Recently I discovered a special destination for workations: Tenerife. The largest island of the Canary Islands. A place where many people escape the cold and seek the sun in winter. On this Spanish island it is almost never below 20 degrees. In this blog I explain why Tenerife is a nice place to work remotely and what you can expect if you choose to go on a workation to this island.
Learn more about Tenerife
If I find one word appropriate for Tenerife, it is versatile. Opinions vary widely about this island. Where one enjoys the digital nomad existence among all the surfers and ends the day with sunset on a volcanic mountain, the other finds it terribly hysterical touristy. I must say that I can agree with both opinions now.
With its beautiful beaches, clear blue sea, lush green mountains and spectacular volcanic landscapes, the island offers something for everyone. But Tenerife is more than just a tourist destination: in recent years, the island has also developed into a popular destination for workations. You can find more and more colivings and workspaces. Partly because of the great weather and because it is quite affordable compared to other European destinations.
Digital nomad paradise Tenerife
There are several reasons why Tenerife is an excellent place for workations. First, the island is easily accessible from Europe, with direct flights from most major cities. This means you can be on the island in just a few hours from the Netherlands and get to work. In addition, the climate is pleasant all year round, with temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. This makes it possible to work outside and enjoy the sun and the beautiful landscape.
There are a number of coworking spaces where you can rent a workspace by the day, week or month. This is not only nice to be able to work quietly, but also to meet other remote workers. They often offer a program with all kinds of activities and create a community of digital nomads. There are also some restaurants and cafes with decent wifi where you can work, although I must say that the choice is limited. My was recommended Bliss Cafe, but I personally did not like that place. The music was way too loud and you couldn’t really sit there properly. As far as I am concerned, there are far too many distractions to be able to concentrate.
Stay in a unique coliving
During my workation I stayed at Oamo Tenerife Coliving, which unfortunately no longer exists. A coliving is an accommodation where digital nomads and vacationers often stay for longer periods and where they combine living and working. Often you do fun group activities there and there is a strong community feeling. More and more coliving can be found worldwide where remote workers go on workation, especially after covid this number has increased explosively.
Oamo is a special place on the island that came my way via via. The owners are German enthusiastic entrepreneurs, specializing in conscious living. They describe themselves as “luxury coliving with retreat character.” There is a focus on healthy food, physical and mental health. From sports to yoga and meditation. The villa is truly beautiful. It sits on a mountain and has a phenomenal view that made me quiet every day. There are numerous places to work, from an office overlooking a volcano, to a spot in the garden shaded by beautiful trees and plants.
What to do during your workation in Tenerife
Tenerife is an island full of inspiring places. Whether you love the sea or the mountains, the island offers a variety of landscapes that can stimulate your creativity and innovativeness. But what can you do when you’re not at work? Tenerife has a lot to offer in terms of relaxation and recreation. Here are my tips.
- Beaches: Tenerife has an awful lot of beaches, including a number of black beaches. Fair is fair, a lot of them in the south you really don’t want to go to. At least, it’s not my thing. It is bursting with big hotels, neon lights and people who mainly want to drink cheaply. But! There are more than enough pearls of beaches that are gorgeous and where the scenery is bizarrely beautiful. My favorite in the south is Playa de Abajo, and in the north is Playa del Roque de las Bodegas.
- Parque Rural de Anaga: It is bizarre how in 1 hour you find so many different landscapes as in the north of Tenerife. One moment there is a beach, then you drive through forests that reminded me of Asia, then you pass viewpoints that make you quiet and look out on a volcano.
- Hiking: Tenerife has a varied landscape with mountains, valleys and forests that are perfect for hiking. One of the highlights is the hike to the top of the volcano Teide, Spain’s highest mountain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Water sports: Tenerife is a paradise for water sports enthusiasts, with opportunities for surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, diving, snorkeling and sailing. There is always a spot to be found with good waves and therefore popular with surfers.
- Boat trip: You can take a boat trip to spot dolphins and whales. This can be done by speedboat, yacht, catamaran, just what you want. I myself went with a group on a yacht and it was great. Especially when we encountered whales!
- Viewpoints: There are an awful lot of hills and mountains, so you can find many beautiful viewpoints on the island. One of my favorites is Los Gigantes, with impressive cliffs and magical views. If you are lucky (and I was) you can also spot dolphins there.
- Food & Drink: The island also offers plenty of restaurants, bars and cafes where you can enjoy delicious food and drinks. Do look carefully in advance where you go, and avoid ending up among the hysterical crowd, where the quality of the food is poor.
- Culture: Tenerife has a rich history and culture dating back to ancient times. For example, visit the Museum of the Guanches to learn more about the island’s original inhabitants, or visit the ancient city of La Laguna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Fan of Spain and curious about other Spanish destinations for your workation? Then read this blog.