5 of the Most Beautiful Natural Areas in Tenerife

When people picture Tenerife, the sun, sand and sea will likely be what many think of first. What may be surprising, though, is that several of the island’s most unique natural areas are located away from the coastline. Rather than staying close to your resort or hotel, rent a car and take a drive, or for a more environmentally friendly option, utilise the efficient and cheap local bus service to experience the most incredible parts of the island. There is something extra special about reconnecting with nature, especially when it is as amazing as in Tenerife.

Here are five of the most beautiful natural areas Tenerife has to offer, where you’ll experience stunning new sights and make memories to last a lifetime!

1. Enjoy an incredible trekking experience around Teide National Park

Much of the island’s interior is dominated by the giant Mount Teide. The 3,718-metre summit is the highest peak in Spain and the highest point above sea level in the islands of the Atlantic!

Surrounding this impressive volcanic mountain, is the vast and beautiful Teide National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and undoubtedly one of the best places on the island for trekking. The scenery is truly stunning, with a variety of fauna and flora, and incredible volcanic terrain formed out of the lava from previous eruptions.

Despite many visitors each year, this is still the perfect place to escape from noise, traffic, pollution, crowds and modern life. If you decide to go trekking in Teide National Park by yourself, there will be times when no one else is around, and you can enjoy the complete freedom that comes from this.

The park can either be reached by car for solo trekking or with friends or family, or there are several daily tours available that will transport you from the south for an organised group trekking excursion. Either way, Teide National Park is an absolute must-see if you enjoy serenity and being surrounded by the breathtaking vastness of nature.

2. Visit the village of Masca and glimpse its amazing natural surroundings

Located in the northwest of the island at the foot of the Macizo De Teno Mountains, you will find the tiny village of Masca, one of Tenerife’s most remote and picturesque places. It seems amazing in some ways that anyone lives there, considering how isolated it feels from any other urban area. The village is home to around 90 inhabitants, and this small population that does choose to make it their home are treated daily to breathtaking nature views!

Masca village sits at an altitude of around 650 metres and looks right out across the mesmerising Masca Gorge. If you choose to sit at any of the several excellent cafés or restaurants, you will be able to enjoy picture-perfect views. As you relax at a restaurant or stroll around the village lanes taking in the surroundings, you will feel like you have been transported to some far-away exotic destination, such as a South American country like Peru.

Apart from the palm trees and blue skies, this area of astonishing natural beauty seems a world away from the stereotypes you might have heard about Tenerife and is well worth visiting by either car, bus or taxi.

3. Take a look at the captivating cliffs of Los Gigantes

On the stunning sunny southwest coast of Tenerife are located the incredible Acantilados de Los Gigantes (“Cliffs of the Giants”) which are some of the highest sea cliffs in Europe. The first time you marvel at these 500-metre-high cliffs in real life, you will realise that their name is well deserved.

They demonstrate the immense power of nature, and you will almost certainly be awestruck by their size and beauty! While the cliffs look amazing even from several kilometres distance along the coast, they certainly look increasingly awesome the closer you get.

Next to the cliffs, you will find the colourful picturesque town of Los Gigantes which boasts a lovely marina with several excellent bars and restaurants, where you can sit for a drink or meal with a gorgeous view of the immensity of Los Gigantes cliffs. Alternatively, around the corner from the marina, is a small beach with a perfect, uninterrupted cliff backdrop. This is certainly not your typical sunbathing spot!

If you are feeling more adventurous and want an even closer view of the cliffs, there are various excursion options from the marina such as sea-kayaking, jet-skiing or boat trips that will take you right alongside this incredible natural phenomenon.

4. Enjoy an adventurous time in Tenerife’s forests

As mentioned earlier, if most people are asked to picture Tenerife in their minds, blue skies, beaches, the ocean and palm trees will probably pop into their heads.

While you will certainly find all of these, you would probably be surprised to learn that you can also find vast pine tree forests which are perfect to explore. Once again, Tenerife is much more than initially meets the eye, with an abundance of nature away from its famous coastline.

There are plenty of pine forest areas as you head towards higher altitudes in Teide National Park, or further towards the more precipitous north of the island. These areas such as the Parque Natural Corona Forestal or Parque Rural de Anaga are perfect for disconnecting and taking tranquil walks surrounded by breathtaking nature. Perhaps you are a bit more of a thrill seeker though, but still within the context of being around nature? Well if that’s the case, you will love Forestal Park Tenerife!

This is an outdoor adventure playground perfect for adults and kids alike, located in the northeast in the protected area of Las Lagunetas, on the edge of Teide National Park. Here you can enjoy incredible tree-top walks, giant zip lines and rope swings into huge nets. As you climb and swing through the giant Canary pine trees in this beautiful area full of biodiversity, you will feel like Tarzan in no time!

5. Enjoy sensational views of Tenerife from the ocean

One of the best ways to experience the natural beauty of Tenerife, is from the ocean. As you might expect, there are several different options for you to be able to do this, from larger catamarans or boats with big groups of people to smaller private yacht trips or even enjoying a sea kayaking excursion.

Out on the ocean waves, you will be able to take in the astonishing landscape of Tenerife from a completely different perspective, including seeing the dominant Mount Teide in all its majestic beauty and size.

Depending on which port or marina you set off from, many of which are in the south, you will be able to glimpse a wide range of captivating coastal and island features including a variety of beaches ranging from rocky to sandy. As well as the impressive natural features of Tenerife, the ocean waters surrounding the island are also teaming with life, with this area being one of the best places in the world to be able to witness whales and dolphins in the wild.

If you take a boat excursion, you will almost be guaranteed to see these magnificent creatures, with pilot whales swimming right next to the side of the boat, or dolphins racing in front leaping in and out of the water, almost close enough to touch. This is without a doubt one of the most amazing nature experiences you can have in Tenerife!