The picturesque village of Garachico lies in a peaceful valley, close to the rocky coast. Once the richest port on the island, it was almost wiped off the map in 1706 by an eruption of the Trevijo, a side crater of Teide. Half of the town was engulfed in lava and the port was moved to Puerto de la Cruz. Traces of the lava flows can still be clearly seen in the blackened landscape. Only the San Miguel fortress, the Santa Ana church and two monasteries – Santo Domingo and San Francisco – survived the disaster. There are no large hotels in Garachico as there are no real beaches. However, you can swim in the natural pools created by the lava. The cobbled alleys in the old town are pleasant walks past palm-lined squares, stately palaces, whitewashed houses and cosy cafés. The Plaza de la Libertad is undeniably the most beautiful square in Tenerife. Also worth a visit is the classic hotel La Quinta Roja, a restored 16th century mansion around a beautiful patio. When leaving Garachico, you should definitely stop at the Mirador El Emigrante, where you have a magnificent view of the village, the apple-blue-green water and the solidified black lava flows.

Eight kilometres northeast of the capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, lies the beach of Las Teresitas, next to the village of San Andrés. The sand brought over from the Sahara and the well-kept surroundings have made this one of the most attractive beaches.

One of the biggest attractions of El Puerto is undoubtedly Lago Martianez. In this complex of seawater pools, designed by the Canarian artist César Manrique, you can swim and sunbathe. By combining the volcanic coast with the exotic vegetation in a harmonious architecture, César Manrique created his most beautiful project here. In addition to Lago Martianez, Puerto de la Cruz also has small beaches with volcanic sand. The best of these are the beach of Jardin and the beach of Martianez.

The oldest tourist attraction of the Canary Islands is Puerto de La Cruz. From this city, which has developed around a sheltered harbour, you can enjoy beautiful spots on the island. The climate is not as sunny as in the south, but there is a pleasant temperature all year round and you can enjoy the lush tropical vegetation. This is the third largest tourist city on the island, with accommodation for around 30,000 people. In contrast to the modern urbanisations in the south, El Puerto has enjoyed a great tradition as a holiday destination since the end of the last century, when the spa was built there, now the Hotel-Casino Taoro.

The small mountain village of Masca is like an oasis in the rugged Teno Mountains. The narrow, winding road to it starts opposite the church of the village of Santiago del Teide. The hairpin bends are countless, and the beautiful panoramas follow each other in rapid succession. When you arrive in the cute, flowery pirate village, you can go to Chez Arlette, a Swiss woman who has lived in Tenerife for years. From her terrace you have a beautiful view over the gorge covered with prickly pear cacti and agaves that runs steeply to the glistening ocean. Here you imagine yourself in paradise. Via the Barranco de Masca you can walk to Playa de Masca to take a refreshing dip in the turquoise ocean. The walk is enchanting but demanding. The there and back takes about 6 hours.

The Candelaria pilgrimage site is located right on the TF1 motorway. The basilica is located on the coastline along which bronze statues of the Guanche kings, the original inhabitants of the island, stand. Inside the basilica you will find the statue of the Virgin Negro, or the black virgin. The statue, also known as ‘la morenita’, was found on the beach of Candelaria in 1390 and has been the patron saint of the Canary Islands ever since. Every year on 2 February there is a big festival in honour of the miracle-working Madonna of Candelaria. The famous procession, in which tens of thousands of pilgrims take part, is broadcast live on Spanish national television.
Fiestas de Mayo: since Tenerife was an ideal stopover on the way to the New World, Alonso Fernàndez de Lugo was commissioned by the Spanish Crown in 1494 to conquer the island. Alonso placed a wooden cross on the stone wall at the place the Guanches called Añana and gave the city the name Santa Cruz (Holy Cross). The original Santa Cruz de la Conquista can still be admired in the baroque church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción. Today, the Feast of the Holy Cross is celebrated on 3 May, in commemoration of the founding of the city. A commemorative mass is held on the eve and the entire city is decorated with floral crosses. The Tinerfeños dress in traditional costumes, typical regional dishes are eaten and music resounds through the streets and the Baile de Magos is danced. The whole month of May is also celebrated with concerts, exhibitions, theatre and sports competitions.

This is the favorite park of the approximately 225,000 Santa Cruceros. It was created in 1926 and was named after the mayor of the time who approved the plans. Recently, the vast city park (67,230 m²) was completely renovated and expanded with contemporary sculptures, fountains, tropical plants, flower arches, a bamboo tunnel, ponds with large lily pads floating on them and walking paths. Here you can escape the hustle and bustle for a while and relax on the benches under the shady trees with squabbling parrots. The best way to discover the park is to start at the flower clock (a gift from the Danish consul in 1958). The path takes you in a spiral to the heart of the park where you will find Frances Borges Salas’ Fecundidad.

Above the village of El Sauzal, at the exit of the motorway, you will find Casa del Vino de La Baranda, the house of wine. You have to go here, if only for the view. The spacious terrace offers an overwhelming panorama of the ocean, the Orotava Valley, the Teide and in the distance Puerto de la Cruz. In other words, you can see a difference in altitude of 3718 metres at a glance. And then there is the delicious cuisine. For a modest amount you can taste the most delicious wines that the island produces. You can also taste the delicious tapas such as papas arrugades with delicious Canarian mojo sauce, all while enjoying the spectacular view. Inside the restaurant, a restored 17th century farmhouse, you can taste the traditional gastronomy of the island, prepared with market-fresh local produce.

In the area around the farming village of Güímar, pyramids of the Guanches were discovered. An ethnographic park was built around them, together with the prominent Norwegian anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl. The step pyramids remain a mystery to archaeologists. They strongly resemble the pyramids of the Mayans and Aztecs and raise the question of whether the early inhabitants of Tenerife already had contact with peoples from overseas. In addition to the site with the six mysterious pyramids, a museum is housed in the Casa de Chachona, one of the three oldest houses in the Güímar Valley and a protected monument. The exhibition in the museum highlights the remarkable similarities between the civilizations of the old and new worlds. It is best to visit them before you go and see the pyramids. The panoramic terrace of the museum offers a beautiful view of the pyramids and the ocean.

In the area surrounding the city, the Botanical Garden and Loro Parque are recommended excursions for nature lovers. In the Botanical Garden, founded in 1788, you can walk among a huge number of tropical trees and plants from all over the world, thanks to Tenerife's mild climate. Loro Parque is a tropical zoo with the most extensive collection of parrots in the world.
In Punta Brava, a former fishing district of Puerto de la Cruz, lies one of the island's top attractions. The amusement park is always a hit with children and offers plenty of opportunities to spend an unforgettable holiday. In this park, the animals play the leading role. For example, Loro Parque can boast the most complete and unique collection of parrots in the world - there are more than 3,000! Spectacular dolphin, seal, orca and penguin shows take place every day that will remain in the memories of your offspring for a long time. There is also a Thai village, a Gambian market, an orchid house, a bat volcano cave and a unique cinema. The perfectly maintained subtropical gardens are home to gorillas, chimpanzees, tigers, iguanas and crocodiles. In the fascinating aquarium you walk through a glass underwater tunnel between the sharks and rays and you can feast your eyes on the tropical river and the coral reef. It is good to know that the Loro Parque Fundación makes commendable financial efforts to protect the environment and that you as a visitor also do your bit. They also participate in the European Breeding Programme for Endangered Species (EEP). A free train leaves from the car park to Plaza Reyes Católicos in Puerto de la Cruz.

The capital of Tenerife is Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The centre of Santa Cruz consists of old quarters, modern architecture, various boulevards and many beautiful parks. If you have had enough of the city, you can be on a beautiful beach in no time. The range of accommodation options in Santa Cruz is also different from that of most places in the archipelago. There are more hotels than apartments here. The lush gardens and pleasant surroundings are very typical of this city. In the evening, the streets around the Plaza del Charco and the sea promenade form a pleasant meeting place with many open-air restaurants. In the city you will also find various buildings with art-historical value, such as the church of Nuestra Senora de La Pena, the Chapel of San Telmo, the castle of San Felipe, the Customs Building and the old quay where small fishing boats still dock.

The wild, romantic rocky coast of Tacoronte, where the ocean meets the mountains, is one of Tenerife’s highlights. Tacoronte-Acentejo is also Tenerife’s main wine region, protected by a Denominación del Origen (Decree of Origin). The area is known for its young, fruity red wines, usually made from traditional grape varieties, Listán Negro and Negramoll, which grow in the volcanic subsoil. Most vineyards are just a few hectares in size and are between 100 and 1,000 metres above sea level. The wine route starts in Tacoronte and takes you through towns such as Tegueste, El Sauzal, La Laguna, La Matanza de Acentejo and La Victoria de Acentejo. Along the way you can visit vineyards, bodegas and family-run businesses, while enjoying the magnificent views.