Stunning Tenerife: Paradise in the Canary Islands

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Advisor - Renata Caine
Curated By

Renata Caine

  • Spain

  • Adventure Travel

  • Active Travel

  • Food & Wine

  • Outdoors

  • Entertainment

  • Sightseeing

A view of a person floating on the rippling blue water with a rocky landscape in the background.
Curator’s statement

Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, has something for everyone. An island off the coast of West Africa, Tenerife's beautiful beaches range from golden stretches of soft sand to volcanic black sands. The towns are charming and restaurants serve delicious Canarian cuisine. Tenerife is a good option for beach-goers looking to relax in luxury, adventurists looking to stargaze under clear skies and those who love to be on the water, spotting dolphins and whales.

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Where to stay in the Canary Islands

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Things to do in the Canary Islands

A beautiful view of palm trees, a swimming pool and the sea in the distance under a cloudy, yellow sunset.

Whale watching in Tenerife is a special activity. You are almost always guaranteed to see the short-finned pilot whale and several pods of dolphins. Most tours include time to jump into the clear blue, warm waters. A two-hour trip is plenty to admire the coastline and see all the sea life.

Visit San Cristobal de la Laguna. The former capital city is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and will make you feel like you stepped back into a previous century. The architecture is so well preserved and the entire experience is warm and welcoming. Enjoy lunch at one of the street cafes.

Visit Los Gigantes, the giant rock formations towering above the sea. There is a beautiful viewpoint before you reach the main town. I recommend stopping there to take in the view and snap some photos.

Teide National Park offers so many options to explore its many wonders. The peak, at 3,715 meters, is the tallest in Spain and one of the tallest volcanoes in Europe. I recommend the following during your visit:

  • Tour & Cable Car ticket

  • Teide Tour on Quads

  • Teide Night Tour: Stargazing, Dinner and Hotel pickup

Places to eat & drink in the Canary Islands

A view of a beautiful, pink building and palm trees in front of the bright blue sky.

Lunch & Dinner:

  • Sesto Senso Restaurant Playa San Juan: The views of Playa de San Juan are incredible, as is the menu. Their Tagliatelle Ai Frutti was exceptional!

  • Brisa Marina Taberna Marinera: More views and the freshest fish we had on the island!

  • Restaurante Rosso Sul Mare: The "fanciest" of the restaurants we tried. The view was exceptional and the food was memorable. The fish, pasta dishes and even salads were our favorite of the trip. Be sure to enjoy a cocktail at this bar; they're delicious!

Bars:

  • Nashira Cocktail & Gastrobar: We came for the sunset views and were welcomed with friendly service, wonderful cocktails and scrumptious nibbles before dinner.

  • Bar Fresh: Another option for inventive cocktails and sunset views. Can't go wrong with the bartender's creations!

Advisor - Renata Caine

Travel Advisor

Renata Caine

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This guide is part of our ongoing series on travel to Spain.