Leisure, Tenerife

Tenerife destinations: what to do and where to go

On an island of endless possibilities, there are dozens of Tenerife destinations that will offer a fascinating window onto life on the island. One of the true boons of our location is that nothing is very far away. Once you fall in love with Tenerife, and it won't take long, you'll be back again and again and looking for new day trips and adventures to embark upon.

Each island in the Canaries has a distinct flavor and their unique customs and traditions provide fertile ground for visitors to learn, grow, and enjoy. While today we’re focusing on Tenerife destinations, other islands in the Canaries can be paid a visit on day excursions by boat or plane, opening up a host of new adventures for the curious sightseer based in Tenerife.

Below, we have gathered together a few suggestions of the best Tenerife destinations the island has to offer that are sure to make any visit enjoyable. Try one, try them all...there are ever so many more!

The best romantic Tenerife destinations

Tenerife is a great place to enjoy a romantic getaway. With Abama as your base, you’ll already have plenty of opportunities to spend quiet moments with your significant other. Book a Las Terrazas apartment, order room service, and spend the evening on your terrace gazing out over the Atlantic. Head down to the Abama Beach and enjoy some winter sun in perfect temperatures in a secluded cove. Or just play a round of golf on the most spectacular course you’ll ever see.

After a few days, you’ll be itching to see what else the island has to offer, and thanks to the wide array of possible options, choosing where to go for a day out with your loved one can be a difficult decision. From secluded beaches, heavenly sunset watching, stargazing and even a sojourn in enchanted forest, Tenerife has it all. Here’s a small list of five romantic places to visit in Tenerife that will earn a permanent place in your treasure chest of relationship memories. 

The best sunsets

Some of Southern Europe’s most photogenic sunsets can be enjoyed on the island of Tenerife. There are multiple points around the island to view sundown’s bold and beautiful light show, vibrant in color and begging to photographed. Tenerife will give you ample opportunity to chase the best sunsets and hone your camera skills while doing so. Or better yet, enjoy an evening watching one of nature’s most spectacular wonders with your partner, reveling in its splendor. It’s truly a highlight of anyone’s Tenerife travel experience.

The best day trips

Day trips abound from your luxury home at Abama, and some of the best places to visit in Tenerife are just a hop, skip and a jump away. You can have a fabulous day excursion and be back at home to enjoy its comforts by nightfall, just in time to lay your weary head on your pillow after a full day of cultural exploration. From culinary expeditions to spectacular hikes to sailing and traditional island celebrations, there are activities to be undertaken and new experiences to be had nearly every day of the year, should you wish to. And if what you want is to do nothing at all, that’s a possibility too.

If you’re into underground adventure, one of the best places to go on Tenerife island has to be the Cueva del Viento. Spectacular in its size and extension, it’s a reminder that the Earth’s forces are mightily powerful and history began long before us. And if you want to continue your lesson in natural history, visit some of the amazing ancient laurel forests and parks in Tenerife, where prehistory and ancient trees continue to live on before your very eyes.

The best traditions

For some, the word “traditions” evokes sombre and solemn ritual, but Tenerife’s traditions couldn´t be any more different. Feasts and festivals abound, and the open and friendly inhabitants of Tenerife invite everyone to partake in their celebrations. If you choose to do so, you’ll come away with memories that last a lifetime.

A Tenerife must see for any visitor to the island in August is the most important of all the island´s festivals: the Hearts of Tejina. Considered an Event of Cultural Interest with roots dating back more than 100 years, traditions of the pre-Hispanic Guanche are interwoven with more modern ones to pay homage to St. Bartholomew. And aside from its long history, the party, colours, music and spontaneity that characterize the celebration are a reflection of the spirit of the people of Tenerife. Taking part means you can begin to understand the unique Tenerife cultural experience.

Tenerife attractions by no means stop there. The floral tapestries of La Orotava are part of another festival declared a celebration of national tourism interest. Indeed, the record-breaking “flower carpet” attracts visitors from all over the world to see these incredible works of art created entirely from flowers, sand, and soil from Teide National Park. Echoes of the Tenerife landscape’s differing volcanic hues combine to create a sand tapestry of incredible beauty. Experience Tenerife as you have never seen it before and don’t forget your camera! These fragile tapestries are as ephemeral as they are beautiful.

Aside from traditional festivals, there’s a fascinating way to experience the traditions of the island, and that is through a visit to Chirche, Tenerife, a place of significant cultural and historical value. Chirche, built on an old Guanche settlement, is believed to have been established in the 17th century, and successful restorations using traditional techniques and materials have allowed it to maintain its authenticity. For visitors who want to experience some of the true Tenerife traditions in person, there’s no better cultural heritage outing.  

The best holidays

Traditional festivities can also make for the best holidays, and Easter celebrations in Spain may be the top festivities of all. Whether you are looking to take part in some of the island’s long-established customs or simply want to observe, there is no escaping the journey into tradition, folklore and religion that is Holy Week, the week that precedes Easter Sunday. Popular as a cultural attraction throughout Spain, thanks to the vibrant processions and celebrations, Easter traditions in Tenerife more than hold their own with lavish parades. This is a major highlight of the cultural agenda and the perfect time for a trip to Tenerife.

Top times to visit must also include the end of the year. The warm Decembers in themselves are probably already a strong attraction, but the traditions and cultural celebrations around Christmas are also incredibly interesting. Extravagant nativity scenes, “Belén” in Spanish, are located all around the island, and some, including those in La Orotava and Tigaiga in Los Realejos are truly world-famous. Tenerife trips during the Christmas period will therefore give you an opportunity to join the throngs on the annual nativity scene routes and take part in traditions that are as popular as they are authentic artistic expressions. It’s the true spirit of a festive Christmas combined with the best of tradition.

Religion, tradition and festivity come together again in the eastern part of the island in a town called Candelaria, named after its patron saint, the Virgen de la Candelaria. Home also to a 20th Century basilica in the Plaza de la Patrona, the town receives more than 3 million visitors a year, including a number of devotees who converge on the town to pay homage to the Black Madonna. Another celebration with deep ties to the Guanche, this is undoubtedly among the best places in Tenerife to visit.

The best exits

As mentioned, Tenerife is an ideal starting point for exploring the rest of the Canary islands. With weekly ferries and flights available to La Graciosa, now officially the eighth Canary Island, its unique characteristics offer a host of delights to discover. La Graciosa won’t fail to surprise in its distinctive divergences with the other islands in the archipelago. Home to a mere 700 inhabitants, a visit here will give you time to sit back, relax and let time stand still. It’s the perfect way to unwind.

If a day trip is what is on order, then the least populous island, La Gomera, should be top of your list. A small number of inhabitants does not mean fewer amenities, and La Gomera has a diverse range of activities for any visitor. Lush in comparison with many other islands in the archipelago, its volcanic relief has broken down and given rise to abundant vegetation, making it the perfect hiking destination. An 18-hole golf course with picturesque sea views may also pique your interest as should its cycling routes, sailing and diving opportunities. Enrich your Tenerife holiday by stepping out into another world, and be back in time to go to sleep in your luxury Abama apartment.

When you're feeling the urge to get up and go, the island won't disappoint. As you can see, Tenerife destinations are of every stripe and variety, and beg to be explored. Jump in the car, roll your windows down to enjoy the balmy ocean breeze, and get ready to broaden your horizons through incredible new experiences and places.