Tenerife’s top outdoor attractions

The idea of a luxury break in Tenerife might call to mind images of days spent sunning yourself on the sand, but it’s also a great place for more active holidaymakers to head to. So, if you fancy spending your getaway enjoying the great outdoors, it’s the perfect choice. Check out some of the best things you can do here below.

Water sports

Since it’s an island with year-round good weather, Tenerife is a brilliant place to give some water sports a try. The local tourism industry really caters to this demand, so there is all sorts you can have a go at, such as surfing and sailing.

As the waters around the island are teeming with colourful marine life, I think one of the best things to do is go scuba diving. There are companies that offer try dives and courses, as well as places that cater for more experienced divers, so you shouldn’t have too much of a problem finding somewhere that suits your abilities. Some of the top spots are:

• Las Galletas: A good area for those getting started with diving, you can make your first forays into the water and enrol on courses here.
• Los Gigantes: Having a reputation for its high concentration of marine life, this is one of the best places for scuba diving on the island.
• Las Tereistas beach: Since its waters are protected and calm, this is a good spot for snorkelling, if diving doesn’t take your fancy.

Golf

Thanks to its consistently pleasant climes, Tenerife is a great destination for golf fans. If you’re keen to fit a game or two into your break, you’ll be pleased to hear there are plenty of courses to choose from – and don’t forget you can stay in a hotel with its own fairways too. Among your options are Golf del Sur, Los Palos Centro de Golf and Golf Costa Adeje.

Teide National Park

If you’re into walking, hiking or mountain biking, Teide National Park is the ultimate place to go. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is home to the vast Mount Teide – a dormant volcano that reaches 3,718 m in height.

Unsurprisingly, hiking up this volcano is a pretty amazing experience. There are guided walks available, or you can choose to tackle it solo. However, you should bear in mind that its tallest cone can only be accessed with a special permit. So, if you’ve got your heart set on getting there, make sure you pick one up from the visitors’ centres at Canada Blanca or El Portillo.

You can also head up the mountain by cable car, if you’re not up for a strenuous hike. In fact, if you fancy something a little gentler, you can explore the Corona Forestal Nature Park, which hems in the national park. This absolutely huge area is easily accessible from pretty much anywhere on the island, so it’s a handy choice if you’re hoping to spend a good deal of your break hiking.

Siam Park

National reserves are not the only kind of park Tenerife is home to. Siam Park is an impressive water park in Playa de las Americas, and is great if you fancy splashing about in a faux-tropical setting (it has a Thai theme) and going on loads of water-based rides. Since it has its own beach for swimming and relaxing too, as well as plenty of bars and restaurants, it’s easy to spend the whole day here. Plus, there are regular free buses out to it from a number of popular resorts.