So, you’ve booked your trip to Tenerife and now you are wondering how you are going to get the most out of your holiday there. If you aren’t one for lazing around the pool or spending relentless hours on a sunlounger at the beach, you’ll want to plan some activities to make your holiday exactly the adventure you’ve been dreaming about.
Well, you’ll be pleased to learn that Tenerife is an amazing destination with a whole bunch of action-packed activities you can do to make your holiday the experience of a lifetime.
The biggest of Spain’s Canary Islands, Tenerife is a popular tourist destination, attracting more than 5 million visitors every year. There are many great reasons to visit Tenerife and the island is especially geared up for those seeking a thrilling, action-packed holiday.
In no particular order, here are some of the great activities you can experience here.
Sailing
Tenerife is the perfect destination to improve your sailing skills. There are plenty of sailing courses on offer from beginner right up to Yachtmaster courses and exams for experienced sailors. Brush up on your basic sailing skills before you go. There are lots of sailing lessons and courses in the UK – Britain is an island after all!
If you are an experienced sailor, perhaps you’d like to combine a week on land with a week’s sailing? This is a great experience for those not content with just sitting on a beach. Clubyachting in Tenerife offer courses and sailing holidays. Not only will you get to visit some great coves and beaches, you’ll go off the beaten track, dock at the less touristy places and get to eat in some fabulous Canarian restaurants.
Scuba Diving
Tenerife offers a wonderful variety of dive sites with enough to keep even the most experienced scuba diver occupied for weeks. There’s a good selection of PADI dive schools offering courses for beginners right up to dives for the most experienced.
See the Stingrays near Las Galletas (Los Chuchos – means rays in Spanish), moray eels and a small wreck at Roncadores Del Faro, volcanic rock formations at Montaña Amarilla and volcanic arches at Los Arcos dive site. There are plenty of larger deep caverns at various sites for the more experienced divers to explore
Watersports
Tenerife has everything when it comes to watersports, from jet-skiing, speedboat experiences and fly-fishing to parascending, inflatable banana boat rides and the more recently added flyboarding and flyfish experience.
There’s plenty to get your adrenaline pumping. There are lots of watersport operators in a variety of locations in Tenerife. Many offer packages to make it cheaper to do a series of activities and some offer discounts if you book in advance online.
Climb mount Teide
Mount Teide is Spain’s highest summit and the third highest volcanic structure in the world. Visiting Teide’s crater is a unique experience. Teide National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site offering a breathtaking landscape. To climb to the peak of mount Teide you’ll need a permit (issued by Teide National Park’s authorities, which you can only apply for on the National Park’s booking website). You will need to apply for a permit at least 2 months before your intended ascent. The good news is, it’s free, you just need to be organised and book your permit in advance of your holiday.
The Mount Teide Cable Car takes you to 163m below the peak. The cable cars are popular so it’s a good idea to book in advance. It’s a spectacular experience riding on the cable car and there are three walking trails from the upper cable car station.
Hiking
Tenerife is a wonderful place for hiking. Even if hiking isn’t normally your thing, you should at least attempt the famous hike down the gorge of Masca to Los Gigantes. This 3-4 hour hike is worth every step and although you will encounter some loose rock and need to steady yourself with your hands in a couple of places, the walk is suitable for relatively inexperienced hikers.
Descending into the impressive gorge you’ll see some amazing rock formations at the narrowest sections, as well as interesting vegetation and glorious views. The hike ends at a pretty black beach, where you can relax and take a swim. There’s a water taxi if you don’t fancy the steep climb back up the hill, or infrequent buses if you get your timings right. Alternatively book a guided tour to ensure transport there and back is organised for you.
There are lots of other walks in Tenerife. See a guide to the best walking in Tenerife here. Be sure to bring some walking boots with you – flipflops definitely won’t cut it. Always make sure you have plenty of water and sunscreen when you set out. Tenerife has a year-round subtropical climate with mild winters and hot summers.
Happy Holidays!
