5 top attractions in Tenerife and Spain? Don’t miss the chance to see the cliffs in Los Gigantes or Acantilados de Los Gigantes as they are named in Spanish. You can spend some time on the beach of Los Guios, but if you want to enjoy one of the best views of the cliffs you should head over to Mirador de Archipenque (this is the perfect spot to watch the sunset, as it offers a lovely view of La Gomera, the neighboring island). The famous Siam Park was named as the best water park in the world for the second year in a row. You can visit the park at any time of the year, as the pools are heated to a comfortable 24 Celsius. We usually go to Tenerife in winter, so we visited the park in January and February and we had a great time, as it’s far less crowded than in summer (just be sure to choose a sunny day for your visit if you are heading over in winter). See additional info at Tenerife forum.
One of the best things to do in Puerto de la Cruz is spending a day at the manmade seawater lagoon, Lago Martiánez. The creative complex has six swimming pools pools surrounded by sun loungers and amenities. For a small fee, you can spend a relaxing day there, then enjoy a sundowner at one of the nearby bars. If your hotel doesn’t have a decent pool or you fancy a change of scene, add this place to your Tenerife itinerary. I would have loved an extra day in Puerto de la Cruz just to unwind here. Where to see street art in Tenerife: Puerto de la Cruz muralsWhere to see street art in Tenerife: Puerto de la Cruz murals.
Tenerife has over 400km of coastline which lends to a great variety of beaches, 17 of which have been awarded the Blue Flag status. Playa de las Teresitas in Santa Cruz is a sheltered manmade beach made with sand imported from the Sahara Desert, popular with both the locals and holidaymakers. If you’re looking for something off the beaten path there are a number of secluded beaches away from the main tourist resorts – these include Playa Bollullo, Playa del Pozo, Playa El Puertito. Those with a keen interest in water sports will be aware of the windy El Medano beach on the south coast of Tenerife. It is considered to be one of the world’s best beaches for windsurfing and kitesurfing having hosted regular windsurfing competitions.
The island’s volcanic landscape provides ample hiking opportunities for active travellers, and Anaga Rural Park has some of the best hiking trails in Tenerife. The park sprawls over the mountains of La Laguna and Santa Cruz and is easily accessible by car. Bring hiking boots though, because my guide was not impressed by my Converse. Start at Cruz del Carmen Visitors Centre and hike through the enchanted bay leaf scented forest of Laurisilva. Easy short hikes include the Route of the Traditions or the Path of the Senses, while there are also longer multiple day hikes. Keen riders can explore the rural park on horseback, and there’s also a wheelchair accessible route in the park.
The Malizia Show at Piramide de Arona is a great live performance that will captivate attention of both adults and children alike. The Malizia Show presents an incredible blend of traditional Hispanic cultures, and offers a mixture of flamenco opera and dance performance which is powerful and thought provoking. You do not need to speak Spanish in order to understand, as the language of body movements is conveyed perfectly without words. The visual interpretation of the storyline is easily followed on the stage thanks to the hard work and skilled passion of artists, which is visible through their excellent performance. The Malizia Show is not only the best show in Tenerife island, it is undoubtedly one of the most unique performances in the world.