Trifter

Tenerife has been painted with an unfortunate brush over the last thirty years. Once seen as a haven for those recuperating from illness it has become something of a seedy joke in the British newspapers. The plane loads of stag parties and gaggles of girls on cut rate package holidays that fill the bars in Las Americas and then spill out onto the streets in the wee hours of the morning have done nothing at all to enhance Tenerife’s international reputation as a desirable destination. Except of course if you are going on a stag party or want to go raving all night with your mates.

The drunken lager lout tourist might bring in pennies at the time, but they cost the island so much more in the long run. Tourists attracted to the island as a cheap and cheerful boozy break in the sun will never see the island’s stunning beauty or explore its hidden corners.

Rafting Bike – Downhill All The Way

One way to get a fun and thrilling look at the interior from the lip of the volcanic crater down to the coast at Los Cristianos is by Rafting Bike. For ten years, owner Maurico has been taking tourists by van up to the starting point within the pine forest corona and  after providing them with cycles, safety hats and gloves, guiding them the 22 miles downhill back to Los Cristianos. As there is very little pedalling involved, this is not an activity that requires much in the way of physical fitness. Even so, this is a thrilling activity that has adults whooping with joy and kids (from age of 9) yelling in excited pleasure. The rafting bikes pass through the centre of various small villages on the way down while the local residents shout greetings and wave them on. 

B.O.B Diving – Safe, Exciting and a Lot of Fun!

Another activity that gets little press but that stands out as being quite different is B.O.B. Diving. The B.O.B. of the title is the Breath Observation Bubble which fits round the diver’s head as he or she sits on a motorised underwater scooter giving them something of a James Bond air. The B.O.B. diving equipment is easy and very safe and yet it is exciting too. Tenerife’s underwater world teems with life and this unusual way to experience it will be a talking point for years to come.

Go Your Own Way!

Another suggestion for those who’d like to do something a little different in Tenerife is to hire a car and strike out on your own. It is not a large island and yet you will be surprised how much there is to discover. To give you a guiding hand the best accompaniment for your adventure is the Real Island Tenerife Drives book written  by local expat residents and travel writers, Jack and Andy Montgomery who spent four years researching the hidden nooks and crannies of the island. You can buy the book from Amazon.