Activities in Canary Islands
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FEATURED
Gran Canaria Shore Excursion: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Hop-on Hop-off Tour
1 day (Departs Gran Canaria, Spain)
by Viator
No matter when your cruise ship arrives in Las Palmas, this is the perfect do-it-yourself shore excursion on Gran Canaria. See Las Palmas’ top sights and…Not LP reviewed
from USD$20.11 - All activities
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Travelin' Lady
Companies offering two-, three- and five-hour boat cruises to check out whales and dolphins are set up at the end of Playa de Los Cristianos, near the port, and in Puerto Colón in Costa Adeje. Most trips include food, drink and a quick swim. Though all are basically the same, we recommend the smaller Playa de Los Cristianos-based companies. Travelin' Lady offers personal service, small boats, and lower prices than many other outfits in the area.
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Golf del Sur
Constant mild weather means that Tenerife is a place where golfers can play year-round. It's not the most ecologically sound activity on the island (water is a constant problem, and golf courses need plenty of it) but that hasn't stopped sprawling courses from emerging all around Playa de las Américas. One of the best courses is Golf del Sur.
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K-16 Surf
K-16 Surf rents out fibre surfboards and provides tuition for only slightly more than the price of rental.
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Free Motion
The slickly run Free Motion offers a range of tours for small groups and has bikes and quads for rental.
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Carnaval
Only Rio de Janeiro does it better and even that party does not overshadow Santa Cruz's efforts to make Carnaval a nonstop, 24-hour party-orgy. Festivities generally kick off in early February and last about three weeks. Many of the gala performances and fancy-dress competitions take place in the Recinto Ferial (fairgrounds) but the streets, especially around Plaza España, become frenzied with good-natured dawn-to-dusk frivolity.
Don't be fooled into thinking this is just a sequin-bedecked excuse to party hearty, though. It may sometimes be hard to see or believe, but there is an underlying political 'message' to the whole shebang. Under the Franco dictatorship, Carnaval…
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Cable Car
The Cable Car provides the easiest, most popular and most expensive way to get up to the peak of El Teide. If you don't mind paying up, the views are great - unless a big cloud is covering the peak, in which case you won't see a thing. On clear days, the volcanic valley spreads out majestically below, and you can see the islands of La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro peeking up from the Atlantic. It takes just eight minutes to zip up 1200m.
A few words of warning: those with heart or lung problems should stay on the ground, as oxygen is short up here in the clouds. It's chilly, too, so no matter what the weather's like below, bring a jacket. The cable cars, which each hold…
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Walking
Away from the coast you find a complete contrast to the beaches: untamed countryside with a dramatic variance in terrain, ranging from rocky and wild to gently undulating hills.
Free Motion has a choice of four hiking trips: Roque Nublo, Green North, Lake Tour and the daunting-sounding Summit Tour; all priced at around €45. The company will arrange transport to/from various resorts on the coast, including Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán for a small fee. Happy Biking offers gentler day walks from around €40, including pick up from your hotel.
To enjoy an exhilarating (and free) 5km walk, simply follow the promenade that extends eastwards from Playa del Inglés. The path…
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El Hierro Taxi Diver
There's no shortage of diving companies offering their services to divers and divers hopefuls, and El Hierro Taxi Diver is one of them. They all offer pretty much the same thing - around €28 to €30 to dive around the Mar de las Calmas, where you can expect to encounter colourful coral, majestic rock formations and a wide variety of marine life. Courses and speciality dives are also available. Opening hours tend to be flexible, according to the weather and the number of dives planned.
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El Submarino
There's no shortage of diving companies offering their services to divers and divers hopefuls, and El Submarino is one of them. Most companies offer pretty much the same thing - around €30 to dive around the Mar de las Calmas, where you can expect to encounter colourful coral, majestic rock formations and a wide variety of marine life. Courses and speciality dives are also available. Opening hours tend to be flexible, according to the weather and the number of dives planned.
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Arrecifal
There's no shortage of diving companies offering their services to divers and divers hopefuls, and Arrecifal is one of them. Most companies offer pretty much the same thing - around €30 to dive around the Mar de las Calmas, where you can expect to encounter colourful coral, majestic rock formations and a wide variety of marine life. Courses and speciality dives are also available. Opening hours tend to be flexible, according to the weather and the number of dives planned.
reviewed
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Dehesa de Majona
North of town, on the TF-711 highway, is an interesting bike trail leading into the Dehesa de Majona, the largely uninhabited pastureland to the north of the capital. The dirt track begins near a lookout point, venturing towards the goat-herding villages of Casas de Enchereda and Casas de Juel before winding its way towards the coast and eventually joining up with sealed local roads near Hermigua. The lonely route can be hiked in about eight hours (one way).
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Servicio de Uso Público
The key to climbing the summit from the top of the cable car is to plan ahead. There's a permit scheme in force that restricts the number of visitors who can climb to the summit to 150 a day. Until recently, anyone who intended to make this climb had to go in person to the national park office in Santa Cruz. Now, if you plan ahead by at least one week you can reserve your place by contacting the Servicio de Uso Público either by fax or email.
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Neptuno
Companies offering two-, three- and five-hour boat cruises to check out whales and dolphins are set up at the end of Playa de Los Cristianos, near the port, and in Puerto Colón in Costa Adeje. Most trips include food, drink and a quick swim. Though all are basically the same, we recommend the smaller Playa de Los Cristianos-based companies. Neptuno offers personal service, small boats, and lower prices than many other outfits in the area.
reviewed
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Free Bird Sailing
You won't have to sail far from shore before the hotel jungle of Tenerife's largest resort melts into the gentle slopes of the island. Rent a boat, take an excursion or sign up for a whale-watching trip and cruise the waters between Tenerife and La Gomera with the shadow of El Teide behind you. If money is unlimited, Free Bird Sailing can set you up with a luxurious catamaran, including crew and food, for several hundred euros.
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Sailing, Bahriyeli
You won't have to sail far from shore before the hotel jungle of Tenerife's largest resort melts into the gentle slopes of the island. Rent a boat, take an excursion or sign up for a whale-watching trip and cruise the waters between Tenerife and La Gomera with the shadow of El Teide behind you. The tourist office in Los Cristianos has a list of companies that organise all kinds of boat trips. Bahriyeli is one of these.
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Guided Walks
Park rangers host Guided Walks up the mountain in both Spanish and English. The pace is gentle and there are frequent information pauses. Even though you'll huff and puff rather more than usual because of the high altitude, the walks are suitable for anyone of reasonable fitness (including children aged over 10). Walks last about two hours. Groups are small, so it is essential to call ahead and reserve a spot.
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Los Palos Centro de Golf
Constant mild weather means that Tenerife is a place where golfers can play year-round. It's not the most ecologically sound activity on the island (water is a constant problem, and golf courses need plenty of it) but that hasn't stopped sprawling courses from emerging all around Playa de las Américas. One of the best courses is Los Palos Centro de Golf.
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Golf Costa Adeje
Constant mild weather means that Tenerife is a place where golfers can play year-round. It's not the most ecologically sound activity on the island (water is a constant problem, and golf courses need plenty of it) but that hasn't stopped sprawling courses from emerging all around Playa de las Américas. One of the best courses is Golf Costa Adeje.
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Submarine Adventure
Submarine Adventure has a yellow submarine that submerges for 40 minutes eight times daily - and its owners run a free bus as far as Playa del Inglés to pick up punters. If you're expecting coral and sharks, you'll be disappointed; the submarine scarcely leaves the harbour and the fish you see are less impressive than those in any fish market.
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Dive Inn
The friendly and supremely helpful staff at Dive Inn will take you to all the best spots for scuba diving (courses and equipment hire available) and can help out with tips about the surrounding area. Snorkelling gear is available for those who prefer to float on the water's surface, and there's also a nifty snorkelling course available.
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Club de Mar
To learn more about whales and dolphins, contact the Club de Mar. This is both a marine-life investigation centre and a whale-watching outfitter with daily cruises that normally include the presence of a marine biologist, so that you can truly learn something about local marine life. All the cruises set sail from the Vueltas port.
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Flag Beach Windsurf Center
Out at Grandes Playas, Flag Beach Windsurf Center has beginner windsurfing courses and windsurf hire. They also rent out surfboards, boogie boards, and have a great beginner surf course. The staff are excellent kite boarding instructors and offer an introductory two-day course. They can also help with accommodation arrangements.
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Windsurfing
Although surfing is possible here (the best waves tend to break off the western end of Maspalomas by the lighthouse), this is not mind-blowing surfing territory. Windsurfers are better off heading east, beyond the resorts to Bahía Feliz, Playa Aguila and, best of all, Pozo Izquierdo, which is for experienced windsurfers.
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Ventura Surf Center
Conditions along much of the coast and in the straits between Corralejo and Lanzarote - the Estrecho de la Bocaina - are ideal for both windsurfing and kite boarding. The Ventura Surf Center is one of several in the area that cater for beginners. The centre is on the beach at the end of the street.
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Chinea Morales
In Playa Santiago itself, splashing in the waves, rambling along the rocky shore and marvelling over the peaceful ocean view will likely take up most of your time. To get out on the water, you can hop on a cruise boat. Tour companies include Chinea Morales. Most trips include lunch and a swim.
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