At first glance, Tenerife is an island that stands out in terms of traditional tourist elements; big resorts, beautiful beaches, plenty of natural and man-made destinations and generally being a paradise to enjoy the perfect vacations, honeymoon or for any other purposes. 

However, there is more than that when it comes to Tenerife. By offering incredible wildlife and adventure options, resulting from this extensive ground and surfaces in the island that include mountains and volcanic terrain, forests and desert land and of course counting with the vast waters of the Atlantic Ocean where for many the actual adventure begins. 

To find this wildlife and plenty of options for adventures in the island of Tenerife, visitors just need to know where to look and what to look out for. This is a guide to do so in every piece of land on this paradise.

From Whales to Giant Lizards and other Animals Living in Tenerife 

For those interested in exploring Tenerife and finding animal life, variety in species is quite extensive and of all sizes in every sort of land, water and also in the air. To begin with, the Canary Islands and including Tenerife is the home of the endemic giant lizard or Gallotia Simonyi, a very interesting specimen that can reach up to 60 centimeters in size. 

In fact, the giant lizard is of the best-known native animals living in the Canary Islands, giving them the title of “Land of Giants”, since according to fossils and other finding in previous centuries another lizard specimen, even bigger than the Gallotia Simonyi lived in the island; we are talking about the Gallotia Goliath that could reach a whole meter of length. 

Other oversized animals lived in the islands that made them worthy of the title of “Land of Giants” were: the Tenerife giant rat or Canariomys Bravoi could reach one meter including the tail, but got extinct centuries back, probably due to cats. In Tenerife also once lived the giant tortoise or Geochelone Burchardi, reaching twice the size of traditional tortoises. 

Birds are another type of animal that are worthy of addressing in Tenerife and the Canary Islands, with up to 200 hundred species and 5 endemic ones: Canary Islands Chat, Tenerife Blue Chaffinch, Bolle's Pigeon, Canary Islands Chiff-Chaff and the Laurel Pigeon. 

On the other hand, when it comes to the big animals in Tenerife and the Canary Islands visitors should turn to the water surrounding the island. Up to 26 species of whales can be found in Tenerife waters and the space between the islands: La Gomera, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura. This is the main reason for many tourists to visit, thanks to incomparable whale and dolphin sightings, along with 500 different species of fish that are worth diving in. 

Flora and Adventure in Tenerife 

If Tenerife has something as a region, it’s rich and varied land that includes volcanic soil, forests and desert surface, abrupt height changes, rainfall and more that all  have an impact on the environment. This is the perfect combination to give life to an extensive variety of flora, both endemic and introduced to the island.

In detail, there are up to 2000 different species of plants in the Canary Islands and Tenerife, with half of that number being endemic to the region, even having a subtropical climate and shortage in water that are not the best circumstance for plants, but as said before surfaces, height differences and rainfall are main characteristics to Tenerife and the other islands. 

A great example and place to enjoy the flora in Tenerife is the Parque Nacional de Teide, a gigantic and incredible mountain and mostly inactive volcano that due to the surface’s features has given life to an amazing set of flora and fauna. 

Visitors are amazed when visiting this national park and see plant species like the Tajinaste Rojo, reaching up to 3 meters with ideal conditions and light, among others that take advantage of the rich volcanic soil and the environment on the mountain and general surfaces of the volcano. 

From having the second biggest carnival celebration in the world to the culturally relevant Fiestas de Mayo, Tenerife is a region with plenty of festivities that are carried out every year. They are very significant for the residents, especially from a historical and cultural point of view, tightly related with the people's past and social and political achievements over the years. 

While there are several celebrations and festivities in Tenerife, there are three of them that are the most relevant and expected by people in the island every year and even by visitors, who schedule their trips to match these festivities, such as the carnival and others. Here are the three main Tenerife festivities and what they represent for the Canarian people.

Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife 

The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is a celebration carried out every year in the island in January or February, being the most relevant and important. In fact, this is the only festivity, along with Carnival of Cadiz and Carnival of Aguilas in Spain that has the title of International Tourist Interest Party. 

In fact, the Carnival of Santa Cruz is considered the second biggest carnival across the world, after the Carnival of Rio de Janeiro and that is definitely not a trivial feat by any means. For this reason, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Rio de Janeiro are twinned cities. 

The carnival's history dates back to the 16th century, starting as a costume party where people had the intention to change in character or gender through a disguise, becoming later a cultural representation of customs and a party as a whole. 

Specifically, every carnival in Tenerife has a theme that is selected previously and can be inspired by a movie, historical period, movement, city or any other topic, so everybody can match their outfit. 

Many things and objects are sold as souvenirs and more inspired by the theme and culture and way of life in Tenerife. The official schedule is possible to include dozens of musical presentations, murgas, contests, carnival queen's election, the Cabalgata Anunciadora or Announcing Riding and the Saturday, Sunday and Monday of Carnival celebrated during that week.

Fiestas de Mayo 

On the eve of the night of May 3rd, in Tenerife the Fiestas de Mayo start; a cultural celebration where residents wear the island's traditional costume that is called “the Wizard´s Outfit”, and dressed in this way they prepare a meal and all kinds of activities, all of it carried out to be enjoyed outdoors. Typical food and desserts are offered during the celebration. 

While the festivity covers the whole region of Tenerife, in the capital it’s celebrated with a lot more emphasis and actually having its core at Plaza de España, although Candelaria and Noria Streets also house the celebration and hundreds of residents from other parts of the island are received.

The purpose of Fiestas de Mayo as a festivity is to celebrate and remember the foundational and historical events and liberation of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Another characteristic is that the Sunday before May 3rd is carried out the Paseo Romero as well, in which many vehicles with music and themed decoration go throughout the streets of Tenerife, seen by visitors and residents wherever they go. 

Recreation of the Gesta of July 25th 

In 1797, the Admiral Horatio Nelson tried to invade and enter by force to Santa Cruz de Tenerife and take the island. On July 25th of that year the outsider was defeated and since that day the city was awarded and titled as: “Loyal, noble and undefeated village, port and square of Santa Cruz de Santiago de Tenerife” in honor of Santiago who became the saint of the city since that day. 

Known the history of the celebration and the real tale behind, now we can explain the celebration of the Recreation of the Gesta of July 25th, which is called that way since events in every one of the three battles are recreated, from the arrival to Tenerife´s coastline of the British Horatio Nelson to the injured soldiers and the complete rendition of the intent of invasion that was stopped by the Canarian military.