Tenerife is the largest of the seven Canary Islands and sits close to the west coast of Northern Africa. The south of Tenerife has become a popular tourist hot spot as it contains the greatest concentration of hotels and apartments on the island, but you can still find many traditional towns and villages.
Tenerife's perfect climate makes it a great place to take part in all types of leisure activities from horse riding to wakeboarding. The country also boasts some stunning natural attractions and sites of wonder including Mount Teide and the Teide National Park.
Go-Karting
Adrenaline junkies will love Karting Club Tenerife, found in the city of Arona. This go-karting club is the largest in the whole of Tenerife and consists of two eight metre wide tracks. For the adults there's an intense 1200m, professional track, whilst for the kids there's a more manageable 250m junior course. Another place worth a try is Karting Las Americas, located in Adeje. Take part in the mini grand prix or if you would rather spectate, sit back, relax and enjoy an ice cold drink on the terrace.
Cycling and Mountain Biking
A great way to discover Tenerife's hidden treasures is by bike. Rafting Bikes The Bike Man in Adeje rents out a range of bikes for the day, including pro mountain bikes and high quality road bikes for the more experienced cyclists, as well as small kid bikes for children. However, if you feel you don't know the area very well, they also offer guided tours through the picturesque volcanic landscape of Mount Teide National Park and through the surrounding lush pine forests.
Horse Riding
Horse Riding Adventures in Tenerife near Aldea Blanca is the only British family run horse riding stables in Tenerife that offers excursions and lessons. They will guide you through the breathtaking surrounding countryside, including spectacular views of El Medano and El Teide. On a clear and sunny day you can also see all the way to Gran Canaria! This popular stables has also featured several times on the famous British TV show 'Take Me Out.'
Golf
Thanks to Tenerife's year-round warm weather, golf is a great sport that can be enjoyed at any time of the year. Golf Las Americas is located in the centre of Playa de Las Americas and offers a championship 18-hole par 72 course. There are a number of challenging obstacles to tackle including lakes and rivers. A number of world-class tournaments have been played here in the past including the Spanish Ladies Open.
Another highly recommended place to tee off is Golf Del Sur in San Miguel de Abona. This course is made up of 27 holes and has hosted many international level competitions in the past, including the Tenerife Open and the PGA European Volvo Tour. The surrounding area is also made up by a great variety of flora and fauna and it is conveniently located right by the Atlantic Ocean.
Golf Los Palos is a smaller course found off the main Santa Cruz highway. However, don't be fooled by its size as this place is certainly not a pitch and putt. Even though there are only nine holes, each one is equally challenging and will require very accurate hitting. So if you want somewhere to test your skills and only want to play for a couple of hours, this may be the place for you!
On the other hand Golf Costa Adeje is a visually stunning 18-hole golf course of par 72 and another 9-hole course of par 33. This beautiful club has been designed to enhance the natural characteristics of the former banana plantations located on the grounds. You will also find a 45.000m2 driving range here to help practice your skills, as well as two putting greens.
Water Sports
30 Nudos Kite Surf on El Medano Beach offers kite surfing lessons for all abilities. If you are a beginner you have no need to fear as each instructor has a maximum of two students to handle. You don't have to worry about being very physically fit to do this activity but you must know how to swim.
Scubayaci Diving Centre Tenerife is located in the little fishing village of Las Galletas, which has become one of the most popular places to scuba dive on the island. You will have the opportunity to explore some of the most beautiful diving spots in the Canaries. Don't worry if you have never tried this before as they offer tuition to all abilities!
On the other hand if you want to take to the skies head to Parascending Tenerife in Puerto Colon. Fly 100 metres above the sea, whilst being pulled along by a speedboat. Enjoy the surroundings of the Atlantic Ocean and finish your flight off with a dip in the water! This business also supplies water buggies for younger children, as well as two hour-long whale watching trips and jet ski hire.
If you want to feel like James Bond then maybe you should try Flyboard Tenerife, also found in Puerto Colon. Take to the skies on the Flyboard; the new sport that has revolutionized the world. The Flyboard is a water jet board that is connected to a jet ski. It can be controlled with a remote control kit to make you glide and fly above the water. But once you gain a bit more confidence you can try out new exhilarating tricks, where you can dive in and out of the water, just like a dolphin!
Boat Excursions
Poker Chip Charter offers a variety of private charter tours, including close encounters with marine life. If you're lucky you may even come across some nosey dolphins or sea turtles. The boats leave from Puerto Colon and vary in length. Some may last for three hours or if you choose to go on one of the snorkeling safaris, they usually take up a lot more time.
Head over to Marina San Miguel and you will find Submarine Safaris. These submarines have been specifically designed to accommodate tourists and contain large viewports so everyone can get a great view of what goes on under the Atlantic Ocean. Each tour takes approximately an hour and a tour guide will be onboard to answer any questions and tell you facts about the interesting marine life. You will come across many species of fish including stingrays and sea turtles.
If you're into fishing then you must go to the highly recommended Happy Hooker Fishing Tours in Puerto Colon. All year round this experienced crew goes deep-sea fishing and specialises in catching large sharks and stingrays! Each excursion lasts four to five hours and leaves the harbour twice a day. Whether you have always wanted to have a go at fishing or see yourself as an experienced fisherman this is definitely worth a try.
Theme Parks
Siam Park in Costa Adeje is a great way to cool off on a hot summers day. This water park has been voted as the best amusement park in Spain and voted the tenth best amusement and water park in the world by Trip Advisor in 2013. There's a lot to do here from riding the biggest artificial waves on earth to riding down one of the hair-raising water slides. Another great place to get wet is at Aqualand Costa Adeje. Have a go one of the exhilarating water slides including the super slalom or the tornado. Also don't forget to stop by at the Dolphinarium, where you can watch bottlenose dolphins perform tricks and stunts with professional trainers. You will also get to learn about the history, characteristics and physiology of this magnificent species.
Another great place to meet some animals is at Tenerife Monkey Park in La Camella, Arona. This interesting place has become a breeding centre for endangered animals since it opened in 1991. You will come across many different species of mammals and reptiles including Lemurs, tortoises and parrots. Or there's also the option of visiting Aquilas Jungle Park in Arona. There's an extremely wide variety of animals from across the globe here such as lions, leopards, pumas, meerkats, raccoons and even crocodiles! Also, don't forget to hang around for the Sea Lions and Birds of Prey Shows!
Natural Attractions
Teide National Park is definitely one of the top places to see in Tenerife. This place is actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to the world's third-tallest volcanic structure known as Mount Teide, which stands at an impressive 7,500m above the ocean floor. The best way to reach the top is to hop on one of the cable cars from the Teide cable car service. Today the site is of global importance in providing evidence to do with the evolution of oceanic islands and is particularly popular due to the ever-changing atmospheric conditions that form an impressive backdrop to the mountain.
Theatre Performances
Showtime The Sound Of Musicals in Costa Adeje prides itself as "the home of entertainment in Tenerife." There are a range of shows performed here including the number one hit show and night out in Tenerife "The Sound Of Musicals." There's also scheduled dates for performances including "The Best of Tenerife" and "The Jimmy Cricket Laughter Show." In the past this entertainment hall has also seen the likes of Sky Sports presenter and former footballer Chris Kamara as well as Soccer Saturday's Paul Merson.
The Piramide de Arona in Playa del las Americas is a magnificent building containing one of the largest auditoriums in Europe. The theatre can hold up to 1,874 people and puts on memorable shows throughout the year including ballet and musical performances by Carmen Mota.
Enjoy some free-flowing wine and a banquet at Medieval Adventures in Castillo San Miguel. Whilst feasting upon your dinner a spectacular medieval show takes place in the arena below involving jousting knights and melee tournaments. This is a great place to bring the whole family! Just make sure to cheer along your chosen knight! This venue is found just a few minutes drive away from Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas.
Something Different
To get a birds eye view of Tenerife you must take the Helidream Sky Experience from Adeje heliport. Your pilot will take you on a choice of routes from flying over the coastline of Tenerife and the area of Puertito to a VIP tour over Mount Teide and Teide National Park. Even though these tours tend to be rather pricey they are certainly unforgettable and will make your trip to the South of Tenerife even more memorable!
On the other hand are you maybe looking for a completely different way to travel around the south of Tenerife? You must try Segway Sports Tours in La Caleta. This environmentally friendly way of transport is a great way to zoom around the area and it great fun for all ages, from eight years old to 99, plus it's not that expensive either!