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South Tenerife is far more than the sunbed most people treat it as. In an hour’s radius of the resorts you’ve got a 3,715-metre volcano, one of the best water parks in the world, whales you can almost guarantee seeing, and a car you can drive on the sea. The problem isn’t finding something to do, it’s working out what’s actually worth your time and money.
So this is the honest version, sorted by what you’re in the mood for rather than a numbered list. Each thing links to our full guide with the detail, the prices and the honest verdict, and where you can book something we’ve flagged it. If you only read one page before your holiday, make it this one, then dig into the guides for whatever grabs you.
Contents
- Beaches and the water
- Adventure and adrenaline
- With the family
- Nature and day trips
- Food, drink and nightlife
- Quieter days and rainy days
- Getting around and where to stay
- Practical tips
- Frequently asked questions
Beaches and the water
The Atlantic is the whole point of the south, and it’s warmer than most of the Mediterranean well into winter. Start with the beaches: some are imported golden sand behind breakwaters, some are wild and black, and our guide to the best beaches covers which is which and which fill up by mid-morning.
For getting in the water, the snorkelling here is genuinely good, with wild sea turtles at a handful of spots, all in our snorkelling guide. Whale and dolphin watching is the one surprise everyone should do, since resident pods make sightings near-certain year round, covered in our whale watching guide. And if you want to actually pilot something, there are three very different options.
The jet ski safaris run along the coast with a guide, no experience needed, and our jet ski guide covers the licence question. The kayak and snorkel tours paddle the turtle coast from Los Cristianos. And then there’s the one everyone talks about: a genuine Fiat 500 that drives on the water, self-drive, no boat licence, from Puerto Colón. It sells out, so book ahead, and our full guide explains it.
Adventure and adrenaline
If you want your heart going, two things stand out. Tandem paragliding launches from the mountains above Adeje and glides down to the coast, and you don’t need any skill, since a pilot does everything while you sit and take in the view. Our paragliding guide covers which of the three flights to pick and how to dodge a weather cancellation.
The other is seeing Teide by quad, riding the volcanic roads through the national park rather than sitting on a coach, with a sunset option that’s the pick of the two. It’s all in our Mount Teide guide, which also covers the cable car and the stargazing.
With the family
The two water parks are the headline family days, and which one suits you depends on your crowd. Siam Park is the bigger, better park for thrill rides and older kids, and the honest lowdown on tickets and the Fast Pass is in our Siam Park guide. Aqualand is smaller, cheaper and calmer, and often the better call for young children, compared head to head in our Aqualand guide.
Beyond the water parks, there’s plenty to fill a family holiday. A round of mini golf, the whale and dolphin boats that kids love, and the calmer beaches all work well. Our full things to do with kids guide pulls the family options together.
Nature and day trips
The best of Tenerife is inland and beyond the south, and it’s worth giving up a beach day or two for. Mount Teide is the essential one, a different planet by day and one of the darkest skies in the world by night, with the details in our Teide guide and the night side in our stargazing guide.
From there the island opens up: the dramatic village of Masca, the whole other island of La Gomera an hour’s ferry away, and the big animal park at Loro Parque, all weighed up honestly, including how to do each without a car, in our best day trips guide. Closer to base, the windswept town of El Médano and the fishing village of La Caleta show a different, more local side of the south, and our hidden gems guide covers the spots the crowds miss.
Food, drink and nightlife
Eating well is half of any holiday, and the south covers everything from a proper fry-up to fresh Atlantic fish. Start your day with the best full English breakfasts, and for dinner our Los Cristianos restaurant guide and the best Sunday roasts cover the British favourites, alongside the fresh produce at the local markets.
For the evening, the south has everything from quiet seafront bars to the full Verónicas strip. If there’s a match on, our guide to where to watch the football finds you a bar with the game and the sound on, and it’s the same British-run pubs and sports bars that anchor a night out.
Quieter days and rainy days
Not every day is a beach or a big excursion, and the south handles the slower ones well. For staying active there’s a strong set of gyms with day passes, some excellent padel courts, and flat coastal running routes.
And when the weather turns, whether that’s a rare shower or a dusty calima day, our guide to what to do when it rains has the indoor options. The good news is that in the south you rarely need it, since the rain mostly falls on the green north.
Getting around and where to stay
You do not need a hire car for most of this. The resorts are close together and linked by a cheap, reliable bus network, and many tours include hotel pickup, so our guide to getting around south Tenerife without a car covers how far you can get on the buses and where a car genuinely helps.
If you’re still choosing a base, the resort you pick shapes the holiday: Costa Adeje for the polished, newer end, Los Cristianos for a relaxed feel, Playa de las Américas for the busiest. Our guide to the best hotels in Costa Adeje is a good place to start, with the adults-only options covered separately.
Practical tips
- Book the popular experiences ahead. Siam Park, the Fiat 500 boat and the ferry-and-permit day trips all sell out, especially in summer.
- Do the weather-dependent things early in your holiday. Paragliding, Teide and boat trips can all be cancelled for conditions, so leave room to rebook.
- Stay in the south for the sun. The rain falls mostly on the north, so base yourself in the Los Cristianos, Las Américas or Costa Adeje area.
- Use the buses. The network across the south is cheap and good, and many tours pick up from your hotel anyway.
- Mix it up. The visitors who enjoy the island most give up a beach day or two for Teide, a day trip or the water beyond the resorts.
- Take warm layers for anything at altitude, from Teide to the paragliding launch sites, whatever the coast is doing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the number one thing to do in south Tenerife?
Mount Teide, for the scale by day and the stargazing by night, is the one nearly everyone should do. Whale and dolphin watching is a close second because sightings are so reliable.
What is there to do besides the beach?
A lot. Two major water parks, Teide and the national park, whale watching and water sports, day trips to Masca and La Gomera, paragliding, and a strong food and nightlife scene. This guide links to the full detail on each.
What can you do in south Tenerife with kids?
The water parks are the headline, with Aqualand better for young children and Siam Park for older thrill-seekers. Add mini golf, the calmer beaches and the whale and dolphin boats. Our things-to-do-with-kids guide has more.
Do you need a car to get around south Tenerife?
Not for most things. The resorts are close and linked by cheap buses, and many tours include hotel pickup. A car mainly helps for Teide, the northwest villages and the wilder beaches.
What are the best things to do when it rains?
Rain is rare in the south, but when it comes, the gyms, indoor activities, markets and a long lunch all work. Our rainy-day guide covers the options, and the same applies on a dusty calima day.
Which activities should I book in advance?
Siam Park, the Fiat 500 boat, La Gomera day trips and anything weather-dependent like paragliding and Teide. They sell out or get cancelled, so booking early, ideally with free cancellation, protects your plans.
Prices, opening hours and availability change, and weather can affect tours and crossings, so always check the current details with the operator or on the booking page before you go.