Best things to do in Tenerife South in 2023
Everything you need to know about things to do in Tenerife South, Tenerife North, East and West. Each part of the island is beautiful and unique and has something to offer.
The worst advice I ever received was... 'Don't bother going to Tenerife.'
It was definitely the advice to ignore. Tenerife does have touristy beaches, but there is so much more to it than that. The rich culture and volcanic landscape is begging to be explored. It has thick, lush forests that remind me heavily of Jurassic Park, jagged mountains, black sand beaches, banana and papaya farms, a mini grand canyon, cerulean blue beaches and of course, a volcano. Tenerife is a Spanish island, so the food and architecture adds another layer of spice to the island; I loved the old school haciendas. Here are some of the the best things to do in Tenerife!
In this article:
Everything you need to book before your trip
-Booking a transfer to your hotel
Things to do in South Tenerife
Everything you need to book for your Tenerife holiday:
A transfer from the airport
Hotels in Southern Tenerife - compare prices on Booking.com
Travel insurance - compare insurance prices on Klook
Car Hire - Compare prices on Discover cars
Travelling around Tenerife
Travel Tenerife - Rent a Car
Car hire starts from as little as £60 / $76 USD for one week. Our car rental also came with a WiFi dongle, meaning we had internet access everywhere we went; so useful for navigation around the island.
Despite having 2 different climates and such varied landscapes, you can drive to most places on the island in about 1 hour.
And lastly, some of the roads from the north to the south are steep. Insanely steep, narrow, windy and to be honest, a bit scary. It's absolutely fine, but just be warned that you'll need to drive slowly and carefully
Travel Tenerife by bus
If you want to travel on a shoestring budget, then taking the bust is definitely the best way, and you can admire the views of the coastal towns and interesting landscapes. You can take buses around the island. A bus ticket starts from around 1 euro 15, an unlimited day pass costs 10 EUR.
Booking a transfer to your hotel
Compare prices for a transfer on Viator or Kiwi taxi from Tenerife Airport.
Things to do in Tenerife South
I've got all corners of the island covered, because I did a whole tour. I drove around, saw some gorgeous places, photographed them all and you can take your pick for best spots on the island. Here are some of the best things to do in Tenerife.
Things to do in Costa Adeje, South West Tenerife
Costa Adeje is what I would consider the tourist hotspot of Tenerife, on the south west side of the island and that's not a bad thing. Most of the hotels and resorts are located around here, and you can see why. It has great weather, lovely beaches, plenty of restaurants and things to do.
Adeje is a town in the Canary Islands, located in the southern part of Tenerife, between the Teide mountains and the clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Within Adeje is the popular Costa Adeje, a highly visited beach destination with buzzing vibes. While many see this place as a resort town, there are loads of fun activities to enjoy in Costa Adeje, Spain.
Here, historical and unusual architecture (think Haciendas!) blends with diverse natural surroundings; why not go whale watching or hiking through scenic ravines and deep valleys towards Spain's highest peak.
There's loads of luxurious hotels with private pools, golf courses, and other things to do on the coastline.
For me, I personally appreciate the beauty of the unusual, dramatic landscape!
Hike the Barranco del Infierno
Don't worry, the Barranco del Infierno means the Canyon of Hell. Surprisingly, it's an amazing place to enjoy the natural jagged, vast and impressive landscapes of the southern part of the island.
This is a natural canyon made of ancient lava rocks, water, and plants. It has stunning views and surroundings. If you love nature or hiking, definitely include the Barranco del Infierno path on your list of things to do in Costa Adeje. It's one of the best outdoor activities in Tenerife!
The hike is not difficult at all. It's rated 2.5 / 5 in terms of difficulty, so most people will be able to complete the hike.
To visit the canyon, you'll need to buy permits and entry tickets for Barranco del Infierno in advance. There is a limit to the number of visitors allowed each day, with a maximum of 300 hikers. It's a great option for a day away from the busy resorts. Make sure to wear good shoes because it'll be a lot harder in flip-flops. If you'd rather book onto a tour, have a look at tours here:
Visit the Best Beaches in Costa Adeje
Located in Costa Adeje, all the beaches are surrounded by magnificent hotels. It has golden sand and a clean, gorgeous ocean. This beach is often regarded as the greatest in Tenerife, and with good reason. All of the beaches in Costa Adeje are public, so everyone gets free access. Because hotels are not permitted by Spanish law to obstruct access to a beach (great, in my opinion) so there are no private beaches on the island.
Check out these main beaches in Costa Adeje:
Playa el Duque
Playa de Fanabe
Playa De Puerto Colon
Playa del Bobo
Playa Blanca
Playas de Troya
Playa de la Pinta
Playa de Torviscas has tonnes of restaurants, ice cream parlours and cafes along the seaside, many with excellent views so this is a great one to stop by. It's also nice to walk up and down the boulevard.
Another beach in Costa Adeje you might want to try is Playa La Pinta beach, located right next to Puerto Colon port. Playa La Pinta is the best beach in Costa Adeje for children because a large portion of it is protected from strong waves, which is the best beach for kids as they will be able to play in calm waters.
There are also various water attractions along the beach in Costa Adeje where youngsters can have fun with water slides.
Alternatively, adults can enjoy some of the top nightclubs in Tenerife along the beaches of Costa Adeje during the night.
Water sports in Costa Adeje
And of course, you can always enquire about some water sports, including the best snorkelling points, whale and dolphin watching tours and some scuba diving if that tickles your fancy. They of course have plenty of banana rides and jet skis and other adventure sports in Costa Adeje.
Siam Park, Costa Adeje
Make sure you head to Siam Park water park in Costa Adeje, it's well worth a day out! It's a day of fun, adventure, excitement and is the perfect way to cool down in the hot canary sun.
Have a look at Siam park tickets here, tickets and tours start from £36.
Jungle Park, Costa Adeje
Jungle Park is a great day out, and well worth the visit if you're a lover of all things wildlife. Expect to see lemurs, sea lions, birds of prey and much more!
Where to stay: Best hotels in Costa Adeje
Some of the most incredible hotels in Costa Adeje are in this hot spot, near all the beautiful beaches, restaurants, ice cream parlours and there are plenty of things to do.
Villa Suite Hotel Maria, Costa Adeje
Mike and I stayed at Villa Suite Hotel Maria, a hotel that didn't feel quite like a hotel, in the best possible way. You stay in your own private villa equipped with a kitchen, dining room and garden, which makes you feel like you have your own space. But on the other hand, you have access to hotel services if you want them, hotel breakfasts, ping pong tables, mini golf and more.
It really is a stunning place, because you get the feeling of having your own holiday home or villa, whilst still being part of a resort!
Playa Montaña Pelada & Playa de la Tejita
It's worth travelling across the South Coast just to see the unique landscape. There are plenty of black sand beaches to visit, you could pick any of the beaches along the coast which is exactly what I did when visiting Playa Montaña Pelada. It is a shallow black sand beach, which, at low tide becomes a glassy mirror where you can take reflective shots on the beach. Playa de la Tejita is also worth stopping at if you can, you can even spot this spot from the airport!
Playa Amarilla
Playa Amarilla is what I like to call Europe's little Grand Canyon; the red cliffs are remarkably similar to the landscape found in Australia and Utah. The added bonus is the cerulean blue water you can swim in. This is the perfect place to unwind in, and definitely worth a day trip here. You can spend hours exploring the wave and wind carved cliffs and swim for ages in the azure, crystal clear waters.
Arco de Tajao, Southern Tenerife
Arco de Tajao is a 30 meter long stone archway, carved by water erosion, leaving an unusual landscape and attracting plenty of tourists.
In Tenerife's Arco de Tajao, there's this jaw-dropping thing going on—a massive rock bridge formation that's basically nature's showstopper. Seriously, it's like the Earth's version of a "look what I can do" moment. This bridge of rock is like a mega-sculpture, shaped by wind and waves that decided to get artsy over the course of who-knows-how-long.
Okay, picture this: you've got these colossal rocks, and right in the middle of nowhere, a huge rock bridge emerges; I didn't quite realise I was standing on it at first. It's like someone put a "Welcome" sign for waves, inviting them to splash around beneath it. And trust me, the waves are taking that invitation seriously—there's a whole show happening under this bridge.
But here's the thing: this bridge isn't just a seamless rock. It's a time capsule. Those curves and hollows? They're the result of nature's epic sculpting skills with time, wind and water washing away at the rock until it creates something unique that is the Tajao Arch you see today.
West coast of Tenerife
Masca Valley
Masca Valley is maybe about 25 minutes from Costa Adeje. It is hands down my favourite place in Tenerife, simply due to the incredible landscape. There's not loads to do in Masca, but I was totally captivated. Sit down at one of the local bars or cafes, sit at the window and marvel at the incredible views. Do note that there is limited parking here; we went at 4pm in the afternoon and found space quite easily but I have heard that it can get crowded at midday in the summer.
North Tenerife
These are some of the places we visited in the north of the island. The north of the island has so much authentic Spanish charm coupled with incredible jutting mountains rising on one side of you with the ocean on the other. I was told that the north of the island has it's own climate. I didn't believe it until I got there. The mountains are so high, the clouds don't pass through to the south side. We found the weather in the north vary from cloudy to sunny throughout the day.
Buenavista del Norte
We stayed in an incredible banana farm hotel called Hacienda la Dehesa. I am always drawn to unusual and unique hotels. Why not stay somewhere that immerses you in local culture? But we definitely didn't slum it; this hotel comes with a pool, 2 hot tubs and a sauna. Our mini apartment came with a kitchen, dining room, lounge and mini balcony - a perfect place to stay whilst we explored the north.
We also had a huge king sized bed which was perfect for our first few days in Tenerife. One of my favourite things about this hotel is the dining platform that's built above the banana trees - sit and eat breakfast surrounded by nature. Unique in all aspects, and needless to say, fresh bananas tasted unlike any I've had before.
And of course, don't miss their amazing hot tubs!
Garachico Town
Garachico is the perfect place to stop first at one of the viewpoints along the road, and secondly, for some of the best food you can hope to eat on the island. There are tonnes of restaurants to choose from, I can't remember the name of ours but we stopped by a beach front restaurant and ordered black squid ink arroz (rice), and it was incredible.
Charco Los Chochos & El Socorro beach
Charco Los Chocos is the perfect place to relax in some natural champagne pools on the northern coast of Tenerife. The landscape and land formations are incredible, carved into the lava rocks and basalt columns. It's worth stopping by here, it's beautiful and sitting in the natural pools on a hot, sunny day! The black sand beach of El Socorro is incredible too, and well worth a stop here.
Despite the black colour of the lava rocks, you can still see how blue and crystal clear the water is.
Puerto de la Cruz
Puerto de la Cruz is the best town to stop at along the north coast; expect to see tonnes of restaurants, ice cream parlours, broad palm tree lined avenues and a gorgeous coastline.
East Tenerife
Santa Cruz de Tenerife & San Cristóbal de La Laguna
Stop in the capital city for an ice cream! And, of course, to see the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Teneirfe; San Cristóbal de La Laguna, a real head-turner on Tenerife. And get this—it's not just any old city. It's the kind of place that's got history oozing out of its cobblestone streets and old-school architecture.
So, imagine this: you're strolling through San Cristóbal de La Laguna, and it's like walking through time itself. Those streets? They're like pages from a history book, telling tales of times gone by. And those buildings? They're like the storytellers of colonial times.
Playa de las Teresitas
Playa de las Teresitas is probably my favourite beach in all of Tenerife. The yellow sand is imported from the Sahara desert and has views that strongly reminds me of Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A perfect place to lounge away the afternoon, have lunch at the beach huts and grab ice creams. Definitely one of the best attractions in Tenerife!
Anaga National Park
Anaga Rural Park is simply stunning. It reminds me heavily of Jurassic Park, Hawaii and New Zealand simultaneously. It is an incredibly mountainous region, with plenty of viewpoints along the roads to stop at and photograph. The mountainous region means you'll be zigzagging back and forwards up and down mountains, but enjoy the ride. It's beautiful.
Stop at one of the many viewpoints along the side of the road; they're scattered everywhere, and everywhere you look you'll find incredible panoramic views. Just try not to stop at all of them!
Central Tenerife
Teide National Park
Another favourite of mine, just to drive through! We drove for some time in what we thought was bad weather; cloudy, foggy rain until we realised that we were literally driving through, and then, driving above the cloud line. There are plenty of view points along the side of the road to stop at; you will see fields of black volcanic rock, green forests and high mountains in red jutting above you. The drive alone is worth the effort. I cannot recommend driving through enough.
The most incredible viewpoint, of course, is Mount Teide, often surrounded by clouds and you'll get stunning views all around. There are also plenty of hiking trails around Mt Teide, so you won't be short of hikes, whether you're looking for a gentle stroll or if you're after challenging hikes, there's something for everyone!
You can also book a cable car up Mount Teide to get an incredible viewpoint of the whole island. One of the best Tenerife activities for sure.
Legends of Mount Teide
Once upon a time in the Canary Islands, long before the Spanish folks dropped by, the Guanches were the original locals. An ancient tale spins around, whispering of two young Guanche sweethearts from rival tribes. They were torn apart by their feuding families, you see. One hailed from the Orotava Valley, while the other resided in Adeje, perched on the opposite flanks of Mount Teide.
Fighting against all odds, these lovebirds were set on being together. They cooked up a plan to rendezvous at the tippy-top of Mount Teide, thinking the divine deities would shower blessings upon their love. But alas, fate played a cruel hand. Just as their meeting drew near, their kin got wind of the scheme and stepped in, driven by the fear of the aftermath. Tragedy struck, leaving the lad lifeless and the lass heartbroken, joining him in the realm beyond.
Whispers persist that their spirits linger amidst the sprawling landscape, with Mount Teide's pinnacle standing as a living emblem of their undying love. This legend weaves a tapestry of taboo love, gallant sacrifice, and the chasms both geographical and cultural among the Guanche folk.
Let's dive into another mythical legend, shall we? This one starts with Guayota, a deity of the Guanche ilk, crowned as the ruler of the underworld (i.e. Hell) and the mastermind behind a tonne of disasters. This ancient saga tells a story of how Guayota spirited away Magec, the sun's own deity, then ensnaring the sun in the heart of Mount Teide's abyss. As darkness stretched its inky fingers, chaos crept over the land like a secret shadow.
In the spirit of saving the world, enter Achamán, another deity from the Guanche pantheon. This deity of valour waged a fierce fight with Guayota, ultimately emerging as the victor. The aftermath?
Magec, the sun, once trapped within the mountain's depths, was set free to illuminate the realm anew. This tale is a drumbeat for Mount Teide's grand significance in the Guanche soul, weaving together the threads of the spirits and light and shadow.
Weather in Tenerife year round
The weather in Tenerife are fairly varied - I didn't actually believe it at first, but the north and the south of the island I have very different weather climates thanks to the height of the mountains.
The north tends to be more cloudy and cooler, whereas the south is hotter and drier and generally favoured by tourists, as that's where most of the hotels are located. This being said, I spent a lot of time on the north side of Tenerife and it was excellent! It has lots of the old Spanish charm too, with ancient Haciendas and buildings scattered across the land. It's worth visiting both sides of the island if you can.
January:
South Tenerife Average Temperature: 19°C (66°F)
North Tenerife Average Temperature: 17°C (63°F)
Rainy Days: 6
Daylight Hours: About 10
February:
South Tenerife Average Temperature: 19°C (66°F)
North Tenerife Average Temperature: 17°C (63°F)
Rainy Days: 4
Daylight Hours: About 11
March:
South Tenerife Average Temperature: 20°C (68°F)
North Tenerife Average Temperature: 18°C (64°F)
Rainy Days: 5
Daylight Hours: About 12
April:
South Tenerife Average Temperature: 21°C (70°F)
North Tenerife Average Temperature: 19°C (66°F)
Rainy Days: 3
Daylight Hours: About 13
May:
South Tenerife Average Temperature: 23°C (73°F)
North Tenerife Average Temperature: 21°C (70°F)
Rainy Days: 1-2
Daylight Hours: About 14
June:
South Tenerife Average Temperature: 25°C (77°F)
North Tenerife Average Temperature: 23°C (73°F)
Rainy Days: 0-1
Daylight Hours: About 14
July:
South Tenerife Average Temperature: 27°C (81°F)
North Tenerife Average Temperature: 25°C (77°F)
Rainy Days: 0
Daylight Hours: About 14
August:
South Tenerife Average Temperature: 28°C (82°F)
North Tenerife Average Temperature: 26°C (79°F)
Rainy Days: 0
Daylight Hours: About 13
September:
South Tenerife Average Temperature: 27°C (81°F)
North Tenerife Average Temperature: 25°C (77°F)
Rainy Days: 1-2
Daylight Hours: About 12
October:
South Tenerife Average Temperature: 25°C (77°F)
North Tenerife Average Temperature: 23°C (73°F)
Rainy Days: 3
Daylight Hours: About 11
November:
South Tenerife Average Temperature: 22°C (72°F)
North Tenerife Average Temperature: 20°C (68°F)
Rainy Days: 5
Daylight Hours: About 10
December:
South Tenerife Average Temperature: 20°C (68°F)
North Tenerife Average Temperature: 18°C (64°F)
Rainy Days: 6
Daylight Hours: About 10
I hope this has given you a brief overview of the beauty of Tenerife. As ever, I wish I had more time to explore more places, I am certain there is so much more! Was there anywhere I missed? Let me know. To see more on video, head over to my Instagram to see more.
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