Why visit Tenerife and Spain? 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. See additional details at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1TenerifeForumCommunity.
One of the best things to do in Puerto de la Cruz is spending a day at the manmade seawater lagoon, Lago Martiánez. The creative complex has six swimming pools pools surrounded by sun loungers and amenities. For a small fee, you can spend a relaxing day there, then enjoy a sundowner at one of the nearby bars. If your hotel doesn’t have a decent pool or you fancy a change of scene, add this place to your Tenerife itinerary. I would have loved an extra day in Puerto de la Cruz just to unwind here. Where to see street art in Tenerife: Puerto de la Cruz muralsWhere to see street art in Tenerife: Puerto de la Cruz murals.
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.
Taganana is another tiny hamlet in Anaga Rural Park that feels a world away from the pristine all-inclusive resorts in Tenerife’s south. This hidden gem of a hamlet was completely cut off from the rest of the island – and subsequently, the world – until the 1950s when a road was established. Even today, getting to Taganana isn’t easy: it involves a stomach-twisting drive on winding roads. Taganana means ‘surrounded by mountains’ in the ancient dialect of the Guanches, Tenerife’s original inhabitants. If you decide to pay Taganana a visit, some points of interest are Nuestra Senora de las Nieves, the fourth oldest church in Tenerife which was built in 1515, and El Bailadero viewpoint. Some of Tenerife’s best beaches are hidden in Taganana’s lower crevices.
The warm waters surrounding Tenerife are home to more than 28 species of whale and dolphin, making it a popular attraction for visitors of all ages. There are daily trips on the boats departing either from Los Cristianos or Los Gigantes. The prices of the boat trips differ according to the service and availability of the drinking buffet and food. Some boats are even decorated like pirate ships. The trip is around three hours in duration, during which you will be able to observe several dolphins and whales in their natural habitat, swimming around.