Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, has a lot to shout about when it comes to spectacular scenery. This volcanic beauty has stunning beaches with sands ranging from a golden-yellow colour to an inky-black, alongside traditional towns and popular nightlife spots. Its real highlight sits right at the heart of the island, where unusual volcanic rock formations meet snow-dusted peaks.

If you’re staying in a coastal resort, finding public transport to the centre of the island can sometimes be hard when you’re restricted to certain routes and destinations. If you’ve got a car at your disposal, this takes the stress out of exploring and you’ve got the freedom to go where you want, when you want.

Planning to explore this unique island? Here are just a few of the inland treasures that are definitely worth exploring by car…

Mount Teide

At the centre of the island, you’ll find the mighty Mount Teide – a dormant volcano that boasts Spain’s highest peak. It sits in the vast Teide National Park which stretches for nearly 50,000 acres! This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to a huge variety of colourful flora and fauna.

The unique Mars-like landscape has a real sci-fi feel to it. Everywhere you look, you’ll see huge craters in the rock and hardened lava formations. Even from the road, the views are spectacular.

The best way to reach the top is by jumping on the Teide Cable Car, which only takes around eight minutes. From the lookout at the top, you’re treated to some of the most-stunning panoramas. Imagine snow-capped peaks contrasting with the pitch-black volcanic rock.

Teide National Park

After you’ve conquered Mount Teide, there’s much more to see and do across the park. Walking and hiking routes stretch all around and whether you’re a beginner or a pro, you’ll quickly fall in love with this lunar landscape.

It’s a good idea to pack layers for a day out in the Teide National Park as the weather can change very quickly, and the higher the climb, the colder it gets. Don’t forget comfy trainers, a light jacket and of course, your camera to capture this out-of-this-world scenery.

If you’re visiting at night, stargazing in these renowned clear skies is not to be missed. You’re away from any light pollution, so stars and planets appear much brighter than in nearby towns. Grab a blanket, bring along a picnic and pitch up for a few hours under the sensational starry sky.

Getting there

From the resorts of Costa Adeje, Playa De Las Americas and Los Cristianos in the south, simply join the main TF-21 road which will take you straight through the national park.

Vilaflor

Quaint little Vilaflor is the highest village in Tenerife, sitting at 1,400m above sea level! Surrounded by pine forests and overlooking the striking landscapes that surround Mount Teide, it’s a charming spot to spend a few hours.

It’s the ideal start and finish point for walking, hiking and climbing days out, as you’re rewarded with the warmest of welcomes and a huge choice of delicious food in the few cafés and restaurants. There are also a couple of vineyards nearby where you can sample some of the region’s tastiest tipples.

Getting there

It’s only around a 30-minute drive to Vilaflor from the main resorts along the island’s south coast, but due to its location, all roads leading to Vilaflor are unsurprisingly uphill.

Hotel Delivery

With our new Hotel Delivery service, you can request a hire car and have it brought to your hotel in as little as one hour! That means, no pre-planning at home beforehand, no queuing to pick up a car from the airport and no time wasted in resort trying to find a car hire provider.

Plus, if you’ve got kids in tow, it will most certainly come in handy when it comes to planning days out. You can be as spontaneous as you like and decide what you want to do and where you want to go up to one hour before heading out. If the weather’s looking a bit cloudy, why not give the pool a miss and head out on the road? It’s totally hassle-free!

Ready to explore Tenerife?