Places of Interest
Discover the island of Tenerife
Tenerife is the perfect place for day trips. Whether you’re on the island in January or July, and whether you’re in the south or the north, there are dozens of ways to explore the beauty of Tenerife. And there are plenty of them—they’re scattered all over the island.
Santa Crus de Tenerife
The capital of Tenerife is Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which has ferry connections to Europe as well as to the other islands of the Canary Islands archipelago. If you travel to Tenerife by boat from the European mainland, your ship will arrive right here. You can start your walk through this pleasant city at Plaza de España, located near the port, and then head toward Plaza de Candelaria. The surrounding streets are shaded by large trees and lined with small shops and cafés. At Plaza de la Iglesia, you can visit the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, built in the 16th century. Another beautiful church, the Iglesia de San Francisco, is located on Plaza San Francisco. This church is considered the finest example of Baroque architecture in the Canary Islands. The city is full of many other sights worth visiting.
Pico del Teide
An active volcano that serves as a natural symbol of the entire island of Tenerife. The mountain, along with the national park surrounding it, was added to the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List in 2007. Even as you fly into Tenerife, Pico del Teide is impossible to miss. In good weather, you can see the entire island of Tenerife, the clouds, and the neighboring islands from the mountain’s summit. Pico del Teide is also the highest mountain in the Canary Islands and in all of Spain. Since it’s no small feat (3,718 m above sea level), there are several ways to reach the summit:
1. Physically fit hikers can take a beautiful walk on their own and enjoy the journey to the summit to the fullest.
2. If you don’t want to tire yourself out on your first trip, you can take the local cable car, which will help you get part of the way to the summit, where you’ll need to obtain a permit through the national park’s official website. It’s recommended to apply for the permit as soon as possible and well in advance—even a month or two ahead of time. It always depends on current demand. If you don’t manage to get a permit, you’ll still be able to get to the mountain, but not all the way to the summit. A permit is only required for the final 700-meter section of the trail known as “Telesforo Bravo.”
Siam Park
A place full of fun, thrills, and water. The largest water park in Europe, located in the southern part of the island of Tenerife. The park features countless water slides of various lengths, slides for children, and dozens of water attractions that will entertain both adults and children.
Siam Park is designed in an Asian style with a tropical setting, and this design creates a wonderful atmosphere throughout the entire park. The water attractions are divided into three categories: Relax, Family, and Adrenaline. So there really is something for everyone. Try, for example, the 28-meter-high water slide, where you can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h and finish the ride by passing through a huge aquarium full of sharks and stingrays.
Icod de los Vinos
This small town in the northwest has a very rich history and is home to about 27,000 residents. If you find yourself in this part of the island, we definitely recommend visiting Icod de los Vinos. Icod de los Vinos is situated in a wine-growing region full of farmers from whom you can purchase their products, such as cheese. The town has preserved its original architecture, characterized by stone portals and wooden balconies. You’ll find many beautiful spots here, but one stands out above the rest. It can be none other than El Drago Milenario, the oldest and largest tree on the island itself, whose exact age is estimated at around 1,000 years. At the same time, this magnificent tree is the oldest dragon tree in the entire world.
Los Gigantes
The resort of Los Gigantes is named after the massive cliffs of the same name that the Teno mountain range forms along the coast in this part of the island. The Los Gigantes cliffs are much higher than the famous Cape Formentor in Mallorca. The cliffs here range from 500 to 800 meters in height, and many of them “plunge” almost vertically into the sea.
The best views of them are from the resort itself, and even better from the ocean on sightseeing boats. Whether sailing down the canyon from Masca or on whale-watching boat trips, which often head straight to this area to see these cliffs.
