With over 900 miles of breathtaking coastline and ever-present blue skies, the Canary Islands are an extraordinary holiday destination. Tenerife, the largest of the islands, offers not only beautiful beaches, but lush hiking mountains, exciting nightlife, abundant wildlife and more. If you plan to visit, you may be overwhelmed by the many offers, but these things to do are among the best of the best for your visit to the island.
Experience Diverse Beach Offers 
Credit: Bigstock.com Canary Islands, Spain
Experience the different beach offers (Hotels nearby)
With so much coastline, Tenerife is home to a wide range of beaches, from expanses of golden sand to beaches of velvety black sand. You'll find golden beaches in the eastern resort areas, with the winds making these stretches of sand popular for kite surfing and windsurfing. To the north and west are the dark, sultry coastlines with picturesque coves such as Puerto de la Cruz, Los Gigantes and Playa de la Arena.
Whale Watching Tour 
Credit: Whale Bigstock.com in the Canary Islands near Tenerife
Whale Watching Tours (Hotels nearby)
Whale watching in Tenerife is a must while you are here. You will have the opportunity to spot pilot, sperm, minke and orca whales along with numerous sea turtles, bottlenose dolphins and the occasional striped dolphin. Tours typically last three hours, departing from Los Gigantes, Las Americas, Los Cristianos and Las Galletas. A variety of options are available, including trips aboard a small wooden clipper ship for an intimate dolphin experience and catamarans with glass panels that allow passengers to admire the marine life below.
Cueva del Viento Caving 
Credit: Wikipedia / Lviatour
Cueva del Viento Caving (Nearby hotels)
You can go underground even when you're in Tenerife. Cueva del Viento is a series of caves formed by lava when the Pico Viejo volcano erupted. The caves include more than 11 miles of lava tubes that can be explored on a guided tour. You will pass through a labyrinth of underground tunnels to see lava stalactites, lava lake, fossils and nearly 200 species of insects that inhabit the cave.
Golf 
Credit: Bigstock.com Golfing along the Atlantic in Tenerife
Golf (Hotels nearby)
Abundant sunshine combined with spectacular sea, mountain and volcano views are just some of the ingredients that make golfing in Tenerife fantastic. There are nine different courses on the island, each offering something unique, with various sizes and interesting features. The Amarilla Golf and Country Club is the only resort in the archipelago where golf, water sports and horse riding are possible, while the Real Club de Golf de Tenerife is known for its local fauna and slope. Abama Golf is a challenging course that offers some of the most stunning views towards the Atlantic and the island of La Gomera.
Go Shipwreck Diving 
Credit: Bigstock.com diving off the coast of Tenerife
Go Shipwreck Diving (Hotels nearby)
Just off the north central coast, near the town of Tabaiba, a shipwreck deliberately sank in 2006 in order to attract more marine life, and divers out to see it. The shipwreck, called El Peñon, is about 115 feet long and inside are octopuses, some large moray eels and large schools of barracuda and mackerel. If you are an experienced diver you can go out on your own, otherwise you will find a number of tour options that include an experienced and qualified instructor.
Take a jeep safari 
Credit: Bigstock.com Tamaran jeep tour
Take a jeep safari (Hotels nearby)
If you only do one sightseeing tour in Tenerife, take a jeep safari. Jeep touring allows you to discover hidden places that standard vehicles can't reach, from remote canyons to the surreal lunar landscape of the ancient volcano Teide. A jeep safari also means that you will be able to see a little in a relatively short time, without sacrificing the opportunity to enjoy the cultural charm of the island. There are several tour operators offering a variety of routes, including tours to the summit of Mount Teide via the famous hidden town of Masca, as well as excursions to the neighbouring island of La Gomera.
Immerse yourself in the view of the Teide National Park Credit: Bigstock.com Tenerife Valley and Mount Teide in the distance
Immerse yourself in the view of Mount Teide National Park (Hotels nearby)
The centrepiece of Mount Teide National Park is, of course, Mount Teide, a volcano and the highest peak in Spain, almost 12,200 metres above sea level. There are many ways to experience it, but you won't want to miss the opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking views from the top of the mountain. You can hike or take a cable car to it, where panoramic views of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma and the endless expanse of the Atlantic await. You can also visit the Teide Observatory here. The largest solar observatory on Earth is ideally located for viewing a dazzling night sky.
Ride a camel 
Credit: Bigstock.com Camel Rides, Tenerife
Ride a Camel
While probably equating camels with the Arabian desert, camels were once a fairly common sight in Tenerife, especially around the southern end, used to help farm workers who were better suited to the cattle terrain. If you've never ridden one, there are a number of camel parks around the island that offer the experience, with some of the best found in the aptly named La Camella, as well as Puerto de la Cruz and El Tanque.The unique adventure often comes with some particularly picturesque views of the sea and mountains.
Wine Tasting 
Credit: Bigstock.com Vineyards in Tenerife
Wine Tasting (Nearby Hotels)
Tenerife is also becoming an increasingly popular wine destination. Home to the largest wine-growing area in the Canary Islands, the rich and fertile soil nurtures many varieties of grapes, including the favourite Listan variety. Its sweet Malmsey wine dates back to 16th century Britain and was loved by Shakespeare himself, who mentioned it more than 100 times in his plays. You can join an excursion to tour the island's wine hotspots, tasting wine and authentic Canarian cuisine along the way, while learning more about its cultural and historical heritage.