy tours. You can visit Mount Teide using these vehicles. It’s a different, fun way to enjoy Tenerife’s landscapes and experience new sensations!
Diving in Tenerife
The island’s climate means that the water temperature is perfect for diving all year round. Tenerife is a wonderful place for scuba diving and admiring the great biodiversity of the Atlantic. It also has numerous diving schools and companies that hire out diving equipment, such as Scuba Diver. Paul Bakery & Restaurant. Where are the best places to go diving in Tenerife? It would be impossible to list them all, but the following spots are spectacular: La Catedral, the Túnel de Garachico, the Bufadero, the Pecio de Tabalda and the Faro de Punta Rasca.
Boat trips and whale watching in Tenerife
Lots of tour operators run boat trips in Tenerife and whale watching excursions. Por ejemplo, puedes subirte a la embarcación Masca Express para hacer una excursión de avistamiento de ballenas y delfines. For example, you could board the Masca Express and go whale and dolphin watching, or board a sailboat to spot whales on a three-hour trip while enjoying a drink and a dip in the sea with snorkelling.
Catamaran in Tenerife
You could also enjoy a beautiful sunset and discover the island’s wealth of marine fauna by going on a catamaran in Tenerife. You’ll probably get the chance to see dolphins and whales in their natural environment too. Many tour operators offer catering on board the boat to make the trip even more enjoyable.
Horse riding in Tenerife
Horse riding in Tenerife is a great activity to do as a family, with friends or as a couple. The Centro Hípico Xanadú offers numerous different routes: La Laguna, Icod de los Vinos, La Orotava, La Esperanza, etc. You can also choose the length of the ride, which can last 60 min., 90 min., two hours or up to four hours.
Jet Skis
Hiring a water scooter or a jet ski is quite easy in Tenerife. Whether you’re in Puerto de la Cruz or in Playa de las Américas, in Arona or Los Gigantes. It’s an activity that can be enjoyed all year round thanks to the island’s wonderful climate. Fun and excitement are guaranteed when you hire a jet ski from Jet Ski Safari.
Helicopter ride
If you’d like to discover Tenerife from the air, book a helicopter ride and take home unforgettable memories of the island. Journeys are between 20 km and 120 km in length and give you different view of Tenerife, its beaches and gorges, the Los Gigantes cliffs and even Mount Teide itself. You can communicate with the pilot via your helmet during your trip.
Paragliding in Tenerife
Gliding along in silence, with a bird’s eye view of one of the island’s most spectacular landscapes, is sure to leave a profound impression on anyone who experiences it. So we can heartily recommend paragliding over Tenerife. Accompanied in tandem by experts in this sport, you take off from one of the best-known and safest spots (Los Realejos, Adeje y Güimar), watched over by the majestic peak of Mount Teide. This activity normally lasts for around two hours.
Jeep tours around Tenerife
The more adventurous visitors will enjoy the many jeep excursions available across the length and breadth of Tenerife. The island’s extraordinary geography provides fun and thrilling experiences. For example, the Teide Masca Jeep Safari expedition, through the Teide National Park, Spain’s highest and most visited National Park. Throughout the tour, you can enjoy the dramatic scenery, the result of volcanic eruptions, in addition to the villages of Vilaflor and Masca, where you can admire traditional, rural Canary Island architecture.
Excursion to La Gomera
La Gomera is separated from Tenerife by a sea channel which is barely 47 kilometres wide at the closest point between the two islands. So a boat trip to La Gomera, departing from the port of Los Cristianos, is one of the easiest and most enjoyable activities you can try during your stay in Tenerife. On this full-day excursion, you visit the island’s capital, San Sebastián de la Gomera, and the point where Christopher Columbus’ expedition took on water during his first voyage to America. You will also see the Garajonay National Park, the Roque de Agando rock formation, La Laguna Grande, and the Mirador de Vallehermoso [viewing point]. All places where you can admire the island’s lush natural scenery.
Island tour
There is no question that the island of Tenerife (thanks to its geographical and natural features, and thanks to the character and personality of its people) is worth seeing in its entirety. In fact, touring the island in a vehicle is one of the most highly recommended activities. Particularly if it’s a VIP group tour. This tour takes you to places outside the itinerary of standard tours, to visit some of Tenerife’s greatest treasures. These include Mount Teide, Masca and its farmsteads, and the Valle de la Orotava, as well as part of Isla Baja. You will also visit several of the most impressive viewing points and typical banana plantations. All the while accompanied by expert guides who know a great many of the island’s secrets.
Where to stay in Tenerife
Hotel Royal Hideaway Corales Beach – Adults Only. Located in the south-east of Tenerife, in Costa Adeje, this five-star luxury hotel is open to adults only. It’s just moments from La Enramada Beach and the boat-shaped building was designed by Leonardo Omar. The indoor spaces at Hotel Royal Hideaway Corales Beach – Adults Only are inspired by the island’s coral reefs. The hotel organises a highly recommendable culinary experience that gives you the chance to try the best Canary Islands dishes in your room.
Hotel Barceló Tenerife. One of the big attractions of the Hotel Barceló Tenerife is that it’s right on the sea front and surrounded by nature. Its 331 rooms have furnished terraces and hydromassage baths; some also have sea views. It has eight outdoor pools (two are heated) and a sailing lake.
Hotel Allegro Isora. This four-star hotel is next to La Arena Beach and has 312 fully equipped apartments that give guests extra independence. Its gardens and pools cover 21,000 m2 and it has a buffet restaurant, an international restaurant, a saloon bar and a pool bar. The Allegro Isora also has a modern U-Wellness spa and Fitness Centre.
Hotel Royal Hideaway Corales Suites. Designed by famous Tenerife-born architect Leonardo Omar, this ultra-luxury boat-shaped hotel has suites with impressive views over the ocean. Its 144 designer apartments make guests feel as though they could touch the sand of La Enramada Beach with their fingertips. El Royal Hideaway Corales Suites is Tenerife’s latest place to be.
Hotel Barceló Santiago. This four-star hotel is in the most beautiful part of southern Tenerife and its comfortable, well-equipped rooms either face the sea, the three pools or Mount Teide. The Barceló Santiago is the perfect accommodation for enjoying a wonderful holiday as you discover the island’s natural treasures.
