Things to do in South Tenerife
The five best days out from the south coast are Siam Park, a whale-watching boat, Mount Teide, the Masca trail and a ferry to La Gomera.
Every trip at a glance
Published adult prices, with each source linked. Prices change, so check before you go.
| Activity | Price | Time needed | Book ahead? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siam Park | Adult (12+) €44 · child (3–11) €32 · under 3 freesiampark.net | 5–6 hours · opens 10:00 | Check with operator |
| Aqualand Costa Adeje | Adult (11+) €35 online · €37 at the gateaqualand.es | Check with operator | Online is cheaper |
| Loro Parque | Check price | Check with operator | Twin Ticket with Siam Park: €78 adult |
| Whale boat · Bonadea II | €28 adult · €14 childlcteurope.com | 2 hours from Puerto Colón | Book at the harbour |
| Teide cable car | Non-resident return from €42 · child (3–13) from €21 · one way €23.50volcanoteide.com | Check with operator | Yes, it sells out |
| Masca trail | Non-resident adult €40.66 · ages 8–17 €20.33 · no under-8scaminobarrancodemasca.com | Descents 08:30–13:00 | Yes, booking is compulsory |
| Barranco del Infierno | Non-resident adult €16 · Canary resident €6 · no under-5sbarrancodelinfierno.es | ~3 hours · ~6.5 km return | Yes, online booking is compulsory |
| La Gomera ferry | Non-resident from €44.03 one wayfredolsen.es | ~50 min each way · a full day | Book ahead at weekends |
| Surf lessons · El Socorro / Fañabé | Check price | Check with operator | Check with operator |
What kind of day?
Four quick picks. The details are in the sections below.
Siam Park
A full day of slides and the wave pool. Aqualand adds dolphin shows.
Masca or Teide
A gorge hike with a boat back, or the cable car up the volcano.
Whale boat
Short-finned pilot whales live in the channel all year.
La Gomera
Take the ferry for a day in Valle Gran Rey or the Garajonay laurel forest.
Slides, waves and dolphins
The two water parks sit above Costa Adeje. Loro Parque is sold as a twin ticket with Siam Park.
Aqualand
The other water park, with dolphin shows. Tickets are cheaper online than at the ticket office.
Buy ticketsLoro Parque
Sold as a Twin Ticket with Siam Park (see the table). There is no single-ticket price on this guide yet, so check the price with the park.
Check priceBoats, whales and the marina
Boats leave from Puerto Colón and Los Cristianos.
Whales and dolphins
Short-finned pilot whales live in the channel all year. Book at the harbour rather than through a hotel desk.
Bonadea II
Puerto Colón
Jet skis, parasailing and paddleboards from the marina. For a quieter walk, head south towards Playa de Troya.
Check price with operator
La Gomera
Fred. Olsen sails to San Sebastián. A day is enough for Valle Gran Rey or the laurel forest in Garajonay.
Book ferryVolcano, gorges and cliffs
The big island days. Most need booking ahead.
Mount Teide
The cable car sells out, so book before you leave. The summit needs a free national-park permit, booked in advance. Prices vary with demand.
Book cable car
Masca trail
Wear closed hiking boots, and bring ID, your trail ticket and a return boat ticket. The boat brings you back to Los Gigantes.
Book trail
Barranco del Infierno
A gorge walk from Adeje town, with a helmet included. Closed shoes are required.
Book walk
Los Gigantes
Towering cliffs and a marina, north along the coast. The boat back from the Masca trail ends here.
Check detailsWaves for beginners and up
El Socorro
A black-sand surf beach. If that drive is too far, the same schools teach at Playa de Fañabé.
Check price with operatorBefore you go
Booking, weather on the mountain, and getting there.
Booking
Teide, Masca and Barranco del Infierno need booking ahead. Book weekend ferries in advance.
Altitude and weather
Teide is a high mountain, and the weather up there can differ from the coast. Check the forecast with the national park before you go.
Transport
Titsa 355 runs to Masca from Santiago del Teide, and a Costa Adeje–Teide bus (line 342) runs once a day. Check the times on titsa.com.
Plan your day
Allow a full day for Siam Park, Teide or La Gomera. Masca descents start in the morning (times in the table).
Short answers
What is best to do with kids?
A water park: Siam Park for a full day, or Aqualand for dolphin shows. Check age limits before hikes, as Masca and Barranco del Infierno do not allow young children (see the table).
Do I need a permit for Teide?
The summit needs a free national-park permit booked in advance. The cable car itself needs a ticket, which sells out.
Can I do Masca without a car?
Yes. Titsa 355 runs from Santiago del Teide, and the trail ends with a boat to Los Gigantes. Book the trail and the boat ahead.
What can I do on a cloudy day?
Take the ferry to La Gomera, or book a whale boat from Puerto Colón. Check conditions with the operator first.
