Tenerife

Teide National Park, a World Heritage Site with over three million visitors a year, is the best place to see volcanic phenomena on Tenerife. You’ll be astounded by the colours and the wild force of this surreal landscape, overlooked by Spain’s highest peak at 3,718 metres. It is home to many local species of fauna and flora, such as the Teide violet or Tenerife bugloss, whose bright colours stand in stark contrast to the thousands of tonnes of ochre running through this unique landscape.

Estimated to be over 800 years old, the Ancient Dragon Tree of Icod de los Vinos presents a unique chance to see and touch such an incredibly old living being: a tree (actually, it’s a bush) of colossal size, 20 metres around and 16 metres tall.

Lava flows through the very veins of the Island, a result of Tenerife’s volcanic birth. To enable you to explore this aspect of the island, we’ve recently marked out five areas (Territorio Antiguo, Volcanes Legendarios, Los Dos Valles, Tierra de Contrastes, El rincón de la luz) which best represent Tenerife’s volcanic attractions, showcasing wine cellars that reflect the Island’s magmatic nature, restaurants serving “volcanic” dishes, underwater eruptions, craters, volcanic cones and vents.

One activity which cannot be enjoyed anywhere else is the chance to explore a lava tube such as Cueva del Viento (Cave of Wind), at Icod de los Vinos. At 17 kilometres in length, it is the longest in Europe, offering an unforgettable journey into the depths of the Earth and a perfect chance to discover the Island’s volcanic past.

Its white and beige tones provide stark contrast to the bronze statues of Los Menceyes (ancient pre-Spanish kings) standing alongside the basilica and the black volcanic sands of the beach at its feet. The religious value of this building is greatly enhanced by the treasure of incalculable spiritual value housed within: the exquisite statue of the Virgin of Candelaria, Patroness of the Canary Islands, highly revered by the islanders.

Santiago Calatrava designed this work of art, what seemed like an impossible building. With part of its structure hanging in mid-air as if by magic, the exterior radiance of the Tenerife Auditorium reflects the beauty which it emanates. It’s a must-see for all visitors to the Island, and attending one of the regular concerts, operas or musicals is the ultimate experience.

You don’t need to travel halfway round the world to see whales and dolphins. They live some three miles off the coast of Tenerife all year round. Tour boats set out from various ports in the south of the Island every day, offering a chance to see the bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales which have established permanent colonies in our waters.

The idyllic resort that is Tenerife owes much to its history, art and culture. The historic areas of La Laguna — a World Heritage Site —, Garachico or La Orotava, awarded prizes for their excellent state of conservation, are just three examples of the treasures to be discovered in many of our beautiful towns — so much more than just sun and beaches.