Holiday in Tenerife

About Tenerife

Tenerife, the largest Canary Island, impresses with Teide — Spain's highest mountain (3,718 m) and UNESCO World Heritage site — as well as an incredible diversity of landscapes ranging from lunar-like volcanic terrains to subtropical laurel forests and black lava beaches. The island is a miniature continent: the green, humid north differs drastically from the sun-drenched, dry south. Teide National Park (Spain's most visited national park) offers surreal volcanic landscapes that have served as filming locations for science fiction movies. A cable car ascends to 3,555 meters, and those wishing to summit need a special permit. In the northwest, the Anaga Mountains attract visitors with ancient laurel forests (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve), hiking trails through misty forests, and remote villages. The coastal towns of La Orotava and Garachico in the north showcase Canarian colonial architecture with wooden balconies and courtyards, while the south (Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas, Costa Adeje) offers classic beach resorts. Santa Cruz de Tenerife celebrates one of the largest carnivals in the world in February — the second largest after Rio de Janeiro. Whale watching off the southwest coast, where pilot whales and dolphins live year-round, is an unforgettable experience. Culinary highlights include Papas Arrugadas con Mojo, fresh fish, and local wines from volcanic soil.