Beaches, cocktails and parties are some of the words that conjure up when you think of Tenerife Island. Those things are there and in abundance but there is another side to Tenerife that is a little more surprising. On the Northside of Tenerife, you will find National Parks, quaint little villages and fantastic local restaurants. We think it is the best part of Tenerife to visit!

Teide National Park 

Teide National Park is so big that it dominates the centre of the island. This is one of the most visited National Parks in the world and it is hard not to see why. There's a huge volcano in the park, the landscapes change dramatically from part of the park to another and apart from one hotel (where you can have lunch), there are no buildings ruining nature’s beauty. Teide National Park is a must-see.

Beaches in North Tenerife 

Tenerife is a Volcanic Island which means all the natural beaches on the island consist of black sand. The white sand beaches you do find on the island are mainly man-made with the sand coming over from Western Sahara. The beaches in Northern Tenerife are great for surfing, natural beauty and sunsets. 

Anaga Rural Park 

This protected biosphere is one of the most popular spots in North Tenerife with hikers loving the walks through the cool forest. The park has trails leading up to mountains, through forest walks or down to beaches so there is enough variety to keep the most demanding of walkers happy! If you walk to Chinamada you will discover the famous Cave Houses there. These are houses literary cut into the cave which helps keep the building cool. A natural A/C unit if you like.

Icod de Los Vinos

Icod de Los Vinos  is a picturesque town in Tenerife’s Northwest. Its cobbled streets are full of art galleries, restaurants and bars. It is the type of place where you end up staying a lot longer than planned because it is so nice.

The Carnival Museum- Santa Cruz 

Tenerife is carnival mad. If you really want to get under the skin of Tenerife then you should visit during carnival where you will see the locals really going for it. The carnival in Tenerife is the 2nd largest in the world after Rio and is considered perfect for families. It also a lot easier to attend if you are based in Europe. If you can’t manage that the next best thing is to visit The Carnival Museum in Tenerife’s capital, Santa Cruz. Not only does the museum explain all about the history of Carnival through videos, installations and guides it also shows you how important and fun carnival is on the island. You can also dress up in carnival gear to really get the feeling of Carnival.

Where to stay 

Hotel Botanico Oriental Spa Tenerife is one of our favourite hotels, located in Puerto de la Cruz. With spacious rooms, a beautiful spa, indoor and outdoor pools, excellent restaurants and just a short walk in to town to explore what Puerto de la Cruz has to offer, its the perfect place to stay in North Tenerife.