Tenerife Travel Tips: How to Make The Most Of Your Trip- Featured in Cheese Traveller

Tenerife is the ideal vacation choice for people who want to go some place new and offers a real alternative to traditional “been there, done that” destinations. Picking up the the right location to stay is very important when visiting  Tenerife said Sergio Barros from the Tenerife Bureau of Tourism site in the US Traveltotenerife.com to Cheese Traveller. “To make the most of a visit to Tenerife travelers should plan to split their time in the north part with Hotels like Hotel Botanico or Iberostar Mencey and the Southern part such as the Sheraton or other hotels in Costa Adeje. Staying on both sides of the island will allow visitors to experience the ‘Cultural’ North where you can mix and mingle with the locals and then relax by the seaside in the sunnier south end of the island,” he said.

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, Southwest of Spain and almost 620 miles off the coast of Morocco.Over five-million people visit the island annually to enjoy year-round spring like temperatures of 73 degrees and experience its stunning 43 miles of beaches and hotels ranging from five-star to quaint and charming bed and breakfasts.  To maximize the overall travel experience  travelers should consider carefully where to stay said Sergio Barros. “The brand new Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife is perfectly located on the south end of the island.  Close enough to the nightlife area of Las Americas but far enough away to retreat and relax on their roof top bar taking in the best views of Costa Adeje,” he said.

While Tenerife is no secret to Europeans, it still remains little known to most Americans. Travelers who wish to experience an alternative yet luxurious destination can fly to Tenerife by connecting via London or Madrid. Once there travelers should also consider renting a car. “Renting a car is the best way to get around the island,” he explained and added: “Since the highway is modern and well-lit American travelers will be comfortable driving from one breathtaking point of the island to the next.  If you don’t drive a manual transmission, no worries, automatic cars are readily available as well!”

Must-do Activities in Tenerife

Here, Barros shares his top tips on must-do activities in Tenerife:

Mt Teide National Park – One of the most visited national parks in the world.  Its lunar like terrain is something to see and experience. Biking and hiking enthusiasts from all over Europe and the world come to the island of Tenerife to attempt Mt. Teide, the highest point in Spain and the highest mountain in the European Union outside the Alps. The third highest volcano in the world, Mt. Teide’s summit is 12,198 feet high. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mt. Teide is visited by nearly three million visitors every year and due to its altitude and low light pollution, it’s considered one of the best stargazing places in the world. Mount Teide is also home to both NASA and European Space Agency solar observatories, NASA actually tested the rover we sent to Mars on the volcano due to its other worldly terrain.

La Laguna city tour –  The second UNESCO World Heritage site on the island, LaLaguna is the islands former capital and is the footprint that many Latin American cities, such as La Havana’s colonial city.

Garachico Tour –  A small, quaint fishing village of only 5,000 inhabitants, Garachico offers each visitor a true Canarian experience.  Getting lost through its cobblestone streets is enchanting.  During the day, you can swim in natural lava formed pools.

Los Gigantes boat tour –  A sunset cruise is the best way to see the breathtaking views of these majestic cliffs that parallel the ocean. The cliffs soar 3,000 feet from the Atlantic. After the cruise, dine at one of the islands Michelin Star restaurants in town, El Rincon de Juan Carlos, for an exquisite and memorable Spanish meal.

Taganana & Anaga National Park – This lush tropical national park is a hiker’s paradise. The winding trails lined with Jurassic like ferns will lead hikers to beautiful rugged black sand beaches.

Siam Park – The No. 1 Waterpark in the World according to Trip Advisor, the waterpark is a must go to for little and big kids.  The pristine and well landscaped park is enjoyed by children and their parents and you can even rent a hidden cabana and receive butler service!

Masca – A hill top town that the locals jokingly call it the Machu Pichu of Tenerife, Masca is a fantastic place to visit. Hiking the area is very popular and usually ends in a kayak tour to Los Gigantes!

Beaches on the south side of Tenerife –  This is where Saharan sand meets the ocean. Literally. Many of the beaches in the south are man-made, making them swimmable, but what’s unique is that they imported sand from the Saharan Desert.

Luxury hotels, whale and dolphin watching, pristine nature and white sand beaches make Tenerife one of the best destinations worldwide. But there is one caveat said Sergio Barros. The Carnival in February. “If you’re looking for a huge street party then this is your time to go, if not, avoid it,” he recommends and explains: “Hotel availability becomes very limited and expensive due to the hundreds of thousands that visit the island for the world’s second largest Carnival.”