The Canary Islands are a miniature continent and, of all of them, Tenerife is the most complete in the sense that you can find high mountains, golden sandy beaches and lush tropical forests.

In this article we'll take a look at some of the most interesting places to visit on your trip to the island, always with sustainability in mind.

Teide National Park

Spain's most visited National Park is a must for anyone visiting the Canary Islands. There is something for everyone here. The most obvious is to stop at the various viewpoints along the roadside to admire the landscape, which is so reminiscent of the moon. Thanks to this, it has been used as a backdrop for filming several movies.

Another must is to climb to the summit of Mount Teide, at 3,715 metres above sea level, either by cable car or on foot. This second option is only suitable for the bravest, as at these heights you can get altitude sickness when you make a demanding physical effort. Remember that to access the summit you have to apply for a permit on the official website of the Teide National Park, as access is limited to just a few people a day.

Apart from the panoramic views, one of the best ways to enjoy the Teide National Park is on foot. There are 41 official routes that are very well signposted, with some as simple and attractive as the one around the Roques de García, a must-see.

There are also routes within the boundaries of the National Park, such as the PR-43 that goes to the Chinyero volcano, one of the most picturesque routes in the area. On the official Tenerife tourism website you will find many more routes for you to choose the one that best suits your tastes.

Anaga Rural Park

A radical change of scenery: if on Mount Teide we were on the moon, in Anaga we are in the middle of the Amazon jungle. This rural park, located on the north-eastern outcrop of Tenerife, is a real delight for the senses, as the laurel forest transports you to another world without leaving the island.

Here you can also do several very affordable routes, such as the Sendero de los Sentidos at the Cruz del Carmen viewpoint, or El Bosque Encantado, a route limited to just 45 people per day that meanders through some of the wildest areas of Anaga. Permission for this route can be requested on the website.

The most spectacular places to visit are the aforementioned Cruz del Carmen viewpoint, gateway to the Anaga Rural Park, as well as the Pico del Ing. lés (with the peculiar tunnel of Las Hadas on one side of the road), and the viewpoint of Amogoje, next to what is known as the lion of Taganana.

Finally, don't miss Benijo beach, one of the wildest beaches in Tenerife, in a privileged location.

Puerto de la Cruz

The largest city in the north of Tenerife is Puerto de la Cruz, a tourist enclave with a wide range of accommodation on offer, and with several elements of interest for the visitor.

The first of these is the Costa Martiánez leisure complex, a set of swimming pools on the coast where you can safely enjoy the sea water and the large central fountain. It is an ideal place to go with children.

Another good idea is to take a stroll through the centre of Puerto de la Cruz and discover the graffiti that adorn the walls of the city. There are graffiti of all styles and for all tastes, and you can take a route or explore on your own to see what surprises you find.

Enjoying the stars

The sky in the Canary Islands is perfect for stargazing, which is why there are world-class astronomical observatories on the two islands with the highest altitudes, La Palma and Tenerife.

To enjoy the starry night, the best thing to do is to hire an excursion with an expert guide who will point out the constellations and planets that can be observed, and you can also scrutinise the sky through a good telescope.

At the Reserva natural del cielo y la tierra they offer this kind of experiences, of course, sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Visiting sustainable wine cellars

The peculiar volcanic soil of the Canary Islands is very fertile for agriculture, especially for potatoes, tomatoes and vines. The curious thing is that the typical volcanic aroma, with hints of sulphur, is transmitted from the soil to the wine produced in these vineyards.

That is why the wines of the Canary Islands are so characteristic, because they have volcanic aromas that make them unique. To taste these wines, the best plan is to go to one of the wineries in Tenerife, learning about the whole process in the creation of the wines, and finishing the visit with a tasting of their production.

Some of the sustainable wineries you can visit in Tenerife are Bodega Marba, Bodegas Monje and Viña Estévez.

Other sustainable activities

In Tenerife there are many more sustainable experiences you can enjoy, such as walking through the Barranco de Masca ravine or walking the famous route 040, which runs from the village of Garachico, at sea level, to the summit of Mount Teide.

You can find these and many other sustainable ideas on these two websites specialising in tourist activities in Tenerife, both part of Biosphere.

El Cardón Natural specialises in more adventurous activities, and Senda Ecoway is a search engine for sustainable experiences throughout the Canary Islands and other parts of Spain, so you'll find plenty of ideas to make your trip to Tenerife even more enjoyable.

Sustainable accommodation

There is a wide range of accommodation on offer in Tenerife and, of course, there are sustainable options all over the island, including everything from small hotels to the best resorts. To choose the one that best suits your tastes, in Biosphere's search engine you can find the most sustainable accommodation in Tenerife to make your stay more enjoyable.

With all these ideas, your trip to Tenerife will be a great experience in which, as well as enjoying all the wonders of the island, you will be doing your bit to make tourism more sustainable for the environment and the local community.