The Best Things to Do in Tenerife

Tenerife is so much more than its beaches. In a single week you can stand on top of a volcano, fly over the Atlantic, splash through the best water park on Earth and hop across to a neighbouring island that looks like the surface of the moon. We are Ronaldo and Mane, local hosts born and raised in the Canary Islands, and this is our honest pick of the best things to do in Tenerife — the experiences we send our own guests to, year after year.

1. Stand on top of Spain — Mount Teide

At 3,715 metres, Mount Teide is the highest peak in Spain and the third-largest volcano in the world. The drive up is half the magic: pine forests give way to a Martian landscape of lava fields before you reach the cable car towards the summit. Go up for sunset, or stay after dark — Teide National Park has some of the clearest night skies on Earth, and stargazing here is unforgettable.

You can explore it at your own pace with a car, but if you'd rather feel the adrenaline, our buggy safari to Teide takes you up through the volcanic landscape in a 4x4 — half adventure, half jaw-dropping scenery.

2. The world-famous parks: Siam Park & Loro Parque

Siam Park, right above Costa Adeje, is regularly voted the best water park in the world: the largest wave pool on the planet, heart-stopping slides and a dreamy Thai setting. In summer you can even experience it after dark with Siam Night. Over in the north, Loro Parque is one of the finest zoos in the world — orcas, dolphins, penguins, gorillas and the largest parrot collection anywhere.

3. Adrenaline on land — buggy & paragliding

Want to get the heart racing? Grab the wheel on our Buggy Adventure and tear through the wild southern landscapes — four routes to choose from, from the volcano to the coast at sunset. Or take to the skies with a tandem paragliding flight over Costa Adeje, launching from 800 metres with the Atlantic and Mount Teide as your backdrop. Both are perfect for first-timers and make unforgettable memories.

4. The Atlantic — whales, boats & water sports

The waters off the south-west are home to resident pods of pilot whales and dolphins all year round, and the marinas at Puerto Colón and Las Galletas are the launchpad for boat trips, sport fishing, jet ski safaris and more. We're adding new sea experiences all the time — if there's something specific you're after, just ask us on WhatsApp and we'll arrange it.

5. A day trip to another world — Lanzarote

One of the best-kept secrets of a Tenerife holiday is how easy it is to visit a completely different island for the day. Our Grand Tour of Lanzarote takes you to the fire mountains of Timanfaya National Park, the spectacular Cueva de los Verdes lava tunnel and the Jameos del Agua, César Manrique's underground masterpiece. Lunar landscapes, black-ash vineyards, a guide in English and Spanish — and we pick you up at your accommodation.

6. Beaches, sunsets & seafood

You'll want beach days too. Playa del Duque and Playa de Fañabé in Costa Adeje are golden, calm and family-friendly, while the fishing village of La Caleta serves the freshest seafood with your feet almost in the sea — and one of the island's best sunsets. For the full lowdown, read our Costa Adeje travel guide.

Getting around

To really explore Tenerife — Teide, Masca, the green north, the hidden beaches — you'll want your own wheels. We can sort that for you: see our car rental in Tenerife page, with pickup at both airports. A car turns a good holiday into a great one.

Where to stay

The best base for all of this is a private villa with a pool to come home to. Most of our hand-picked homes are in and around Costa Adeje, minutes from the beaches and a short drive from Siam Park and the Teide road:

• Villa Orion Luxury — space, comfort and a private pool, ideal for groups.
• Villa Chloe Costa Adeje — stylish and close to the beaches and resort life.
• Villa Maronata — one of our newest homes, with a true holiday feel.

Book direct and you get our local pre-arrival guide, 24/7 support, the best price — and our help booking any of the experiences above.