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 beside Spain's highest peak by evening, and be back at your hotel pool before midnight. That range is exactly what makes choosing excursions here harder than it should be: search any activities platform and you'll find dozens of near-identical "highlights" tours competing for the same booking. Rather than list everything available, this guide narrows it down to the seven excursions we'd actually recommend booking, each chosen for a specific kind of experience — wildlife, volcanic landscape, adventure, culture or pure family fun — with the real price, duration and difficulty level you need to decide before you book. If you're still deciding where to stay before planning your excursions around it, our best hotels in Tenerife South guide and our best hotels in Tenerife North guide cover every budget and area.

One thing worth understanding before you book anything: where you're staying genuinely changes which excursions make sense. Most tour operators run free or low-cost hotel pickup from the main resort belt in the south — Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas — which is covered in detail in our Tenerife South vs North comparison. If you're based in Puerto de la Cruz or the north instead, some excursions on this list (particularly Loro Parque) are actually closer to you than to the southern resorts, and our full South vs North guide breaks down exactly what's realistically nearby from each base.

Quick Decision Guide

Short on time? Match what you're after on the left to our pick on the right, then scroll down for the full review, prices and booking links.

Quick Comparison: All 7 Excursions in This Guide

Prices are approximate per-adult starting rates for low-to-mid season. Always confirm current pricing and availability directly with the operator before travelling.

1. Whale & Dolphin Watching from Costa Adeje

The channel between Tenerife and La Gomera is one of the most reliable places in Europe to see cetaceans in the wild, thanks to a resident population of short-finned pilot whales that lives in the deep water year-round, joined regularly by Atlantic spotted dolphins, bottlenose dolphins and, less predictably, sperm whales and Bryde's whales. Boats depart from Puerto Colón or Los Cristianos harbour and reach the whale grounds within 20-30 minutes given how close the resident pods stay to the south-west coast — sighting rates on a good operator regularly run above 95%, which is unusually high for wildlife tourism anywhere in the world.

Most trips run on a catamaran or a smaller rigid-hull boat, with a marine biologist or trained guide on board explaining behaviour and identification as sightings happen, and a swim stop in open water is often included once the pod has been located and the boat moves off to a respectful distance. Reputable operators follow the strict distance and approach protocols set out under Tenerife's whale-watching regulations, which matters both for the animals' welfare and for a genuinely good sighting — boats that crowd pods tend to see them dive and disappear faster. Browse whale watching trips on WeGoTrip to compare morning and afternoon departure times, since early trips tend to have calmer water and better visibility.

This is one of the easiest excursions on this list to fit around small children, since most of the trip is spent seated on a stable boat rather than moving around, and the excitement of a genuine whale sighting tends to hold even short attention spans. That said, anyone prone to seasickness should take precautions in advance, since the open channel can have noticeable swell even on calm days. If whale watching is the highlight of your trip to the south coast, our best beaches in Tenerife guide covers the closest sands to Costa Adeje for the rest of the day.

2. Teide Sunset & Stargazing Tour

This is the single most memorable excursion on this list, and it takes advantage of something Tenerife has that almost nowhere else does: a UNESCO-recognised Starlight Reserve sky sitting directly above Spain's highest peak. A coach collects you in the afternoon from hotels across the south or from Puerto de la Cruz, timed so you reach the cable car base station with enough daylight left for the 8-minute ascent to the upper station at 3,555 metres, run outside normal operating hours exclusively for evening visitors. From there, a short walk leads to the Pico Viejo viewpoint for sunset over La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro, with Teide's own shadow stretching out across the sea toward Gran Canaria.

After sunset, most tours descend to the lower cable car station for a picnic or set dinner before the stargazing portion begins, led by certified Starlight guides using professional telescopes — Teide National Park is considered one of the three best places on the planet for stargazing, alongside northern Chile and Hawaii, and it's genuinely possible to pick out dozens of constellations with the naked eye once your eyes adjust. Check availability for the Teide sunset and stargazing tour on WeGoTrip a few days ahead, since departures run only on fixed days of the week and slots are limited by cable car capacity.

Two restrictions catch people out: children under 8 are not admitted on this specific evening tour, due to the cold, the short walk near cliff edges in low light and the late finish time, and pregnant travellers cannot use the cable car at all because of the rapid pressure and oxygen change on ascent. Temperatures at the upper station regularly sit at or below freezing after dark regardless of the season, so proper warm layers and closed shoes are non-negotiable — operators can and do turn away anyone in sandals or shorts. If you're travelling with younger children, a daytime cable car visit through our Teide National Park hiking guide is the better fit, and for the rest of your Tenerife stay our 3 days in Tenerife itinerary shows how to build a short trip around it.

3. Masca Gorge & Teno Rural Park Jeep Safari

Masca is Tenerife's most photographed village, wedged into a volcanic ravine in the Teno massif with views that regularly top "best in the Canaries" lists — but the gorge trail itself has run on a permit-only system since 2019, with a strict daily capacity managed through authorised guide companies. A jeep safari is the most practical way for most visitors to experience this corner of the island: open-top 4x4 convoys wind along the hairpin TF-436 road through pine forest and terraced hillsides, stopping at viewpoints over Masca village and the dramatic Los Gigantes cliffs before continuing into the Teno Rural Park proper.

Most itineraries include a stop for a walk through Masca village itself, time at the main gorge viewpoint, and a scenic route back through the Teno cliffs or the northern coast around Buenavista del Norte, with guides typically weaving in commentary on the island's volcanic history and the region's near-vertical farming terraces. If you specifically want to hike down through the gorge itself rather than view it from above, that requires a separate authorised guide and advance permit — check both the jeep safari and permit-based Masca Gorge hikes on WeGoTrip, since availability and rules change with trail conditions.

Be realistic about who this suits: the TF-436 is one of the most winding roads on the island, genuinely spectacular but a real consideration for anyone prone to car sickness, very young children, or pregnant travellers, who should check with the operator before booking. It's an excellent complement to a beach-based stay in the south — our Tenerife South vs North comparison covers exactly how different the Teno interior feels from the resort coast, and if you'd rather explore independently at your own pace, a hire car opens up Masca village and its viewpoints without the off-road convoy schedule.

4. Boat Trip to Los Gigantes Cliffs

For a lower-key day on the water than whale watching, catamarans running from Los Gigantes harbour or Puerto Colón sail directly beneath the "Cliffs of the Giants" — sheer volcanic rock faces rising up to 600 metres straight out of the Atlantic, among the tallest sea cliffs in Europe. Most routes include a stop for swimming and snorkelling in the sheltered, deep-blue water at the base of the cliffs, along with music, a bar on board and, on many departures, a reasonable chance of dolphin sightings along the way given how close this stretch of coast sits to the main whale-watching channel.

This is a noticeably gentler pace than the wildlife-focused whale watching trips further up this list — the goal here is coastal scenery, snorkelling and beach-boat time rather than a specific sighting, which makes timing far less weather-dependent. Catamaran trips to Los Gigantes can be booked directly through WeGoTrip, with morning departures generally offering the calmest water and the best underwater visibility for the snorkel stop.

This is consistently one of the easiest excursions on this list for families with a wide age range — there's no strict itinerary to hold small children to, plenty of shaded deck space, and the snorkel stop gives everyone a chance to get in the water that a purely seated boat trip doesn't. It also works well as a lower-cost complement to whale watching if your trip includes both, since both depart from a similar stretch of coast.

5. Anaga Rural Park Guided Hike

Anaga Rural Park, at the island's north-eastern tip, is Tenerife at its most primeval — a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of ancient laurel forest (laurisilva) that has survived here since the Tertiary period, when this kind of subtropical forest covered much of southern Europe. A guided hike typically follows ridgeline trails between villages like Taganana and Chamorga, winding through moss-draped forest so dense in places that daylight barely reaches the ground, before opening onto sudden, dramatic views of jagged volcanic ridges dropping straight into the Atlantic.

Going with a guide rather than independently adds real value here beyond just navigation — local guides typically cover the forest's unique relict ecology, the region's isolated rural villages and their traditional way of life, and wayfinding through a trail network that's easy to misjudge given how quickly the weather and visibility can change at altitude. Book a guided Anaga hike through WeGoTrip, ideally an early morning departure — cloud and mist tend to roll in from the north-east by midday, which is atmospheric but can shorten your photography window considerably.

Be honest with yourself about fitness and footwear before booking: trails can be muddy and root-covered underfoot even in dry weather, given how much moisture the laurel forest holds, and there's real elevation change on most routes. It's a poor fit for very young children or anyone with mobility concerns, but a genuinely rewarding half-day for active families with children from around 8 upward. For more of what makes this corner of the island distinctive, our Tenerife hidden gems guide covers several spots most visitors never find, and our 3 days in Tenerife itinerary shows how to fit a day here alongside beach time in the south.

6. Siam Park

Siam Park has been voted the world's best water park multiple years running, and it's easy to see why once you're inside: Thai-themed architecture, genuinely serious rides like the Tower of Power vertical drop slide and the Singha water rollercoaster, alongside the world's longest lazy river, a wave pool with 3-metre surf-quality waves, and a dedicated children's area, The Lost City, scaled for younger visitors. Located in Costa Adeje, it's the single most self-contained full-day excursion on this list, needing no guide or transport if you're already staying in the south.

The park's most extreme slides — the near-vertical Tower of Power and the free-fall Kinnaree — have minimum height requirements and aren't suited to younger children, but The Lost City area and the main Mai Thai river cover most of the park's footprint and are genuinely accessible to almost every age. Compare Siam Park tickets and combined Loro Parque Twin Tickets on WeGoTrip — the combined ticket is consistently cheaper than buying both parks separately if you're planning to visit each on a different day of your trip.

Arrive at opening if you can, since the park's most popular slides build meaningful queues by mid-morning in July and August, and bring your own reef-safe sunscreen and a swim shirt for children, as the sun exposure across the park's open water areas is considerable even with the tropical planting providing some shade. If you're weighing this against Tenerife's other family attractions, our Tenerife with kids guide covers how it fits alongside the rest of a family-focused trip.

7. Loro Parque

Loro Parque, in Puerto de la Cruz on the island's north coast, is one of Europe's most respected zoological gardens and the only place on the continent to see orcas, alongside dolphins, sea lions and the world's largest indoor penguin exhibit, Planet Penguin, home to over 200 penguins across four species on a genuine artificial iceberg. The park began life focused on its namesake parrots — it still holds one of the largest parrot collections anywhere — but has grown into a full conservation-focused animal park with gorilla habitats, a shark tunnel and several themed botanical areas.

If you're staying in the south, factor in the drive: Loro Parque sits roughly an hour to 75 minutes from Costa Adeje by road, so most visitors either book a coach transfer bundled with their ticket or combine the visit with a wider day exploring Puerto de la Cruz and the north coast. Book Loro Parque tickets with south transfer included on WeGoTrip, and consider the combined Twin Ticket with Siam Park if you're planning to do both on separate days of your trip, since it's typically cheaper than two single-park tickets.

The park's shows — particularly Orca Ocean and the dolphin and sea lion presentations — draw large crowds by mid-morning, so arriving close to opening and checking the day's show schedule at the gate is worth the early start. Kinderlandia, an elevated jungle-village play area, gives younger children somewhere to burn energy between shows, and the park's internal train service makes the site's considerable size manageable for anyone who'd rather not walk the whole layout. For where to stay if you're basing yourself near the north coast for this and other excursions, see our best hotels in Tenerife North guide.

How to Choose Your Tenerife Excursions

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Honest Verdict

Tenerife's excursion scene rewards a bit of planning rather than booking whatever's advertised outside your hotel. If we had to pick just three: whale watching from Costa Adeje is the single best wildlife experience on the island and works for almost any traveller; the Teide sunset and stargazing tour is genuinely the most memorable evening most people have anywhere in the Canaries, adults-only restrictions aside; and Siam Park delivers the single most reliable full day out for families, regardless of which resort you're staying at.

For families with young children, lean toward whale watching, the Los Gigantes boat trip, Siam Park and Loro Parque, and save the Teide sunset tour, the Masca Gorge safari and the Anaga hike for a trip with older kids or a couples-only getaway. If you're still deciding where to base yourself for easy access to the south coast excursions on this list, our best hotels in Tenerife South guide covers the resort belt around Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos, and our full best hotels in Tenerife North guide is worth reading if you'd rather base yourself near Puerto de la Cruz and Loro Parque instead.

For everything else you need to plan the rest of your trip — from where to stay to what to pack for a night at altitude on Teide — our practical grid above links out to every guide you'll need, and our 3 days in Tenerife itinerary shows how to structure a short stay around two or three of these excursions without overloading your schedule.