Spain is easily one of my favorite countries in the world, mainly because I believe Barcelona to be the absolute best city in the world. While travelers and tourists heavily flock to the party-island paradise of Ibiza, or the neighboring Balearic islands of Mallorca & Menorca, you can’t miss out on visiting the stunning Canary Islands while planning a visit to this amazing country. I collaborated on this post with Falcon tours in order to promote tourism of Tenerife, and to share some of wonderful things to do there.
As the largest of the seven Canary Islands, Tenerife has so much to offer to travelers of every stripe. Here are 10 reasons why this magical island will hold a special place in your heart this year and, perhaps, forever more.
1) Sunshine all year round
One of the reasons that people are charmed by this delightful island and book Tenerife holidays throughout the year is the warm climate, which is thanks to the island being on the same latitude as the Sahara Desert. An ideal winter getaway for a dose of Vitamin D, you can enjoy a dip in the sea here even in the depths of January!
2) Majestic Mount Teide
Standing at 12,200 feet, Mount Teide is Spain’s highest summit. Take the cable car to the top or put on your hiking boots and take the 5-hour journey on foot. Don’t forget to pack your sunscreen and plenty of water though!
3) Abundant fresh, local seafood
Canarian restaurants are famous for their ocean-fresh fish caught daily. Try something a bit out of the ordinary by sampling tollos (shark) and pompano (blue butterfish) during your trip.
4) Perfect for stargazing
Low levels of light pollution in Tenerife provide the ideal conditions for star-gazing. Head to the Teide Observatory and be dazzled by the night sky like you’ve never seen it before!
5) Inspiring hiking opportunities
If you’re not up to tackling Mount Teide, you can hike in the unspoilt natural splendor of spots like Las Montanas de Anaga and Masca Valley.
6) A biodiversity haven
The island is a Unesco-protected biodiversity hotspot, perfect for nature lovers from bird-watchers right through to botany enthusiasts. Adventurous types should try taking a scuba diving trip to see if they can spot all of the five kinds of native turtle.
7) Hidden beaches
If you want to relax on the beach away from the crowds, go to Playa de Benijo and Masca for pristine, untouched sands.
8) Awesome architecture
Visit Los Realejos Alto, to see Tenerife’s oldest church, built in 1498 and then Santa Cruz de Tenerife to take in the ultra-modern Auditorio de Tenerife – the island’s answer to the Sydney Opera House.
9) Otherworldly sites
For an out-of-this- world experience, visit Paisaje Lunar, an extraordinary landscape that was formed by volcanic eruptions around 500,000 years ago.
10) Historic hamlets and other hidden gems
Away from the tourist resorts, Tenerife is full of hidden treasures to explore. Head to tiny Chinamada and learn about the island’s first people, who lived in caves, or take a dramatic road-trip through picturesque Taganana.
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