With an increased number of Tenerife-Iceland flights throughout the year from an ever-wider range of airlines, these two extraordinary islands are strengthening their connection in a moment of great touristic and commercial momentum. Taking a plane from Reykjavik to Tenerife South-Reina Sofia International Airport can be as easy as booking a direct flight through Icelandic Air or Play, but it is also possible to get here with a stopover via other airlines including Iberia, British Airways and Lufthansa. The offer expanded even further in 2022, with a flight from Niceair connecting the north of Iceland from the city of Akureyri with Tenerife South.
The broad range of flights, which extend well beyond the summer months, is a sign of the deep mutual interest between two territories that share a geological nature but are diametrically opposed in terms of climate and vegetation. Attractive and exotic, Tenerife is a whole new world for Icelanders to discover and, in turn, Tenerife is looking towards this fascinating European country in search of answers to its own development interests.
Volcanic tourism
Used to living among volcanoes, Icelanders find Tenerife a familiar landscape. However, there’s novelty in walking along paths of ash, black sand and rocks while enjoying a very pleasant temperature at any time of the year. The maximum 12ºC that Iceland may get in the summer is far below the 20ºC year-round average on the Island of Eternal Spring. You’ll find many an Icelander on a bicycle enjoying the magnificent routes that lead to the Teide, hiking, out on a quad bike, or exploring the island’s ancient forests.
Repeat visitors
According to 2019 data, the Canary Islands receive about 50,000 tourists from Iceland per year. In fact, the Spanish archipelago accounts for 14% of Icelanders’ trips abroad, and 70% of travelers have returned at least once. According to studies by Promotur Turismo de Canarias, Icelandic tourists spend an average of 1,821 Euros on their trips to Tenerife, well above the all-country average of 1,136 Euros. In addition, their stays are longer than average: 14 days versus 9.
Diving options galore
Another of the activities that most attracts Icelanders to Tenerife is diving in the temperate waters off the southern part of the island. With dive sites classified according to experience, the island is a true oasis for lovers of marine life, and is considered one of the best warm diving destinations in winter. There is also a wide range of other watersport facilities and classes available, including windsurfing, jet skiing and kitesurfing, all of which can be practiced on Tenerife in any season.
Geothermal innovations
Linked by the same geological fault line that crosses the Atlantic Ocean from south to north, the Canary Islands archipelago and Iceland are marked by their volcanic nature and seismic activity. What many Icelanders may not know is that the Canary Islands government is interested in further strengthening the ties between the two territories through a geothermal energy plan. The final objective, with a view to decarbonization strategies, would be to make the most of the heat of the subsoil, leveraging technologies developed in Iceland.
Though separated by 4,079 kilometers of physical distance, Tenerife-Iceland is a pair of destinations united by the Atlantic Ocean and their volcanic nature. Tenerife holidays are more than just a jaunt to the south; it’s a search for the landscape, magic and character that perfectly complements the adventurous and cosmopolitan spirit common to both islands.
