Top Things to See in Tenerife South
Tenerife south: the best things to visit
Tenerife is known for its holiday resorts, Blue Flag beaches and vibrant nightlife, but the islands natural landscape and excellent climate offer so much more.
Climb Mount Teide
As you can guess, one of the main activities that can be done in Tenerife is the ascent to Teide, a volcano over 3,700 meters high (the highest peak in Spain) located in the heart of the island. You can reach the base by car and then go up to the summit by cable car, although a permit is required to reach the highest point.
Immortalize the Roques de García
Less than 5km from the Teide cable car station is one of the most famous rock groups in Spain: the Roques de García. These curious vertical formations, the result of the accumulation of different materials of volcanic origin and subsequent erosion, make up one of the most typical pictures of Tenerife. In fact, the image of Roque Cinchado, with Mount Teide in the background, was used to stamp the thousand-peseta banknotes.
Gaze at the Sun at the Teide Observatory
The Canary Islands are a true paradise for studying the universe. The quality of the sky, together with the perfect meteorological and geographical conditions, have turned the two observatories of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (in Tenerife and La Palma) into world references. The Teide Observatory, in particular, is the largest solar observatory in the world.
Admire the Drago de Icod de los Vinos
The famous Millennial Dragon Tree of Icod de los Vinos is one of the main attractions that can be seen in northern Tenerife. The Dracaena dracos, or simply dragon trees, are an arboreal species (they are plants, not trees) typical of the Macaronesia area. The Icod de los Vinos dragon tree is the most famous of its kind due to its age, estimated at 800/1000 years, and its enormous size: 18 meters high and 20 meters wide at the base. You can contemplate it for free from the viewpoint of Plaza Andrés de Cáceres or pay the entrance fee to Parque del Drago.
Explore the Cave of the Wind
3km from the center of Icod de los Vinos there is another place that we recommend you visit: the Cueva del Viento. It is a volcanic cavity, shaped like a tube, created by lavas from the first eruptions of the Pico Viejo volcano some 27,000 years ago. Although the walkable section is barely 200m, the explored galleries extend 18km underground (it is the 5th volcanic tube in the world, after 4 in Hawaii). The visits are made in small guided groups and tickets must be purchased online.
Walk through the mountains of Anaga
The Anaga Rural Park is a mountainous massif in the extreme northeast of Tenerife, declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Of the many trails in the park, the most famous is “El Bosque Encantado”, within the El Pijaral reserve.
Contemplate the immensity of Los Gigantes
The Los Gigantes cliffs are located in the northwest of the island and make up one of the most impressive landscapes in Tenerife. With walls that reach 600 meters in height, these rock formations constitute an important natural habitat for the birds that nest in the shelter of their enormous and inaccessible walls, as well as for a large number of marine species.
Stroll through the historic center of La Laguna
San Cristóbal de La Laguna was the old capital of Tenerife and the de facto capital of the entire Canary Islands until 1833. The glorious past of this town, the cradle of the Enlightenment and the Canarian aristocracy for centuries, is still easily recognizable in its streets and buildings. Explore the seabed Whether snorkeling or diving, we suggest you take advantage of the trip to Tenerife to explore the seabed. For example, in the area of La Caleta you can see sea turtles swimming, a great variety of fish, starfish…
Savor the local food
If you go on vacation to Tenerife, in addition to bananas, there are several typical foods and dishes that you should make sure to try. An irresistible classic are the wrinkled potatoes, small cooked potatoes accompanied with mojo picón sauce and green mojo sauce. Do not miss the Ropa Vieja, the Grilled Cheese with mojo, the Rabbit with salmorejo, the Canarian stew, the Tuna in adobo or the Compound Chickpeas. You will find all these dishes in the famous guachinches, the typical restaurants or taverns of Tenerife.
