You won’t consider it when trying on the ritzy resorts on the island’s south coast, however the perfect issues in Tenerife actually are free, whether or not it’s nature, tradition or historical past that rocks your traveler boat.
You possibly can climb volcanoes, swim in lava swimming pools, stargaze in a few of Europe’s most spectacularly darkish skies, discover alley-woven historic cities studded with colonial mansions, wander subtropical gardens stuffed with uncommon magnificence and birdsong, chill on blonde Saharan sands, ponder cutting-edge structure, get into the carnival groove, camp in off-the-radar forest reserves – take your decide!
You identify it, the possibilities are you are able to do it in Tenerife and it gained’t price you a single cent. This is our decide of the highest free issues to do in Tenerife, for the proper Canary Islands journey on a finances.
Stargaze in Parque Nacional del Teide
It’s not simply the daytime that has an otherworldly really feel in Parque Nacional del Teide, the place all eyes are on the 3718m (12,198ft) Pico del Teide volcano. Spain’s highest peak punches above a crater-blasted, rust-red lunar panorama, and on clear, moonless nights, the nationwide park has hands-down a number of the greatest stargazing within the northern hemisphere.
Observatorio del Teide attracts astronomers from everywhere in the world. From December to March, hook onto one of many free excursions (test the web site for dates) to get the possibility to see via one of many large telescopes that open up the wonders of the universe.
12 months-round, you’ll be able to see a lot with only a easy pair of binoculars: meteor showers, the Milky Approach and 83 of the 88 formally acknowledged constellations. The blanket of glittering stars is spectacular even when noticed with the bare eye.
Get a splash of Canarian life in Garachico
Good-looking, history-rammed Garachico on Tenerife’s rugged north coast is a real survivor. The city has been blighted by fireplace, flood, freak storms and an enormous volcanic eruption over the centuries and lived to inform the story. Its historic heart is a magnificence, particularly Plaza Libertad, shaded by lofty palms and Indian laurel bushes, the place you may get a taste of the Canaries past the vacationer crowds, watching locals collect over dominoes at cafes and children play.
For a cool-off with a twist, head right down to El Caletón, the place you’ll be able to paddle and swim in pure swimming pools formed by the lava move from the 1706 volcanic eruption.
Admire the dragon tree in Icod de los Vinos
In the event you make it so far as Icod de los Vinos within the island’s north, it’s more than likely since you’re wanting to glimpse the city’s well-known drago (dragon) tree. Formed like an umbrella, it’s regarded as the oldest and largest of its form on the planet. Some say it’s been standing right here for 1000 years, however reality be instructed, it’s most likely a couple of centuries youthful. Regardless, this gnarled surprise is one very historical and particular tree.
Skip Drago Park, the place it’s a must to pay to see the tree, and as an alternative admire it for nada from the stunning vantage level of Plaza Andrés de Lorenzo Cáceres, the city’s elegant Sixteenth-century sq..
Go for a morning market mosey
Buzzing with exercise from the morning time, Tenerife’s markets supply a wonderful and free style of island life (in addition to loads of picnic inspiration). Prime billing goes to the architecturally hanging, neo-Islamic Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África, with arches and patios which are a nod to close by Morocco.
Its stalls heave with ripe tropical fruits, contemporary fish, native wine, goat’s cheese, mojo (spicy salsa) bread, honey and herbs. La Laguna’s Mercado Municipal can be value a glance. Some stalls may also allow you to style merchandise totally free.
Plan a forest barbecue
Lengthy earlier than forest bathing turned a factor, tinerfeños (Tenerife islanders) had been flocking to the island’s áreas recreativas at weekends to spend high quality time with family and friends amongst forests of aromatic Canarian pine. Dotted everywhere in the island – usually in probably the most scenic locations – these tree-shaded spots are good for an alfresco lunch, with stone barbecue areas and picnic tables which are free for all to make use of, in addition to a heady shot of nature.
Loosen up on Saharan sands at Playa Las Teresitas
It prices nothing to crash on the seaside, dig your toes deep into glimmering volcanic sands and watch the Atlantic waves roll in. There’s some critically stiff competitors in relation to Tenerife’s greatest seashores, however one you gained’t overlook in a rush is Playa de las Teresitas, a stunning mile-long scoop of honey-colored sand, with palms, sapphire-blue seas and the Anaga Mountains as a backdrop.
The flour-soft sands right here had been imported from the Sahara, and at weekends, the seaside thrums with locals hanging out on the chiringuitos (seaside bars) over cocktails, seafood and salsa beats. There are epic views over the sands from the mirador on the ridge on the east finish of the seaside.
Get pleasure from a superb arts repair at Museo de Bellas Artes
Lodged in a spectacular neoclassical, cotton-candy-pink constructing, Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s Museo de Bellas Artes wings you thru 14 exhibition rooms of work from the Sixteenth to the twentieth centuries. Spanish, Canarian and Flemish work function extremely, with masterpieces of the Ribera, Bruegel and Sorolla ilk, in addition to some hard-hitting battle scenes by Manuel Villegas Brieva. That Tenerife has such a formidable museum is a surprise, and the truth that it’s free much more so.
Go wilderness tenting in a forest reserve
Need to go tenting however don’t need to pay for a pitch? Whereas spontaneous wild tenting is off-limits in Tenerife, the island has a sprinkling of free forest campsites, many hidden below the shade of lofty pines in distant magnificence spots removed from the crowds. You’ll want a permit (so e-book far prematurely), however these back-to-nature sleeps are actually one thing. Usually you’ll be alone with solely the celebs and hooting, rustling wildlife for firm.
Really feel the Atlantic power at Punta de Teno
As far west as you’ll be able to go with out dropping into the surf-smashed Atlantic, lighthouse-topped Punta de Teno has an edge-of-the-world high quality about it. The volcanic headland is thrillingly wild, with sheer cliffs nose-diving into the wave-whipped, good blue ocean and mountains rearing up past. Take all of it in from the black volcanic seaside, the place you’ll be able to swim, swoon over views reaching alongside the west coast to the enormous cliffs of Los Gigantes and linger for a fiery sundown. It’s the most effective free reveals on the island.
Get a historic excessive in La Laguna
La Laguna is commonly billed as Tenerife’s most lovely city, and you may consider the hype – it’s a historic knockout. The capital till 1723, this Unesco World Heritage-listed city is a fabulous time capsule, and its streets are brimming with Sixteenth- to 18th-century mansions painted in punchy pastels, some festooned with ornate wood balconies. So pretty is the city, in reality, that it supplied the mannequin for a lot of colonial cities within the Americas.
Going for a wander here’s a pleasure. Calle San Agustín presents a lineup of the city’s most photogenic mansions, some centered round tree-shaded courtyards. Whilst you’re right here, cease by the Museo de la Historia de Tenerife, an excellent Sixteenth-century mansion spelling out the island’s previous in artifacts, from Guanche pottery to classic carriages. Go to after 2pm on Friday and Saturday and it’s free.
Throw your self into the carnival spirit
The samba rhythms, sequins and smiles of Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s carnival in February exhibit the island at its fiesta-loving greatest. Second solely to the carnival in Rio de Janeiro, this can be a riotous round the clock feast of music, fancy costume (and cross costume) and enjoyable. A lot of the wild avenue events and occasions are free, however you’ll must get in fast with reserving your lodging.
For a bit style of carnival year-round, go to the free Casa del Carnaval, the place you’ll be able to try the dazzling, feather-bedecked costumes. Some are so exuberant and heavy, it’s a surprise anybody can put on them, not to mention dance in them for hours.
Eye up structure at Tenerife Espacio de las Artes (TEA)
Bearing the avant-garde hallmark of Pritzker Structure Prize-winning Swiss architects Herzog and de Meuron, the angular, darkish concrete Tenerife Espacio de las Artes (TEA) is patterned with 1200 randomly formed glass openings. It is visually gorgeous, particularly after darkish when it glimmers like a filigree lantern by the waterfront.
Although exhibitions within the galleries are ticketed, it’s free to take a peek contained in the constructing – and you actually ought to. Make sure you drop into the extraordinary downstairs library, a sharply modern house for shopping and studying.
Develop into a birdwatcher at Parque Pure de la Corona Forestal
Wrapping its inexperienced arms across the island, the 466-sq-km (180-sq-mile) Parque Natural de la Corona Forestal is a fascinating woody wonderland of Canarian pine and laurisilva (laurel) forests, ravines and volcanic slopes, crisscrossed by some terrific climbing trails, amongst them the long-distance GR131. King of the bushes is Pino Gordo (the “Fats Pine”), an enormous and sumptuous Canarian pine tree towering 45m (148ft) excessive, with a girth of 9.8m (32ft).
It’s free to stroll in silent surprise right here, and bringing binoculars ups your probabilities of recognizing birdlife, from woodpeckers to sparrow hawks, kestrels, Tenerife blue chaffinches, Canarian warblers, and Bolle’s and laurel pigeons.
Make the pilgrimage to Candelaria
In 1392, a statue of the Virgin holding a candlestick washed up on a seaside and was found by two indigenous Guanche goatherds. The effigy gave the quaint fishing village of Candelaria on Tenerife’s east coast sacred standing, and its identify.
Pilgrims have been flocking right here ever since to glimpse the wood statue of the Virgin of Candelaria, or the Black Madonna, patron saint of the Canary Islands, within the resplendent domed Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Candelaria. In-built lavish neoclassical model and gazing out to sea, the basilica is youthful than it seems. The present construction dates to 1959, however its historical past reaches again a lot additional, and the richly ornamented inside (particularly the polychrome cupola) is magnificent.
The village springs to life for the pageant of the virgin in mid-August, with floral arrangements, fiestas, folks teams and pilgrims.
