Are you traveling to Tenerife soon? Check out this article on six awesome Tenerife South activities to make your itinerary even more exciting and adventurous!
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Tenerife South Activities
If you’ve read any of my previous articles about Tenerife, like this one on the top places to see as a first-time visitor, you know I prefer Tenerife North for many reasons, including the many hiking trails, lush greenery, and charming little villages. However, if there’s one thing that Tenerife South doesn’t lack, it’s cool activities!
Whether you want to try surfing, go on a boat ride, or experience something even more adventurous like paragliding, you’ll find plenty of activities in Tenerife South. In this article, I want to share with you what I think are some of the coolest experiences in the southern part of the Canary Island.
I have tried various platforms for booking activities, and I recently found Manawa, which I tried and had a great experience with. While they may not offer as many activities as other providers, I love that they focus on a few quality activities provided by local hosts. I believe in supporting the local economy when traveling, so this factor alone convinced me to try and recommend them. Plus, they do have many amazing activities at various price points.
I’ll give some details about each activity, but here is an overview of the activities with the organizer and starting price.
| Surfing in Las Américas | Kontraola Surf School | From €35 | Book Here |
| Kayak Tour in Los Gigantes | Teno Activo | From €30 | Book Here |
| Kayaking in Los Cristianos | Travel Sub Dive Center | From €39 | Book Here |
| Boat Tour and Snorkeling in Costa Adeje | Xplore Tenerife | From €40 | Book Here |
| Whale Watching in Los Gigantes | Blue Dream Sailing | From €65 | Book Here |
| Tandem Paragliding in Costa Adeje | Touch The Sky | From €90 | Book Here |
Surfing in Las Américas
Let’s kick off this list of Tenerife South activities with one of my favorites that I tried and couldn’t recommend enough. Surfing is a major pastime in Tenerife, so you’ll find plenty of surf lessons all over the island, but I loved this one in Las Américas.
The provider of this activity, Kontraola Surf School, is a local school right in front of Playa de las Américas. The 2-hour activity includes a short session on the sand focusing on theory and safety before jumping in the water and trying to catch some waves.
I joined the evening session that ended around sunset, but they also offered morning lessons. I loved that the instructor was focused on helping us to catch some waves while also having fun and enjoying the activity.
Depending on your budget and preference, you can choose between private and group sessions. Group sessions are limited to a maximum of 12 participants.
Kayak Tour in Los Gigantes
If you’re any better than me at kayaking, and it doesn’t take much, then you should try this kayak tour in Los Gigantes. Imagine paddling in crystalline waters and staring at impressive volcanic landscapes, then hopping in the water for snorkeling.
The dramatic cliffs of Los Gigantes are a magnificent sight from the coast, but even more impressive from the water. The 500-meter cliffs were known as the Wall of Hell, given how they rise vertically from the ocean. You don’t want to miss an opportunity to check them out up close.
A local multilingual instructor will guide you along the imposing coast from Puerto de Los Gigantes and point out the most stunning geological features and hidden coves along this portion of Tenerife South’s coastline.
The group activity, provided by Teno Activo, has a capacity for up to 20 participants. Normally, they provide double kayaks, but you can request a single if you have experience kayaking.
Kayaking in Los Cristianos
Another great kayaking tour you can try, this time in Los Cristianos, is provided by Xplore Tenerife. The cool thing about this activity is the high chance of spotting dolphins and turtles while you glide by on the calm waters in your kayak.
This activity lasts three hours and includes all the necessary equipment, from kayaks and paddles to life vests, snorkel equipment, and wetsuits in the wintertime. You can choose between multiple time slots during the day, but book ahead, especially in the summer months.
This part of Tenerife South is very popular among tourists, so you should plan your trip in advance, especially if you want to stay in Los Cristianos. While it may be a tourist hotspot, it’s also one of the best places to spot marine life, including various dolphin species, turtles, and bull rays. The easiest to spot are bottlenose dolphins, who may even get close and swim along the kayaks.
Boat Tour and Snorkeling in Costa Adeje
If kayaking is not your thing, but you love spending time on a boat and snorkeling, add this one to your list of Tenerife South activities. On this boat tour in Costa Adeje, you can spot the diverse marine life in the Canary Islands while relaxing on a boat.
You will meet the rest of the group at the provider’s location, Travel Sub Dive Center, and start the activity with a preparation session and gearing up. Then, you will hop on a boat for a 20 to 30-minute ride to the best location for diving and snorkeling, where you’ll get to spend over one hour in the water. In total, the activity lasts three hours.
The staff at Travel Sub Dive Center speaks Spanish, English, and German. The activity includes everything from the boat ride and equipment to insurance, water, and snacks. You just need to pack your swimsuit, towel, and sunscreen.
Whale Watching in Los Gigantes
If you travel to Tenerife in winter or early spring, you should add whale watching to your list of activities. While you can spot dolphins and whales year-round, these seasons are considered the best.
This tour is slightly more expensive than the rest, but it does include a delicious tapas meal on the boat while admiring the stunning coastline. You can join the group tour, or if you are traveling with a group yourself, book a private tour. They offer various private tour options, from short 3-hour to full-day tours. Group tours last three hours.
The activity’s organizer is Blue Dream Sailing, a local company based in Los Gigantes. They sail around the coastline with their sailing boat, “Sangria.” You will meet your host at La Marina Los Gigantes sports pier, sail along Los Gigantes cliffs, check out one of the many natural coves, enjoy a tasty meal (vegan and vegetarian options available), and sail back to the departure point.
Tandem Paragliding in Costa Adeje
Lastly, consider this tandem paragliding flight in Costa Adeje if you’re looking for a more adventurous experience. This is a great way to admire the coastline of Tenerife South. If you’re lucky and the sky is clear, you can enjoy the sight of Mount Teide towering over the island.
The flight takes off from Taucho, roughly 20 to 30 minutes driving from Playa de las Americas or Los Cristianos. Pick-up service from the south of Tenerife is included in the activity, along with all the necessary equipment.
The flight lasts between 15 and 20 minutes, depending on the weather. After landing, you will drive back to the meeting point, which you arrange with your instructor when booking the activity. While I haven’t tried this one yet, it’s definitely on my to-do list for my next trip to Tenerife.
Tenerife Quick Facts
Before wrapping this up, I wanted to share some quick facts about Tenerife. I spent over two months on the island over the past three years and pretty much explored all the must-see spots.
Tenerife has two international airports, Tenerife South and Tenerife North. The former tends to have more flights, as most people prefer staying in the south, where most sandy beaches and big hotels are. You can find affordable flights to Tenerife from many European cities.
You can easily get around the island by public transport, which works well for most destinations. You can find more information on the Titsa website. However, bus rides are less frequent on Sundays and holidays, so plan accordingly.
If you don’t want to spend your holiday waiting around for the bus, you can always rent a car. My favorite website for rental deals is DiscoverCars.
You can find plenty of accommodation virtually everywhere on the island. If you stay in the south, you’ll find a vast choice of hotels. The most popular places to base yourself are Los Cristianos, Playa de Las Américas, El Medano, and Costa Adeje. In the north, aside from Santa Cruz, I recommend checking out Puerto de la Cruz, San Cristobal de La Laguna, and La Orotava.
While this article was all about Tenerife South activities, don’t dismiss the north of the island. Aside from the capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, there are plenty more lovely towns to discover. Some of my favorites are Garachico and Taganana. The latter is in the Anaga Rural Park, one of my favorite places for cool hikes like this one. You can also explore hidden gems, like this hike near Puerto de La Cruz.
That wraps up this article on the coolest activities to try in Tenerife South. I hope you try some of these and enjoy this spectacular, vibrant Canaryv Island and its unique landscapes.
Let me know in the comments if you tried any of these activities! Enjoy!
Travel Resources
| Purpose | Website/App | Description | Book Here |
| Accommodation | Booking.com | My favorite website for great accommodation for different budgets. | Find a Place |
| Flights | Skyscanner | The platform I typically use for finding the most affordable flights. | Find Flights |
| Cheap Buses | Flixbus | My favorite app for cheap bus fares around most of Europe and the US. | Bus Rides |
| Transportation | Omio | You can book everything from buses and trains to ferry rides. | Transportation |
| Train Travel | Trainline | If you travel by train, this app is great for booking rides in Europe. | Train Rides |
| Travel Insurance | SafetyWing | One of the best travel medical insurances for frequent travelers. | Get Insured |
| Activities | Manawa | A great platform to book activities and adventures with local hosts. | Find Activities |
| Experiences | GetYourGuide | Another great platform for tours and experiences with lots of options. | Experiences |
| Car Rental | DiscoverCars | My go-to platform for car rental anywhere in the world. | Rent a Car |
| eSIM | Airalo | My favorite app for buying digital SIM cards when traveling abroad. | Get an eSIM |
TL;DR
Here are six cool activities to try in Tenerife South:
- Surfing in Las Américas
- Kayak Tour in Los Gigantes
- Kayaking in Los Cristianos
- Boat Tour and Snorkeling in Costa Adeje
- Whale Watching in Los Gigantes
- Tandem Paragliding in Costa Adeje
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