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It takes just a day-long roadtrip to explore many unusual points of interest in Tenerife. The versatility of nature reveals itself in the white sand beaches, volcanic sand beaches, high cliffs, steep valleys, green mountain roads, and one of the largest volcanoes on the Earth – and all of this can be experienced in one roadtrip.
Road trips are just one of the reasons why you should visit Tenerife. There is so much more to explore, but going on a road trip is a good place where to start.
The road on the west side of the island is good and wide. In contrast – the road to the Teide volcano for enjoying a sunset is like a roller coaster of sharp turns and magical views. It is possible to see the ocean on both sides of the road.
Renting a car in Tenerife allows you to explore the island on your own terms and to see the places that interest you most.
White sand beach – Playa de Las Teresitas
A typical beach in Tenerife is covered in rocks or black volcano sand. Playa de Las Teresitas is an exception to that rule because 270 000 tons of white Sahara desert sand has been delivered to it in 1973. A kilometer-long breakwater was built to prevent the sand from washing away with the waves of the ocean.
This is one of the most famous beaches in Tenerife. However, as I have a white sand beach just 20 kilometers from my home in Latvia, it takes something a bit more than a white sand beach to impress me. Like some palms, some ocean and summer-like weather while it’s still snowing in Latvia.
After the beach road climbs up the nearby mountains. Roads become more narrow and there are a lot of sharp turns. On the one side of the road, there is a steep stone wall, and on the other side, there is a green valley and ocean. Beautiful views everywhere.
Tourists can stop in several parking pockets by the road. This gives a chance for the drivers to see the views too.
When the mountains are crossed, its time to be impressed by enormous ocean waves beating against high walls of stone. It is hard to capture the power of the scenery in a picture, but the feeling standing next to this wonder of nature is humbling.
Lunch in Casa Africa
Conveniently located diner Casa Africa offers lunch with a view of the ocean. You can find salad, soups, octopus, fried fish on their menu. And the best option is fried potatoes because they have not been peeled and are covered in salt. It gives a feeling, that the potatoes come from the ocean too.
There are a lot of tourists in Tenerife. I was a bit disappointed by the lack of local food choices available. You can easily find an English breakfast, get Italian pizza for lunch and a Chinese buffet for dinner. But when it comes to local food, you might search it for a while in the touristy parts of the island.
Sunset viewing from the Teide volcano
The next milestone after the lunch is a sunset picnic near the top of the Teide volcano. Just a quick stop at a grocery store, and it’s time to enjoy the road through a green valley towards the middle of the island.
There you can experience, how nature gradually changes. Greenfields turn into a pine forest, smaller plants, and then – a desert. Several movies that have portrayed other planets have been captured here, as the view is like not from this world.
We are just on tome to watch the sunset from the heights of the Teide volcano. The weather is surprisingly good. In foggier weather, we might have missed the beautiful colors. We can see the red sun slowly sinking into the ocean and coloring the volcano orange.
There are several parking places, so it is convenient to have a picnic or just enjoy the beautiful view.
Other best things to do in Tenerife
There are many things to do in Tenerife from hiking to surfing, to a day trip to the neighboring island of La Gomera. Check out this post for the list of the best things to do in Tenerife.
Guided tours in Tenerife
If you don’t want to go on a roadtrip on your own, check out these popular guided tours in Tenerife:
I just love Tenerife, such a beautiful island. A road trip around it just sounds great, thanks for sharing!