An Island with Character

Volcanic landscapes, laurel forests, and the Atlantic Ocean all within a small area: Tenerife has learned to protect its most beautiful places rather than put them on display. This changes the way the island feels—in the mountains, at the table, and in the open spaces.

The morning in Anaga Regional Park smells of damp wood. The trade winds push clouds over the ridge; down in the forest, light streams through the trees in bands. This vegetation is called laurisilva, a legacy from the Tertiary Period that has survived on Tenerife and is now a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Two hours’ drive farther on, beyond the band of clouds, another island begins: lava fields in shades of rust and ochre, barren, vast, and towering above them, Mount Teide. At 3,715 meters, it is the highest mountain in Spain and a World Heritage Site. Anyone journeying between the north and south coasts quickly comprehends why the largest of the Canary Islands defies easy categorisation: emerald slopes here, warm stone there, and in between, nature reserves that blanket half the island. As the colours fade from the rock at eventide, the second treasure of the heights reveals itself. The sky above the summit is considered one of the clearest on the planet; the island is designated an International Starlight Reserve.

Hiking and Whale Watching Anyone

wishing to follow the Telesforo Bravo trail to the summit must plan ahead. For select hiking trails within Teide National Park, a permit is required via the Tenerife ON platform, and for certain time slots, a fee is now also applicable. This discernibly enhances the experience: fewer people on the trail, more tranquility for the view. It is the same philosophy the island has pursued for years—in 2021, it received the biosphere certification from the Institute for Responsible Tourism, which was renewed in 2023, and through the REGENERATe project, Tenerife is actively involving visitors in the care of its natural areas. This commitment is most evident out on the water. The stretch of ocean between the southern part of the island and La Gomera holds HOPE Spot certification from Mission Blue, the organization founded by oceanographer Sylvia Earle. A few miles off the southwest coast, bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales swim year-round. Those who embark on a tour with one of the operators committed to the Charter for Sustainable Whale Watching will enjoy encounters where the animals take center stage. In the north, a narrow road eventually winds through rows of vineyards, and at its end stands a guachinche: these improvised eateries have retained the laid-back atmosphere of a market stall—a few tables, home-style cooking, and a glass of wine from their own harvest. They arose from the winemakers’ need to sell their surplus—viticulture came to the island in the 15th century with the first Europeans and today, shaped by lava soils and trade winds, produces six protected designations of origin.

Cuisine is celebrated at the highest level on the island

No fewer than nine restaurants in Tenerife have been awarded Michelin stars: Haydée by Víctor Suárez at the Hotel Gran Tacande, El Taller Seve Díaz in Puerto de la Cruz, Restaurant Martín Berasategui at The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama, El Rincón de Juan Carlos, Il Bocconcino and San-Hô at the Royal Hideaway Corales Resort, Nub at the Hotel Bahía del Duque, Donaire at the Hotel GF Victoria, and Taste 1973 at the Hotel Villa Cortés. Now for the golf. Typical of Tenerife: One day you’re playing on a mountain course at an elevation of 700 meters; the next, along the coast, where the greens stretch right up to the cliffs and the ball lands against the sound of the surf. Palm trees, cacti, and tabaibas line the fairways; Donald Steel and Severiano Ballesteros have left their mark here. There are eight courses to choose from, plus the certainty that the season never ends: In Tenerife, spring endures from January through December. Back at the hotel, the circle is complete—for example, at the Royal Hideaway Corales Villas in Costa Adeje, with private pools and top-notch regional cuisine, or at the Gran Hotel Taoro in the north, with historic gardens overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. webtenerife.de