Tenerife, the Canarian paradise

One thing is for sure... I fell in love with Tenerife and it really stayed in my heart! Tenerife is in my opinion the most beautiful in the Canary Islands and so far it's been my most beautiful destination, and now I will explain why. 

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Tenerife, first glances and curiosity

Tenerife unlike Lanzarote and  boasts the largest variety of microclimates in the Canary Islands. 

Tenerife boasts beautiful beaches of black volcanic sand and golden light sand set between the rocky cliffs, ideal for lovers of diving and water sports but also for those who like to relax on the shore of a crystal clear sea where it is not difficult to spot whales and dolphins. 

The beaches to the north are all composed of black volcanic sand while in those of the south they are characterised by fine and golden sand. 

As I said at the beginning, Tenerife has a wide variety of microclimates ranging from black volcanic and golden sand beaches to lunar landscapes, from large tropical forests to beautiful mountain views, now I will really show you everything I have visited in Tenerife and my favourite places!

Tenerife, the best beaches

PLAYA DEL SOCORRO

My favourite beach! It is located a few kilometres from the little city of “La Orotava” in the resort of “Los Realejos”, this beach is obviously characterised by fine volcanic black sand and crystal clear water (as in almost all the beaches of the island) as soon as you arrive you will find the parking lots immediately after a small descent in the car. 

This beach is especially renowned for surfing, and having been there in October, I have never had so much fun swimming in waves even 3-4 metres high. The seabed is low for about thirty metres, but watch out for the strong currents. 

The beach is equipped with rescue service, bars, and free showers on the beach

PLAYA DE BENIJO

Perched on the northern coast of Tenerife, within the Anaga Mountains Nature Reserve, Playa Benijo is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island.

 Picturesque and magic, Playa Benjio is a beach of volcanic black sand and pebbles much loved by surfers enthusiasts. 

The road that takes you to this beach is scenic but in some sections narrow and full of curves, (as in almost all areas of the island).

PLAYA DE MASCA

The wonderful beach of Playa de Masca is located along the northwest coast of Tenerife, at the end of the Masca gorge south of Punta de Teno.

The picturesque black sand and pebble beach at the foot of impressive cliffs is bathed by a crystal clear sea of an intense turquoise green.

Inaccessible by land if not with a winding and difficult route that starts from the village of Masca and takes about 3 hours, Playa de Masca is easily accessible by boat from the nearby port of Playa San Juan or from the port of Los Gigantes which is 6 and a half kilometres away.

This beach is located in the resort of San Juan de la Rambla, parking spaces are limited and to get there you will have to walk about 300 metres on foot where you need to follow some intricate paths that will protect you to a beach surrounded by palm trees, a wonderful promontory and a small cave with a waterfall.

 It's one of my favourite beaches on the island!

Playa del Socorro

Playa de Castro

Playa de Benijo 

Sailing near Playa de Masca

Tenerife, what to see

TEIDE NATIONAL PARK

The Teide is one of the must-see attractions in Tenerife and one of the most visited in all of Spain.

The Parque Nacional de las Cañadas del Teide includes a huge volcanic crater, and its peak of over 3700 metres above sea level is the highest mountain in Spain.

It is possible to explore Teide on your own by renting a car. Driving to the national park is a unique experience: from the sunny south coast you go up to the town of Vilaflor.

As you climb altitude, nature changes drastically and suddenly becomes an incredible lunar landscape. 

The easiest way to reach the highest point of Teide is by cable car: once at the top, you can walk and explore the landscape, and from here you have breathtaking views of the islands of La Gomera and El Hierro.

Full panoramic view of Teide National Park

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Are an unmissable destination on the west coast of Tenerife. 

These huge cliffs plunge into the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean with a cliff that reaches 600 metres.

 The cliffs can be seen from anywhere in this seaside town, but the advice is to get as close as possible by sea to realise their greatness.

Sailing in Los Gigantes

LA OROTAVA

Located in the north of Tenerife, the valley of La Orotava develops around the town of the same name, an ancient village characterised by an architecture and a traditional atmosphere.

 Charming and attractive, the whole area is a stunning showcase of picturesque houses, buildings and cobbled streets, perfect for scenic photographs. 

The old historic centre is definitely worth a visit, while in the surrounding mountains there are many trails where hikers can go trekking, some of which even reach the Teide National Park.

Town of la Orotava

BOCACANGREJO

Small and picturesque fishing village nestled by the sea, it will amaze you right away! 

As soon as you enter you will see beautiful typical Canarian houses with beautiful decorations.

 This small village is one of the most photographed and beloved destinations on the island both for its beauty but also for the kindness and liveliness of its inhabitants. 

Just before you arrive in this village you will find a small golden sandy beach where you can spend the day.

Bocacangrejo hearts street

SAN JUAN DE LA RAMBLA

Considered one of the most beautiful historic centres in all of Tenerife, It preserves an attractive beauty characterised by the strong tradition of the Canary Islands. 

This country offers spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean as well as one of the most incredible bathing destinations.

San Juan de la Rambla landscape

Is a small picturesque village located in the valley of the same name. This enchanting place is surrounded by imposing mountains, deep gorges and thick vegetation, creating a postcard panorama. 

The Masca Valley is known for its spectacular landscapes, you'll look like you're in Hawaii. The imposing mountains that surround it form a perfect setting for the village, creating stunning views from every corner. 

The steep slopes, canyons and rocks eroded by the wind give Masca an incredibile and suggestive appearance.

 As you start exploring this magnificent place you will be able to buy fresh fruit like mangos and pineapples. In addition, Masca also offers opportunities for activities such as coastal kayaking, bird watching and cave exploration.

Getting to Masca can be a little difficult, the streets are very narrow and full of curves, in some sections it is necessary to stop and try to pass the cars that come from the opposite direction.

Tropical view of Masca

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The location of this typical Canary village is simply absurd, completely overhanging in an unspoiled environment offering a spectacular view of the entire coast! 

I was literally blown away admiring this small village surrounded by the ocean. 

Near this beautiful village are Playa de Benijo, Rural Park of Anaga and about 20 km Playa de las Teresitas.

Taganana coastline

Historic town of Tenerife, here are many things to see, such as the natural pools of “El Caletón”, these pools offer the opportunity to swim in a unique environment, surrounded by volcanic rocks and ocean waves, other important attractions are the Church of Santa Ana and the Casa de los Condes de la Gomera. 

This fascinating city captures the essence of the Canary Islands through its natural beauty and authenticity.

Center of Garachico 

Tenerife, what to do

WHALE AND DOLPHINS WATCHING IN LOS GIGANTES

One of the main activities of this island is definitely this, your guides will explain everything there is to know about their lifestyle, breeding areas, what they eat and their behaviour, I took part in the sailing tour in Los Gigantes, it was incredible, at one point we were lucky to have also spotted the fin of a hammerhead shark. 

During your sailing trip you can also swim in the crystal clear waters of Los Gigantes under cliffs up to 600 metres high, where you can snorkel and admire a wide variety of tropical fish and if you are lucky even some sea turtles, and then eat some sandwiches and fresh fruit that they will offer you on board.

Underwater shooting in Los Gigantes

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SWIMMING WITH TURTLES

Unfortunately I had the misfortune to cancel this tour because of the rough sea on my last day on the island, but the most important location where you can take part in this tour is “Los Cristianos” in the south of Tenerife, with a little luck, you can often even spot groups of dolphins.

Book the snorkeling with turtles here!👇🏼

Obviously, there are so many other things to do in Tenerife, such as trekking, renting jet skis, paragliding and simple coast-to-coast exploration of the island.

Tenerife, the best place to watch the sunset 

MONTANA SAMARA

This place remained in my heart, found by chance after visiting Teide. From here I was able to see one of the most beautiful sunsets of my life.

The entire landscape consists of dense forests and high hills, while behind you you can admire the peak of Teide, you will see the sun set over the ocean at 848 metres high!

Wonderful sunset view

View of Teide National Park territory

Teide peak at the sunset

Where have I stayed?

I stayed in an Airbnb that in addition to being beautiful was also cheap, just 800 metres from the sea, overlooking the Teide, surrounded by palm trees and statues, a beautiful garden and a swimming pool with deck chairs, shower and towels included, for only € 28 per night! Tenerife in addition to being cheap on food, excursions and gasoline (at only 1.18 per litre) is also cheap on accommodation, this was my Airbnb during my trip to Tenerife.

Airbnb panoramic view

Airbnb tropical pool 

Airbnb pool surrounded by palm trees 

When to go

I was there in mid-October and the temperature reached 40 degrees, but it is an island that you can visit all year round as winter temperatures do not fall below 16-17 degrees.

What to pack?

Well, what I put are the usual things you could bring for a stay on an island, being a warm place with an almost tropical climate what you will need to pack will be a swimsuit, shirts or t-shirts, some long sleeve jerseys or a sweatshirt, snorkelling mask, flip flops and light shoes, GoPro or stands that allow you to take underwater photographs, short socks. If you plan to go in the summer months, that is, from May until late October, expect a temperature that could reach over 30/35 degrees, so the type of clothing I recommended is the most appropriate one.

What to eat

PAPAS CON MOJO

This island is famous for its traditional wrinkled potatoes “papas arrugadas” cooked with the peel in seawater, often enjoyed with mojo, a sauce of garlic, oil, salt and chilli, which can be both sweet and spicy.

Depending on the area of the island where you will find yourself, you will be served the best local cheeses. One of the typical cheese dishes is Queso asado, grilled cheese that can be served natural or accompanied by sauces, as in the case of Queso asado with Mojo or Queso asado with Miel de palma.

Very traditional Canarian dish and much appreciated by the 'locals', the Ropa vieja was born as a recipe for recycling the meat used for the broth. The leftover meat from the broth, with a frayed appearance similar to “rags” (hence the name of Ropa vieja), is enriched with vegetables, potatoes and chickpeas creating a nutritious and rich dish.

Delicious and crispy roasted octopus served with mojo sauce.

Tuna with potatoes and mojo sauce

Ropa Vieja

Pulpo a la Gallega

What are the “Charcos” of Tenerife, unique symbols of the island

The so-called “Charcos” of Tenerife, that is “punds”, are natural pools of volcanic origin surrounded by the ocean that you can meet in many areas during your holiday on the island, very often found in steep and steep rocky areas, many of these natural pools are hardly accessible by tourists and to reach them you will need a lot of attention and equipment suitable for trekking, while others can easily be found even near the most famous resorts and beaches. Here are some of these extraordinary natural volcanic pools that have now become the symbol of the Canary Islands!

Easily accessible via a staircase in the middle of the San Juan de La Rambla’s town, the Charco la Laja forms a place that collects some particular natural characteristics that have supported an important tourism activity in the North of Tenerife like coastal fishing, solarium, bathing and walking. Before arriving I recommend you to check the weather forecast, in case of rough sea I would not recommend swimming, the currents and the power of the waves could be really dangerous, while the weather allows it you can enjoy a beautiful sunny day and you can also go snorkelling where you can see a wide variety of tropical fish.

North of the south coast, near the tourist town of Puerto de Santiago and the beach Playa de los Guyos is this other incredible natural pool, where you can enjoy the breathtaking view of the rocks of Los Gigantes that I have already told you about.

I arrived here with wonderful weather, but unfortunately it was overcrowded, I recommend coming early in the morning to find as few people as possible.

in the lowest part of the north coast you can find this series of natural pools composed of footbridges and black cliffs like charcoal where it is also allowed to dive from different heights, I recommend visiting them in the high season as they are closed in winter.

On site you can visit the particular town of Garachico (which I told you about above) and choose to eat or go shopping in the many restaurants and souvenir shops.

POOLS OF BAJAMAR

Bajamar is a very beautiful village in the North of Tenerife and its heart is precisely that of the pools that you will find as soon as you enter the town. 

They are large, well guarded and equipped with rescue service, while you dive you will be able to enjoy the beautiful view of a beautiful promontory.

Tenerife, conclusions

This trip of mine has come to an end, the most beautiful so far, I will never forget those sunsets, those scents, those incredible landscapes and those coastal traits that literally drove me crazy and at the same time love this unspoiled place, if your next destination will be the Canary Islands, surely you will already know which island to choose!

Playa de Castro

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