10 Free Things to Do in Tenerife

Duque Norte beach, also known as El Beril, is in the south of the island, near the town of Adeje. This beach was only recently opened after a costly recuperation and rehabilitation project on this section of the coast, with great attention paid to the demands of environmental sustainability and protection.

The result is fantastic – a long, wide beach of fine, black sand flanked by palm groves, access for people with limited mobility, sun loungers, parasols, showers and foot taps, watch posts and lifesavers. There is no lack of the essential bars and restaurants, either.

Carnival is the biggest festival by far on the island, especially so in Puerto de la Cruz and in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Although the preparations begin many weeks before, the starting pistol is fired on the Friday before Carnival Tuesday and concludes with the 'piñata' the following weekend. During this most intense of weeks, the processions, the 'murgas' or bands of street musicians, the 'comparsas' – groups of singers and dancers – and the costume contests fill the streets with joy and celebration.

With its exuberance and splendor, one of the highlights of the fiesta is the Election of the Carnival Queen. If your vacation doesn't coincide with these dates, you can always visit the Casa del Carnaval, the interpretation center dedicated to the festival.

The Santa Úrsula church stands in the town of Adeje, situated in a raised plaza with magnificent views of the black ravines that are characteristic of this part of the island. It is an excellent example of the religious buildings to be found in the Canary Islands. It was built in the 17th century on the site of an earlier hermitage.

Especially interesting are the Mudejar-style polychrome coffered ceiling and the sgraffito on the facade of the building. The interior of the church also houses important neo-baroque religious images that are carried through the streets during Easter week, a baroque altarpiece in the El Rosario chapel and wood carvings such as the Candelaria de Adeje icon.

Hiring a bike to cycle around Adeje is a great way to explore this part of the world at your own pace. Here, you breathe pure mountain air mixed with the sea breeze off the Atlantic Ocean, creating the perfect environment for cycling or any other kind of open-air activity.

You can cycle along the coast or take any of the signposted paths. For those who are the least used to pedalling, we recommend an easy route in the Barranco del Infierno. Don't let the name, 'Hell's Ravine', put you off – this is an easy, 4.3-mile circular route. For the more experienced, we recommend 'Route 6'. It's hard, but the landscape will more than reward you.

You can hike to Roque del Conde from the Vento neighbourhood in Arona by taking the SL-TF 218 path. This is a 3.7-mile route of medium difficulty that will take you about 3 hours there and back. Despite the fact that it isn't for everybody, we have chosen this hike because it goes up to the most iconic spot in the south of the island.

The footpath goes through the Barranco del Infierno special nature reserve and features spectacular panoramic views of the nearby ravines and the coast. In terms of local history, this is an ancient path, cobbled in some sections, that was used to get to the now-abandoned wheat terraces. It also has close connections to the history of the Guanche resistance to the Spanish invasion.

The Museum of Nature and Archeology is a highly recommendable visit for many reasons. The main reason is that this delightful neoclassical building houses the largest collection in existence regarding Guanche culture. This includes archeological remains, ceramics, tools and even a number of fascinating Guanche mummies. The museum has become an international point of reference in terms of mommy conservation and exhibition techniques.

Another highly interesting exhibition looks at the geological origin of the Canary Islands. This beautiful space also features a library, an archive, a conference room, a shop and a restaurant. As you can see, it's well worth the very reasonable entrance charge. However, if you just want to make a quick visit, the museum is free on Friday and Saturday afternoons.

Going for a swim at El Puertito, a semi-urban cove near a small, traditional fishing village, is an ideal way to enjoy some free and refreshing fun. This is probably due to the fact that, despite its proximity to other more popular beaches, it is only accessible by a narrow, poorly signposted road.

Perhaps it's better like this – only known by those looking for a different experience in close contact with nature. It is not only on land that it looks beautiful, but it's also stunning under the water. Its crystal-clear waters and rich seabed make this the ideal spot for scuba diving, snorkeling and observing green turtles.

Bodyboarding and surfing at La Caleta are popular water sports at this beach area located in the town of Adeje, very near to well-known beaches like Duque. Although the conditions are good all year round, the best time is during the summer. The beach is classified as being for those with an intermediate and expert level. It has lefts and rights with tubes and walls and is ideal at low- and mid-tide.

Also of interest is the volcanic seabed. As if this wasn't enough, La Caleta has excellent restaurants serving local cuisine nearby for when you need to take a break for refreshment.

Visiting the nearby villages is a great budget-friendly activity for your Tenerife vacation. The municipality of Adeje is divided into a number of smaller urban neighborhoods. Some, if not all, of these are well worth visiting. If you have hired a automobile, don't miss the chance to explore the area and discover new beaches and landscapes, local restaurants and the history of the south of the island.

Among the various options, we recommend you visit Callao Salvaje, particularly the Torviscas, Paraíso and Ajabo beaches. A number of hiking paths set off from here as well. At Los Cristianos, one of the most well-known neighborhoods for its restaurant and leisure options, you can take a boat and go whale watching or visit the Monkey Park zoo.

Adeje's murals are spread around the urban neighborhoods and feature more than 600 square meters of murals by the Tenerife artist Conrado Díaz Ruiz. This is a body of work commissioned by the town council that depicts typical scenes from the 19th and 20th centuries and the town's agricultural origins, including its extensive banana and tomato farming.

Most of the murals show people working hard. Later on, the Adeje Convivencia Diez commissioned the artist Matías Mata to oversee a series of murals in Calle Borda and Calle Sindicato that highlight the town's diversity and commitment to tolerance.