Canary Islands trip: why Tenerife should be your next getaway from NYC

Where is Tenerife?

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of Africa, near Morocco and Western Sahara. Although geographically close to Africa, the Canary Islands are part of Spain, making them a popular European travel destination. So yes, when you visit Tenerife, you’re technically in Europe.

How to get to Tenerife?

If you live in the NYC area, you’re in luck—United Airlines operates direct flights to Tenerife a few times a week, with plans to increase the number of flights by 2025! The flights depart from Newark Airport and land at Tenerife Sur Airport, the island’s main international hub (there’s another airport in the north for domestic and national flights). In less than seven hours, you’ll be on the island—way closer than Hawaii!

When to travel to Tenerife?

Honestly, any time is a great time to visit Tenerife. Known as the “Island of Eternal Spring,” the island enjoys mild temperatures year-round. While I was there, the average ranged from 21°C to 26°C (70°F to 79°F). However, keep in mind that Tenerife has 10 microclimates, so some areas are warmer due to humidity, while others are cooler because of wind. I’ll go into more detail about what I packed later.

If you’re traveling in the winter and plan to visit Teide National Park (which you definitely should), pay extra attention to your packing. Snow can occur, and you’ll need warmer clothing—especially if you’re visiting at sunrise or sunset, when temperatures drop significantly.

As for the best time to visit, Tenerife’s busy season typically runs from late autumn to early spring, peaking between December and February. This coincides with European winter holidays when travelers from colder climates flock to the island for its mild weather.

February is also Carnival season, another major draw for tourists. And, of course, July and August are popular with European visitors on summer vacation. If you prefer quieter times, consider visiting in September, October, or November when the island tends to be less crowded.

How to get around in Tenerife

Tenerife may not be a huge island, but with so many incredible, unique places and amazing experiences to offer, you really don’t want to limit yourself by staying in just one area. Having explored different spots on the island, I can confidently say: rent a car! It’s the best way to truly take advantage of everything this beautiful destination has to offer.

You can check cars and make a reservation on DiscoverCars.com – it seeks to be the world’s most reliable car rental platform through creating a seamless vehicle rental experience by making the booking process clear, effortless, and enjoyable. Available in more than 145 countries, with more than 10k locations and more than 700 partners, the platform collaborates with numerous car rental companies – including  Hertz, Alamo, Europcar, National, and SIXT, as well as local providers, so you can rest assure you will have access to a lot of cars and offers.

• Click here and rent a car in Tenerife!

Our travel itinerary in Tenerife

I was invited by Visit Tenerife | The Official Guide of Tenerife to visit the island, and they did an amazing job organizing the itinerary. We got to experience a bit of everything the island has to offer—its natural beauty, stunning beaches, coastal areas, vibrant city life, and rich culture. During our time in the island, we stayed at three different hotels, though two would have worked just as well if we wanted to streamline our experience a bit more.

For reference, we left New York City on a Tuesday night and we arrived in Tenerife around 9h30ish on Wednesday morning. Wednesday was a pretty relaxed day, but the next four days, from Thursday to Sunday, were packed with activities. I had a free day on Monday, while my husband flew back on Sunday, and I left on Tuesday morning.

Day 1 – Arrival in Tenerife and exploring Santa Cruz

As I mentioned earlier, we landed in Tenerife around 9:30 AM. After going through immigration, we were ready to head to our hotel in Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife. Visit Tenerife had arranged a driver from Sierra y Gonzalez Transfers to pick us up, and I can’t recommend them enough! In addition to the airport transfer, they were also our official drivers throughout the entire trip. Their vehicles were spotless, and the drivers were incredibly friendly.

If you’re renting a car, picking it up at the airport is probably your best option.

• Rent a car in Tenerife.

The drive to Santa Cruz took about 45 minutes, and even on the way, we were already captivated by the island’s beauty. I have to admit that I didn’t do much research before this trip, and it turned out to be a great decision—everything left me in awe. While I haven’t traveled extensively, I’ve been to places like Hawaii and Iceland, and Tenerife definitely holds its own. In fact, the first words I used to describe Tenerife to my sister were “Tropical Iceland,” which makes sense. The south of the island, where we landed, is shaped by both its volcanic origins and unique microclimate. For those unfamiliar, Tenerife was formed through intense volcanic activity millions of years ago. The island is the result of a series of volcanic eruptions, beginning about 12 million years ago when tectonic movements created fissures in the Earth’s crust, allowing magma to rise and solidify. Over time, successive eruptions built up the island, layer by layer.

The pool at Iberostar Heritage Grand Mencey

In Santa Cruz, we stayed at Iberostar Heritage Grand Mencey –  one of the most iconic and historic hotels in the area, known for its elegant design and prime location. The hotel is set in a stately, colonial-style building, dating back to the 1950s, and has been beautifully maintained and renovated.

In addition to its spacious and comfortable rooms, the hotel features four restaurants, two bars, a casino, and a stunning outdoor pool. For fitness enthusiasts, the gym is a standout—it’s fully equipped with cardio machines, a Smith machine, free weights, bars, and other accessories. They even offer fitness classes! As someone who exercises regularly, I really appreciate a well-equipped gym when traveling. The hotel also boasts a spa offering a variety of treatments, which are available to non-guests as well.

We stayed in a room with media pensión (half board), which included breakfast and dinner. Breakfast was served at the Los Menceyes restaurant, offering a buffet with an impressive variety—fruits, pastries, yogurt, eggs, and Spanish specialties like jamón. Dinner was à la carte at the same restaurant, and for lunch, we dined at Los Laureles, which has a beautiful outdoor setting near the pool. You can check out some of our dishes below.

After checking in and taking a much-needed nap, we got ready to explore Santa Cruz with a tour arranged by Visit Tenerife. Our guide, Nayra Sánchez García, was waiting for us in the lobby, and we set off on a lovely walk through the streets of Santa Cruz. It’s such a charming town, full of history and beautiful architecture. During our tour, we passed by spots like Parque García Sanabria, a serene park perfect for relaxing; La Alameda and Plaza de España, both iconic landmarks; Marina Santa Cruz, offering beautiful views of the town framed by the mountains; and TEA Tenerife Espacio de las Artes, which has a stunning 24-hour public library. You can find all these spots on the map I’ve included at the end of the post.

Parque García Sanabria

Parque García Sanabria

Views from Marina Santa Cruz

Plaza de España

I have to say, having Nayra as our guide made a huge difference—not only in Santa Cruz but throughout our entire trip. Nayra is a certified guide and a local, born and raised in Tenerife. Her deep knowledge of the island’s history, combined with her passion for the outdoors, really enriched our experience. She’s also an avid hiker and leads groups on trails around the island. But what stood out the most was her energy—it felt like we had a local friend with us, not just a knowledgeable guide. If you’re planning a trip to Tenerife and looking for an amazing guide, I highly recommend reaching out to her: lacanayra@gmail.com – she speaks Spanish, English and French.

Nayra, our guide in Tenerife. Make sure to contact her!

Library at TEA Tenerife Espacio de las Artes

After our tour, Nayra left us at Nielsen Restaurante, where we enjoyed a delicious dinner featuring local ingredients and wines. The chef, Danny Nielsen, hails from Denmark, and his menu masterfully blends Nordic sophistication with local flavors. We had a tasting menu featuring seafood and meat that was absolutely delightful.

Day 2 – Sendero de las Salinas, Punta de Teno bike tour and Garachico

It was a beautiful day in Tenerife – and after having a delicious breakfast in our hotel in Santa Cruz, we headed to another part of the island. On our way, we could see the banana plantations. Did you know bananas are significant to Tenerife’s agricultural landscape and economy? The plantations are scattered across the island, with particularly large concentrations in the northern areas, such as La Orotava Valley, Icod de los Vinos, and Los Silos. The bananas are a key export product, primarily to mainland Spain and Europe.

We made a quick stop at Mirador San Pedro, a stunning viewpoint located on the northern coast of Tenerife, near the town of Los Realejos. After that, we stopped at Playa del Socorro, near the Mirador de San Pedro. This beach features black volcanic sand (as most of the beaches in Tenerife) and is popular among surfers due to its strong waves and consistent swells – in fact, on that weekend, the beach would host a surf competition!

Mirador San Pedro

After these quick stops, we headed to Buena Vista del Norte, where we stopped for a coffee and a snack – make sure to check Pastelería El Aderno and get their Rosquetes (they look like mini donuts). Then, we did a quick hike through Sendero de Las Salinas. This is a very popular and known spot in Tenerife – it is a scenic hiking trail close to the towns of Los Silos and Buenavista del Norte, and it goes along the island’s rugged coastline, passing through the remnants of ancient salt flats, which give the trail its name (“salinas” means salt flats in Spanish). It’s so beautiful! There’s also a golf court and the Atlantico Ocean’s Club, with a pool overlooking the ocean (you can buy a pass to spend the day; it looks stunning). You can also check Playa de las Barqueras and go for a swim. Overall, the Sendero de Las Salinas is a super easy hiking trail – and the views are worthy! At the end of the hike, there’s a restaurant called Playa de las Barqueras – Nayra told us is a beautiful spot to appreciate the sunset.

The pool at Atlantico Ocean’s Club

Playa de las Barqueras

FYI: The Piscina Municipal de Buenavista del Norte – a pool and gym facility – is located near the restaurant, and we used their restrooms before our next adventure.

So, after this quick hike, we were ready for our next adventure: a bike tour around Punta de Teno with Tenique Outdoor. This was one of my favorite experiences in Tenerife! This is a scenic area at the northwestern tip of the island, featuring cliffs, ocean views, and Punta de Teno lighthouse. We got to bike the entire road path – and it’s so convenient because there are restrictions on private vehicle access – so it’s safe and peaceful! Tenique Outdoor tour was terrific – they offer e-bikes (which makes the inclined road access easy) and helmets. The staff is super friendly, and they share a lot of information about Tenerife. Also, you will stop to contemplate the views and take photos (and they also recorded a lot of videos of our tour). I couldn’t recommend them enough – and they speak Spanish and English. If you are a hiking person, Punta de Teno also has many hiking trails.

• Book your bike tour with Tenique Outdoor. The bike tour with snorkel costs 85€ per person.

After the bike tour, we headed to Garachico. We had lunch at Restaurante Anturium (located at Hotel San Roque, a charming boutique hotel in Garachico). This town is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful in Tenerife. It was founded in 1496 by the Genoese tradesman Cristóbal de Ponte, and since then several churches and fabulous little palaces were gradually built, which still today preserve their traditional aesthetics. Don’t forget to stop by Casa del Perfume Canario – one of the first family-run artisan perfume-making operations in the region – and also La Trastienda de El Rebojo – a store with a lot of artisanal and local products, absolutely loved this place!

If you are into swimming, bring your swimming suit and a towel because Garachico features the Piscinas de Garachico, or natural pools of Garachico. These natural seawater pools were formed by lava flows from a volcanic eruption in 1706, which reshaped the coastline. There were so many people swimming and having a good time! Thiago went for a swim (I’m not a good swimmer, so I just appreciated the views, lol).

We ended our day with a delicious dinner at Los Menceyes, at the hotel in Santa Cruz.

 Day 3 – Anaga Rural Park, San Cristóbal de La Laguna and Puerto de la Cruz

We checked out from the hotel – remember we stayed in three different hotels during this trip – and we headed to Anaga Rural Park – but, before that, a quick stop at  – the views are just stunning and you can even see Teide, the volcano. Absolutely love it! Anaga Rural Park, which has been declared a Biosphere Reserve, features one of the most wonderful areas of laurel forests. The area is home to a wealth of fauna and flora with plenty of native species – there are more than 600 flora species, canary exclusive. The park was classified as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2015 and is huge – 14,419-hectare to be exact. We only saw a fraction – the Sendero Hija Cambada looks like a scenery from a fairy tale. I recommend having comfy clothes and a light jacket (if it’s waterproof, it’s better cause the area has a lot of humidity).

After this short hiking trail, we headed to another area in Anaga, in Taborno, where you will find a French restaurant called Historias Para No Dormir – it’s a small village with beautiful views – make sure to check Mirador Fuente del Lomo; it’s a short walk and, again, it provides stunning views of Anaga.

I would say you could easily spend a day in Anaga – there are a lot of hiking trails to explore in this park, so make sure to not skip that! I found a lot of articles on Google recommending different hiking trails – short and long ones.

Then, it was time to explore San Cristóbal de La Laguna, an adorable city which was once the capital of Tenerife and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Be aware the weather here is usually hot and humid. Besides featuring fine examples of Canarias architecture, this city offers art galleries, designer boutiques, and some of the island’s oldest shops. The vibe here is vibrant – San Cristóbal de La Laguna is where University of La Laguna is located, so many young people live here. There are a lot of cute streets closed to cars, with restaurants and bars and their tables outside. Such a nice vibe!

After exploring the city, we headed to Casa Del Vino de Tenerife – a wine store, museum, and wonderful restaurant all in one location. Make sure to ask for a table in the outdoor area – the ocean views are stunning, and you can also see Teide. The food here was so tasty! From the ravioli to the pork dish and the dessert, this was one of my best meals in Tenerife. All were paired with local wines.

Views from our room at Hotel Botanico

After lunch – please note most of our lunches were at 2 pm! – we headed to Hotel Botanico & The Oriental Spa Garden in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Since we got here a little bit earlier, we had time to enjoy the spa facilities, and we even booked a massage. Then, we headed to    to catch the sunset. It was beautiful! It was a recommendation from our guide Nayra, who also listed other places we should explore – but it was getting late, and we didn’t have a lot of time, so we got back to the hotel, but these were the spots she recommended: Paseo San Telmo, Plaza del Charco, Calle Mequinez and Playa Jardín. These spots are saved on the map at the bottom of this post.

Back at the hotel, we had dinner at Il Pappagallo, one of their restaurants.

Day 4 – La Orotava, Teide National Park and Windsurf

I was looking forward to this day because of the National Park. But before heading to one of the most famous spots in Tenerife, we stopped by La Orotava. This old town is welcoming, with its maze of cobbled streets. Be prepared, cause there are a lot of steepest streets. Here, one of the places you can’t miss is the Marquesado de la Quinta Roja Garden – also known as the Jardín Victoria, it’s a hillside park with fountains, flowers & an 1800s mausoleum, plus views of the sea & the old town. Also, make sure to stop by Hijuela del Botánico – established in 1788, this botanical garden has thousands of plant varieties from all over the world, including the Dragon Tree, one of the symbols of Tenerife, native to the Canary Islands – did you know that it’s not a tree but a plant? You will see a lot of them in Tenerife and the one at Hijuela del Botánico is stunning! If you go early in the morning – around 9:30 am – the place is usually empty.

Hijuela del Botánico

Marquesado de la Quinta Roja Garden

After our stroll around La Orotava, we headed to Teide National Park, which is, without doubt, Tenerife’s icon. Teide National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 under the Natural Asset category. It lies in the middle of the Island, at an altitude of 2,000 m (6,500 ft) above sea level. It features a unique landscape of craters, volcanoes and rivers of petrified lava, surrounding the impressive silhouette of Teide Volcano (Spain’s highest peak) that stands at 3,718 m (12,198 ft) above sea level. It’s one of Spain’s most visited national parks.

There are a lot of “miradores” (points of view; you can check some of them on my map), and there are a lot of hiking trail possibilities. You can even take the Teide Teleférico, which is a cable car system that takes passengers near the summit of Teide. The journey to the upper station takes about 8 minutes and covers a vertical distance of over 1,000 meters. Also, remember that to reach the actual summit, you need a special permit from the Spanish National Parks Service, as it’s a protected area. Nayra, our guide, leads hiking in Teide every week – so make sure to talk to her!

We had such a fantastic time in Teide National Park – it feels like you are in a completely different place; it even feels like another planet. In fact, did you know that NASA uses the area for research and training? The volcanic rocks, soil, and extreme conditions are used to test equipment, conduct scientific research, and train astronauts for future missions to Mars. Isn’t that fascinating? Even if you are not into hiking, save some time exploring the park by car, stopping by some spots, and taking pics (that’s what we did due to the limited time).

At Parador de Cañadas del Teide restaurant, you can eat with this view.

And we had lunch at Parador de Cañadas del Teide – it’s a unique mountain lodge featuring a restaurant (don’t forget to make a reservation).

And after that, we headed to the last activity of the day: windsurf clinic with Wind Center Playa Surf, in El Médano. Located on the southeastern coast of the island, near the Tenerife South Airport, this is one of the best and most famous spots for windsurfing and kitesurfing in Tenerife. Prices start at 65€ / 1 hour. As I mentioned, I’m not a good swimmer, so I didn’t feel confident to go on this experience, so Thiago was the one who tried, and he had a great time. The staff was super friendly, and his instructor was very patient. They provided the proper clothing, and he first had a class at the beach before heading to the water. If you are into trying new things, definitely include that on your list!

Finally, it was time to check in at our last hotel of this trip: Hotel Royal Hideaway Corales Resort  – one of the most amazing hotels I’ve ever stayed! This is a luxurious five-star hotel located in Costa Adeje, on the southern coast of Tenerife. The resort is split into two sections: Royal Hideaway Corales Suites, which is family-friendly, and Royal Hideaway Corales Beach, which is an adults-only section. They have pools, a spa, an amazing fitness center, and a variety of restaurants and bars (including Michelin-star restaurants!).

The view from our room at Hotel Royal Hideaway Corales Resort

Day 5 – Kayaking and Whale Watching

Thiago had to fly back to NYC before me due to a work trip, so, on this day, it was only me and Nayra (and the driver who was driving us around). Our day started with Kayak at Los Acantilados de Los Gigantes with Teno Activo. Los Gigantes is a coastal town located on the western coast of Tenerife, famous for its towering cliffs, known as the Acantilados de Los Gigantes (Cliffs of the Giants). These huge rock walls rise up to 600 meters (almost 2,000 feet) above sea level and drop dramatically into the Atlantic Ocean, creating breathtaking natural landscapes. And because of the calm waters, it makes the perfect spot for water-based activities. Our kayak tour lasted around 2 hours, and I can reassure you that the waters are really calm. I had such a great time, and I mean… the views are just stunning! Our group had around 7 kayaks, and Teno Activo accompanied us with a motorized boat, and we had stops to swim and practice snorkel. Highly recommend! Los Gigantes is also a great spot for whale watching.

After that, we headed to Restaurante Muelle Viejo – and the lunch we had here is also among the favorite meals I had in Tenerife! This is a very popular seafood restaurant in Los Abrigos, with stunning ocean views and nice staff. Everything we tasted was delicious – including the local wine.

We went for a short walk right after, and then it was time for the last activity of the day: whale watching in Puerto Colón with Eco Catamarán White Paradise. The tour lasted three hours, and it was such a nice experience; it sails towards the waters between Tenerife and La Gomera (another island in the Canary Islands), and the area has been designated as a Whale Heritage Site by the World Cetacean Alliance (WCA). It is a critical area for marine life conservation and responsible whale-watching tourism.

The catamarán boat is super comfortable and stable – there are areas to lie down and relax, and drinks and snacks are included.  The most common whale to be seen is the Pilot Whale, but they have registered up to 28 different species in the area. They even use a hydrophone to track the songs of the whales. And in case you are wondering, yes, we saw them – many of them! It was such a cool and emotional experience; it was my first time seeing whales so close, and I will never forget this experience!

Day 6 – free day

Since I would depart early on the following day (Tuesday), I spent my last full day in Tenerife just relaxing at the amazing Hotel Royal Hideaway Corales Resort. I spent some time at the gym, had a delicious breakfast, relaxed at the pool and went to bed early to be fully rested.

Is Tenerife worth it?

ABSOLUTELY! Honestly, Tenerife deserves so much hype! It’s such an amazing destination.  The island exceeded all my expectations – I was amazed by the amount of things to do and places to explore and how every corner of this island is special by itself. From the charming towns to Teide National Park – you drive half an hour and you feel you are in a completely different place. Not to mention how nice the people are and the delicious food. You have everything. I was able to completely disconnect and felt so welcomed. I couldn’t recommend the place enough, especially now that it’s just a non-stop flight away from NYC.

Surprisingly, a lot of people on my IG sent me messages saying they were amazed by the videos and photos of the places I was visiting. They said they had no idea Tenerife was like that. I’m happy to spread the good word about the island 🙂 And I’m curious about the other islands as well!

Other important info and tips

• Language: the official language is Spanish – but people in all the places we visited also spoke English! As someone who speaks Spanish, I was happy to practice and I must say their accent is pretty easy to understand.
• Currency: The currency in Tenerife is the euro (EUR).
• Time Zone: During Standard Time (late October to late March), Tenerife is 5 hours ahead of the U.S. East Coast. During Daylight Saving Time (late March to late October), Tenerife observes Western European Summer Time (WEST), which is GMT+1, so it’s 4 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time.
• Sunrise and sunset: make sure to check the sunrise and sunset times for the period of your trip. While we were there, the sun was rising pretty late, around 8am, and the sunset was around 7:45pm.
• Packing: I traveled with my carry-on and a backpack. Here’s what I packed:
  ✔️6 tops
  ✔️3 shorts
  ✔️3 pants
  ✔️1 dress
  ✔️1 shirt
  ✔️Workout clothes (3 tops, 2 shorts)
  ✔️PJs
  ✔️Intimates
  ✔️Light jacket
  ✔️1 pair of sandals / 1 pair of sneakers

Overall, I think I made great choices in terms of packing and it was perfect for the temperature that I encountered in the island.

FINAL TIP: You probably noticed we didn’t eat in a lot of restaurants besides the ones at the hotels – and although we had amazing meals at these places, I did miss checking more of the local spots. The culinary scene in Tenerife is rich and you should definitely explore that. One tip our guide shared with us is about the guanchiches. Guachinches are small, family-run restaurants, often informal and rural, where locals serve traditional Canarian food, usually paired with their own homemade wine. The concept originated in the northern part of Tenerife and evolved from wine producers offering meals to complement the wines they were selling. Just search on Google Maps and you will find a lot of them – the food is delicious and affordable according to Nayra. 

And that’s a wrap! I hope my post can inspire you to plan a trip to Tenerife! Please check the map below!

While this trip was an invite from Visit Tenerife, all the opinions on this post are mine. 

Laura Peruchi

Content creator and journalist in New York City. Here, I share lifestyle, beauty, NYC tips, thoughts, and the struggles about living in the most amazing city in the world! I’m not gonna pretend to be another person: I’m a Brazilian immigrant and I think this is my soul, it is part of who I am. I hope you enjoy my content! Follow me on Instagram!