Tenerife is a very popular destination for many European cruises, so if you’re visiting on your next cruise, this blog post is all you need!
We we’re extremely excited to visit Tenerife since we heard that the island is absolutely stunning, and here’s how we planned out our one-day excursion. We vowed we’d see the absolute most we could, and this is how our day on Tenerife looked like – spoiler, it was pretty awesome!
WHERE IS TENERIFE
Tenerife is the largest and most populous of the seven main Canary Islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean about 300 kilometers (186 miles) west of the southern coast of Morocco. Tenerife is part of Spain, so their main language is Spanish and their currency is euro.
It’s geographical location also makes it one of the most sought-after destinations in Europe. Tenerife enjoys a subtropical climate with warm temperatures throughout the year. The coastal areas have mild temperatures, while the inland areas, especially around Mount Teide, can be cooler.
Read more >>> VISITING MASCA, TENERIFE: A GUIDE
WHERE IS THE TENERIFE CRUISE PORT
The cruise port is in the capital city of the island – Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The port is situated on the northeast coast of the island. Santa Cruz de Tenerife is a major port of call for cruise ships in the Atlantic Ocean, so your cruise probably won’t be the only one there.
From the cruise port you can easily walk to the city center of the capital, but in my opinion, Santa Cruz is something you can skip. The city is far less interesting and beautiful than the majority of the island, so only visit the city once you’re sure you visited everything else you’d like to see.
HOW TO SEE TENERIFE IN ONE DAY?
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Seeing Tenerife in one day might seem impossible, but you can try your best. It’s definitely a challenge and you’ll have to choose your priorities. Here’s what we’ve done:
Rent a car
The best thing you can do on Tenerife is to rent a car. The locations you need to see are all over the island, but the island really isn’t that big so you can do a couple of them in a day.
We took a taxi and rented a car on Tenerife North airport, a 20-minute drive from the cruise port. Renting a car on Tenerife is really affordable and totally worth it.
We rented with Hertz and had an amazing experience. It was around 40 euros and they were very accommodating. We had to change the date (they changed our cruise itinerary after we booked the car) and we did it over the phone, free of charge.
Once you’ve rented a car, choose a few locations on the island you really want to see. Ours were Teide National Park and Playa de Las Americas!
Teide National Park
Tenerife is of volcanic origin and is dominated by the presence of Mount Teide, a stratovolcano and the highest peak in Spain. Teide National Park, which surrounds Mount Teide, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We drove around for an hour through some of the most incredible views to get to the national park, and it was absolutely worth it.
Teide is an active volcano and a prominent symbol of Tenerife. The national park is known for its diverse and striking volcanic landscapes, including lava fields, craters, and unusual rock formations. The views are absolutely stunning and you’ll wonder if you somehow ended up on another planet. And the best part is – the national park is free!
If you can, take the cable car that ascends part of Mount Teide, providing breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes. The cable car is 40 euros per person and operates to a certain altitude. From there, you can hike to the summit with a special permit. Keep in mind that if you choose to do this, you probably won’t have time to do anything else, but climbing a volcano is definitely an awesome memory to have from Tenerife.
Bring warm clothes as it can be quite cold up there, since you’re very high up. We were at the national park in November and it was 5 degrees Celsius and very windy. Also, you’re above the clouds up there, so the sun is very strong. Although you’ll be freezing, you can still catch a sunburn!
Playa de Las Americas
As Teide National Park is wonderful but quite cold, we decided that our next destination needs to be a warmer one, so we made our way to Playa de Las Americas. Playa de las Américas is a popular tourist resort town located on the southwest coast of Tenerife.
Read more >>> BEST TENERIFE BEACHES YOU MUST VISIT
The town is known for its beautiful beaches with golden sand, including Playa de las Vistas and Playa de Troya. These beaches offer a range of water activities, sunbathing, and a lively atmosphere. Playa de las Américas attracts visitors from around the world, especially those seeking sun, sea, and a lively nightlife.
We only had a few hours there but that was enough to see the gorgeous beaches, walk along the promenade and stop for a desert at the incredible Hard Rock Café.
If you have extra time, there are many shopping centers, boutiques, and restaurants you can visit. Tourists who have more than one day available often visit the nearby Siam Park, one of the largest water parks in Europe.
Bring shorts and a bikini with you if you’re visiting Playa de Las Americas. Our temperature in November was 27 degrees Celsius and it was perfect for a quick swim.
