Dominated by the sky-high summit of El Teide, Spain’s tallest peak, Tenerife evokes all the things that makes Spain’s sun-dappled Canary Islands such an endlessly engaging vacation spot.
Elegant historic cities, vigorous ports and remoted mountain villages mingle amidst otherworldly volcanic landscapes, and the humanities shine within the cultured capital, Santa Cruz, residence of the nation’s most lovely 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 an excellent few days to actually discover this deliciously various island. Guide all of the necessities, from mountaineering permits to Michelin-star eating, nicely forward – that is, in spite of everything, certainly one of Europe’s favourite trip playgrounds. Right here’s all the things you could know for an unforgettable keep on Tenerife, the Canary Islands’ beloved grand dame.
Are available in February for Carnaval, winter for sunny skies or spring for mountaineering
Tenerife’s huge competition 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 certainly one of Spain’s best carnivals, it’s an unmissable present, however anticipate hovering lodging and flight costs. Be sure you guide all the things nicely forward!
The nice and cozy winter months from December to February are the excessive season for northern Europeans looking for sunshine, whereas the new summer time (June to September) is a well-liked time for Spanish vacationers, notably 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 fantastic mountaineering via fields of spring wildflowers from March to Might.
Reserving mountaineering permits upfront
Tenerife’s prime pure thrill is the possibility to summit Spain’s tallest peak, 3718m (12,198ft) El Teide, positioned on the coronary heart of the lunar-like Parque Nacional del Teide. The important thing factor to concentrate on is that you simply’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 upfront, 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. In the event you don’t handle to get one, the island has many different rewarding walking 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 need to see
Although it’s attainable to discover the island in a couple of days, selecting the best place to remain in Tenerife is essential. The winding roads can unexpectedly tack hours onto driving occasions, so it’s price being primarily based near the can’t-miss sights and points of interest in your journey listing.
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 inns 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 lovely cloud forests and unbiased lodging. And anybody in search of a contact of city buzz ought to contemplate Santa Cruz, the place cultural delights embody 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 Hotel brings a trendy contact to a centuries-old residence.
Sunny southwest Tenerife is the protect of top-end resorts bursting with services, lots of which have a powerful deal with sustainability. Close to surfing-oriented El Médano, Casas Bioclimáticas ITER is a brilliant and progressive assortment of carbon-free self-catering homes and villas, powered by photo voltaic and wind power and designed by Tenerife’s Instituto Tecnológico y de Energías Renovables.
Scale back your carbon footprint by tapping into Tenerife’s public transport community
The Canary Islands comprise a novel and fragile pure surroundings, however the roads are sometimes congested, and automotive rental is expensive due to restricted availability, particularly within the peak season. With slightly planning, you’ll be able to 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 straightforward island journey, and it’s also possible to 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 motorcar – exploring by biking, mountaineering and kayaking is a delight (and excellent for viewing the dramatic Los Gigantes cliffs) and the capital can also be finest loved on foot.
Guide 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 full of native produce to eating places serving avant-garde tasting-menus, hidden away in romantic inns. Reserve a desk a couple of weeks upfront on the fanciest spots, similar to 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 wonderful ferry hyperlinks, Tenerife is the principle 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 will be simply added on as a aspect 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 mentioned, it’s respectful to cowl up slightly while you head away from the sand – so no naked chests within the city heart!
Costume modestly when visiting non secular buildings, similar to church buildings or chapels. It’s additionally rude to go to church buildings for tourism throughout non secular 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
Considered one 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 lined in banana-palm plantations. Guide a winery tour to study all concerning the island’s wine-making scene, which revolves round native pre-phylloxera grape varieties and the massively different 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 help for native winemakers by taking residence 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 help small-scale producers, unbiased retailers and native island artisans. Begin in vigorous Santa Cruz, the place the fabulous TEA gift shop is a good spot to select up inventive items similar to notebooks, prints and artwork books with a neighborhood twist.
Simply throughout the street, the mid-Twentieth-century Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África is a fresh-food wonderland filled with Canarian cheeses, North African spices, artisanal olive oils, palm honey and different native favorites. Just a few 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 embody bottlenose dolphins and short-finned pilot whales.
Earlier than you come, learn up on how to be a responsible wildlife tourist, and guide your whale-watching journeys forward with a low-impact tour firm that has a sustainable ethos and a deal with animal welfare. Led by a switched-on crew of marine biologists, Biosean runs small-group expeditions that contribute necessary 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, notably on Adeje’s Playa El Beril and Playa Jardín in Puerto de la Cruz, with folks dashing to share pictures 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 will be deadly to native wildlife similar to bugs, crops, reptiles and birds in a area already below stress 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 infinite array of Canarian microclimates
The Canary Islands are well-known for his or her splendidly different microclimates, and nowhere channels this extra spectacularly than Tenerife. You will 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 circumstances, and issue within the climate when planning outside excursions, notably high-altitude mountain hikes. Altitude illness is a possible danger 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.
Concentrate on 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 generally result in forest fires in the course of 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 severely sturdy currents, so it’s necessary to heed native recommendation; a purple 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 secure and test your medical insurance
Most journeys to Tenerife are completely hassle-free, although like anyplace, petty theft can occur, notably in larger cities. Regulate your belongings in tourist-heavy areas similar to 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 price (which regularly means no price) in different EU international locations, together with Spain. In the event you’re from a non-EU nation, discover out whether or not there’s any reciprocal medical care settlement with Spain; if not, guarantee you’ve gotten 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 secure to drink however not notably nice taste-wise. Some inns and eating places present their very own giant water containers so you’ll be able to 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.
Recent Comments