With 55% of British couples finding it difficult to take time off work for a traditional honeymoon[1], “minimoons” are more popular than ever, making Tenerife a perfect choice for newlyweds. As the largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife has an average temperature of 22 degrees, beautiful and contrasting landscapes and is just a four-hour flight from the UK.
In addition to its all-year-round spring-like temperatures, Tenerife also offers honeymoon goers activities and excursions to suit all tastes and needs. From the thrill-seeking couple looking for an active adventure to fine-food lovers searching for gastronomic delights, to luxury-seekers looking for five-star treatment, Tenerife has all of the ingredients to be the ultimate minimoon destination. Here is a taste of what the island has to offer:
For the couple seeking luxury
Tenerife’s five-star hotel infrastructure is second to none. The island currently boasts more five-star hotels than Barcelona and more five and four-star hotels combined than in any other destination in Spain. Also, many of Tenerife’s most-exclusive hotels offer honeymoon packages.
With perfect year-round temperatures, an abundance of volcanic minerals and an iodine-rich Atlantic breeze, a spa treatment in Tenerife is a must! Most luxury hotels have an array of indulgent massages and treatments ideal for couples, many of which combine eastern and western methods, and even Canarian programmes featuring volcanic lava therapy and banana pulp facials.
Couples also have a number of luxury private tours and excursions to choose from, including whale watching off Costa Adeje to a stargazing and Michelin Star experience from the summit of Mount Teide (Spain’s highest peak at 3,718 metres high).
For the foodie couple
Tenerife offers an authentic cuisine blessed with an array of intoxicating flavours, favoured by the island’s year-round spring climate. Popular food includes “wrinkled potatoes” with paprika and green coriander sauces, goat stew and grilled cheese with honey – not to mention the island’s characterful wines, whose singularity lies in the rich volcanic soils on which the vines grow.
There is also a wide selection of local wines and wine routes, which are a great way to explore the unique wine culture that Tenerife houses. The Tenerife Wine Museum is a great place to go and learn about Tenerife wines and experience a unique romantic dinner at their restaurant, which offers traditional Canarian dishes with fabulous views of Mount Teide from the terrace.
Tenerife also has four Michelin-starred restaurants, making it the only Canary Island with Michelin stars. There is a wide variety of local cuisine for couples who are self-described foodies. Whether they are looking for local eateries or luxury restaurants, Tenerife is able to cater for all palates.
For the couple seeking adventure
An endless list of natural wonders surrounded by a rich marine environment provides the adventure seeking minimooners a vast array of activities to choose from. There are great hiking or walking trails, as well as mountain biking trails each with their own impressive views and microclimates. Like Teide National Park, Anaga Rural Park, and the Chasna footpath in la Corona Forest park, which has been lauded for having an impressive moonscape.
Caving gives couples a unique chance to experience lava tubes from the inside and to understand the powerful processes that formed them. There are many volcanic caves to discover, the most significant being the famous “Cueva del Viento” (Cave of the Wind) in the district of Icod, in the north of the island.
Tenerife’s mild spring-like climate allows for paragliding to be done almost every day of the year. A great place to experience this thrilling activity is Izaña in Teide National Park at 2,000 meters high, which allows travellers impressive views of the island.
For those inclined to explore the sea there is an extensive list of water sports available most notably surfing. Surfing is a deeply rooted sport on the island of Tenerife thanks to the quality of the waves that continuously break against its shores, as well as the pleasant climate and its clean waters.
For further information on things to do in Tenerife, take a look at www.webtenerife.co.uk
