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What to Do in Tenerife

Yulia
Nov 14, 2018
3 min read

Garachico

Once the wealthiest town on Tenerife, Garachico was engulfed in lava by an eruption in 1706. The most picturesque town on on the island, it is one of Tenerife’s most popular day trip destinations, where swimming in rock pools hewn from the lava is a unique experience.

Diving

Clear, warm waters year-round and underwater volcanic columns teeming with marine life make Tenerife an excellent destination for divers. The best places for diving are Las Galletas, Los Gigantes, Los Cristianos and Puerto de la Cruz.

Contact: Tenerife Scuba, Las Galletas (00 34 922 785 584; divingtenerifescuba.com); Atlantik, Puerto de la Cruz (00 34 922 362 801; tenerife-diving.eu); Ocean Dreams Tenerife, Los Cristianos (00 34 922 752 362; oceandreamstenerife.com); Los Gigantes Diving Centre (00 34 922 860 431; divingtenerife.co.uk) Prices: a single dive costs between €31-€60 (£26-£51)

Hiking

Tenerife has some excellent hiking paths – and because they are not well-known, you can often walk for hours and not meet another soul. The best hiking is in the Anaga Mountains, in Teno National Park and in Teide National Park itself, where the ultimate challenge is to ascend to the peak of Mount Teide on foot.

La Laguna

Once the capital of the island, this university city is a Unesco World Heritage site where convents and beautifully preserved mansions dating from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries sit cheek-by-jowl with tapas bars, antique shops and bookstores.

Cueva del Viento

The largest volcanic tube in the European Union – and the fourth-largest in the world – the Cueva del Viento runs for 11 miles in a three-tiered labyrinth of tunnels beneath Icod de los Vinos. There are guided tours with an excellent commentary in English.

Address: 51 Calle Los Piquetes, Icod de los Vinos, Tenerife Contact: (00 34 922 815 339; cuevadelviento.net) Opening times: Tues-Sat, 9am-4pm; guided tours take place at 10am, 11am, 1pm and 2pm. Group size is restricted to a maximum of 16 people, so advance booking is essential Admission: adults, €20(£17); children aged 5-12 €8.50(£7.20); credit cards are not accepted

Punta del Hidalgo in the Anaga Mountains

A well-signed trail leads from the heart of the Mercedes Forest to the coastal resort of Punta del Hidalgo. Traversing an ancient rainforest that pre dates the Ice Age, through a troglodyte hamlet where you can enjoy traditional cuisine in a restaurant in a cave, and along giddy paths that skirt abyssal ravines between craggy pinnacles where moisture climbs in steamy columns from the dense canopy, this is a side of Tenerife untouched by the hand of tourism. A million miles away from the resorts of the south west coast, a walk through the Anaga Mountains is breathtaking. Book guided walking in the Anaga Mountains with Anaga Atrapiés (anagaatrapies.com)

Playa del Duque

Tucked into the shelter of a small bay, the developments of the south coast hidden from view by a rocky promontory, the pale sand beach of Playa del Duque wears a designer label. Its manicured sand, thatched sunshades and blue and white striped changing booths are more reminiscent of the Caribbean than the Canary Islands. Backed by chic cafés, high-end shopping and the deluxe developments of five-star hotels; and overlooking the neighbouring island of La Gomera, this sandy enclave is the playground of Tenerife’s nouveau, well-heeled holidaymakers. Swim in the calm waters or simply soak up the winter sunshine.