Tenerife

Tenerife is the largest and most-populous island of the Canary Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. It is the most-populous island in Spain and all of Macaronesia.

More than seven million tourists visit Tenerife each year. The island is famous for its large carnivals, especially the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The capital city, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, shares the role of co-capital of the Canary Islands with Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Tenerife is also home to Teide National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes Mount Teide, the highest peak in Spain. The island has many unique plants and animals and is served by two airports: Tenerife North Airport and Tenerife South Airport. The University of La Laguna, founded in 1792 in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, is the oldest university in the Canary Islands.

Toponymy

The name 'Tenerife' probably comes from an old language, but we don't know exactly what it means.

The first people on the island, the Guanche Berbers, called it Achinet or Chenet. Long ago, others called it Nivaria because of the snow on Mount Teide. Some old maps called it Isla del Infierno, or "Hell Island", because of the volcano.

After the Spanish arrived, they added an "r" to the name, making it Tenerife. Some historians think the name might honor an old king named Tinerfe.

Demonym

The people of Tenerife are called Tinerfeño/a. Another common name is chicharrero/a, especially for people living in the capital city, Santa Cruz. Long ago, the people of La Laguna used chicharrero to describe the poorer people of Santa Cruz, who were fishermen and ate potatoes. Later, when Santa Cruz became the capital, its people proudly used this name instead.

History

The earliest known people to live on Tenerife were the Guanches. They arrived around 200 BC. They lived in caves and had a simple way of life. They gathered food from nature and did some fishing and farming.

The Guanches believed in many gods and spirits. They had special rituals and made small stone and clay figures for their beliefs. One important figure was the Idol of Guatimac.

Before Spanish rule, Tenerife was divided into nine smaller areas. Each area was led by a local king called a mencey. These leaders made decisions for their people.

In 1494, Spanish explorers arrived and began to take over the island. The Guanches resisted, but they were defeated by 1496. Many Guanches died from new diseases brought by the Spaniards.

Over time, Tenerife grew and changed. New people from many places came to live there. The island developed farms, growing crops like sugar cane for trade. Tenerife also became an important place for ships traveling to the Americas.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, many people from Tenerife moved to places like Venezuela and Cuba, looking for better opportunities. In recent times, tourism has become very important to the island's economy, bringing visitors from all over the world.

Geography

Tenerife is the biggest island of the Canary Islands and part of Macaronesia. It formed around 12 million years ago from volcanic eruptions.

The island has a warm, dry climate with sunny coasts and cooler, wetter highlands. Temperatures stay mild all year due to ocean breezes. Higher areas like San Cristóbal de La Laguna can feel cooler.

Tenerife sometimes faces challenges from weather changes, which can bring dry conditions. In August 2023, a forest fire started and some people had to leave to find safer places.

The island gets most of its water from deep wells and special tunnels in the volcanic rock. Despite busy tourist areas, Tenerife has clean air because of strong winds and few factories.

Geology

See also: Geology of the Canary Islands

Tenerife is a volcanic island formed by many eruptions over time. There have been four known eruptions in history, and none of them harmed people. The first eruption was in 1704 when several volcanoes erupted together. A big eruption followed in 1706 at Trevejo, covering the town and port of Garachico with lava. The most recent eruption was in 1909, creating a small hill called Chinyero near Santiago del Teide.

Tenerife lies between latitudes 28° and 29° N and longitudes 16° and 17° W. It is north of the Tropic of Cancer and sits between Gran Canaria, La Gomera, and La Palma. The island is about 300 km from Africa's coast and 1,000 km from the Iberian Peninsula. With an area of 2,034.38 km², Tenerife is the largest island in the Canary Islands and has the longest coastline at 342 km.

The island's highest point is Mount Teide, standing at 3,715 m above sea level. It is the highest point in all of Spain and the third largest volcano in the world from its base under the sea. Tenerife also has many small rocky islands and rocks.

Tenerife formed from underwater volcanic eruptions over the last 20 million years. These eruptions created pillow lava, which piled up on the ocean floor to form the island. As the lava neared the surface, it erupted more violently, creating fragments that eventually built up to create the land we see today.

The island's main parts formed millions of years ago, and later volcanic activity joined these parts together. Over time, big landslides shaped the valleys, and more recent eruptions added features like the Pico Viejo-Teide volcano.

The island's varied landscape includes steep mountains, deep valleys, and different kinds of forests and coastlines. Teide National Park, with its famous Mount Teide, is a protected area and a world heritage site. The park shows a mix of pine forests and dramatic volcanic scenery.

The island's three main massifs — Anaga, Teno, and Adeje — each have unique shapes and landscapes shaped by erosion and old volcanic activity. The Anaga massif has steep gorges and rocky coasts. The Teno massif features the dramatic Acantilados de Los Gigantes cliffs. The Adeje massif, though smaller and more worn down, still holds interesting geological features.

Tenerife's coastline is mostly steep and rugged, but it also has many beautiful beaches, especially in the south and west. The island's many ravines and valleys add to its natural beauty, and lava tubes like the Cueva del Viento show the effects of ancient volcanic flows.

Flora and fauna

Tenerife has many different plants and animals even though it is small. The land changes a lot, creating many climates. Tenerife is home to about 1,400 kinds of plants, and more than 100 of these grow only here. The animals include around 400 fish, 56 birds, five reptiles, two amphibians, 13 land mammals, many insects, and some sea turtles and whales.

The plants on Tenerife can be grouped into six main areas based on height above sea level and which way they face:

• Lower xerophytic zone: 0–700 metres (0–2,297 feet). Shrubs that survive long dry periods, strong sun, and wind. Many special plants grow here.
• Thermophile forest: 200–600 metres (660–1,970 feet). A transition area with moderate temperatures and rain, but many plants have been affected by humans.
• Laurel forest: 500–1,000 metres (1,600–3,300 feet). Dense forests with large trees and many bushes and ferns.
• Wax myrtle: 1,000–1,500 metres (3,300–4,900 feet). Drier areas with fewer types of plants.
• Pine forest: 800–2,000 metres (2,600–6,600 feet). Open forests of pine trees.
• High mountain: over 2,000 metres (6,600 feet). Very dry with strong sun and big temperature changes. Plants here are specially adapted to survive.

Prehistoric fauna

Before people arrived, Tenerife had some special animals that are now gone. These animals grew larger than usual because they lived on an island without many predators. Some of these included a giant rat, a special type of greenfinch, a flightless bird called the long-legged bunting, a very large lizard, and a huge tortoise.

Protected natural areas

Almost half of Tenerife, 48.6 percent, is protected land. Tenerife has 43 protected areas, the most of any island in the Canary Islands. These include national parks, natural parks, reserves, monuments, and more. The island also has important protected sea areas, like the Teno-Rasca Special Area of Conservation, which helps protect sea life such as dolphins and whales.

Administration

The government of Tenerife is led by the Cabildo Insular de Tenerife, based in Palacio Insular de Tenerife in the capital city. Each island in the Canary Islands has its own local government, called a Cabildo.

Tenerife is part of Spain. Santa Cruz is an important city with many government offices and the parliament. People on the island elect a leader, who is then appointed by Madrid. Fifteen members work together to make laws and help the island's economy.

Tenerife is divided into 31 smaller areas called municipalities. Three of these are not near the coast: Tegueste, El Tanque, and Vilaflor. Vilaflor is the highest town in the Canary Islands. The largest area is La Orotava, which includes much of Teide National Park, while the smallest is Puerto de la Cruz.

The flag of Tenerife was first used by sailors in 1845 and now represents the whole island. It became official in 1989. The coat-of-arms of Tenerife was approved in 1510. It shows Saint Michael, the island's protector, above a mountain with flames, representing El Teide. The design also includes a castle and a lion.

Natural symbols

Main article: List of animal and plant symbols of the Canary Islands

Tenerife has special natural symbols that represent the island. The official bird symbol is the blue chaffinch (Fringilla teydea), and the official tree symbol is the Canary Islands dragon tree (Dracaena draco). These symbols show what is special about Tenerife.

• Fringilla teydea

• Dracaena draco

Demographics

Tenerife is the largest and most crowded island in the Canary Islands, which belong to Spain. As of January 2026, about 972,018 people live there. This makes it the most populated island in Spain and all of Macaronesia. The capital city, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and the nearby city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna together have many people living in one big urban area.

The island has other important towns such as Arona, Granadilla de Abona, and Adeje. Many people visit Tenerife, so the actual number of people living there is likely more than official counts show. Tenerife also has many people from different countries living there.

Economy

Tenerife is the biggest economic center of the Canary Islands. It has the highest GDP in the islands. Most jobs on the island are in services, like hotels and restaurants. Other important areas include farming, energy, industry, and building.

Tourism is very important to Tenerife. It is the most visited island in the Canary Islands and one of Spain’s top tourist spots. Many visitors come from the United Kingdom, Germany, and other European countries. Popular places include Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos. The area around Costa Adeje has many fun places like shops, golf courses, restaurants, water parks such as Siam Park, and places to see whales. In the north, Puerto de la Cruz attracts tourists with its green landscapes and attractions.

Farming and fishing also help the island’s economy. Farmers grow bananas, tomatoes, potatoes, and other crops, mainly in the northern slopes. Fishing is important too, as the Canary Islands are one of Spain’s best fishing areas.

Main sights

Historical sights on Tenerife include the Cathedral of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, the Church of the Conception of La Laguna, and the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, which is the patron of the Canary Islands. There are also defensive castles in the village of San Andrés and many others across the island.

The Auditorio de Tenerife is one of the most modern buildings in Spain and is located near the capital. Close to it are El Castillo Negro and El Parque Marítimo. The Torres de Santa Cruz are two tall twin skyscrapers that stand 120 metres (390 feet) high.

The island has many archaeological sites from times before the island was taken over. Important sites are the Cave of the Guanches and the Caves of Don Gaspar, both in Icod de los Vinos. There is also the Estación solar de Masca, an old place for special ceremonies located in Buenavista del Norte. Other sites are found in Arona. The Cueva de Achbinico is an old sacred place, and there are also the Güímar Pyramids.

Some old carvings show that people from a faraway place called the Punic once visited the island. In Taganana, there is a big stone with carvings, including a symbol of an old goddess named Tanit. This stone may have been used for special ceremonies a long time ago.

Culture and arts

Literature

In the 1500s and 1600s, Antonio de Viana from La Laguna wrote an epic poem called Antigüedades de las Islas Afortunadas. This poem helps us learn about life on the Canary Islands long ago. Many writers and artists lived in Tenerife during a time called the Enlightenment. They included José Viera y Clavijo, Tomás de Iriarte y Oropesa, Ángel Guimerá y Jorge, Mercedes Pinto, and Domingo Pérez Minik.

Painting

During the 1500s, several painters lived and worked in La Laguna and other places on the island, such as Garachico, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, La Orotava, and Puerto de la Cruz. Two famous painters from the 1600s were Cristóbal Hernández de Quintana and Gaspar de Quevedo, both from La Orotava. Their artwork can still be seen in churches across Tenerife.

Luis de la Cruz y Ríos, born in 1775, became a painter for the royal court of Ferdinand VII of Spain. He was also skilled at making tiny paintings called miniatures. The painter Valentín Sanz, born in 1849 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, is well known, and his works are displayed at the Museo Municipal de Bellas Artes de Santa Cruz. The museum also shows paintings by Juan Rodríguez Botas, one of the first artists from the Canary Islands to use an art style called impressionist.

Frescoes by the artist Mariano de Cossío can be seen in a church in La Laguna. Francisco Bonnín Guerín, born in 1874, started an art school in Santa Cruz. Óscar Domínguez, born in 1906 in La Laguna, was famous for trying new things in his art. He created a special painting method called decalcomania.

Sculpture

When Martín de Andújar Cantos came from Seville, he brought new sculpting skills from that area. He taught these skills to his students, including Blas García Ravelo from Garachico. Blas learned from another famous sculptor, Juan Martínez Montañés.

Other important sculptors from the 1600s and 1700s include Sebastián Fernández Méndez, Lázaro González de Ocampo, José Rodríguez de la Oliva, and especially Fernando Estévez from La Orotava. Fernando was a student of Luján Pérez and created many religious statues and wooden carvings that are still found in churches across Tenerife.

Music

Teobaldo Power y Lugo Viña, from Santa Cruz, was a pianist and composer. He wrote Cantos Canarios, and the melody for the Hymn of the Canary Islands comes from a lullaby in his work. Traditional music on the island uses instruments like the Canarian Timple, guitar, bandurria, laúd, and drums. Local music groups like Los Sabandeños help keep these traditions alive.

Tenerife is home to several types of songs, such as the isa, folía, tajaraste, and malagueña. These songs mix old Guanche music with songs from Andalusia and Latin America.

Architecture

Tenerife's buildings often include local manor houses and simple homes. These buildings, influenced by styles from Andalusia and Portugal, have their own special look. Manor houses, found in La Orotava and La Laguna, often have balconies, inner gardens, and wooden lattices. Traditional homes usually have two floors with colorful rough walls.

Government buildings and churches were built in different styles over time. The old parts of La Orotava and La Laguna are protected as important historical sites. Recently, famous architects have designed new and exciting buildings, such as the Auditorio de Tenerife ("Auditorium of Tenerife") in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. This building looks like a boat with its sail-like shape and is a symbol of the city.

Crafts

People on Tenerife are known for their beautiful crafts. One example is Tenerife lace, a type of delicate needlework. Another craft is making intricate doilies called rosetas. Skilled workers also make fine wooden furniture, baskets from palm leaves, and pottery. The island's pottery has a long history, going back to the Guanches, who made pots and decorations by hand without using a wheel.

Traditional celebrations

Carnival of Santa Cruz

One of the biggest and most famous events on Tenerife is the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. This celebration, known around the world, takes place in many places on the island but is largest in Santa Cruz. The carnival includes music, dancing, costumes, and parades. After the Queen of the carnival is chosen, the street carnival begins, lasting ten days with many people gathering in the center of Santa Cruz.

Pilgrimages (Romerías)

Traditional religious festivals called pilgrimages or romerías are very popular on the island. These events mix Christian and older traditions and include parades with decorated wagons, local dances, food, crafts, and sports. People wear traditional clothes from Tenerife during these celebrations.

These festivals began as gatherings where the island's wealthy families would honor their patron saints. They would share food and wine from their harvests. Today, these events happen in many places, such as Tegueste for Saint Mark, Los Realejos for Saint Isidore the Laborer, and La Orotava for Saint Isidore the Laborer and Maria Torribia.

Holiday of the Virgin of Candelaria

The Virgin of Candelaria is the patron saint of the Canary Islands, and two big celebrations are held in her honor each year, in February and August. On August 15, people from all over the island bring offerings to the Virgin. A special walk called the "Walk to Candelaria" happens on the night of August 14 to 15, when people travel on foot to the town of Candelaria.

On February 2, another celebration takes place. During this time, many followers of the Virgin join a special night procession called the "Procesión de Las Candelas" (Candlelight Procession), carrying candles and praying.

Holiday of the Cristo de La Laguna

This holiday is celebrated on September 14 in honor of a very important statue of Christ called the Cristo de La Laguna. It takes place in the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna. On September 9, the statue is moved from its main altar and placed in the Cathedral of La Laguna for several days. On September 14, the main day of celebration, the statue returns to its Sanctuary.

Corpus Christi

The festival of Corpus Christi is an important religious celebration, with people making beautiful carpets of flowers in the streets. The celebrations in La Orotava are especially famous, with a large carpet made from different colored volcanic soils covering the town square. After the celebration, the soils are returned to the Parque Nacional del Teide to protect the National Park.

Easter

Easter is the most important celebration on the island. It is especially big in La Laguna, La Orotava, and Los Realejos, where special processions happen on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. The Easter celebrations in San Cristobal de la Laguna are the largest in the Canary Islands.

Religion

Most people in Tenerife follow the Catholic faith, like the rest of Spain. But because of tourism and people moving to the island, other religions are also practiced. These include Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Evangelicalism, Judaism, and Afro-American religion. Smaller groups include Chinese Religions, Baháʼí, and the Church of the Guanche People.

An important celebration is the feast day of the Virgin of Candelaria, the patron saint of the Canary Islands. This event mixes the traditions of the original Guanche people and Spanish culture. Another important figure is Our Lady of Los Remedios, who is the patron of the island and the Catholic diocese of Tenerife.

Tenerife was home to two famous Catholic saints who worked in the Americas: Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur and José de Anchieta. Many important Catholic buildings can be found on the island, including the Basilica of Candelaria, the Cathedral of La Laguna, and the Real Santuario del Cristo de La Laguna.

Education

Formal education in Tenerife began with religious groups. In 1530, the Dominican Order started a philosophy class at the convent of La Concepción de La Laguna. For a long time, Tenerife did not have many schools.

Schools slowly appeared thanks to the Royal Economic Society of Friends of the Country, which opened schools in San Cristóbal de La Laguna. The first of these was a secondary school started in 1846, after the University of San Fernando closed (see University of La Laguna).

An addition built in 1850 became the first teachers’ college on the islands. More schools opened during the time of the Second Spanish Republic, from 1929 to 1933.

Today, Tenerife has many kinds of schools, including preschools, primary schools, secondary schools, and post-secondary schools. There are also five universities, with the University of La Laguna being the largest.

Science and research

Though Tenerife isn’t known for a long history of scientific research, it is home to the Astrophysical Institute of the Canaries. The University of La Laguna also has many research centers studying topics like linguistics, business, law, political science, tropical diseases, and more.

Other research places on the island include institutes for Hispanic studies, agriculture, renewable energy, and oceanography.

Museums

Tenerife has many museums managed by different groups. Some of the most well-known are:

• The Museum of Nature and Man in Santa Cruz de Tenerife shows the island’s natural history and its ancient people. It includes three parts: a natural sciences museum, an archaeology museum, and a center for bioanthropology.
• The Museum of the History of Tenerife in La Laguna covers the island’s history from the 15th to the 20th centuries.
• The Museum of Science and the Cosmos, also in La Laguna, explores the laws of nature, from space to the human body.
• The Museum of Anthropology of Tenerife studies and shares the island’s traditional culture.
• The Tenerife Arts Space (TEA) in Santa Cruz promotes contemporary art and culture through exhibitions and activities.

Other museums include ones focused on carnival history, fine arts, wine, honey, Iberoamerican artisanship, Guanche culture, and the military history of the Canary Islands.

Media

Tenerife has many Spanish-language radio and TV stations. There are also two English-language stations. Coast FM plays adult contemporary music and gives local news in English. It broadcasts on 106.6, 92.2, and 89.4. Energy FM plays music all the time and shares local news and information every hour.

Transport and communications

Tenerife has two airports: Tenerife North Airport and Tenerife South Airport. These airports help many people visit the island each year. Tenerife South Airport is busier and has most of the flights from Europe.

You can also reach Tenerife by ferry to Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Los Cristianos. The island has good roads, including two main motorways, TF1 and TF5, that connect most towns and resorts. There are also smaller roads for exploring.

Public buses, run by TITSA, are a common way to travel around the island. They have modern, air-conditioned buses and you can use a TenMas card to pay for rides. There is also a tram in Santa Cruz that goes to La Laguna.

The main way to travel around Tenerife is by road. The Autopista del Sur and the Autopista del Norte are the two most important motorways, going from the main city area to the south and north. These motorways connect through the Autovía de Interconexión Norte-Sur near the city.

Since 2007, the Tenerife Tram has connected Santa Cruz de Tenerife and La Laguna. It has many stops and takes about 37 minutes to travel a short distance. It passes by important places like hospitals, a university, and museums.

Plans for a new train system called the "South Train" were made to connect Santa Cruz with Adeje. This train would travel very fast and have many stops. Work on this project is expected to start in 2027.

A special tourist train runs between Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos, stopping at places like Playa de las Americas.

You can also take the Teide Cableway to visit Mount Teide.

Sports

Main article: Sport in Tenerife

Tenerife is a great place for sports because it is warm all year. You can enjoy many outdoor activities like diving, rock climbing, cycling, sailing, golf, and surfing. There are also places to play indoors, such as the 'Tenerife Top Training' centre in Adeje.

The island is famous for its football club, CD Tenerife, which plays in Santa Cruz. Another exciting event is the CajaMar Tenerife Bluetrail, an ultramarathon, which is one of the highest races in Spain.

Healthcare

The main hospitals on the island are the Hospital Universitario de Canarias and the Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria. Both are big hospitals with special services for the Canary Islands. They work with the Universidad de La Laguna for learning and research.

Two more large hospitals were built recently in the north and south of the island, in Icod de los Vinos and Arona. The Hospital del Norte de Tenerife opened in 2012, and the Hospital del Sur de Tenerife opened in 2015. There are also many smaller health centers and clinics to help people stay healthy.

Gastronomy

Tenerife has many tasty foods, especially seafood and meats. The island is famous for its fish dishes, like sea bream and grouper. Most seafood is cooked simply, often boiled or baked, and served with a special local sauce called mojo and wrinkly potatoes.

Meat dishes such as marinated pork and rabbit are also popular. The island’s wrinkly potatoes are a must-try, boiled in salted water to give them a special look and taste. Mojo comes in many flavors, like green with herbs or red with peppers, and is enjoyed with many meals.

Tenerife is also known for its cheeses, especially goat cheese, which has won awards around the world. Another traditional food is gofio, made from roasted grains. The island makes wonderful wines, with special areas for growing grapes. Local places called guachinches serve these wines, especially during a yearly festival in November.

In popular culture

Cities

The city of Brisbane in Australia has a part called Teneriffe. It was named after Mount Teide by an early landowner who thought it looked like the mountain.

Other places in the world are also named after the island. These include Tenerife, Magdalena in Colombia and San Carlos de Tenerife in the Dominican Republic.

Cinema

Tenerife is a popular place for making movies. Many famous films were made there, including:

• One Million Years B.C., a British film from 1966, was filmed in Teide National Park.
• Clash of the Titans (2010) and Wrath of the Titans (2012) were filmed in several spots on the island.
• 1898, Our Last Men in the Philippines (2012), Fast & Furious 6 (2013), Jason Bourne (2015), Rambo: Last Blood (2019), and Den of Thieves 2: Pantera (2025) also used Tenerife as a filming location.

Music

Tenerife has been a beautiful place for making music. Some examples include:

• "Tie Your Mother Down" by Brian May was written while he studied astronomy in Teide National Park.
• Mike Oldfield wrote a song called "Mount Teide" about the volcano.
• Music videos for songs like "If I Let You Go" by Westlife, "The Island – Pt. 1 Dawn" by Pendulum, and "Do It for Your Lover" by Manel Navarro were filmed on the island.
• Ed Sheeran wrote a song called "Tenerife Sea" inspired by the island's surrounding waters.
• Blas Cantó recorded his song "Universo" in Tenerife.

Video games

Tenerife has also appeared in video games. For example:

• Asphalt 8: Airborne includes race tracks set on the island.
• Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis features a fictional island based on Tenerife.
• In My Summer Car, the main character’s parents go on vacation to Tenerife.

In literature

Tenerife has been featured in several books, such as "The Companion" and "The Man from the Sea" by Agatha Christie, La cueva de las mil momias by Alberto Vazquez-Figueroa, Thieves' Picnic by Leslie Charteris, El Sarcófago de las tres llaves by Pompeyo Reina Moreno, and Atentado by Mariano Gambín.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Spain

Tenerife has special friendships with other cities around the world. It is twinned with:

• Miami-Dade, United States
• Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic