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Whale watching from Los Gigantes or Puerto Colón

Take a boat to the pilot whales and dolphins that live between Tenerife and La Gomera all year. Beneath the Los Gigantes cliffs the backdrop is most impressive.

🕘 Best time

In the morning, when the sea is often calmer. Possible all year.

📍 Where

Harbours of Los Gigantes, Puerto Colón (Costa Adeje), Los Cristianos or Las Galletas in the south

💡 Tip

Look for the “Barco Azul” flag issued by the Canary Islands government: it marks boats authorised for whale watching. Good operators keep at least sixty metres away and stay no longer than half an hour with one group. With toddlers, pick the short catamaran trip of about two hours.

two to three hoursall ages€€book aheadSource

Loro Parque

Animal park with parrots, the “Planet Penguin” ice world, gorillas and dolphins. Shows are spread over the day, and you explore in between.

🕘 Best time

Arrive at opening around half past nine to get the whole day. Usually open daily.

📍 Where

Puerto de la Cruz in the north; free little train from Plaza de los Reyes Católicos

💡 Tip

Buy tickets online and photograph the show times at the entrance so you can plan around the favourite show. The free train runs about every twenty minutes.

full dayall ages€€€pushchair okSource

Siam Park

Thai-style water park with the Mai Thai lazy river, a wave pool with very high waves and the “Tower of Power” slide that runs through a shark tank.

🕘 Best time

Weekdays at opening; pleasant in winter because the water is heated.

📍 Where

Costa Adeje in the south, near Playa de las Américas

💡 Tip

Do the long lazy river first with little ones, before it fills up. In the Wave Palace, kids are better off on the beach; the waves are big.

full daykids and teens€€€heatedSource

Playa de las Teresitas

Golden beach with sand from the Sahara, sheltered by a long breakwater. The water is calm and shallow, perfect for splashing.

🕘 Best time

Weekday mornings; at weekends half of Santa Cruz comes.

📍 Where

Near San Andrés, northeast of Santa Cruz; bus from Santa Cruz, car park at the beach

💡 Tip

Tell the kids beforehand that ships brought the sand from the desert, and let them compare it with the black volcanic sand on other beaches.

half dayall agesfreeSource

Teide cable car

In about eight minutes you float from the base station to over three thousand five hundred metres. At the top a short loop leads around the La Rambleta viewing platform.

🕘 Best time

First ride from 9 am, when queues and wind are usually smaller. In winter the last ride up is already in the afternoon.

📍 Where

Teide National Park, base station on the TF-21; about an hour by car from the south

💡 Tip

Children under three are not allowed. The cable car often closes in strong wind, especially in winter: keep a spare day. The summit needs a separate national park permit.

two to three hoursage three and up€€book onlineSource

Starry sky in Teide National Park

After sunset the caldera turns into a planetarium: the Milky Way with the naked eye. The observatory telescopes stand not far away.

🕘 Best time

Winter sunset is around half past six; wait an hour after that. Nights around the new moon are darkest.

📍 Where

Viewpoints along the TF-21 in the national park, above the clouds

💡 Tip

At night it is close to freezing up there: bring hats, blankets and hot tea. If you want more, book a guided telescope tour.

two hoursage six and upfreevery coldSource

Sendero de los Sentidos, Anaga

Short loop through the laurel cloud forest with stations for smelling, listening and touching. The first section is a wooden boardwalk.

🕘 Best time

In the morning; when the trade-wind clouds hang in the trees it feels like a fairy-tale forest.

📍 Where

Starts at the Cruz del Carmen visitor centre in the Anaga mountains, about twenty minutes from La Laguna

💡 Tip

Route one works with a pushchair. Bring a jacket, Anaga is cooler and damper than the coast.

one hourall agesfreepushchair on route oneSource

Masca in the Teno mountains

The mountain village clings to a rocky ridge above a deep gorge. The hairpin drive there is an experience in itself.

🕘 Best time

Early in the morning, before the narrow road gets busy.

📍 Where

Northwest, via Santiago del Teide or Buenavista; only practical by rental car

💡 Tip

The gorge hike is regulated: booking only via caminobarrancodemasca.com, with a shuttle bus from Santiago del Teide, usually only Friday to Sunday. With small kids, the view from the village is enough.

half dayhead for heightsrental carSource

San Cristóbal de La Laguna

The old capital is a UNESCO World Heritage site: colourful façades, wooden balconies and courtyards. In the evening the town gathers around Plaza del Adelantado.

🕘 Best time

Weekday mornings for strolling, early evening for life on the squares.

📍 Where

In the northeast, above Santa Cruz; tram from Santa Cruz

💡 Tip

Leave the car and take the tram, parking in the old town is scarce. Many streets are pedestrianised and easy with a pushchair.

half dayall agesfreeSource

Drago Milenario, Icod de los Vinos

The most famous dragon tree of the Canaries, many centuries old. In the Parque del Drago a loop path takes you right up to it.

🕘 Best time

In the morning, when the light falls on the crown. The park usually opens at 9 am.

📍 Where

Icod de los Vinos in the northwest, at Plaza de la Iglesia de San Marcos

💡 Tip

From the San Marcos church square you can see the tree for free. Children under six enter the park free. Ask about the red resin, the “dragon’s blood”.

one hourall ages€Source

Lago Martiánez, Puerto de la Cruz

Seawater pools with islands and a water volcano, designed by César Manrique. Instead of Atlantic surf you swim in shelter here.

🕘 Best time

Swim in the morning, then stroll the old town and harbour of Puerto de la Cruz in the afternoon.

📍 Where

Puerto de la Cruz, at the eastern end of the seafront promenade

💡 Tip

Reopened after renovation, but the water is fresh in winter: check current times with the town. If the north is cloudy, keep a plan B in the south.

half dayall ages€Source

Santa Cruz Carnival

One of the biggest carnivals in the world: parades, costumes and music all over the city centre. Families mostly come during the day.

🕘 Best time

Late February. According to the city, the 2027 street carnival runs from the nineteenth to the twenty-eighth of February.

📍 Where

Central Santa Cruz de Tenerife, around Plaza de España and Avenida de Anaga

💡 Tip

With kids, go for the parades and the Saturday daytime carnival rather than the long nights. Bring costumes, almost everyone dresses up.

Februaryall agesfreebook lodging earlySource

Mercado Nuestra Señora de África

The market hall of Santa Cruz, which locals call “La Recova”. Fruit, fish, cheese and mojo stalls around a courtyard, plus small bars.

🕘 Best time

In the morning; the market opens early and usually closes in the early afternoon. Saturday is busiest.

📍 Where

Santa Cruz de Tenerife, El Toscal district, near Iglesia de la Concepción

💡 Tip

Have breakfast in one of the bars and try tropical fruit you will not find at home. A jar of mojo makes a good souvenir.

one hourall ages€since the fortiesSource

Guachinches in the north

Winemaking families pour their own wine and cook a few home dishes: chickpea stew, carne fiesta, potatoes with mojo.

🕘 Best time

Weekend lunchtime. The season traditionally starts in late November and ends when the wine runs out.

📍 Where

Wine villages in the north: Tacoronte, El Sauzal, La Orotava, Los Realejos

💡 Tip

Bring cash, cards often do not work. You recognise a real guachinche by the official plaque at the entrance. Kids drink water, as only wine and water are served.

two hoursall ages€cash onlySource

Tacoronte farmers’ market

Farmers’ market with potatoes, goat cheese, honey, bread and wine straight from the growers. Everything you need for papas arrugadas with red and green mojo.

🕘 Best time

Saturday and Sunday mornings, usually until 2 pm.

📍 Where

Tacoronte, on the road to Tejina

💡 Tip

Buy small potatoes and boil them in very salty water in your holiday flat until the skins wrinkle. Let the kids do the salting.

one hourall ages€weekends onlySource

Casa del Vino, El Sauzal

Wine and honey museum in an old Canarian estate, with a tasting room for island wines with cheese and mojos, plus a restaurant.

🕘 Best time

In the afternoon on the way back from the north.

📍 Where

El Sauzal, off the motorway between Santa Cruz and Puerto de la Cruz

💡 Tip

The estate sits high above the north coast with a fine sea view. Check opening times on the website first.

one to two hoursall ages€€Source