Only two hours from the mainland, Tenerife offers the best conditions to practise your favourite sport at any time of the year
More and more athletes are increasingly opting to use their holidays to take their training to other places. Getting away from the routine, the daily grind and the possibility of visiting new destinations while doing what they like the most is an unbeatable combination. The vast majority are looking for places with favourable weather, stunning landscapes and the possibility of practising multiple sports for a few days.
The island of Tenerife, the largest in the Canary Islands archipelago, meets all these requirements perfectly. Its average temperature throughout the year is 22 degrees. The variety of landscapes, from the volcanic landscape at the foot of Mount Teide, the laurel forests of Anaga Rural Park or the seabed, ensure that, as well as working on your physical fitness, your spirit will receive a second dose of endorphins for the sheer pleasure of being on the island. Tenerife has many facilities and companies that enable practising a wide range of sports in the best possible conditions. Read on to discover some unique places to train on your next holiday.
Wearing out your soles
Tenerife’s incredible landscapes, as well as beautiful views, hold a secret to ensure that your training sessions are tailored precisely to your needs. There are 43 nature areas on the island, occupying 48% of its surface area. If this is already an inviting fact, you should know that these sanctuaries of nature also hide 1,500 kilometres of trails where you can cycle, walk or run in absolute freedom, exclusively surrounded by nature.
The ten kilometres of the Masca Ravine trail are a stimulating challenge for hikers. It is not just a pleasant stroll but a route that requires about seven hours to complete, on average. Apart from the immediate benefits for your body, the scenery and views from this trail in Teno Rural Park will provide you with hundreds of photos to show off your holiday on social media. Despite its name, the Barranco del Infierno (Hell’s Ravine), in the municipality of Adeje, is a gentler route suitable for the whole family. It’s not every day that you have to face heroics.
If you want to pick up the pace and run instead of walking, Tenerife has running trails for all levels. The Cruz del Carmen – El Batán – Cruz del Carmen trail in Anaga Rural Park is ideal for a short training run. Its 11 kilometres surround spectacular scenery amidst laurel forests, giant ferns and magnificent views. Just twice as long, at 22 kilometres, is the Vilaflor – La Florida – Paisaje Lunar trail, where you will not only run but also get to see, whilst short of breath, the largest pine trees in the Canary Islands.
If you want to put yourself to the test, the recently rehabilitated ‘040 route’ takes you from the ocean waters to the top of Mount Teide on Spain’s steepest route. Its 30 kilometres are run daily by professionals and amateurs alike looking to improve their fitness and enjoy the challenge. The most demanding route on the island starts 12 metres above sea level and goes up to 3,715 metres of Mount Teide. This challenging route passes through the Protected Landscape of Los Campeches, Tigaiga and Ruiz, the Corona Forestal Park and the Teide National Park.
Don’t stop pedalling
Whether you prefer the knobby tyres of a mountain bike or the smooth tyres of a road bike, Tenerife has plenty of kilometres waiting for you to train on. The routes prepared for mountain biking almost all run through the higher parts of the islands. 200 kilometres adapted to the needs of all cyclists, with parking spaces at the beginning and end of each route, is a sure promise to enjoy nature on your bike. One of our favourites is the Northern Route, which stretches almost 140 kilometres between the main route and the turn-offs. Don’t miss it.
Many professional cycling teams prepare their seasons on the islands’ roads. The altitude, perfect climate and little traffic make them ideal for racking up the kilometres in your legs. Amateur cyclists can also take advantage of all these benefits and cycle at altitudes of up to 2,000 metres, surrounded by breathtaking views.
Get off the path
If part of your sporting life is underground, Tenerife’s subsoil offers you the chance to enjoy caving any time of the year. The Cueva del Viento (Wind Cave) is the largest volcanic tube in Europe. It was formed 27,000 years ago and its passages are up to 17 kilometres long. It’s a must if you like discovering caves.
Back in the open air, climbing and canyoning are other activities with perfect places in Tenerife. Feel the satisfaction of gaining the best views when you reach the top, or feel the adrenaline rush in your bloodstream as you descend one of the island’s canyons.
And, of course, water
Although it has taken us a while, we have finally arrived at something that, as is usual on any island, surrounds Tenerife on all sides: the water, diving, surfing, windsurfing; stand up paddle, wind foil, kayaking, sailing, freediving or even just letting the time pass while fishing peacefully (although deep sea fishing is not exactly a very relaxing activity). Tenerife’s sporting possibilities when it comes to water sports are almost endless. The island’s great advantage is its different beaches offer very different conditions. The orientation, the different winds in each area, and the types of seabed mean that every athlete will always have waves that suit their conditions.
La Atlántida in Los Gigantes or Las Anclas, in the municipality of Garachico, are two of the best places to dive among bream, moray eels, manta rays and trumpet fish. The Cueva de las Morenas is one of our favourite names on the island, and it is named after the three types of moray eels that inhabit it. It is accessed from Los Cristianos. The wrecks are the remains of sunken ships that quickly become a refuge for different animals. Diving near them is an experience you can enjoy in Tenerife. Puerto Colón – Los Gemelos, Tabaiba, El Meridian and El Condesito are just some of the wrecks around the island. You are going to love it.
The surfing hot spots are innumerable. It is difficult to choose because every surfer has his or her favourite waves. The good thing is that Tenerife has almost all of them. El Socorro (in Los Realejos) is an excellent beach for intermediate and expert surfers in conditions that are usually favourable for surfing. Just keep an eye on the currents! However, Martiánez (Puerto de La Cruz) is suitable for beginners. Once again, we let ourselves be carried away by a name: La Derecha del Conquistador. This is located in Arona, a beach with a volcanic reef at the bottom. Ride its waves if you have a confident command of the board.
If surfing is the waves, the driving force of windsurfing and kitesurfing is the wind. Again, there are so many different beaches that it is difficult to select just a few. The most famous is El Médano beach, which has excellent conditions (for experienced windsurfers), a school and parking 100 metres from the shore. Playa de Las Américas is another option with easy access and challenging winds.
Fly!
Whether you’re an expert or a beginner, the slopes of the Tenerife mountains are perfect for paragliding. Take off in the mountains, fly over pine forests and volcanic soil to land on a black sandy beach before taking a spectacular swim.
In Tenerife, there are six take-off zones and five landing zones. Among them, we recommend you start your journey on therecently remodelled Güímara-Pista de Anocheza slope. Its 170-metre ramps will put you in the air and give you a privileged view of the island.
Sustainable leisure
Companies and hotels on the island will go out of their way to ensure your sporting experience is always at its best. If you prefer, you don’t even have to bring your own equipment. You can buy or rent everything in Tenerife.
You need to know that your holidays are not at odds with the environment. Tenerife’s commitment to sustainability isendorsed by its Biosphere and Smart Tourism Destination certificates. Both guarantee the harmonious development of tourist activities in its territory.
In addition to the magnificent sporting areas, incredible landscapes and respect for nature, there is also excellent gastronomy based on local produce and a range of leisure and history that, in your free time, will help you enjoy your trip even more. We think that Tenerife has everything you need for your sports holidays. The only thing missing is for you to go and tell us about it when you return.
