Tenerife attractions, top destinations selection? Masca is a picturesque village, settled inland in a location where residents of Tenerife used to hide when they were being attacked by pirates. If you have a hire car you can get there on your own, but you should try to get there as early in the morning as possible, otherwise it gets really crowded. The views are spectacular and there is a restaurant overlooking the valley, where you have to go even if only for a cup of coffee (the view in included in price, but it’s worth it). No trip to Tenerife would be complete without a boat trip where you can see dolphins and whales in their natural habitat. The waters between Tenerife and La Gomera are ideal for spotting these majestic mammals and this 3 hours cruise also includes unlimited drinks, champagne, snacks and hotel pick-up. Find even more information at Tenerife Forum Community.
Puerto de la Cruz has a lot to keep culture-hungry travellers satiated: the city is like an open-air art museum thanks to the Puerto Street Art Project, which began in 2014 in the historic quarter. The oldest drago plant in Tenerife. Technically a plant rather than a tree, the drago tree is synonymous with Tenerife. The oldest known drago is in Icod de los Vinos, and is known as Drago Milenario. You can see it when you visit the 15th century historical quarter. If you’re looking for more things to do in Icod, try the Museo de Malvasia wine museum or the Mariposario Del Drago, which is a butterfly nature park – a good option if you need alternative things to do with kids in Tenerife.
Cueva del Viento is a set of caves which were created by lava from the eruption of the Pico Viejo volcano. There are 18km of lava tubes which you will explore with a tour guide. Walking through the maze of underground tunnels you will discover fossils, lava stalactites, lava lakes and at least 190 species of insects which live in there. The Pirámides de Güímar Ethnographic Park is home to a mysterious group of stone pyramids which were first discovered in the 1990s with various theories surrounding their origin. The Casa Chacona Museum at the park explores the potential theories, the other pyramids and step structures from around the world, and the scientific and archaeological investigations which have taken place at Guimar.
If you’re interested in more unusual attractions in Tenerife, I recommend a visit to Chinamada which is a tiny hamlet in the north of Tenerife’s Anaga mountain range. Chinamada is home to a ‘troglodyte community’ who live in a group of around 30 modernised cave houses. Two thirds of these cave homes are underground but they’re not as primitive as they once were. Don’t be surprised to see a satellite TV dish protruding from one or two – the hamlet got its first electricity supply in the 1990s. The surrounding landscape is filled with potato fields, though few of the residents live solely off the land these days.
The Tenerife Auditorium is an iconic modern art sculpture, created in an avant-guard architectural style. The venue frequently hosts talks, exhibitions and music events that connect different people. Many people have come up with different interpretations regarding the shape of the auditorium: some even think that it resembles an old Spanish helmet. The first level of the auditorium has a large open space with a terrace restaurant, ticket offices and restrooms. A pleasant view awaits you from the terrace, and the whole area provides excellent photo opportunities, as well as a chic place to rest and enjoy the views.
