Nature spotting in Tenerife

By Rebecca Barnes

Tenerife is popular thanks to its year-round sunshine, sand and lively nightlife, but nature lovers will be interested to know that the destination is also surprisingly rich in natural environments and wildlife.

Home to countless native species of animals, there are around 70 varieties of breeding birds, many of which are endemic, along with birding spots all over the island, around the coastline or in the mountains.

Birdwatchers should head to the wetlands at the Special Nature Reserve of Montana Roja or the Palmetum, where you may spot a number of endangered species such as the Kentish Plover.

According to the Canary Islands Biodiversity Data Bank, there are 32 species of marine mammals in the Canary Islands and the Teide National Park is home to many insects that can’t be found anywhere else on earth.

Of course, Tenerife offers plenty of opportunities to see sperm whales, along with common and bottlenose dolphins – the southwest coast, in particular, is a prime spot, and the best time of year is winter and spring when you might also see migratory humpback whales. If you want to get up close to wildlife here’s our Sailawaze guide to Tenerife’s best spots:

Head to ‘the jungle’

If you want guaranteed sightings of animals from all over the world and not just Tenerife, drop in to Jungle Park, a zoological and botanical park which houses at least 500 animals. Jungle Park gets its name from the tropical setting featuring waterfalls, caves, lakes and bridges. The predatory birds’ shows are well worth catching; you can also travel on a bobsleigh through the rich vegetation.