Adeje

Adeje is the place on Tenerife where the hotels are the most elegant and the beaches the best kept – Costa Adeje is considered the finest address in the south of the island. But the municipality stretches from the sea all the way up into the mountains, where an old village and a deep gorge await visitors. A vacation in Adeje offers sunshine year-round and more variety than you might expect.

From Royal Seat to Vacation Coast

Before the Spanish conquest, Adeje was the seat of one of the island's most powerful Guanche kingdoms. After the conquest in the late 15th century, large landowners settled here, growing sugarcane and building the Casa Fuerte, a fortified manor house for protection against pirates, whose remains stand in the old town center. For centuries, Adeje remained a quiet farming village, until the coast between Playa de las Américas and La Caleta was developed starting in the 1970s. Today, many of the most luxurious hotels in the Canary Islands stand here.

Sights in Adeje

The Barranco del Infierno, the "Hell Gorge," begins directly above the old town. A trail of about seven kilometers (round trip) leads through the gorge, past cacti, willows, and sheer rock walls to a waterfall. The number of hikers is limited, and a reservation is required. In the town center you'll find the 16th-century Church of Santa Úrsula and Calle Grande with its traditional restaurants. On the coast, Siam Park beckons, a Thai-style water park that is regularly ranked among the best in the world. The beaches of Playa del Duque, Fañabé, and Playa de Torviscas are neatly laid out with light sand, sun loungers, and a promenade, while the former fishing village of La Caleta has preserved some of its old atmosphere.

Sea, Whales, and Hiking

From Puerto Colón, the marina of Costa Adeje, boats depart for whale and dolphin watching; the strait between Tenerife and La Gomera is one of the best areas in Europe for it, with resident pilot whales year-round. Catamaran tours, stand-up paddleboarding, and diving are also on offer. If you'd rather keep solid ground under your feet, hike along the coast from La Caleta to quiet coves such as Playa de Diego Hernández, or up to the pine forests around Ifonche.

Eating and Going Out

The hotels of Costa Adeje house several restaurants serving upscale cuisine, including Michelin-starred dining. It's more down-to-earth in La Caleta, where waterfront fish restaurants serve fresh catch, or in old Adeje, where goat, rabbit, and papas arrugadas with mojo are on the menu. In the evening, life shifts to the Veronicas Strip and the bars on the border with Playa de las Américas, while the hotel zones tend to be quiet.

Getting Around and Best Time to Visit

Tenerife South Airport (TFS) is about 20 kilometers to the east, with regular buses and transfers. TITSA buses connect Adeje with Los Cristianos, Santa Cruz, and Teide. For excursions to the national park or the Los Gigantes cliffs, a rental car is the most convenient option. Adeje has a summery climate year-round, so any season works; winter is high season.