What to do in Tenerife (apart from the beach)

Whale watching, star gazing and mountain explorations

Roques de García El Teide Tenerife

So you’re spending a week in Tenerife and after two days at the beach (or hotel pool) you’re probably starting to think about some island explorations? Let us show you around – because there’s a lot to do and amazing things to experience in Tenerife apart from the beach.

Top 3 Tenerife experiences apart from the beach

  1. Volcanoes: Rent a car and explore the volcanic mountains
  2. Star gazing: Go to the Teide National Park at night and watch the stars
  3. Whale watching: Take a boat for a whale watching excursion

Road trip through Tenerife

Road signs at Teide National Park

 

There’s so many options on this rather small island, so here’s a few tips for your perfect day away from the beach in Tenerife.

Take a rental car to the mountains

Many tourists don’t rent a car on Tenerife and only see the airport and their hotel – this is a shame, because the island is extremely diverse and it’s easy to drive here. One of our first explorations brought us to the Northwest of the island – alongside the coastal roads we made our way up and down the mountains through ever-changing landscapes. From rough browns and greys to lush greens, from pine woods to banana plantations. It’s all there to be explored.

?‍? Pro tip:
Take the TF-1 road alongside the west coast of the island up until the lighthouse called “Faro de Buenavista del Norte” and on the way back stop in Masca and at the “Los Gigantes”.

Mountain roads in Tenerife

Faro de Buenavista del Norte

The lighthouse at the Northwestern tip called “Faro de Buenavista del Norte” is located in the middle of banana plantations.

The northern coastline of Tenerife with a view of Garachico

The northern coastline of Tenerife with a view of Garachico

A view of Masca Tenerife

A view of Masca Tenerife

 

Go to the Teide National Park at night and watch the stars

What you maybe didn’t know before your visit: There’s only a handful of places, where you can watch the milky way and it’s gazillion of stars all year round. Well, Tenerife is amongst these places due to the clearest night skies in the world. If you go up to Teide National park (which you should actually do twice – once also during day light to explore the volcano landscape) – and there you’ll always be above the clouds. You can plan a visit at the Teide Observatory or just park alongside the road and watch the stars with your bare eyes. It’s a once in a lifetime spectacle!

?‍? Pro tip:
If you want to take photos of the stars bring a tripod and a camera with a big sensor (we prefer our full frame DSLR). While the stars are easy to see with bare eyes, they’re hard to photograph.

Sunset at the Teide Observatory with views of Teide volcano

Sunset over the clouds at the Teide

 

 

Rent a car in Tenerife and go up to El TeideStar gazing in TenerifeEl Teide is always above the clouds

El Teide is always above the clouds

Take a boat for a whale watching excursion

And if that weren’t enough, Tenerife is also the perfect place for whale watching throughout the whole year. What we learned is that it’s also always baby season – so chances are high that you will not only see pilot whales, but also pilot whale babies!

?‍? Pro tip:
Be careful when you pick a boat company, some aren’t really protective of the environment and chase the whales away with stupid manoeuvres. So watch out for eco tours!

Boat ride and whale watching tour in Tenerife

Whale Watching in Tenerife

Whale Watching in Tenerife

Whale Watching in Tenerife

A pilot whale mother and baby

 

 

 

A pilot whale mother and baby

 

Sailing the coast of Adeje Tenerife

These were our highlights of Tenerife, when it comes to escaping the beach for day excursions! What’s your favourite thing to do when on the Canary Islands?