5 top attractions in Tenerife and Spain? Masca is a picturesque village, settled inland in a location where residents of Tenerife used to hide when they were being attacked by pirates. If you have a hire car you can get there on your own, but you should try to get there as early in the morning as possible, otherwise it gets really crowded. The views are spectacular and there is a restaurant overlooking the valley, where you have to go even if only for a cup of coffee (the view in included in price, but it’s worth it). No trip to Tenerife would be complete without a boat trip where you can see dolphins and whales in their natural habitat. The waters between Tenerife and La Gomera are ideal for spotting these majestic mammals and this 3 hours cruise also includes unlimited drinks, champagne, snacks and hotel pick-up. See even more details at Tenerife forum community.

Mojo sauce is typically served on Canarian potatoes (papas arrugadas) and you’ll likely find it on the table at every meal you eat in Tenerife. I went to a cooking class at Bodgeas Monje, a traditional winery in El Suazal. You can take a tour of the surprisingly huge winery and chat with the owner, who is the fifth generation of his family to be involved with winemaking – they started in the 1700s! We had a demonstration from one of the chefs and then got to attempt our own red and green mojo sauces, fuelled by plenty of the winery’s vino. Once our sauces were ready, we were put to the test by the chef, who has a trophy for being a champion mojo sauce maker. He said mine was good, it just needed more time in the pestle and mortar…

Mount Teide National Park is a World Heritage Site and home to Mount Teide, a volcano and the highest mountain peak in Spain at 3718m above sea level. You can hike or take a cable car to the base of the final cone summit, where you will enjoy the breathtaking views of Tenerife, Gran Canaria and La Palma. If you want to head to the top of the summit you will need to get a permit in advance. The Teide Observatory is on Mount Teide at an altitude of 2400m above sea level. It is the world’s largest solar observatory and has an ideal location to observe the sun or night sky. Guided tours of the observatory are available.

La Laguna is one of the best places to go in the north of Tenerife, particularly if you’re interested in learning more about the island’s history. This UNESCO World Heritage Site’s 15th century layout was used as a template for many colonial cities established by the Spanish in the USA and Latin America, so you may well feel like you’ve been here before if you’ve travelled in those areas. You’ll find a lot of Tenerife’s cultural attractions here and you only have to walk 100 metres to take in buildings that reflect over 300 years of history. Is it any wonder La Laguna is known as the cultural capital of Tenerife?

The Pyramids of Guimar is a natural complex that consists of a collection of six free-standing pyramids built in the 19th century outside of the town of Güímar. They are impressive, especially since they were built without mortar. the Pyramids of Güímar have become a popular tourist site, due to its mysterious appeal and historical ambiguity. Anyhow, they definitely stand out in the national park filled with reed ships, ancient artefacts and tranquil grounds.