Tenerife – More to The Canary Islands than Beaches

For many people, Tenerife conjures up images of sun-seekers, beach-lovers, and late-night clubbers, but the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands also boasts an immense volcanic crater, championship golf courses, a huge water park, cultural sights, walking trails, and one of the world’s biggest annual Carnivals.

Walking in Tenerife

To grasp Tenerife’s turbulent volcanic roots, visit the Teide National Park, home to Spain’s highest peak at 7,500 metres above sea level. This currently dormant volcano lies within a protected area with an Alpine volcanic ecosystem that has earned it UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

You can walk the trails of the national park, including those snaking up Mount Teide itself, which reward you with some spectacular panoramic views. This is Spain’s most visited national park, covering more than 130 square kilometres, incorporating the weird rock formations of Los Roques de Garcia – including the famous Cinchado, an iconic red rock that has eroded into an unusual tapered shape and some rare flowers and flora including the Dragon Tree

The attraction of winter sunshine makes the Canary Islands a popular destinations for holidaymakers from all over Europe and beyond. Once you get away from the main tourist activity in the resorts of Los Christianos and neighbouring Playa de las Americas on the south west of the island, Tenerife’s other pleasures become more apparent. Car hire Tenerife is much the same as car hire Spain with plenty of choice at reasonable cost and will allow you to explore these activities on Tenerife.

Golfing in Tenerife

Tenerife’s mild climate makes golfing possible year-round, and it’s fast becoming a favourite golf holiday destination alongside places such as the Algarve in Portugal and Florida in the US. Tenerife has many courses to choose from, including five championship level golf courses open to the public, many of them with views of the sea and neighbouring islands.

Tenerife’s capital

Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital, offers upscale shopping along Calle del Pilar, lots of nightclubs in the Marina park area, and one of the world’s biggest annual carnivals in February each year.

The week-long carnival, declared a ‘Fiesta of International Tourist Interest’ by Spain’s Secretary of State for Tourism, is celebrated all over the island – but the biggest and best events and parades take place in Santa Cruz.

Cultural sights in Tenerife

Apart from its capital, Tenerife’s other important city is San Cristóbal de La Laguna, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The unofficial ‘cultural capital’ of the Canaries, San Cristóbal de La Laguna was the first non-fortified Spanish colonial town, and is home to broad, leafy streets and wide, open spaces, providing the model for many colonial towns in the Americas.

Tourists can explore historic churches, and see the city’s beautiful colonial homes and public buildings mainly dating from the 16th-18th century.

Local crafts

Tenerife is home to several craft traditions such as basketwork, ironwork, pottery, weaving and the making of musical instruments, some of which make great souvenirs. If you explore the island’s villages and towns you’ll spot craftspeople at work creating this vast range of local products which are then sold directly, at market, or in tourist souvenir shops.