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    Tourist Attractions in Tenerife

    The most interesting and beautiful tourist attractions in Tenerife. Photos and a brief description.

    About Tenerife

    The Canary Islands are the beach pearl of the Atlantic, a great place to relax in the bosom of pristine nature. Tenerife is the largest island of the archipelago. There are numerous national parks, coasts covered with colorful sand, and the majestic Teide volcano.

    The bathing season lasts in Tenerife until November. At this time, the gentle waters of the Atlantic Ocean still retain summer warmth, even despite the decrease in air temperature. The natural attractions of the island are so numerous and diverse that it will take more than one week to visit them.

    Tenerife is perfect for a wellness holiday. Picturesque hiking trails are laid among its gorges, relict forests allow you to inhale the healing air with full breasts, and sunbathing energizes for many months ahead.

    Top Tourist Attractions in Tenerife

    Teide Volcano

    The volcano is the highest peak in Spain (3718 meters). It is located in the center of the Teide National Park. At an altitude of 3555 meters there is an observation deck, from where almost all the Canary Islands are visible. The volcano is Tenerife's most popular natural attraction. A cable car connected to the highway leads to its top.

    Teide Volcano
    City of San Cristobal de la Laguna

    City of San Cristobal de la Laguna

    The city is located in the northern part of Tenerife near the capital of the island — the city of Santa Cruz. San Cristobal de la Laguna was founded in the XV century by the military commander F. de Lugo after the conquest of Tenerife. Until 1723, it was the capital of the island. Now the city is the cultural and spiritual center of Tenerife. Since 1999, it has been included in the UNESCO lists due to its unique colonial architecture, which has remained almost unchanged.

    Loro Park

    A nature and entertainment park in the northern part of the island, which is home to up to 500 species of parrots, as well as dolphins, killer whales, penguins, sea lions, turtles, tigers and other animals. Loro Park combines a zoo, a dolphinarium, a botanical garden and an aquarium on its territory. Visitors can not only look at the animals, but also visit various shows with their participation.

    Loro Park
    Siam Park Water Park

    Siam Park Water Park

    Siam Park is considered the largest European water park. This is a popular place to relax with children. There are 25 slides of varying difficulty on the territory of the water park. Siam Park is decorated in Thai style, as the owners have a special reverence for the culture of Southeast Asian countries. There is an improvised floating market, Thai restaurants, statues of fabulous creatures from the Thai epic. The royal family of Thailand was invited to the opening of the park.

    Tenerife Menagerie "Monkey Park"

    A small zoo in the south of Tenerife, where reptiles, panthers, jaguars, exotic birds and even pets live in addition to monkeys. But the main inhabitants of the park are still primates, there are about 20 species of them here. There is an opportunity for visitors to go to the cages of some monkeys, chat with them and feed them. Since 1991, the park has been functioning as a primate breeding center.

    Tenerife Menagerie
    Lago Martianes

    Lago Martianes

    A unique park consisting of a system of artificial islands and reservoirs located on the Atlantic Ocean. The fact is that the northern part of Tenerife is less suitable for swimming because of the constant waves, so the creation of such a place has fully justified itself. On the islands of the park there are restaurants, beaches, swimming pools and view terraces, from where you can explore the picturesque surroundings. Lago Martianes was designed by architect S. Manrique in 1971.

    Auditorio de Tenerife

    A concert hall located in Santa Cruz, the capital of the island. It was built in 2003 according to the project of S. Calatrava Vallas. The building is a picturesque example of modern architecture. The grand Auditorium of the Auditorium de Tenerife is designed for 1,616 spectators, the chamber hall – for 422 people. Outside there are terraces with views of the Atlantic. From a distance, the silhouettes of the building resemble the outlines of the Opera House in Sydney.

    Auditorio de Tenerife
    Museum of Nature and Man

    Museum of Nature and Man

    The museum is located in the city of Santa Cruz, it was founded in 1958. The collection consists of archaeological, botanical, paleontological and other artifacts found on the territory of Tenerife and other islands of the Canary Archipelago. The museum has a natural science library with an impressive book collection. The exposition is located in the neoclassical building of the former college.

    Nuestra Senhora de Africa Market

    The market is located near the bus station of the capital Tenerife, it is well known outside the Canary Islands. Local delicacies, seafood, exotic fruits and vegetables, as well as Spanish traditional products are sold here. On Sundays, a flea market opens at the market, where souvenirs and antiques are sold. The retail space is located in a building built in a characteristic North African manner.

    Nuestra Senhora de Africa Market
    Basilica of Candelaria

    Basilica of Candelaria

    The Basilica is located in Candelaria, 20 km away. from the island's capital. Around the church there are nine statues of the leaders of the Guanche tribe – the indigenous inhabitants of the Canary Islands. The main shrine of the temple is a wooden statue of the Virgin Candelaria. Adjacent to the basilica building is the monastery complex of the Dominican Order. Together they form a single architectural ensemble.

    Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

    The church houses the Holy Cross of the Conquistadors, which was brought to Tenerife by the Spanish conqueror F. de Lugo in the XV century. The temple played a big role in the spread of the Christian religion on the island, so it bears the official title of "Mother Church" and is popularly considered the main city cathedral. Until 1638, the church was called the "Church of the Holy Cross", from where the name of the whole city came from.

    Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
    Pyramids of Guimar

    Pyramids of Guimar

    The pyramids of Tenerife are low stepped mounds, whose origin is still shrouded in mystery. It is believed that they appeared long before the settlement of the island by the Guanche tribe. For a long time, the pyramids were not of great interest to researchers until their relative similarity with similar buildings in Mexico, Peru, Mesopotamia and a certain astronomical orientation were discovered.

    Wind Cave

    The underground part of Tenerife is replete with a large number of caves, galleries and passages created by the movements of volcanic lava. The Wind Cave is the largest in Europe (administratively, the Canary Islands belong to Europe, despite the location). It was formed more than 27 thousand years ago as a result of the eruption of one of the island volcanoes. The cave is an underground complex with stone cascades, terraces and lava lakes.

    Wind Cave
    Mask Gorge

    Mask Gorge

    Masca is a mountain village located at an altitude of 650 meters on the slopes of Masiso de Teno. The village is surrounded by picturesque cypress groves and palm thickets, from here the gorge of the same name originates, along which a hiking trail to the ocean coast is laid. In the XV century, the village became the last refuge of the indigenous population who were fleeing from the Spanish conquistadors. Until the 70s of the XX century, it remained practically isolated from the outside world.

    Inferno Gorge

    The gorge is located on the territory of the national park of the same name. Due to its unique geographical location, endemic fauna and flora are still preserved here. The gorge is covered with bright tropical vegetation, its appearance does not correspond to the frightening name at all. There is a 6.5 km long hiking trail through the mountainous area .

    Inferno Gorge
    Cliffs of de Garcia

    Cliffs of de Garcia

    The rocks are located on the territory of the Teide National Park. It is impossible to pass them by if you go to the cable car to the volcano. There are quite a lot of hiking trails in the area that lead to natural viewing points. The cliffs of de Garcia are a rather desolate stone landscape, quite sharply contrasting with the lush tropical vegetation of other parts of the island.

    Los Gigantes Cliffs

    Los Gigantes are located on the western slope of the Teide volcano. They are almost a sheer wall of stone, which looks picturesque and impressive from the sea. Next to the rocks is the small town of Los Gigantes, where there are exotic beaches of black volcanic sand. The undeniable advantage of this place is a small number of tourists and the possibility of a relaxing holiday.

    Los Gigantes Cliffs
    Orotava Valley

    Orotava Valley

    On the territory of Orotava, before the arrival of the Spaniards, there was a Guanche kingdom called Taro. The place was chosen for a reason – the valley is surrounded by fertile lands and provided with a large number of fresh water sources. Wealthy immigrants from Europe built magnificent Baroque mansions here, and the mountain slopes were planted with sugar cane. Gradually, a city was formed, which in our time has turned into a tourist attraction of the island.

    Esperance Forest

    Dense coniferous forest, where unique Canary pine, eucalyptus and cedar grow. Locals consider these forests a "place of power", as the air here has healing properties and a unique coniferous smell. In the morning, a thick fog descends on the trees and the incredible aroma of eucalyptus spreads through the forest. Tourists come here to take wellness walks and enjoy the view of the rich island vegetation.

    Esperance Forest
    Botanical Garden (Puerto de la Cruz)

    Botanical Garden (Puerto de la Cruz)

    The garden was founded in the XVIII century by decree of Carlos III. It should be noted that the monarch was seriously interested in gardening, he was greatly interested in the question of the adaptability of plants to various natural conditions. Tenerife turned out to be an excellent field for experiments. The park was created in order to acclimatize exotic species to the natural conditions of Tenerife. Gradually, the plant diversity of the garden increased to 4 thousand species brought from different parts of the planet.

    Dragon Tree

    A unique tree grows in the northeastern part of Tenerife near the town of Icod de los Vinos. According to various estimates, the age of the tree is more than 500 years, since it already existed during the Spanish conquest. The weight of the massive crown of the tree reaches 80 tons, the height is 17 meters. The tree was declared a natural monument back in 1917, its image was placed on a banknote of the national currency of 1000 pesetas.

    Dragon Tree
    Taoro Park

    Taoro Park

    A park with exotic vegetation, located on the territory of the city of Puerto de la Cruz. Dozens of species of trees and flowers grow here, picturesque alleys are laid, artificial waterfalls and fountains are created. Taoro occupies an area of 10 hectares. The park is a popular place for walking among citizens and tourists. Here you can breathe fresh air, do sports or admire the blooming flower beds.

    El Caleton

    The natural pools of El Caleton were formed as a result of the meeting of hot lava and cool ocean waters during the eruption of the Trevejo volcano at the beginning of the XVIII century. At high tide, the niches are filled with water and become suitable for bathing. Over time, the pools were equipped with convenient descents. El Caleton Complex is located in the town of Garachico. The pools are visited with pleasure by both Spaniards themselves and foreign tourists.

    El Caleton
    El Duque Beach

    El Duque Beach

    A beach covered with yellow sand, which is located on the southern coast of the Costa Adeje. El Duc is considered one of the best beaches in Tenerife. It is surrounded by gourmet restaurants, a luxury hotel complex and numerous entertainment venues. The beach is considered the center of Tenerife resort life. The beach infrastructure of El Duque is adapted to the most demanding requests.

    Benijo Beach

    A wild beach with black volcanic sand and pebbles, located at the foot of the cliffs in a protected area. Locals consider it the most picturesque in Tenerife. The beach area is small – 30 meters of coastal strip and about 500 meters of coastline. The coastal cliffs offer magnificent views of the blue waters of the ocean, which contrast sharply with the white color of the sea foam near the shore.

    Benijo Beach
    Las Vistas Beach

    Las Vistas Beach

    The beach is located in the southern part of the island, it is one of the longest in Tenerife. Special protective structures protect Las Vistas from strong waves and currents, so comfortable bathing is possible in coastal waters. There are bars, sports grounds, equipment rental and other services on the beach. Moreover, there is a special infrastructure for people with disabilities.

    Hardin Beach

    The beach is located in the popular resort of Puerto de la Tenerife, located in the northern part of the island. Hardin is covered with black volcanic sand, surrounded by numerous flowering terraces where coconut and banana palms grow. Lying in the midst of lush gardens, Hardin is a fairly quiet beach, suitable for a relaxing holiday, complete relaxation and enjoyment of natural beauty.

    Hardin Beach
    Las Teresitas Beach

    Las Teresitas Beach

    One and a half kilometer beach with a coastline width of about 70 meters. Las Teresitas is covered with golden sand, which was specially imported here in the 70s of the XX century directly from the Sahara Desert. This feature distinguishes Las Teresitas from other Tenerife beaches, as the latter are mostly covered with volcanic sand of dark shades. The small settlement of San Andres is located nearby, and there is a large free parking for tourists.

    Cape Teno

    The cape is the westernmost point of the island. The terrain is rugged cliffs with a steep descent into raging waves. From the observation deck, the ocean and the distant outlines of the Tenerife coastline are perfectly visible. There are two lighthouses on the cape – an old stone one of the XIX century and a new, higher one, which was erected in 1987. The premises where the caretakers' families once lived are available for inspection.

    Cape Teno
    Teide Observatory

    Teide Observatory

    The Canary Islands are considered one of the best places to observe the starry sky of the Southern hemisphere, many European scientists conduct their astronomical research here. The Teide Observatory was founded in 1964 at the Canary Institute of Astrophysics. The institution has an international status and is one of the largest observatories in the world. The telescope is located at an altitude of 2390 meters.