2023-11-30 08:13:47
Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, attracts visitors with its mild temperatures all year round, diverse landscapes and beautiful beaches. What many people don’t know is that more than half of the island consists of nature reserves and the government invests a lot in environmental protection measures. We give five tips on where you can experience the island from its “green side” in a relaxed manner – all of the places presented were not affected by the forest fires that broke out on Tenerife in the summer.
By tram from the new to the old capital
The island’s capital, Santa Cruz, presents itself charmingly with its mix of colonial flair and avant-garde architecture. The silhouette of the Auditorio concert hall swings boldly into the deep blue sky, next to the Castillo de San Juan, built from black lava blocks. Also on the sea front, the Parque Marítimo fascinates with its turquoise pools in the black lava rock.
A stroke of genius was moving the coastal road underground at the Plaza de España. The place is particularly fantastic in the evenings, when 500 glass lamps in the shape of water drops illuminate the stroll. Just a short, comfortable tram ride from Santa Cruz is the university town of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, one of the most beautiful and historic towns in Tenerife.
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La Laguna can be easily reached by tram from the island’s capital, Santa Cruz
Quelle: picture alliance/Markus Mainka
The best way to explore the time-honored place (UNESCO World Heritage Site!) is on a city tour, which the municipal administration offers free of charge several times a day, also in German. The meeting point is the tourist office in the Casa de los Capitanes Generales. Where to stay tip: Some of the historic houses from the 16th and 17th centuries have been converted into stylish hotels like this „La Laguna Gran Hotel“ and that “Laguna Nivaria” rebuilt.
Rural ecotourism away from big hotels
Anyone who likes to stay in the middle of untouched nature away from large hotel complexes will feel at home in one of the numerous Casas rurales – these are country houses in traditional Canarian architecture. The Hacienda El Terrero is such an example of rural ecotourism. The twelve houses are located in a historic 16th century hamlet on the north coast of Tenerife and face the Atlantic Ocean on the cliffs of El Terrero.
Source: Infographic WELT
Tip number two is the 300-year-old family property Casa Rural Tamaide in the tranquil center of the municipality of San Miguel de Abona in the south of Tenerife. By the way, Tamaide is the place name in the language of the Guanches, the indigenous people of Tenerife.
Whale watching – but with respect
The fins appear next to the catamaran in calm, even movements. They belong to a family of pilot whales. The mood on the boat is almost reverent. Everyone looks blissfully at the deep blue water. The small whale family seems to feel comfortable as an “escort” for the whale watcher.
At seven meters long, the pilot whales are not quite as stately as sperm whales, but can be found all year round in the Atlantic between Tenerife and La Gomera, which is up to 3,000 meters deep.
Pilot whales, also known as pilot whales, frolic in the Atlantic off the coast of Tenerife
Quelle: picture alliance/Thomas Scherer
Due to numerous measures, Tenerife is considered the first whale protection zone in Europe. Years ago, the authorities issued guidelines to protect the mammals, according to which whale watching boats must maintain a distance of at least 60 meters from the animals and turn off the ship’s engine 500 meters beforehand. Circling the whales, which causes enormous stress for the mammals, is also prohibited.
Responsible providers of diving and whale watching tours such as Atlantic Eco Experience pay attention to sustainable boat tours. Each tour is accompanied by a qualified biologist. They enthusiastically share with the participants their passion for the sea and their respect for its creatures – this is real educational work.
Hike on shepherd’s paths through the Anaga Mountains
Hiking shoes are a must for every Tenerife traveler. Lovers of lush green forests and wildly romantic gorges are particularly drawn to the north of the island. In the northeast lies the Anaga massif, which was declared a biosphere reserve in 2015. With 1,900 species, the area has a particularly wide variety of reptiles, birds, fish and invertebrates.
Hikes in the Anaga Mountains promise great views
Source: picture alliance/blickwinkel/E. Teaster
Geologically, the massif is one of the oldest areas of the volcanic island, with some of the rocks being over seven million years old. It rises steeply to around 1000 meters from the sea. An impressive hike begins in the northwestern part of the mountains in the Mercedes Forest, a magically beautiful, evergreen forest with laurel trees and meter-high heather plants.
In the village of Chinamada, people still live in cave dwellings to this day
Source: picture-alliance/DUMONT Bildarchiv/Hans Zaglitsch
Shepherds’ paths lead to the remote village of Chinamada, where people still live in caves and cavernous dwellings. The culinary highlight of the hike is the Conejo frito (rabbit), which goes wonderfully with a glass of dry red wine.
Organic wines from the island’s high altitudes
The lava soils and the balanced climate on Tenerife give the wine a special aroma. Some experimental winemakers have been producing special organic wines for years – at altitudes between 500 and 1000 meters. One of them is Carmen Gloria Ferrera. “I talk to my wines, they don’t answer, but I know that they understand me,” says the owner of Bodegas Ferrera in the northeast of the island.
More tips for the Canary Islands:
In addition to verbal encouragement, the Ferrera winemaking family relies on organic cultivation and regenerative agriculture. Only healthy, residue-free grapes ripen in their wine cellar. Instead of plowing the ground, it is kept covered with vegetation. The resulting plant diversity promotes the interaction between grape roots, soil microorganisms and beneficial insects.
A fruitful interaction, the result of which you can taste during a wine tasting with Carmen Ferrera: Aromatic Malvasia, Albillo Criollo and Vijariego Blanco are their most important white grape varieties. Malvasia Rosada, Moscatel Negro and Listán Negro for the rosé. With Vino Tinto, the local varieties Vijariego Negro as well as Tempranillo and Syrah provide the aroma. Salut!
Tips and information:
Overnight tips: „La Laguna Gran Hotel“, lalagunagranhotel.com; „Laguna Nivaria“ in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, lagunanivaria.com. Rural Ecotourism: Hacienda el Terrero, haciendaelterrero.com; Casa Rural Tamaide, casaruraltamaide@telefonica.net; Overview below webtenerife.de/unterkunfte/landliche-ferienhaus/
Whale watching: The offer includes two-hour cruises in small, fast boats (the program consists solely of whale watching) and two- to three-hour whale watching trips in medium-sized boats with a swim stop in a bay and a meal on board before returning to port. There are also trips with larger boats that take you up to five hours along the south coast – including stops for swimming and food on board; the boats leave the ports of Los Cristianos and Los Gigantes (webtenerife.de/aktivitaten/natur/walbeobachtung). Sustainable tours (diving and whale watching) with biologists: atlanticecoexperience.com
Hikes: Gaiatours (gaiatours.es) offers a tour through the Anaga Mountains from 49 euros including a hiking guide and bus.
Organic wines: Ferrera Wineries, bodegasferrera.com/en; Alma de Trevejos ecological farm, almadetrevejos.com/Finca_Ecologica.html; Cumbres de Abona Winery, cumbresdeabona.es
Additional Information: Tenerife Tourism, webtenerife.de. The tourist office, Casa de los Capitanes Generales, offers free city tours of La Laguna. turismo.aytolalaguna.es/en/visitas-guiadas-gratuitas/.
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