Tenerife: An Ideal Destination for Teens

Whatever your teens enjoy when you travel, they’re likely to find it on the Spanish island of Tenerife. From paddle sports on white-sand beaches to exploring the crater of a volcano, Tenerife offers plenty for active teens, while a pair of theme parks provide animal shows and waves for surfing.

Near the summit of Spain’s highest mountain, in Teide National Park, you can travel inside a volcanic crater more than 10 miles across, and take a cable car to the summit above. Inside the crater are rock formations of red, blue, yellow and black volcanic stone, a rough moonscape you can explore by car or on the walking trails. For science-minded teens, El Portillo Visitor Center is filled with interactive exhibits showing how volcanoes form.

For some wave action, head for Playa del Medano, a center for kiteboarding and windsurfing. Behind the 3-mile-long beach are shops where you can rent equipment. Manmade waves at Siam Park in Santa Cruz de Tenerife are designed for surfing and boogie boarding, and the rest of the park is filled with water-based thrill rides and activities.

To watch aquatic animals play in the water, get a combined ticket and visit Loro Parque, where you can see one of the world’s few killer whale shows. Dolphins, seals and even penguins perform here, too, and, in the aquarium, you can watch sharks and fish swim overhead as you walk through a transparent tunnel. Elsewhere in the park are land animals, including gorillas and white tigers.