The 3 TOP things to do in Tenerife
Welcome to our Top 3 things to do in Tenerife list. Here you will find a good guide and links to all these amazing places to explore.
TOP #1 Whale and dolphin watching in Tenerife.
Imagine yourself in th warmth of the sun. The fresh sea breeze and the sway of the waves make you feel totally relaxed. All of a sudden, the boat stops, everybody pulls out their cameras and looks over the side of the boat with anticipation. You follow suit and soon realize that there are small distant specks breaching the surface. These take the shape of imposing sea creatures as they draw closer. The whales and dolphins swim freely and peacefully in the water with no specific direction. This allows you to share with them an unrivaled sensation: feeling free in the ocean.
The Teno-Rasca Marine Strip.
Teno-Rasca Marine Strip is located in the western part of Tenerife. It covers an area of 69,489.68 hectares. It washes the coastline from Buenavista to Arona.
Contained in the Natura 2000 Network, announced since September 2011 as a Special Conservation Zone. Therefore its purpose is to make sure of the long-term survival of the most vulnerable animals and natural habitats in Europe. To help to stop the loss of marine diversity caused by the effect of human activities.
To conclude the community interest of this area is managed in a way to guarantee protection and improvement of different types of natural habitats and species. Achieve a sustainable balance between the progress of uses and activities in the area by adopting necessary conservation rules of the natural values it contains.
The Canary Islands contribute a total of 177 Special Areas of Conservation (ZEC Zones), 24 of which are marine areas. The aim of 12 of them includes protecting the habitat of the marine mammals: Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and the Short Finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus).
The southwest coast of the island is the perfect place for whale and dolphin watching. Tenerife is home to a number of companies that specialize in organizing trips to see these animals in their natural, free habitat. Boats set off from the ports of Los Cristianos, Puerto Colón, and Los Gigantes, and there is bound to be an option to suit your needs in terms of timing and prices.
2 hour whale and dolphin watching trip
If you just want to see these magnificent mammals, without the extras, you can choose a short outing.
3 hour whale and dolphin watching trip
If you’re looking for something more, the three-hour option generally includes a meal on board and calls at a bay for a quick dip.
4.5+ Hour Boat trips
This complete ocean experience is provided by the larger boats. Here, the activity lasts about five hours. In addition to whale and dolphin watching, the outing includes a journey past the most symbolic points of this coastal area of the Island, a stop for a swim, and, of course, a replenishing meal before arriving back at the harbor.
2. MOUNT TEIDE VOLCANO
Teide National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007 and is also part of Natura 2000.
Standing at a height of 3,718 meters, the Teide volcano is the highest peak in Spain. Here you can find unique species, such as the Echium Wildpretii (Tajinaste), which grows in spring, or the Teide violet, a flower that can only be admired above 2,500 meters of altitude.
The easiest way to get up Mount Teide is by cable car, which will leave you 200 meters below the highest point. If you want to reach the absolute summit, you will need to walk from there. But the effort is worth it, since being up there and seeing the rest of the Canary Islands at your feet is, without a doubt, one of the best things to do in Tenerife. To reach the top, you must apply for the permit, although you can get it directly when booking the cable car here. You can also check other tours to Mount Teide that include the permit.
You can go down by cable car but for full the full experience you can go up on foot via Montaña Blanca (Trail 7). It is an 8-km hike with an elevation gain of 1,200 m. It takes about 4 hours and you can spend the night in the Altavista refuge, so you do not need to apply for the permit for climbing the top. If you also want to do this route on foot but prefer to go with a guide, we recommend this private guided hiking tour.
Visit Webtenerife to see the top 10 must-sees about Volcanoes!
3. Eating and drinking
Feast on the wholesome traditional dishes that follow our grandmothers’ recipes. Typical dishes seasoned with elegance tickle even the most demanding tastebuds. Allow yourself to be conquered by Tenerife’s rich culinary heritage, married with the area’s exceptional wines. Don’t resist the temptation any longer. Take a seat and allow our recipes to fill you with wonder.
Leave your fuss and fanciness at the door. You are entering an establishment adorned with folding wooden chairs and paper tablecloths. The cutlery is piled up in a basket for you to help yourself and dish out to your table companions. Ok, so it’s just an old refurbished country barn turned into a dining hall, but against all odds, they serve the tastiest homemade food and wine you have ever feasted on!
For a good list of traditional Guachinches in Tenerife, please click on this link!
