Santa Cruz de Tenerife Shore Excursion

This Santa Cruz de Tenerife shore trip is the best value if you have a full day available on Tenerife. You visit the Teide National Park, located in the Canadas Mountains, the towns of La Orotava and Puerto de la Cruz, plus one of the islands popular Botanical Gardens.

After meeting your guide you start your journey towards the Teide National Park. You drive through the island's interior crossing through the La Esperanza forest. The Teide National Park is the home of Mount Teide, Spain's highest peak. This volcano's highest point is over 11,000 feet high. Originally there was a much larger volcano here and it's eruption created the Caanadas Mountains. There is a single road through the park which offers amazing views and a varied landscape of lava rocks, ash beds, lava streams, wild flowers and a caldera which is 10 miles wide.

Next you visit the charming town of La Orotava where you can visit the 18th century church and admire the grand houses with their wooden balconies and interior courtyards which are often open to the public.

Next is a stop so you can enjoy lunch (meal not included) in the resort town of Puerto de la Cruz. This is a popular shopping area for the island and also home to the beautiful Lago Martianez lido. The island does not have many good beaches so this man made lagoon is a popular stop which includes white sand, palm trees and fountains.

Finally there's a stop at the island's popular Botanical Garden. These gardens were created in the 18th century when Spain wanted to find a location to have species of plants which could be found throughout its territories. This island's temperate tropical location was the perfect spot. The subtropical and tropical plants found here are not only beautiful but also well known for their size, rarity and remote places of origin.

Mobility: Folding wheelchair OK, some sites may be inaccessible (advance notice required)