Best Excursions in Tenerife

Tenerife packs more geography into one island than seems reasonable: you can watch pilot whales from a boat in the morning, stand at 3,555 metres on the slopes of Spain's highest peak by evening, and be back at your hotel before midnight. That range is exactly what makes choosing excursions harder than it should be — search any booking platform and you'll find dozens of near-identical "highlights" tours. This guide narrows it down to the eight we'd actually book, each chosen for a specific kind of experience, with realistic prices, durations and honest notes on who each one suits.

Where you stay changes which excursions make sense. Most operators offer hotel pick-up across the southern resort belt — Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas — while Loro Parque and the Anaga mountains are much closer to the north. If you haven't chosen a base yet, our best hotels in Tenerife South and best hotels in Tenerife North guides cover every budget, and our Tenerife south vs north guide explains the difference.

Quick Decision Guide

Short on time? Match what you're after to our pick, then scroll down for the full review.

Quick Comparison: All 8 Excursions

Prices are typical 2026 starting rates per adult and vary by operator, season and what's included (transfers, meals, cable car). Siam Park and Loro Parque child tickets (3–11) cost €32. Always confirm before booking.

I. Whale & Dolphin Watching

The channel between Tenerife and La Gomera is one of the best places in Europe to see cetaceans in the wild. A resident population of short-finned pilot whales lives in the deep water year-round, often joined by bottlenose and Atlantic spotted dolphins, and occasionally by other species. Because the pods stay so close to the south-west coast, boats reach them quickly, and operators report very high sighting rates — although, as with any wildlife, sightings can never be guaranteed.

Trips run on catamarans, sailing boats and smaller vessels, often with a guide explaining behaviour as the animals appear, and many include a swim stop. Choose an operator that follows the Canary Islands' responsible whale-watching rules on distance and approach — it's better for the animals and, usually, for the sighting too. It's one of the easiest excursions for young children, as most of the trip is spent seated, but anyone prone to seasickness should book a morning departure, when the sea tends to be calmer.

II. Teide Sunset & Stargazing Tour

This is the most memorable evening most visitors have in Tenerife. Tours drive up through the pine forest to Teide National Park in the late afternoon, timed to watch the sun set above a sea of clouds — on clear evenings, with Teide's shadow stretching across the ocean towards La Gomera and Gran Canaria. After dark, certified guides set up telescopes and lead a tour of the night sky. Tenerife's skies are protected by law against light pollution, and Teide is certified as a Starlight Reserve, which makes it one of the best stargazing destinations in Europe.

Most coach tours stay at viewpoints around 2,000 metres and don't include the cable car; some premium options add a cable car ride or dinner, and cost considerably more, so check what's included before you book. Temperatures drop sharply after sunset at altitude, even in summer, so bring warm layers and closed shoes. Night-time activities on Teide are not suitable for children under 8, and the cable car does not admit children under 3 or pregnant women. For daytime visits and hiking routes, see our Teide National Park guide.

III. Masca & Teno Rural Park Jeep Safari

Masca is Tenerife's most photographed village, wedged into a volcanic ravine in the Teno massif. A jeep safari is the easiest way for most visitors to see it: 4x4 convoys wind along the spectacular TF-436 road through pine forest and terraced hillsides, stopping at viewpoints over Masca and the coast before continuing into the Teno Rural Park and back via Buenavista del Norte or Garachico. Guides usually add commentary on the island's volcanic history and traditional farming terraces.

If you'd rather hike down the gorge itself, the Masca trail reopened in 2021 after several years' closure and now requires an advance booking and access fee; it can close after rain or rockfalls, so check its status first — our Masca Gorge guide explains the system. The TF-436 is one of the most winding roads in the Canaries, so take motion-sickness precautions if you're prone to it.

IV. Boat Trip to the Los Gigantes Cliffs

For a more relaxed day on the water than a dedicated whale-watching trip, boats from Los Gigantes harbour and Puerto Colón sail beneath the "Cliffs of the Giants" — sheer volcanic walls rising several hundred metres straight out of the Atlantic, among the most impressive sea cliffs in the Canaries. Most routes include a swim and snorkel stop in a sheltered bay, and, because this coast sits close to the whale-watching channel, there's a good chance of seeing dolphins or pilot whales on the way.

The pace is gentle, with shaded deck space and no fixed programme to keep small children to, which makes it one of the easiest family excursions on the island. Morning departures usually offer the calmest water and best visibility for snorkelling. If you're staying on the west coast, Barceló Santiago in Puerto de Santiago is a few minutes from the harbour.

V. Anaga Rural Park Guided Hike

The Anaga Rural Park, at Tenerife's north-eastern tip and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is the island at its most primeval: ancient laurel forest (laurisilva), a relic of the subtropical forests that once covered much of southern Europe, draped in moss and mist, and jagged ridges dropping straight to the Atlantic. Guided hikes follow trails such as the Sendero de los Sentidos near Cruz del Carmen or routes towards villages like Taganana and Chamorga.

A guide adds real value here — explaining the forest's unique ecology and finding the way on trails where the weather and visibility can change quickly. Trails can be muddy and root-covered even in dry weather, so bring proper footwear and a light waterproof layer, as mist often rolls in by midday. For independent routes, see our Anaga Rural Park guide.

VI. Siam Park

Siam Park is repeatedly named one of the best water parks in the world, and it lives up to the reputation: Thai-themed architecture, headline rides such as the near-vertical Tower of Power and the Singha water rollercoaster, the long Mai Thai river and one of the largest artificial wave pools anywhere. Younger children have their own areas — the Lost City water playground, Coco Beach and Sawasdee — and under-3s enter free.

Standard tickets cost around €44 for adults and €32 for children aged 3–11 (€48 and €36 in July and August), and the Twin Ticket with Loro Parque is the better deal if you plan to visit both. Arrive at opening in summer, when queues for the big slides build quickly. For more family ideas, see our Tenerife with kids guide.

VII. Loro Parque

Loro Parque, in Puerto de la Cruz, began as a parrot park — it still has one of the world's largest parrot collections — and has grown into one of Europe's best-known animal parks, with penguins in the Planet Penguin habitat, gorillas, an aquarium with a shark tunnel, and orca, dolphin and sea lion presentations. Kinderlandia, a jungle-village play area, keeps younger children busy, and a free themed train runs from the centre of Puerto de la Cruz to the gate.

From the southern resorts it's around an hour's drive, so many visitors combine it with a day exploring Puerto de la Cruz. The orca and dolphin presentations are a highlight for some families and an animal-welfare concern for others, so it's worth deciding in advance how you feel about them. For hotels near the park, Hotel Botánico is our top pick in the north.

VIII. Day Trip to La Gomera

La Gomera lies just across the channel from Los Cristianos, and a day trip is one of the most rewarding excursions you can take from Tenerife. Fast ferries reach San Sebastián de La Gomera in around 50 minutes, and organised tours then take you up through deep ravines and terraced valleys to the Garajonay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the finest surviving laurel forests in the world. Most tours also stop at viewpoints over the Valle Gran Rey and include a demonstration of Silbo Gomero, the island's whistled language, which is recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Organised day trips with ferry, coach and guide are the easiest option, as La Gomera's roads are long and winding. Ferries can be cancelled in rough seas, so keep a flexible day in your plans. For more on the island, see our La Gomera guide and our Garajonay National Park guide.

How to Plan Your Tenerife Excursions

Where to Stay for Easy Excursions

Your base decides how far you travel each day. Three hotels close to the main departure points:

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Honest Verdict

If we had to pick just three: whale watching is the best wildlife experience on the island and suits almost everyone; a Teide sunset and stargazing tour is the most memorable evening; and Siam Park is the most reliable full day out for families. With more time, a day on La Gomera shows you a completely different side of the Canaries.

For the rest of your planning, our Tenerife island guide, 3 days in Tenerife itinerary and hotel guides for the south and north cover everything you need.