Discover Tenerife Beyond the Beaches: Where the Real Adventure Begins

When most people imagine Tenerife, they picture sunshine, beaches, swimming pools and the Atlantic Ocean.

And understandably so.

Tenerife offers beautiful weather throughout the year and some wonderful coastal destinations. But many visitors spend their entire holiday within just a few kilometres of the coast.

And by doing so, they miss an entirely different Tenerife.

Some of the island's greatest beauty begins when you leave the beaches behind and start driving upwards.

Leave the Coast Behind

Next time you visit Tenerife, rent a car for a day.

Don't plan too much. Just head towards the mountains.

Within a surprisingly short distance, the busy resorts and beaches begin to disappear behind you. The roads become quieter, the views become wider and the landscape starts changing.

And it continues changing with almost every few hundred metres you climb.

This is one of the extraordinary things about Tenerife.

You can start your morning beside the ocean and, not long afterwards, find yourself surrounded by vineyards, traditional villages, pine forests and spectacular volcanic landscapes.

Through Tenerife's Vineyards

As you climb from sea level towards the higher parts of the island, you'll begin to notice vineyards covering the hillsides.

Wine has been part of Tenerife's history and culture for centuries.

The volcanic soil, altitude and climate create very particular growing conditions, and vineyards can be found across many parts of the island.

Stop occasionally.

Look back towards the ocean.

The higher you climb, the more spectacular the views become.

And then continue towards Vilaflor de Chasna.

Welcome to Vilaflor

At around 1,400 metres above sea level, Vilaflor de Chasna is one of Spain's highest municipalities.

It feels a world away from Tenerife's coastal resorts.

The air is different. The architecture is different. The pace of life is different.

Surrounded by mountains, vineyards and pine forest, Vilaflor is an ideal place to stop, walk through the village and experience another side of Tenerife.

This is also where you'll find Lemongrass.

Our restaurant was created for people who enjoy good food, beautiful surroundings and taking their time.

So if your journey into the mountains brings you through Vilaflor, stop for lunch or dinner and make it part of your day discovering the island.

But don't turn around yet.

Because the landscape above Vilaflor becomes even more extraordinary.

Into the Pine Forest

Continue climbing and the vegetation begins to change again.

At first, you'll notice individual Canary Island pine trees.

Then there are more.

And more.

Until eventually the road takes you through a magnificent pine forest.

There are places where it feels almost untouched.

Open the window.

Slow down.

The beaches and hotels now feel very far away.

And then, eventually, the trees begin to disappear.

What comes next can be difficult to describe if you've never experienced it.

Welcome to the Moon

You emerge from the forest and suddenly the landscape opens up.

The transformation is dramatic.

Green forest gives way to an enormous volcanic world of rock, lava and earth in shades of brown, ochre, red and gold.

Depending on the position of the sun, the colours seem to change throughout the day.

It can genuinely feel as though you've arrived on another planet.

This is the volcanic heart of Tenerife.

And towering above it all is Mount Teide, Spain's highest mountain.

It's difficult to reconcile this landscape with the beaches you left behind only a short time earlier.

Yet that's Tenerife.

Ocean, vineyards, villages, forests and volcanic wilderness — all on one island.

Stay Until the Sun Goes Down

If you have the opportunity, don't rush back to the coast.

Wait.

As daylight disappears, another Tenerife reveals itself.

Look up.

The night sky at altitude can be astonishing.

Tenerife and the Canary Islands are internationally renowned for their exceptional conditions for observing the night sky. High altitude, low light pollution and atmospheric conditions can provide remarkable visibility.

You don't necessarily need to be an astronomer.

And you don't need to know the names of every constellation.

Sometimes simply standing beneath a dark Tenerife sky and looking upwards is enough.

The number of stars visible compared with the brightly illuminated coastal areas can be extraordinary.

It's one of those moments when people become quiet.

Walk. Explore. Or Simply Stop.

You don't have to be an experienced hiker to enjoy Tenerife's mountains.

There are possibilities for almost everyone.

If you love walking, there are trails through forests, volcanic landscapes and mountain scenery.

If you're looking for adventure, there is plenty to discover.

And if you'd rather do absolutely nothing, find somewhere peaceful, enjoy the view and breathe the mountain air.

There is no single correct way to experience Tenerife.

That's part of its beauty.

Tenerife Is More Than a Beach Destination

We love Tenerife's coastline.

We love the ocean.

But they are only part of the story.

If you visit Tenerife and never leave the coastal resorts, you've experienced one version of the island.

Drive upwards and you'll discover another.

Vineyards.

Traditional villages.

Canary Island pine forests.

Volcanoes.

Mountains.

Extraordinary sunsets.

And a night sky you'll remember long after your holiday is over.

So next time you come to Tenerife, give yourself one day away from the beach.

Rent a car.

Take the road into the mountains.

Stop when something catches your eye.

Have lunch somewhere you hadn't planned.

Walk through a village.

Watch the landscape change.

Stay for the sunset.

Look at the stars.

And don't worry too much about ticking things off a list.

Your adventure to make memories starts there.

Make Vilaflor Part of Your Journey

If your journey takes you through the mountains of southern Tenerife, we'd love to welcome you to Lemongrass in Vilaflor de Chasna.

Come for lunch or dinner, relax on our terrace and enjoy our Asian-inspired cuisine before continuing your journey through one of Tenerife's most beautiful landscapes.

Because sometimes the best memories of a holiday are made when you leave the obvious places behind.