5 top attractions in Tenerife and Spain and Tenerife forum community
Tenerife and Spain attractions? In case you don’t want to hike or you just don’t have the proper hiking equipment with you… you can also walk and discover the beauty of Tenerife by choosing an easy path. We’ve walked from Los Gigantes to Playa San Juan (not in one go, but it is possible) and we’ve walked almost the entire southern coast, another town or resort every day, usually walking by the ocean on the promenade (when possible). The carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is considered the second largest in the world after the one in Rio and it is truly an amazing experience, especially if you want to mingle with the locals and party all night long. We’ve participated in the 2019 edition of the carnival and we loved the parades (especially the one on Friday, when the carnival is inaugurated) and then of course we loved the parties in the various squares in the city, the costumes and the music. Find more information on Tenerife Forum Community.
Stargazing in Teide National Park is one of the best free things to do in Tenerife. 83 of the 88 officially recognised constellations can be seen from the park. You can go it alone or hire an astronomer to explain the constellations – our guide, José from Star Excursions, was so entertaining and he even arranged for the space station to pass by during our talk (ha). I learned that due to its lack of light pollution around the island’s volcanic peaks, Tenerife is one of the best places in the world for stargazing. In order to protect its status, it’s actually illegal to fly through Tenerife’s airspace between sunset and sunrise. If you’re looking for romantic things to do for couples in Tenerife, just look up!
Masca is one of the highest villages on Tenerife, and the rock behind it almost lends a ‘mini Macchu Picchu’ look to the village. The hike from the village to the bay will take between 3 and 5 hours, depending on how many photo breaks you work into the walk. This is a ravine hike, full of view points, flora and fauna and epic photo opportunities. This is a steady hike – bring walking shoes and plenty of water. You’ll need to catch a water taxi back to Los Gigantes, which adds to the experience. In the central north of Tenerife, you’ll find Tabaiba. This is an amazing place for scuba diving. The wreck was sunk deliberately in 2006 to build the marine life here, and attract more divers to the area. On a dive here you’ll find octopus, large schools of mackerel and barracudas.
If you’re interested in more unusual attractions in Tenerife, I recommend a visit to Chinamada which is a tiny hamlet in the north of Tenerife’s Anaga mountain range. Chinamada is home to a ‘troglodyte community’ who live in a group of around 30 modernised cave houses. Two thirds of these cave homes are underground but they’re not as primitive as they once were. Don’t be surprised to see a satellite TV dish protruding from one or two – the hamlet got its first electricity supply in the 1990s. The surrounding landscape is filled with potato fields, though few of the residents live solely off the land these days.
Located on a vast area of central Tenerife, Teide National Park is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site centered on the 3,718 meter Mount Teide, the highest mountain in Spain. Teide National Park is one of the oldest national parks in the country, and is an important cultural and historical part of the Canary Islands, offering unbeaten views and hiking routes. Its diverse volcanic landscape, pine forests and green valleys are breathtaking. At the very least a quick drive through the Teide National Park is required to admire the beauty of this part of the island. Also, take the cable car to the top and you will be rewarded with a heaven-like view of the Tenerife and the surrounding islands.