Tenerife, the European Hawaii – 5 reasons to put it on your bucket list

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I never forget that ugly November morning when I opened up my laptop and saw that my flight to Hawaii was cancelled.

But that’s when the real adventure started. In the middle of the European winter, I was desperately looking for a substitute destination that could bring me back the Hawaiian feeling. Warmth, sunshine, untouched nature and a one-of-a-kind hiking experience. After a few hours of online research, the sources directed me to the so-called “European Hawaii”. The Canary Islands.

100 kilometers (62 miles) west of Morocco but officially belonging to Spain, this volcanic archipelago consists of seven major islands. Known for their black and red sand beaches and a year-round temperature of 20-25°C (68-75°F), I was hooked before I knew it.

A few days after, I was on a plane flying to Tenerife, the largest island of the Canaries. And what I found there is everything I wanted from Hawaii – just on a way smaller budget. Here are 5 reasons why you need to check it out.

1. Volcanic Island

Tenerife is dominated by the sometimes-snowy active volcano Mt. Teide. With a mountain so high that it’s actually Spain’s highest peak (3,718 m), the weather in Tenerife is super dependant on whether you are going to the North or the South of the island.

When it comes to beaches, South is the way to go. Tenerife has both red and black sand beaches which is the result of a volcanic basaltic coastline meeting the erosion of the sea. One of the largest natural beaches on the island, La Tejita is located half an hour’s walk from El Médano, that is a kitesurfers’ paradise on the South end of the island.

However, that does not mean that you can’t find jawdropping coastlines on the North side as well. 20 minutes by public transport from Santa Cruz (the largest town in the North), Las Teresitas has a beautiful beach and a viewpoint which is perfectly located for watching the sunset over the bay.

The view from the hilltop of Las Teresitas.

2. Hiking trails

When going to Tenerife, I suggest you have your hiking boots on you. When staying in the El Medano/Los Abrigos area (where the South Airport is located), you can do a great one-day hike to Masca and the surrounding mountains. You can either go on your own (if you are able to read signs in the forest), or you can also opt for a guided tour like I did.

This little village called Masca existed even before the Spanish conquered the Canary Islands. Although the village has hundreds of years of history, it is only 40 years ago that the first road was built to connect it to civilization. Until then, it could only be accessed by foot or by donkey through the pathways of the Masca Gorge. But the 3 hours hike is so worth it.

When I was there, I went on a small group tour organized by Canarias World, and I can’t recommend them enough! (No paid advertisement here.) Their driver picked me up on time early in the morning. The hike was doable with a knowlegable guide, and included a lunch break on the top of a mountain with killer views of the ocean and the surrounding peaks. After having some rest in Masca, we concluded the day with a boat trip to the famous cliffs of Los Gigantes, with dolphins following us on our way back to the port.

3. Abandoned beaches

The perks of travelling to Tenerife during winter months (from November to February) is having entire beaches just for yourself. Even in December it is still warm enough to walk around in your swimsuits and run into the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

A great local tip that I got from my hostel receptionist in El Medano is that far away from tourist resorts, somewhere between the outskirts of Los Abrigos and the middle of nowhere, there is a natural rock pool in the ocean. The place is so chill that most hippies jump into the water naked. It feels like total freedom.

4. Local culture and cuisine

Visiting the North of the island is something you will not regret, even when you’re flying in and out from the South’s airport (TFS). Half an hour from the Island’s capital, Santa Cruz, there is a little town called San Cristóbal de La Laguna, which is a Unesco World Heritage Site with colorful houses and a well-preserved city center. It is also the oldest town on the entire island.

There is no better place to try out local dishes than in the streets of La Laguna. With my zero to super limited Spanish, I managed to order the house’s specialities in most restaurants and without understanding a single word from the Menu, I was in for a treat all the time. ”Cazuela de Pescado” or ”Potaje de berros” are some divine stuff that I added to my dictionary afterwards.

5. Rainforest National park

Less than an hour's drive from La Laguna, you’ll find the Anaga Rural Park which is home to some of the most beautiful hiking trails of Europe. Also, before I went there I did not know that there is an actual rainforest in Europe. Well, it is not located on the main continent, but technically it is part of Europe so the statement still stands. Between the mountains of Anaga, you can explore the only rainforest of Europe. If you’re not with a car, be careful with the bus schedule though: public buses from and back to La Laguna only go a few times per day.