What to do in Tenerife

If you haven’t already been tempted enough by Tenerife’s beauty scenery, wonderful climate, beautiful beaches and entertaining nightlife. Here are some of our top things to do whilst visiting this invigorating holiday island, other than working on your tan of course.

Teide National Park

Found in the centre of Tenerife, this national park houses the infamous Mount Teide, which is the highest mountain of Spain and the Atlantic. It is also the third largest volcano in the world. Teide was first declared a national park in 1954, making it one of the oldest national parks in Spanish history, and in 2007 became a World Heritage Site.

Thanks to the volcano, the surrounding soil is rich in minerals, which helps to support a hugely diverse number of plant species despite the intense sunlight, lack of moisture, and extreme temperatures, great for any budding gardeners or flora enthusiasts. Not to mention that this gives rise to the alien and unearthly appearance of the landscape. This unique and beautiful location has been host to many movie sets including Clash of the Titans and Fast and the Furious. It is also a popular location for professional cyclists, as it allows them to train at high altitude, whilst having access to sea level terrain for more intense training.

Siam Park

Siam Park is a waterpark located in Costa Adeje, in case you haven’t guessed the name comes from the park having a Siamese theme, which is evident in almost everything from the building structures to the rides themselves. It was built in 2004 and cost 52 million euros. The park’s designer Christopher Kiessling received permission from the Thai royal family with regards to the parks name but in order to respect the family’s wishes he refrained from copying royal buildings or statues of Buddha. The park is home to eleven rides that range from bowl slides and rapids to a lazy river and a slide that has a light show. The park itself holds five world records, such as the world’s largest dragon statue and the largest manmade wave machine to name just a few. No wonder it is one of the biggest and most spectacular water attractions in Europe.

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La Laguna

Also known as San Cristobal de La Laguna, La Laguna is a famous city and municipality in the northern part of Tenerife, and was the capital of the Island up until 1723. It is situated inland in the beautiful countryside of the Aguere Vally near Santa Cruz. It is home to some of Tenerife’s most picturesque buildings and monuments and includes some traditional houses built in 17^th and 18^thcenturies. Not only is the city worth a visit, as it is a World Heritage Site, but it also contains various museums and attractions such as the Fundacion Cristino de Vera, which contain works of art donated by Christino Vera, one of the most famous artists of Spanish art in the 20^th century.

Image Credit: Wikipedia.org

Pyramids of Guimar

Located near Santa Cruz in the district of Chacona, in the town of Guimar, these pyramids are six rectangular structures that are built from lava stone without the use of mortar. They have been dated to the 19^th century and it is believed their original function can be explained as a by-product of contemporary agricultural techniques. The area was made available to the public after excavation back in 1998. The park features an information centre and a toxic plant collection, although it may not excite younger family members it is undoubtedly an interesting site for an afternoon stroll.

Diving

No trip to Tenerife is complete without a day of scuba diving, and one of the best sites is located in Las Galletas, where you can find many PADI certified companies. They all have quality diving experiences for veteran and novice divers alike, ensuring that you get the most out of the majestic underwater experience in the utmost safety. Other great diving destinations include Los Gigantes, Los Cristianos and Puerto de la Cruz.