Tenerife Beyond Teide: Review of Island Highlights

Tenerife, isn’t it typically associated with just one huge volcano? Well, that’s Mount Teide, of course! Yet, is it almost too easy to think that Teide kind of overshadows everything else on the island? Truly, you could spend a lifetime exploring Tenerife, and still just discover unique, off-the-beaten-path experiences, I swear. Is this something you knew, that Tenerife is so much more than just one big mountain? I hope that, together, we can scratch beneath the surface and explore some less known treasures in this little corner of the Canary Islands.

The North Coast: Beauty and Charm

Up north, Tenerife shows off a totally different side, alright? Isn’t it super lush, green and full of hidden towns just spilling with local charm? I’d say, forget the big resorts for a moment, and find towns such as Garachico and La Orotava – they’re seriously postcard-perfect! Those colourful buildings and that oh-so chilled-out vibe just make you want to slow down and absorb the easygoing island life. Is Garachico’s natural swimming pools also one for your list, created by volcanic lava flows? They’re just perfect spots for a dip. Very seriously, they’re much nicer, in some respects, than just your usual sandy beach, that’s the feel.

How about Anaga Rural Park, as a completely separate thing? I believe that it is very different than that barren volcanic landscape everyone associates with the Canary Islands. Instead, it’s sort of all about old forests, craggy mountains, and that feel of really remote villages. Getting to discover these trails makes it more of an offbeat adventure. You should probably also brace yourself for clouds, right? The North is just wetter than the South, which gives it all its greenery.

Tenerife’s Starry Skies: Stargazing Away From It All

Sure, lots of people hike up Mount Teide. Do you realize, very often, they totally skip the absolutely unbelievable stargazing prospects? Did you ever think, thanks to Tenerife’s high altitude and low light pollution, that it becomes some completely unreal stargazing spot, you know? Any astronomy buff will say that Teide National Park is just properly ideal for gazing at stars and celestial objects. Loads of tours operate that take you up the volcano at nighttime, right? Then, you can learn all about the constellations from expert guides and get to properly glimpse some proper galaxies through powerful telescopes. Could you just take that picture, like your photos will thank you, obviously? Is there actually something a little special about peering into space from so high up?

Explore Under the Waves: Diving and Snorkeling Hotspots

Thinking about volcanic landscapes… what’s stopping us from diving underneath them? Alright, that sounds exciting! Could the ocean surrounding Tenerife be just teaming with marine life? You may find loads of cool spots for snorkeling and diving. In reality, the crystal-clear waters make them totally awesome. In a way, places like Radazul and Las Galletas actually have super well known dive sites where you get to see turtles, rays and even just those amazing underwater volcanic formations! Who wouldn’t be willing to tell the difference between those and, say, that boring coral reef, that would be nice, right?

Tenerife’s Quaint Villages: Cultural Gems

Okay, lets travel back onto dry land for a sec, right? Besides Garachico and La Orotava, how many villages actually come to mind in Tenerife? I will start: Icod de los Vinos should be mentioned because it does actually house the ancient Dragon Tree (Drago Milenario). Not a real dragon, but a massive, proper cool-looking tree thought to be very ancient, so fair play, right? And what is it doing for the tree in the city square? In fact, this tree is probably a popular photography spot because it’s obviously photogenic. As I was saying, then there is Masca, this very picturesque little place sort of nestled in the mountains. It is very isolated. What can be said for all these places is that they sort of give a feel for traditional Canarian life that you absolutely will never find just around the larger touristy resorts. Doesn’t that sort of cultural dive, for some reason, always add a bit of something a little special to your travel experience?

Active Adventures: Hiking, Biking, and Beyond

Tenerife is quite like a playground if you fancy adventures outside! Mount Teide does, yet again, steal all the limelight as you see. Could be just so much opportunity for biking and hiking available across the whole island, arguably! Masca Valley provides loads of proper challenging hikes which have some super epic views, actually. Isn’t it worth taking those very early bus ride just to dodge the heat, and all the crowds? Down by the coast, you might get walking trails that cling to all the cliffs with crazy coastal views as a super interesting alternative. And for cyclists, right, they find some decent mountain roads where they properly test their legs and endurance. No matter what you enjoy doing in your spare time, right, it has you just enjoying the island from completely separate perspectives! I tell you, that is quite exciting!

Local Cuisine: Foodie Adventures

After some adventures in the great outdoors, what better than exploring the local eats to fill that gap, really? As you might expect with Spanish Islands, what are the must try traditional plates that you will remember? Tenerife has stuff such as papas arrugadas (those are wrinkled potatoes) which are pretty easy to discover, alongside mojo sauces! Just think, mojo verde and mojo rojo. You will easily have these everywhere. But there’s also gofio. That is a toasted grain flour you find in stews, soups, and all desserts, it can do everything, practically. I would say that for true local food, it might be a great plan just to explore all those “guachinches” you can see, family-run restaurants where you enjoy proper traditional fare for not too much dosh at all! Seriously, get ready, alright, for plenty of flavour.

• Explore beyond Teide: The North Coast is lush, full of character, and different from other barren terrain
• Anaga Rural Park is amazing for hikes, where you see great greenery (more than the norm!).
• Tenerife allows dark-sky stargazing which provides views of proper, visible constellations!
• Amazing experiences happen underneath the ocean by ways of reefs, snorkeling, and crystal clear-waters!
• Take note that small cities like Masca make great “culture dives,”. These help give an understanding to proper old Canary life!

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