A guide to visiting Tenerife in the autumn

Tenerife might have a reputation for being a summer holiday destination, but I think that autumn is actually the best time of the year to visit the Canary Islands. There are many reasons for this – I’ll run through some of them in a minute – and there’s plenty for you to see and do even when it’s off-season.

Why travel in the autumn?

The reasons for visiting the isle in the autumn are many – including pleasant weather at a time when things typically take a turn for the worse in the UK and great deals on all inclusive hotels in Tenerife, as well as other types of accommodation.

Let’s look at the weather first – average temperatures in October and November are between 21 and 19 degrees C, with the sea temperature still in the low 20s. You’ll also still get eight to nine hours of sunshine each day during these months, making it a very attractive time to visit.

I prefer it when the temperatures are a little cooler – but you’ve still got almost guaranteed sunshine – because it makes it much nicer to get involved in outdoor activities and take advantage of all of the wonderful natural attractions Tenerife has to offer.

Looking at accommodation next, Tenerife’s busiest season is during the summer when we all want to get away and families who are restricted to school holidays are forced to travel. This means prices spike from the end of July until the start of September and thereafter you can find some good prices on hotels on the island.

Making the most of the autumn in Tenerife

I think the best way to get the most out of an autumn break in Tenerife is to spend as much of it outdoors as possible. As someone who loves going for walks, this is the perfect time for me to travel as I don’t need to worry about overheating while I’m hiking, but can still look forward to good conditions.

Walking in Teide National Park – around Spain’s highest mountain – is a real must, but this isn’t the only fantastic place for striding out on the island. Anaga Rural Park is another haven for hikers, with numerous trails crisscrossing this largely undeveloped area. There are lovely sections of woodland here, as well as some amazing viewpoints – the trek to the Pico del Ingles is particularly appealing as it boasts wonderful vistas of the island.

As the water temperature is still relatively mild here, I’d have a go at some water sports as well as discovering Tenerife’s interior. Windsurfing is a good option, but surfing appeals more to me. There are some great breaks along the coast, with plenty in the south of the isle within easy reach of the most popular resorts.

Enjoying uncrowded resorts

Even though the autumn isn’t the busiest period in Tenerife, none of the island’s main resorts completely shut down, so you won’t feel as though you’re staying in a ghost town. The destinations on Costa Adeje, as well as the likes of Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos are all open for business and the best part is that you can visit all the restaurants, bars and clubs without having to battle hordes of other tourists.

This is also a wonderful time to head to some of Tenerife’s more popular attractions – like the Loro Parque Zoo animal park and Siam Waterpark, both of which will be a lot more fun to explore without the queues and crowds you get at the height of summer.

 Photo credit: header, los cristianos