Dominated by the sky-high summit of El Teide, Spain’s tallest peak, Tenerife evokes every part that makes Spain’s sun-dappled Canary Islands such an endlessly engaging vacation spot.
Elegant historic cities, full of life ports and remoted mountain villages mingle amidst otherworldly volcanic landscapes, and the humanities shine within the cultured capital, Santa Cruz, dwelling of the nation’s most fantastic carnival. Peaceable strolling trails weave previous mist-shrouded hills and magma-molded calderas, and alongside the Atlantic shoreline, waves wash onto volcanic-pebble seashores and shimmering pure sea swimming pools.
You’ll want a superb few days to actually discover this deliciously numerous island. Ebook all of the necessities, from mountaineering permits to Michelin-star eating, nicely forward – that is, in any case, one among Europe’s favourite trip playgrounds. Right here’s every part you could know for an unforgettable keep on Tenerife, the Canary Islands’ beloved grand dame.
Are available February for Carnaval, winter for sunny skies or spring for mountaineering
Tenerife’s massive pageant blowout is its three-week Carnaval – a nonstop, sequin-clad, Caribbean-influenced celebration that takes over the buzzy capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife every February. Hailed as one among Spain’s biggest carnivals, it’s an unmissable present, however count on hovering lodging and flight costs. Make sure to guide every part nicely forward!
The nice and cozy winter months from December to February are the excessive season for northern Europeans in search of sunshine, whereas the recent summer time (June to September) is a well-liked time for Spanish vacationers, significantly in August. The in-between months of October and November are normally quieter and cooler – round 25°C (77°F) on the coast – with good offers on lodging, and there’s great mountaineering via fields of spring wildflowers from March to Could.
Reserving mountaineering permits prematurely
Tenerife’s prime pure thrill is the prospect to summit Spain’s tallest peak, 3718m (12,198ft) El Teide, situated on the coronary heart of the lunar-like Parque Nacional del Teide. The important thing factor to concentrate on is that you just’ll want a pre-booked allow to hike as much as El Teide’s summit. Solely 200 permits are issued every day, and hikers snap them up months prematurely, so reserve as far forward as attainable.
To assist with conservation efforts, two different standout hikes, the Barranco de Masca and the Barranco del Infierno (each following spectacular gorges in western Tenerife), additionally require permits. If you happen to don’t handle to get one, the island has many different rewarding strolling trails, from lesser-known routes via the haunting fantastic thing about Teide Nationwide Park to paths via lush cloud forests within the Anaga mountains of northeast Tenerife.
Select locations to remain close to the stuff you wish to see
Although it’s attainable to discover the island in a couple of days, selecting the best place to remain in Tenerife is vital. The winding roads can unexpectedly tack hours onto driving instances, so it’s value being based mostly near the can’t-miss sights and sights in your journey record.
The north coast is finest for getting away from all of it, with lodging principally in small cities dotted alongside the Atlantic shoreline. Elegant Garachico, for instance, has two scrumptious boutique resorts in restored Canarian mansions: Hotel San Roque and La Quinta Roja.
Hikers will love the distant, pastel-painted villages of the Anaga mountains within the northeast, with their eerily stunning cloud forests and impartial lodging. And anybody on the lookout for a contact of city buzz ought to contemplate Santa Cruz, the place cultural delights embrace the boldly designed Tenerife Espacio de las Artes and Santiago Calatrava’s wave-shaped Auditorio de Tenerife. Alternatively, contemplate historic La Laguna, the place La Laguna Gran Lodge brings a classy contact to a centuries-old dwelling.
Sunny southwest Tenerife is the protect of top-end resorts bursting with amenities, lots of which have a robust concentrate on sustainability. Close to surfing-oriented El Médano, Casas Bioclimáticas ITER is a great and revolutionary assortment of carbon-free self-catering homes and villas, powered by photo voltaic and wind vitality and designed by Tenerife’s Instituto Tecnológico y de Energías Renovables.
Cut back your carbon footprint by tapping into Tenerife’s public transport community
The Canary Islands comprise a singular and fragile pure atmosphere, however the roads are sometimes congested, and automotive rental is costly due to restricted availability, particularly within the peak season. With just a little planning, you may rein in your carbon footprint by tapping into environment friendly guagua (bus) providers throughout the island or renting an electrical automotive.
The Titsa Ten+Movil app has a variety of bus passes for simple island journey, and you can too purchase single-journey tickets on the app. In any other case, you’ll want money for many buses. You do not have to make use of a motorized vehicle – exploring by biking, mountaineering and kayaking is a delight (and ideal for viewing the dramatic Los Gigantes cliffs) and the capital can be finest loved on foot.
Ebook forward for Tenerife’s finest eating places
Tenerife is making fairly a reputation for itself on Spain’s gastronomic scene. Tempting choices swing from fuss-free seafood shacks on the seashore and vegan cafes filled with native produce to eating places serving avant-garde tasting-menus, hidden away in romantic resorts. Reserve a desk a couple of weeks prematurely on the fanciest spots, reminiscent of Michelin-starred El Rincón de Juan Carlos in Caleta, run by the tinerfeño Padrón brothers, or Martín Berasategui’s M.B. on the Ritz-Carlton Abama, boasting two Michelin stars and headed by revered chef Erlantz Gorostiza.
Increase your horizons to neighboring Canary Islands
With its two worldwide airports and glorious ferry hyperlinks, Tenerife is the primary gateway to the three smaller, less-touristed western Canary Islands – bohemian La Gomera, lush La Palma and rustic El Hierro. Every of those makes a rewarding, slow-moving distinction to Tenerife and could be simply added on as a facet journey.
From Los Cristianos in southwest Tenerife, common ferries run to Santa Cruz de la Palma (3½ hours), El Hierro’s Puerto de la Estaca (2¾ hours) and San Sebastián de la Gomera (1 hour). It’s additionally attainable to day-trip to La Gomera by ferry, although you’ll inevitably find yourself wishing you may keep longer.
Costume nonetheless you want, however respect native attitudes
In relation to gown, something goes on this soulful, sun-drenched island, however pack sunscreen, a hat and different safety from the sturdy rays. Loads of folks go topless on the seashore, and many nudist strands are dotted across the island. That stated, it’s respectful to cowl up just a little while you head away from the sand – so no naked chests within the city heart!
Costume modestly when visiting spiritual buildings, reminiscent of church buildings or chapels. It’s additionally rude to go to church buildings for tourism throughout spiritual providers. For buildings which can be solely open for mass, cease in earlier than the service begins.
Make advance reservations to style Tenerife’s volcanic wines
One in every of Tenerife’s nice joys is discovering the cultural wonderland past the Atlantic-washed coast, a sprawl of pastel-walled villages clinging to lush slopes coated in banana-palm plantations. Ebook a winery tour to study all concerning the island’s wine-making scene, which revolves round native pre-phylloxera grape varieties and the vastly diversified microclimates in these wealthy, volcanic mountainscapes. Most tinerfeño wine is consumed immediately on the island, so pattern freely whilst you’re right here and present your assist for native winemakers by taking dwelling a bottle or three!
Near Granadilla de Abona in southwest Tenerife, Bodega Frontos is a sustainably centered, family-run operation with greater than 50 years of natural wine-making expertise. Grapes are grown as much as 1700m (5577ft), making this Europe’s most elevated vineyard.
Assist native producers and craftworkers whereas in Tenerife
From herb-infused cosmetics to volcanic wines, Tenerife’s most impressed souvenirs revolve round one-of-a-kind items that assist small-scale producers, impartial retailers and native island artisans. Begin in full of life Santa Cruz, the place the fabulous TEA reward store is a good spot to select up artistic items reminiscent of notebooks, prints and artwork books with an area twist.
Simply throughout the street, the mid-Twentieth-century Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África is a fresh-food wonderland full of Canarian cheeses, North African spices, artisanal olive oils, palm honey and different native favorites. A couple of streets away, you’ll discover extra connoisseur cheeses with a Canarian focus at Queso Project. In the identical neighborhood, La Createca celebrates tinerfeño artisans with ceramics, glassware, jewellery and extra.
Do your analysis on moral whale-watching in Tenerife
Sprawling throughout 2000 sq km of Atlantic Ocean, Europe’s first Whale Heritage Site was established in 2021 off the coasts of Tenerife and its sister island La Gomera, highlighting how the Canary Islands are prioritizing accountable whale-watching. The islands’ well-known underwater residents embrace bottlenose dolphins and short-finned pilot whales.
Earlier than you come, learn up on how you can be a accountable wildlife vacationer, and guide your whale-watching journeys forward with a low-impact tour firm that has a sustainable ethos and a concentrate on animal welfare. Led by a switched-on group of marine biologists, Biosean runs small-group expeditions that contribute essential analysis on the native whale populations.
Don’t construct stone towers on the seashore
In recent times, legions of pebble or stone towers have popped up on seashores round Tenerife, significantly on Adeje’s Playa El Beril and Playa Jardín in Puerto de la Cruz, with folks speeding to share photos of the curious constructions on social media. Native environmentalists are actually campaigning for a ban on these artifical cairns as a result of they disrupt pure coastal ecosystems and could be deadly to native wildlife reminiscent of bugs, crops, reptiles and birds in a area already below strain from tourism. Do your half by becoming a member of seashore clean-ups and by leaving the rocks the place they lie.
Pack for the countless array of Canarian microclimates
The Canary Islands are well-known for his or her splendidly diversified microclimates, and nowhere channels this extra spectacularly than Tenerife. You could be basking within the solar on a seashore on the southwest coast after which an hour later be reaching for a jacket up within the misty mountains.
Pack for a variety of temperatures and situations, and issue within the climate when planning outside excursions, significantly high-altitude mountain hikes. Altitude illness is a possible threat for anybody mountaineering above 2500m (8200ft), which incorporates El Teide; the overwhelming majority of holiday makers don’t have any issues, however take it slowly.
Pay attention to pure risks on the island
The eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on the neighboring island of La Palma, which lasted 85 days in 2021, drew international consideration to among the pure challenges confronted by the Canary Islands. In addition to volcanic exercise, restricted rainfall can typically result in forest fires throughout the summer time months. Within the unlikely occasion of an emergency, observe recommendation from native authorities together with the Cabildo de Tenerife. There’s a single cellphone quantity for all emergencies, 112.
Be careful for rip tides when swimming on Tenerife’s seashores and in its pure swimming pools. The Atlantic can have critically sturdy currents, so it’s essential to heed native recommendation; a crimson flag means it’s unsafe to enter the water. For the pure sea swimming pools, it’s finest to go to at low tide as a result of excessive tides and turbulent climate could make them harmful.
Maintain valuables protected and examine your medical insurance
Most journeys to Tenerife are fully hassle-free, although like wherever, petty theft can occur, significantly in greater cities. Control your belongings in tourist-heavy places reminiscent of markets and bus stations and by no means depart valuables unattended on the seashore.
The free European Well being Insurance coverage Card (EHIC) entitles all EU residents to healthcare at native value (which regularly means no value) in different EU international locations, together with Spain. If you happen to’re from a non-EU nation, discover out whether or not there’s any reciprocal medical care settlement with Spain; if not, guarantee you will have appropriate medical insurance or journey insurance coverage cowl.
Are you able to drink the faucet water in Tenerife?
Individuals within the Canary Islands have a tendency to purchase bottled water as a result of a lot of the faucet water right here is desalinated sea water – it is protected to drink however not significantly nice taste-wise. Some resorts and eating places present their very own massive water containers so you may refill reusable bottles, and Tenerife’s airports even have ingesting fountains. As of April 2022, all bars and eating places in Spain (together with the Canaries) are legally required to supply free agua de grifo (faucet water) for ingesting.
