Exploring Tenerife with our closest friends was more than just a vacation - it was a celebration of connection, laughter, and the pure joy of discovery. For one unforgettable week, we shared golden beaches, playful waves, and quiet mountain sunsets, letting the island’s wild beauty wrap around us like a warm embrace. With kids giggling at our heels and cameras always within reach, each day brought new adventures that stitched us closer together. Tenerife gave us space to unwind, to explore, and most of all, to simply be - together.
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Exploring Tenerife - Touchdown and the First Dip
Exploring Tenerife began the moment we touched down on the “Island of Eternal Spring.” The southern coast welcomed us with golden sunlight and the refreshing scent of salt and ocean breeze. My wife and I arrived a day earlier than the rest of our group, and before heading north, we couldn’t resist making a detour to Costa Adeje’s sandy beach. Slipping off our shoes, we let the Atlantic kiss our feet - cool, rhythmic waves grounding us in the moment. That spontaneous splash marked the unofficial start of a week we’d never forget.
That evening, after a peaceful seaside dinner, we drove under the stars to Puerto de la Cruz, the northern town where our friends had secured an apartment big enough for all of us. The road curved through a darkened island, but the excitement ahead was bright and unmistakable.
Discovering Puerto de la Cruz
The next morning brought our first real taste of local color. Exploring Tenerife meant walking through streets lined with vibrant houses, where every corner seemed hand-painted with charm. We strolled along the waterfront to El Castillo San Felipe, a quiet sentinel beside the waves. Just steps away, the statue of the fisher girl at Playa del Muelle greeted us with a poetic stillness. At the Batería de Santa Barbara, cannons pointed defiantly out to sea, silent witnesses to history.
From there, we set out for adventure, inspired by a scene from Fast & Furious 6 filmed at Punta de Teno. But getting there wasn’t as easy as it looked on screen. A closed gate and limited bus access kept us from the cliffs. I lifted my drone and captured what I could - the serpentine road etched into the rock. We couldn’t reach the iconic lighthouse that day, but it only made us more determined to return.
Whale Watching – Exploring Tenerife from the Sea
Our next chapter of exploring Tenerife unfolded in Los Cristianos. We had planned a whale-watching trip with the full group, now joyfully reunited. Booking the boat was seamless through GetYourGuide - practical and stress-free. While waiting for departure, we basked in the sun on the beach, letting the kids run wild with laughter and freedom.
On board the Travelin’ Lady, we set sail toward the deep blue. It wasn’t long before the ocean revealed its treasures: a pod of short-finned pilot whales glided just beneath the surface. Their graceful arcs left us speechless. Later, we spotted dolphins playing in the waves, as if welcoming us to their world.
Anchored near the cliffs, we jumped into the crystal-clear water. Floating under the open sky, I felt that rare mix of stillness and exhilaration that only nature and close friends can bring.
Tenerife’s climate is a dream — warm and gentle all year round. Locals call it "the eternal spring," and it truly feels like time slows down in the soft ocean breeze and golden sunshine.
Golden Skies and Mountain Roads
The drive back to Puerto de la Cruz took us through the island’s mountainous heart. As the sun began its descent, we witnessed a scene that words can barely describe. Exploring Tenerife often means unexpected moments like this - sunlight filtering through clouds that rolled like rivers over the hills. I pulled over. The convoy behind us didn’t mind; we all stood there, silent, soaking it in. I raised my camera to capture what I could, but the real memory lives somewhere deeper.
Exploring Tenerife at Loro Parque – A Wonderland for All Ages
The following day was for the children - but honestly, we adults may have loved it just as much. Loro Parque, located in northern Tenerife, is much more than a zoo. Exploring Tenerife through the eyes of a child is perhaps the most joyful way to do it, and here, that joy was boundless.
We laughed through the dolphin show, held our breath during the orca performance, and were genuinely awed by the sheer size of the penguin house. The parrot shows and lush botanical paths made the day both wild and beautiful. The “Splash Zone” lived up to its name - some of our group got soaked, but the shrieks of delight made it worth it.
To close the day, we drove up to Mirador de Chipeque. There, as the sun dipped beneath the cloudline, the world went quiet. Dozens of people gathered with the same hope: to witness the island bathed in molten gold with the Teide in the background. We were not disappointed.
Punta de Teno Revisited – Exploring Tenerife’s Western Edge
Determined not to leave Tenerife without seeing Punta de Teno properly, we returned - this time better prepared. We caught the shuttle bus just outside the barrier, only 1 EUR per person each way. The ride, though short, was spectacular. It wound along cliffs that plummeted into turquoise depths, ending at the island’s westernmost point.
The lighthouse stood proud, framed by volcanic cliffs in hues of deep red and obsidian. Wind tore through the silence. I had hoped to launch my drone again, but the gusts were unforgiving. No matter. The scene was complete without it - dramatic, wild, and unforgettable.
Beaches, Waves, and Laughter
Midweek brought a more relaxed rhythm. Exploring Tenerife also means knowing when to simply enjoy its beaches. Lucky timing meant Playa Jardín and Playa Maria Jiménez had just reopened after being closed for 18 months. The waves here are powerful - like mischievous giants playing tag with the shore. The kids adored them, but we parents stayed watchful. One tumble reminded me of being caught in a washing machine; thrilling, but a bit humbling too.
Still, there was magic in the air. Sand-covered toes, salt-stiff hair, and tired smiles - all markers of a perfect beach day with friends and family.
Ascending Teide – Exploring Tenerife from the Sky
No trip to Tenerife is complete without a visit to Mount Teide. On our final full day, we set our sights high - literally. The road to the cable car station passed through Minas de San José, a Mars-like landscape where crimson rocks glowed under the midday sun. I couldn’t resist flying the drone here - despite the national park’s strict rules. It felt like walking on another planet.
The cable car carried us up to 3555 meters. Though the summit requires a special permit, even this “lower” viewpoint was astonishing. The air was thin, and several of us struggled with the altitude. Some stayed back; others pushed through. I felt lightheaded, dizzy - but I made it. The view above the clouds, with the island stretching below, was a reward beyond words.
Reflections and Goodbyes
Our journey was coming to an end. Exploring Tenerife together with our closest friends, with children running ahead and cameras never far behind, gave us memories richer than any souvenir. We had seen whales, volcanic peaks, rainbow-colored towns, and wild sunsets. We had shared laughter over meals, marveled at nature’s gifts, and helped each other climb both literal and figurative hills.
On the last evening, as I watched the golden glow fade over Puerto de la Cruz, I thought of all the places I didn’t get to photograph at just the right moment - places I would come back to, alone or not, camera ready for the light I now knew to chase.
Exploring Tenerife - Until Next Time
Exploring Tenerife doesn’t end when you board the plane home. It lingers in your skin, salty from the sea. It lives in your lungs, still catching your breath from the heights of Teide. And most of all, it stays in your heart—in the echo of a friend’s laugh, in the soft grip of a child’s sandy hand, in the knowledge that something meaningful unfolded in the span of a week.
As I wrote in my previous Tenerife post, I knew I’d return. Now, I’m sure of it. Next time, it will be a photographer’s retreat—a full week devoted to capturing sunrises at Punta de Teno, dusk in Teide’s crater shadow, and all the in-between moments where nature meets light and emotion.
But this time… this trip was for us.
For the kids and the grown-ups who still know how to play.
For the friends on the go.
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