ON LAND AND IN THE SKY
With water entertainment in Tenerife, everything is clear – God himself ordered it,
but are there any activities on land? Oh yeah. And not only on land, but also in the sky.
Not much, but there is. And very interesting, it should be noted.
PARAGLIDING
If you've ever been to Tenerife, you couldn't help but notice paragliders soaring in the sky. Of course, not everyone likes such a pastime, but the one who tried it remains delighted.
The island is known for its steady trade winds, which provide a constant and smooth ascent for paragliders. Stunning views of the island's rugged coastline, green hillsides and crystal clear waters make paragliding an unforgettable experience.
The only thing that can prevent you from achieving your goal is excess weight. As a rule, there is a limit within 100-110 kg. But if you have crossed this bar, it's okay - go on a diet and, having achieved the result, soar like a bird.
If you are interested in seeing the island from a bird's eye view, there are several companies that will offer you a flight regardless of your experience. The duration of the flight in time can be from 15 to 40 minutes, and the cost is from 100 to 200 euros. If desired, you can even fly around the Teide.
Here we give links to one of these companies (chosen based on the highest rating based on user reviews in Google), but you can simply type "Paragliding Tenerife" in the search bar and choose the one you like the most.
FORESTAL PARK
Let's come back to the ground and start with Forestal Park Tenerife, which proves that the island of eternal spring is not only about the ocean and the sky.
Forestal Park is a rope park for active recreation for both adults and children. It is located in the famous La Esperanza forest and offers routes of varying difficulty among the Canary pines.
You will climb rope ladders, cross suspension bridges and actually fly between trees. It's an interesting, fun, and athletic experience, and most importantly, it's absolutely safe, as experienced instructors from Forestal Park are always present. So, if you're tired of the ocean and beach holidays, this place is definitely worth visiting.
Please note that the last run starts three hours before the park closes, to ensure that you have enough time to complete the route. The park is not open every day. You can see the schedule and book tickets directly on the official website.
KARTING
Tired of swimming in the ocean and climbing trees? It happens. In this case, become a Schumacher for a while and drive on the race track! Tenerife has its own karting club.
The Karting Club Tenerife is located in the southern part of the island and offers two tracks: one for adults and another for children. The length of the adult track is 1200 meters, with a width of 8 meters. The length of the children's track is 250 meters with increased safety measures.
For children under 15, there are three types of cards, one card for 15-17 year-olds, and two cards for adults. There is even a special scoreboard that displays your personal time for completing the track, making the race much more exciting.
There is also a café on the territory of the Karting Club Tenerife, where you can have a snack and watch others race. The ticket price includes 7 laps. By the way, it is best to buy a ticket online, as this will give you a 15% discount and 2 additional laps. You can buy tickets directly on the Karting Club website.
CASTILLO SAN MIGUEL
Another type of land-based entertainment we've chosen is, in fact, not an active, but rather a contemplative and noisy one.
Castillo San Miguel is a theatrical jousting tournament that takes place in a castle of the same name in the south of the island. The organizers have gone to great lengths to make everything look as realistic as possible: the knights fight each other with varying degrees of success, and you can express your support or displeasure. All of this is accompanied by drinking and fried chicken, which must be eaten with your hands.
Upon arrival, you receive a cape - the distinctive sign of the knight whose support group you will be a part of. According to rumors, despite the fact that everything is staged, there is a chance that your knight will win - if your support group is active, loud, and harmonious.
In general, Castillo San Miguel is quite an entertaining show for an evening out, including with children. You can buy or book tickets online on the show's website.
CASA LERCARO
Casa Lercaro is located in the historic center of La Orotava. This 17th-century manor is recognized as a historical heritage site of Tenerife.
Its uniqueness lies in the impressive courtyards, gardens, and balconies of the building's unique architecture. It is so beautiful here that many companies choose it as a filming site for their commercials.
In the lower courtyard of Casa Lercaro, there is a 16th-century mill through which a water channel flows, originating from the mountain springs of La Orotava.
At Casa Lercaro, you can not only immerse yourself in the real Canarian culture but also taste traditional Tenerife cuisine. An exciting and relaxing view of the La Orotava Valley, Teide, and the Atlantic Ocean is a significant addition to lunch or dinner.
If desired, visit the decor store to purchase unique gifts for yourself and your loved ones as a memory of the island of eternal spring, or just stroll around and look at traditional Canary products.
Nearby, there is an equally famous house with balconies - La Casa De Los Balconies, as well as a craft store - Casa Eladia Machado, which sells paintings by the famous Canarian artist Mohamed Osmana.
QUESERA MONTESDEOCA
Do you want to try the cheese that has been recognized several times as the best cheese in Tenerife? If yes, pay attention to Quesería Montesdeoca, which specializes in the production of natural goat cheeses.
Quesería Montesdeoca has received a total of 46 international and 21 local awards, including awards for the best Tenerife cheese in 2014, 2018 and 2019. The main reason for their success is their adherence to the traditions of manual cheese production.
From a tourist point of view, the cheese factory is interesting because you can visit it and personally get acquainted with the process of making real Canarian cheese. During the 60-minute tour, you will be able to see the goat herd and watch the master cheese makers make cheese by hand. In addition to seeing the goats and producers, you will also find an audio and visual gallery providing details about the cheese-making process. And, of course, you will get to taste various types of cheeses.
If you have a desire to buy something from the cheeses you like, you can do so right there in the cheese factory store. The store is open from 8:30 to 16:30.
CASA DEL VINO
What is Spain without good wine? Do you agree? If so, then take note of this route. On the road from Santa Cruz to Puerto de la Cruz, there is an old Canarian manor from the XVII century. On the estate's grounds, you'll find the Tenerife Wine Museum - Casa del Vino.
In the showroom, you can taste local wines. In addition, a restaurant and a tavern with Canarian cuisine await you. And, of course, you can visit the wine shop, where more than 300 wines from the island of Tenerife's five appellations of origin are available.
The estate also has a Tenerife Honey Visitors’ Centre where you can learn about the peculiarities of beekeeping in Tenerife, discover the unique characteristics of local honey, and, if desired, taste it. There is also a Tenerife agricultural plant center, where you can learn more about the island's biodiversity. Casa del Vino regularly hosts various exhibition and concert events. You can see the schedule here.
You can visit Casa del Vino by booking a visit with a wine tasting in advance or by coming by car (or public transport) and taking an individual tour. It seems like walking around the estate and its garden, having a delicious snack in a restaurant, and buying a couple of bottles of excellent local wine would be a very good idea.
Opening hours: Wine shop and museum - from 10:00 to 20:00 (Tuesday - Saturday) and from 10:00 to 18:00 (Sunday - holidays). The restaurant is open from 10:30 to 22:00 (Tuesday - Saturday) and from 10:30 to 19:00 (Sunday - holidays). Office - from 8:00 to 15:30 (Tuesday - Friday).
