10 Unmissable things to do in Tenerife for the outdoor and nature traveler

Last updated on May 19th, 2026 at 02:23 pm

A list for the nature lover – these are the best things to do in Tenerife for the nature traveler.
Actually, its for any traveler – because I really think these are the best things you will find to do on this amazing little island!

Yes, most people might come to Tenerife to get away from the cold (or even not so cold) in Europe and hit the beaches to catch some sun. But unless that’s absolutely all you want to do, there is a lot more this island offers – not least whales, forests and hiking, and, climbing to the highest point of Spain!

If you are coming on a cruise, there are some great options for seeing the highlights of the island too. Check out this tour for you – Best of Tenerife: Panoramic Shore Excursion with Port Pickup!

First a few important links to use when you plan your trip. They are affiliate links, but I use them all for my travels,and if you do too it will help me keep producing this content – and at no extra cost to you. Cheers!

Plan for your trip

Flights – use skyscanner or booking.com to find and book your flight – I often find the same flight for a lot cheaper than booking direct with the airline!

Insurance – Use EKTA or SafetyWing. TBH I usually use EKTA – they accept any nationality, any age and its ok if you are already traveling – which is perfect for me!

Accommodation – use booking.com or for a hostel – Hostelworld. I use both.

Internet – buy a yesim eSim or Airalo before you go. I use both depending on where I am going.

Buses, trains, ferries – 12Go is always my first option for buses, ferries and trains

Car rental – use DiscoverCars – they are my ‘go-to’ car rental site

Hiking – I use AllTrails for online and offline hiking trails – it means you know exactly where you are on the trail and makes getting lost a lot harder!!

Tours and Activities – book with Viator, GetYourGuide, or Eatwith. Some key activities in Tenerife are:

Mt Teide summit climb it the hard way for sunrise or with the help of the cable car for sunset!
Hiking Tour in the Anaga Mountains & Enchanted Forest
Whale and dolphin watching – plenty of whale and dolphin watching options are available
Quad biking – sunset quad biking on Mt Teide, or, through Teide National Park during the day!

Thanks so much if you use one of these links – it costs you nothing but helps me keep writing!!

Read on and make your plans for a great break in Tenerife. Starting with a…..

1. Swim in a natural pool

Yes, there are plenty of beaches where you can catch some waves and some sun in Tenerife. But if you want to get away from the crowds and do something a bit different in the water, then head to one of the natural pools around the island! This pool is in the south coast just to the east of Los Abrigos off the TF643.

There are plenty of other pools – one near Playa San Juan, another at la Jaca, one near Los Gigantes, one near San Pedro de Daute, and more – just google for them. There are plenty of options, depending where you are staying, so you can just pick one and go!

Another thing I just have to mention here for something different in the water – I didn’t get to do it because of my ears but so wish I had – is this Sea Trek Underwater Walk in Tenerife – and no swimming is required!

swimming-in-a-natural-pool-is-one-of-the-best-things-to-do-in-tenerife — One of the natural rock pools in Tenerife

2. Hike your heart out through Tenerifes forests and volcanos

I had no idea, until I got there, that Tenerife was such a good place for the hiker in me – and in you. Actually short or long walks – it has them all, so there is something for everyone. The jewel in the crown for peak baggers is, of course, climbing Mt Teide – the highest point in Spain. (See 3 below.)

Personally, I think there are quite a few spectacular hikes, and some of them are really just strolls. I really recommend taking some time out to put your boots on and take a walk. My favorites were the stunning Chinyero loop, the short but very sweet Montana Rojo in the south, and of course, Mt Teide (see below).

Download the AllTrails app and give some of these trails a shot.
I’ve written a post about the hikes I think you cant miss – read more about them!

mt-teide-from-the-start-of-the-chinyero-loop — View of Mt Teide from the start of the Chinyero loop

3. Go to the top of Mt Teide – hike it or take the cable car

Mt Teide is the highest point in Spain – so its kind of a ‘must do’ when you are on the island!

As said the jewel in the hiking crown is to get to the top of Mt Teide, but you can also take the easy route – up the cable car. The views over the island are fantastic. You can climb it the hard way for sunrise (I did this one) or this night hike is a good option too. Or go the easier way with the help of the cable car for sunset! Either way – its spectacular!

Although I walked up the mountain without the cable car, I did come down on the cable car and its pretty cool. You can buy a ticket and take it on your own, or you can take it with a guided tour on the mountain.

A fun alternative option is quad biking in the area – not climbing but exploring! Take a sunset quad biking tour on Mt Teide, or, ride through Teide National Park during the day

You can also combine a tour of Mt Teide with other highlights of the island. This tour will give you great views, great info, the highlights of this part of the island, and authentic food and wine! And finally this Sunset & Stargazing Tour gives another dimension with the night star gazing in th area. There are so many options – but just pick what works for you and do it. It is definitely worth it!

climbing-mt-teide-is-the-ultimate-hike-in-tenerife — Mt Teide – the final ascent!

4. See the oldest Dragon tree at Icod de los Vinos

If you love plant life, the Dragon Tree is not only a pretty cool looking tree, but on Tenerife there is one that is meant to be over 1000 years old – called Drago Milenario. It is pretty big – 20 meters across the base and 17 meters tall!

The tree is found in Parque del Drago Milenario – a botanical garden in the small and pretty colonial town of Icod de los Vinos. I didn’t get to go through the gardens, which are meant to be good to visit, but……you can also see it from the Plaza Parroquia San Marcos Plaza.

5. Walk through the earth in one of the biggest lava tubes in the world

Also in Icod de lo Vinos is the world’s 5th largest lava tube, and the largest in Europe! There are at least18km of known lava tubes at this Cueva del Viento (Wind Cave). You can take a 2.5 hour tour with a guide through the tunnels. It costs €20 per adult and you can buy tickets on the Cueva del Viento website.

the-dragon-tree-in-icod-de-los-vinos-known-as-drago-milenario — Drago Milenario – the 1000 year old dragon tree in Tenerife. Photo by BohunkaNika

6. Explore the Anaga forest

Most of the island is arid and volcanic, but to the north is the stark contrast of the lush and green Anaga forest. The most famous hiking trail in the forest is El Pijaral, which you can read about in my hiking in Tenerife post. But if you cant get a permit for that, there are plenty of other walks in the area. You can also go on a guided hike and tour in this area and enjoy the enchanted forest, a cave village and a canyon with falcons!

Equally, if you don’t want to hike, you can simply drive through the forest and enjoy it that way – the drive really is gorgeous! My top pick – drive along the TF123 – the views are fab and the roadsides are beautifully lush!

el-pijaral-or-the-enchanted-forest-is-one-of-the-best-hikes-in-tenerife — Walking in the lush green El Pijaral trail

7. Drive or cycle the amazing roads and take in the stunning views

Talking about roads – the roads in the hills are amazing – windy and wonderful going to nearly 2,500 meters (over 8000 feet). As you climb and wind, there are views to challenge the best roadside views around the world.

The roads around Teide are wide and easy, but more busy. Its really worth going into Anaga and the northern areas for more dramatic driving!! Try taking the T12 to the TF123, and then the TF134.

You can also cycle these roads – beware it does get hot here! But plenty were doing it, and my friend said it was a good blast. Its definitely a better way to take it slow and take in the scenery!

There are some great highly rated (5/5) cycle touring options (but you need to be fit and able):)

driving-on-the-amazing-mountain-roads-in-tenerife-is-one-of-the-best-things-to-do-in-tenerife — The TF134 from above.

cycle-the-fantastic-roads-in-tenerife — The TF134 from above.

8. Swim under giant cliffs at a black sand beach

Los Gigantes is the township beside Acantilados de Los Gigantes (Cliffs of the Giants), which are 800m tall and create a fantastic backdrop for a swim at Playa de Los Gigantes. Playa los Gigantes is a black sand beach and quite laid back for Tenerife. It can be a beautiful easy swimming beach, but this varies depending on the wind and swell – you might get some fun surf!

swimming-at-los-gigantes-is-one-of-the-best-things-to-do-in-tenerife-for-a-nature-traveler — Swim and sunbathe below the beautiful cliffs – los gigantes!

9. Take a day trip to La Gomera – a must do for the nature traveler

If you are staying on the west of the island you are likely to be seeing the island La Gomera every day. Its definitely worth taking a day trip there into a much more lush green environment. You will also find out about the ‘whistling language’ of the locals! This trip will make sure you get to see the highlights and hear the whistling of the locals and this one will give you a VIP experience on the island!

a-day-trip-to-la-gomera-is-one-of-the-best-things-to-do-in-tenerife-for-a-nature-traveler — Visit the island of La Gomera

10. Go dolphin and whale watching

And of course, one of the best things to do in Tenerife for the nature traveler is to go whale and dolphin watching in the Atlantic Ocean.

Tenerife is a great place for whale watching – they have Fin whales, Humpback whales, Sei Whales and Blue Whales. If that’s not enough, there are also plenty of resident dolphins and pilot whales.

The best time of year for whale watching in general is during the migration season, from November to February, although it is best from mid May to early July for Blue Whale sightings! At any time of year there are resident pilot whales and dolphins, so your chances of sightings are extremely high.

There are so many options for whale watching and a lot of which one to choose depends on your location! But, these are a couple of good ones that might suit you – whales and dolphins watching and listening, a small group whales and dolphins tour (max 10) or whales and dolphins on a catamaran. I only saw pilot whales and dolphins while there – but that’s still pretty cool!

seeing-whales-and-dolphins-is-one-of-the-best-things-to-do-in-tenerife — Dolphins in Tenerife

Bonus – Learn to surf, kitesurf or foil

Tenerife is a great place to learn to surf, kitesurf or foil. Most lessons start out from Playa de las Américas in the south west.

However, there is one beach in the south that is packed with foilers and kite surfers – and a few surfers too. It is El Médano. Pretty much, if you want to learn, or already know how, this is a great place to go and stay! Get a private kitesurf lesson at El Medano here!

kite-surfing-and-foiling-is-great-at-el-medano-in-tenerife — El Médano for kite surfing and foiling

How to get around Tenerife

Honestly, the easiest and best way to get around if you really want to explore a lot is to rent a car – you can get wherever you want when you want. I found it easy to drive around and it was great being able to really explore at my own pace.

But, if that’s not for you, don’t worry there are buses too. You can’t get everywhere on a bus but you can get to most of what you will want to see. There is also uber and, of course, taxis. Often taxis are actually cheaper so check before you book!

Another option if you are keen and avoid the heat of the midday sun etc, is to bring your bike. The roads are mountainous but if you’re fit and keen, it can be a healthy way to go!

A bit of info re the public TITSA buses:

You can buy a day pass for €10 or a week pass for €50 which give you unlimited rides and are pretty good value if you look at the prices for a journey below! There is also a Ten+ WALLET card you can use for individual journeys. You can use their mobile app for all these card options!

P.S. Canarian people call buses “guaguas.”

Frequently asked questions about travel to Tenerife

Q: When is the best time to visit Tenerife?
A: Tenerife is good year round. December – March is great to get away from the European winter and get some winter sun; April – June is ideal for hiking, warmer weather and fewer crowds; July – August is hottest and busiest, and probably the best time to avoid unless you really want hot weather; and September – November is perfect for hiking, warm sea temperatures and good weather! Note that it is usually a few degrees warmer in the south than the north.

For hiking specifically, spring and autumn are usually perfect because trails are cooler and visibility is excellent.

Q: Which part of Tenerife is best to stay in?
A: It depends what you are looking for. South Tenerife is best for beaches, nightlife, resorts e.g. Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos, and Playa de las Américas.
North Tenerife is best for culture, hiking, photography, and a more authentic atmosphere.

Q: Is Tenerife expensive for tourists?
A: It is a little more affordable than most of mainland Europe.

Q: How many days do you need in Tenerife?
A: For the highlights 4–5 days will be enough for a good taste but 7 days is better. If you like to explore more and to hike then 10–14 days is perfect.

Q: Do I need to rent a car in Tenerife?
A: For hikers and explorers – definitely yes. But if you are just there to relax and happy to take a few tours and day trips, then no.

Q: What are the best hikes in Tenerife?
A: There are so many good hikes in Tenerife, but for details of the best ones, see my dedicated post The best hikes in Tenerife – the ones not to miss!

Q: Can you hike Mount Teide?
A: Yes! See no 3 above – climb it the hard way for sunrise (I did this one) or this night hike is a good option too. Or go the easier way with the help of the cable car for sunset

Q: Is Tenerife safe for tourists?
A: Yes, Tenerife is considered very safe for tourists. The main things to worry about are hiking accidents from not being prepared, petty theft in tourist zones, and in some places, dangerous ocean currents.

Q: Where can you see whales and dolphins in Tenerife?
A: Costa Adeje and Los Gigantes are the best departure points. See no. 10 above for more options.

Travel tips for Tenerife

Rent a car if you want to see the ‘real’ Tenerife.
If you have time, stay in both the north and the south to really get to see the island!
Don’t underestimate the weather differences in Tenerife – you can have hot sun in one area and cold wet fog in another. If you are going to leave the beach area, pack for all weather.
Visit Teide at sunset or sunrise. Book Teide summit permits very early if you want to go independently.

Where to Stay in Tenerife

If you hire a car it is not going to matter so much, but for kitesurfing, stay in the south in El Médano. If you are into hiking, there are more hikes to the north and middle of the island than the south. If you just want a beach holiday then pretty much anywhere is good.

Book your hotel with booking.com or a hostel with Hostelworld – you can also start with these hand picked options in different areas around Tenerife. They all have a very high review rating (unless noted):