Tenerife Outdoor Activities

Tenerife’s landscape changes every few kilometres, and outdoor activities are the best way to see it: from the Teide volcano to the Atlantic in a single day. You can hike in the Anaga forests, head out to watch whales and dolphins, or kayak at the foot of Los Gigantes.

Outdoor Activities in Tenerife

  • Free cancellation
  • Likely to sell out

Tenerife: Forestal Park tickets

Zip lines and treetop adventure at Forestal Park Tenerife With your ticket to Forestal Park Tenerife you get a half-day of zip lines, rope ladders and Tarzan-style swings up among the treetops. No experience is needed and there are circuits for different levels, so...

  • La Laguna
  • 4.8(2,894) reviews

From 22 €

A Guide to Activities and Excursions in Tenerife’s Nature

The island has a wilder side you reach on foot, by boat or in the air. These are the Tenerife outdoor activities worth your time, split between sea and mountain.

Hiking and Trekking in National Parks

Walking routes across the island’s interior:

  • Teide National Park: walk trails such as Roques de García or Siete Cañadas, across volcanic terrain.
  • Anaga Rural Park: laurel forests and a Biosphere Reserve, with routes like the «Path of the Senses».
  • Masca Gorge: one of the best-known hiking routes in the Canary Islands, descending to a quiet beach.

Marine Excursions: Cetaceans and Cliffs

The Tenerife coast, seen from the water:

  • Whale and Dolphin Watching: a catamaran trip from the south coast to see the resident cetacean colonies up close.
  • Kayaking and Paddle Surfing at Los Gigantes: paddle at the base of the cliffs and reach caves and coves you can’t get to by land.
  • Diving and Snorkelling: clear water over the island’s volcanic seabeds.

Adventure and Adrenaline on Land and in the Air

For those after a bit of adrenaline outdoors:

  • Quad or Buggy Tours: dirt tracks and forest trails on the slopes of Teide.
  • Paragliding: fly over the Orotava Valley or the Adeje coast with a pilot, for a bird’s-eye view.
  • Canyoning: work down the island’s ravines, with sections of hiking, jumping and abseiling.

Stargazing on Mount Teide

One of the island’s most memorable outings:

  • Tenerife has one of the best skies in the world for astronomy, certified as a «Starlight Destination».
  • Head up Teide at sunset to watch the sun drop below a sea of clouds.
  • Pick out constellations, planets and the Milky Way with guides and professional telescopes.

Between the hiking, the boat trips and the clear night skies, Tenerife’s outdoor activities cover much of what sets the island apart.

How to choose outdoor activities in this area

Compare these options by route style, duration, departure point and the kind of traveller they suit best before deciding which experience fits your trip.

Frequently asked questions

Hiking in the Teide National Park and Anaga, whale and dolphin watching, kayaking below Los Gigantes, quads and buggies, paragliding and stargazing at altitude.

All year round: the coast stays between 20 and 28 degrees in any season. Up on the Teide it is 10 to 15 degrees colder, and in winter it can snow.

Not for the waymarked trails. For canyoning, paragliding, the Barranco de Masca and the Teide summit you do, whether for equipment, safety or permits.

Yes: dolphin catamarans, snorkelling in coves, the Sendero de los Sentidos in Anaga and two-seat buggy routes all work with children.

Almost all from the south (Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas) and some from the north, from Puerto de la Cruz. Hotel pick-up is nearly always included.

Only for the last 200 metres to the crater: it is free but must be requested months in advance. The rest of the park and the cable car need nothing.

Choose your activity

Choose the area

Tenerife Tours and Excursions South

Tenerife Tours and Excursions North

Related categories