Top travel locations to visit in Tenerife and Spain? In case you don’t want to hike or you just don’t have the proper hiking equipment with you… you can also walk and discover the beauty of Tenerife by choosing an easy path. We’ve walked from Los Gigantes to Playa San Juan (not in one go, but it is possible) and we’ve walked almost the entire southern coast, another town or resort every day, usually walking by the ocean on the promenade (when possible). The carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is considered the second largest in the world after the one in Rio and it is truly an amazing experience, especially if you want to mingle with the locals and party all night long. We’ve participated in the 2019 edition of the carnival and we loved the parades (especially the one on Friday, when the carnival is inaugurated) and then of course we loved the parties in the various squares in the city, the costumes and the music. See even more details on https://www.facebook.com/groups/1TenerifeForumCommunity.
Puerto de la Cruz has a lot to keep culture-hungry travellers satiated: the city is like an open-air art museum thanks to the Puerto Street Art Project, which began in 2014 in the historic quarter. The oldest drago plant in Tenerife. Technically a plant rather than a tree, the drago tree is synonymous with Tenerife. The oldest known drago is in Icod de los Vinos, and is known as Drago Milenario. You can see it when you visit the 15th century historical quarter. If you’re looking for more things to do in Icod, try the Museo de Malvasia wine museum or the Mariposario Del Drago, which is a butterfly nature park – a good option if you need alternative things to do with kids in Tenerife.
Masca is one of the highest villages on Tenerife, and the rock behind it almost lends a ‘mini Macchu Picchu’ look to the village. The hike from the village to the bay will take between 3 and 5 hours, depending on how many photo breaks you work into the walk. This is a ravine hike, full of view points, flora and fauna and epic photo opportunities. This is a steady hike – bring walking shoes and plenty of water. You’ll need to catch a water taxi back to Los Gigantes, which adds to the experience. In the central north of Tenerife, you’ll find Tabaiba. This is an amazing place for scuba diving. The wreck was sunk deliberately in 2006 to build the marine life here, and attract more divers to the area. On a dive here you’ll find octopus, large schools of mackerel and barracudas.
Taganana is another tiny hamlet in Anaga Rural Park that feels a world away from the pristine all-inclusive resorts in Tenerife’s south. This hidden gem of a hamlet was completely cut off from the rest of the island – and subsequently, the world – until the 1950s when a road was established. Even today, getting to Taganana isn’t easy: it involves a stomach-twisting drive on winding roads. Taganana means ‘surrounded by mountains’ in the ancient dialect of the Guanches, Tenerife’s original inhabitants. If you decide to pay Taganana a visit, some points of interest are Nuestra Senora de las Nieves, the fourth oldest church in Tenerife which was built in 1515, and El Bailadero viewpoint. Some of Tenerife’s best beaches are hidden in Taganana’s lower crevices.
Masca Hike is one of the most popular hikes on Tenerife. It begins at the village in the north-west side of the island and goes all the way to the rocky beach below. The length of the trail is about seven kilometers, and is arranged by many local companies, or you can explore the natural sight on your own feet while going downhill from Masca to the beach, where you can take a boat to Los Gigantes. Hikers will be rewarded with some great scenery along the way.