Tenerife is no stranger to the tourism industry and definitely getting more popular with each year as a tourist destination. This beautiful island is enjoyed by over six million visitors a year, being the most popular among any of the other Canary Islands.

The fact that it is the largest island of the seven and the most populated of Spain makes it perfect for hosting an array of exciting carnivals throughout the year, including one of world’s largest, the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

The island of Tenerife is generally separated into two main parts, the North and South, which are serviced by their own respective airports. Each one enjoys two different climatic zones with the north seeing more rain, and, the south being sunny and dry. As you can imagine, the south side climate makes it more attractive to tourists with more beaches to enjoy, which is what Tenerife is famous for. That said, the northern part of Tenerife is not without its own distinctive attractions.

Distinctive Features

Mount Teide in Tenerife is not only the Canary Island’s but also Spain’s highest mountain and the world’s third largest volcano from its base, towering at 3,718m in height.

Black and gold beaches are also one of the island’s distinctive natural features, the results of volcanic black sands that remain from the past. Where the sand is not black, it has been imported; as seen in Las Teresitas beach, close to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital of the island. The island itself has many unusual beaches, and you’ll find nothing like it anywhere else in the world.

Top Attractions

With great weather all year round, Tenerife is a magnetic location for outdoor activities such as hiking, scuba diving, snorkelling, sightseeing, golfing, windsurfing, and horse riding.

There are also two water theme parks on the island, both located in the south, in Costa Adeje, called Siam Park and Aqualand. Families can also enjoy several animal attractions including Loro Parque in the north, and Jungle Park as well as Monkey Park in the south part of the island.

Tenerife is fortunate to be in the path of the migration route for dolphins and whales. The Bottlenose Dolphin and Pilot Whale are some of the most frequently sighted species passing through the Canary Islands.

Being surrounded by water, the island also has an abundance of interesting and mysterious aqua life which you can discover and enjoy with the Submarine Safari.

If you’re into sightseeing, don’t leave the island before you get the chance to explore Teide National Park, which spreads across the centre of the island and hosts Mount Teide and Pico Veijo. The capital city, Santa Cruz, is another place to visit where you can experience the island’s rich culture and history, as well as squeeze in some great shopping. Don’t miss The Guimar Pyramids, an ethnological park that consists of six pyramids, a leisure area and a museum. The Cueve del Viento, the world’s largest volcanic cavity, is also a must visit where you’ll find Los Dragos, the 800 year old dragon tree.

As you can see, although the island of Tenerife is famous for its larger than life carnivals and nightlife, it has so much more to offer. Whatsmore, the perfect year long weather makes it enjoyable to visit any day of the year!

Peter lives on the island of Tenerife and writes for Tenerife Forum in his spare time and enjoys the life that the island offers.