The Ultimate Tenerife Adventure Guide
During our 3 months exploring Tenerife, the largest island in the Spanish archipelago that is the Canary Islands, my boyfriend and I documented our most memorable adventures. In this blog post I will be sharing my ultimate Tenerife adventure guide with you. Some are fun touristy attractions, others are hidden gems off the beaten path. So get your Tenerife bucket list handy, you won’t want to miss these!
Tenerife Monkey Park
First of the list of my ultimate Tenerife adventure guide is the Tenerife Monkey Park is wildly underrated in my opinion. While you will be constantly bombarded with advertisements for Loro Parque, I never noticed a single Monkey Park advertisement. I discovered it on a whim when I was searching on Google Maps for attractions in the area. Since nobody had recommended it to us beforehand, I didn’t have high expectations, but I ended up being pleasantly surprised.
Upon entering, you are greeted by a heard of guinea pigs. Yes, you heard that right, hundreds of free-roaming guinea pigs that you are allowed to feed with the food provided for purchase at the door. There are at least 3 large enclosures full of guinea pigs, along with other animals such as lizards, tortoises, lemurs and parrots, all in the same enclosure! It was fascinating to see all these creatures cohabitating together in harmony.
As you continue through the zoo, you will pass through other enclosures where monkeys come right up to you to be fed or just to simply observe you. There are numerous species of monkeys, from large to small, many which you are allowed to feed through the cages. Overall it’s a very interactive experience, unlike any other zoo I’ve ever been to. This is definitely a family friendly environment, and would be a great place to bring your children for the day.
El Drago Milenario
El Drago is one of Tenerife’s national monuments, and for good reason. It is the largest and oldest living specimen of dragon tree in the world. Its age is often disputed, but it is estimated to be around 1,000 years old.
If you are a nature lover, but perhaps you’re not up for a strenuous hike, I highly recommend a day trip to visit El Drago. It is surrounded by a quiet, quaint little town with loads of cute restaurants.
Normally the town is packed with tourists all waiting to snap a photo of the ancient tree. However we were visiting during the 2021 Covid travel restrictions, so we were lucky enough to be the only ones there that day to see it.
Check out my el drago vlog Below
Arco de Tajao
Arco de Tajao is a natural arch formation, likely created from a volcanic eruption. It is so unique it absolutely has to be on your Tenerife adventure guide.
Again, we discovered this on a whim while searching Google Maps for landmarks and attractions nearby.
There isn’t much information on the arch online, at least not in English – so we figured we’d just go and check it out for ourselves. There is designated parking nearby and it’s about a 5 minute walk down to the arch.
Like many of the other places we visited, we had it all to ourselves which was amazing.
Arco de Tajao is reminiscent of the arches in the Arches National Park in Utah.
Of course, there is no permit required to visit it and you are even allowed to climb it, which is strictly prohibited in Utah. That being said, exercise caution if you plan to climb the arch, and be respectful of the land.
The landscape around the arch is also very unique and worth exploring if you have the time.
The Enchanted Forest
The Enchanted Forest, better known as El Bosque Encantado, is truly as magical as it sounds. Located in Anaga Rural Park, the trail crosses through El Pijaral, which is an Integral Natural Reserve.
A permit is required in order to hike through the forest. Luckily the permit is free and can be found here.
The trail begins at the La Ensillada trailhead where you can park your car. The duration of the hike is around 2 hours and 30 minutes with a distance of 6.8km (4.2mi).
The trail takes you to a vantage point overlooking the ocean, then loops you back around to the road, where you will walk for about 30 minutes before reaching the car park.
Throughout your hike you will encounter a plethora of plant species, majestic moss covered trees with winding branches, and lush ferns up to 2 meters in length.
Although the climate is damp and humid, we did not experience any mosquitoes or biting insects. We enjoyed listening to the variety of birds singing as we ventured through the forest.
If you like peace and solace, then add this to your Tenerife adventure guide. We did not come across a single soul during the hike, which really allowed us to become enthralled in our surroundings. We really did leave feeling enchanted.
Check out my Enchanted Forest vlog below
Las Ventanas de Güimar
Las Ventanas is without a doubt one of the most spectacular and unique hikes I have ever been lucky enough to explore, but you definitely need the guts for it. Located in the somewhat rural and hard to get to town of Güimar (pronounced Wee-mar), you will absolutely need a 4 wheel drive vehicle just to get to the trailhead. To put it into perspective, the hills are so steep that our car began rolling backwards and we had to park an hour walk from the trail. Don’t make the same mistake as us.
Las Ventanas, also known as “the tunnel of windows” was originally created as a water canal to carry water down the mountain, and the windows were created to cast light on the workers so they could clear the debris as they excavated the tunnel.
I could not find exact dates on when these tunnels were excavated, but I’m fairly certain it was after Spain conquered Tenerife (post 1494).
It is an extremely remote hike, which gets increasingly more dangerous as you go. The path itself is poorly maintained, and there is actually a sign at the beginning of the trailhead stating it has been permanently closed due to landslides.
However this does not stop locals and tourists alike from hiking it daily.
The trail is only about a foot wide in some places, with a drop off of several hundred feet. There is no fence or guard rail to protect you, and in some cases climbing is involved. With that in mind, you definitely don’t want to be attempting this hike while the ground is wet, as it can be very slippery.
I would only recommend this hike if you are in good shape and an experienced hiker. Even so it is not for the faint of heart and you should never go alone.
The trail meanders around the top of El Barranco de Badajoz, also know as “The Haunted Ravine”, which I will discuss next. It is so quite it often feels a bit eerie, but the most unsettling part is the sheer drop offs.
If you follow the entire loop of the trail which is roughly 13km (8mi), it would take approximately 4.5 hours. We stopped at the halfway point where the first set of windows are located, and we were satisfied with that.
I would also recommend a headlamp, as you go through several pitch black tunnels on your journey. I’ve linked some headlamps HERE.
Check out my Las Ventanas de Güimar Vlog Below
El Barranco de Badajoz
Barranco de Badajoz is also located in Güimar, below the tunnel of windows. This is the location of the most significant prehistoric remains of the aboriginal Guanche people. Many artifacts as well as mummies have been discovered here, and there are probably many more still yet to be discovered in the forgotten caves.
When Spain conquered Tenerife, this is where many of the last remaining Guanche people would have been before being captured or slaughtered. Due to the treacherous landscape and intricate cave systems, it was more difficult for the Spanish Conquistadors to claim this part of the island. However in the end they prevailed, and the remaining Guanche were sold into slavery or killed off.
Despite it’s seemingly grim past, I was overcome with a sense of peace while hiking through the ravine. I didn’t sense any of the negativity that once engulfed this land.
Naturally, there are many legends surrounding Barranco de Badajoz. Many have claimed to have supernatural experiences, especially those who stayed in the ravine overnight.
Past explorers of the ravine have claimed to be visited by UFOs and white angelic beings. Others have claimed to see orbs of fire, portals, and various other paranormal phenomena.
Due to these stories and sightings, Barranco de Badajoz is sometimes referred to as “The Haunted Ravine”.
Perhaps the most popular story is that of a little girl in the late nineteenth century who ventured out into the ravine in search of pears, at the request of her family. She then vanished without a trace, and the area was searched extensively to no avail. 20 years later she reappeared, the same age as when she first vanished. She claimed she was only gone for 30 minutes, and that a “white being” escorted her into a cave which led to a magical world on the other side. Of course there is no real evidence that this ever happened, but it is a popular legend told amongst the people of Tenerife.
There are also several abandoned mine shafts, as well as ancient Guanche caves scatted amongst the ravine. Some of these caves are 30 meters (100 ft) above the ground, which begs the question, how were they created? As they were once inhabited, somebody had to have gotten up there somehow. We ended up venturing into one of the old mines, which you can see above. If you look closely, in the first image there is a light behind me and when I turn to look, it’s gone. There is no other exit from this cave to create a light in the distance, and no reflective material.
If you’re into spooky thrills, then add this place to your Tenerife adventure guide. Whether the ravine is truly haunted or not, I can’t say for sure. However we did experience a few unexplainable events during our visit, which I documented in my YouTube video below:
Masca
Masca is a small village situated in the mountains of Tenerife. The village itself is located at the head of the Masca Gorge, and is home to just under 100 residents. It was initially an area favored by the Guanche before the Spanish conquest in 1494. Legend has it pirates used to hide out in this valley, although nobody can say for sure.
The roads to this hidden gem are nothing short of nerve-wracking as they wind their way up the steep mountainside. There are plenty of places to stop off along the way for photo opportunities and 360 degree breathtaking views. There are several different restaurants to choose from as well if you’re looking for a quick bite to eat with a scenic view.
Check out my 3 Minute Masca Video Below
Teide Volcano & National Park
Teide is the largest volcano in the Canary Islands, and the highest peak in all of Spain. Its summit is 3,715 m (12,188 ft) and is described by NASA as the fourth tallest volcanic structure in the world. The volcano is still active, its last eruption being in 1909. Teide and the surrounding National Park is 47,000 acres, leaving you with plenty of places to explore with scenic views in every direction.
Naturally, Teide National Park is one of the leading tourist attractions in Tenerife, so you can expect it to be bustling with people year round. There is a cable car base station at 2,356 meters, which you can drive up to and park. From there it is about a 10 minute ride to the vantage point.
Should you decide to summit Teide, you will be required to obtain a permit beforehand. This is something you want to plan in advance, as it is the most visited National Park in Europe, and only 200 people per day are granted permission. The remaining hike is on foot and takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour. I would recommend going at a slower pace, as oxygen is low and you could experience altitude sickness.
Teide was sacred to the Guanche people and was considered a mythological mountain. Legend has it Guayota (the devil) kidnapped Magec (the god of light and the sun) and held him prisoner inside the volcano, causing the world to be enveloped in darkness.
The Guanche begged their god Achamán for mercy, so Achamán battled Guayota, freeing Magec from deep inside the mountain, and then plugged the crater with Guayota. Today it is said that Guayota has remained entombed inside Teide. Guayota is often represented as a black dog, accompanied by his pack of demons.
If you are already planning on visiting Teide, I highly recommend checking out the surrounding National Park. There are plenty of trails that lead to unique rock formations worth photographing, and you can capture some stunning views of the volcano as well. It truly feels like you are on another planet, I’d say Mars has some competition.
Watch my 5 minute teide vlog below
Piscinas Naturales Los Abrigos
Swimming in the natural pools of Los Abrigos is a must in my opinion.
It can feel a bit intimidating as the waves come in from under the rocks and the water rises and lowers, but it’s worth it.
It’s definitely more of a locals spot, and there are always a decent amount of people. We spent a couple hours jumping from different vantage points into the pool, and sunning ourselves on the rocks.
The water was also relatively warm, and was so salty you practically floated.
check out my Los Abrigos video below
In conclusion, Tenerife is a beautiful and unique destination, and there is so much more to be seen than I was able to cover. I hope you found this ultimate Tenerife adventure guide useful!
Still looking for more? Check out my full blog post on Las Ventanas: Tenerife’s Most Spectacular Hike!
