Camping Montaña Roja

You’ll want to start with a meander up the mountain, of course – there are several paths to pick from, so most folk should be able to find a way up to the 171-metre pinnacle without too much of a struggle. Next stop after that may well be Mount Teide, the island’s central volcanic peak and Spain’s highest point at a heady 3,718 metres. Getting to the top doesn’t involve any extensive clambering, for you can ride up gracefully in a cable car from the base station an hour’s drive away. The scenery around here is simply stunning, so it’s worth planning a hike around the rivers of petrified lava and unlikely rock formations. Back down at sea level, there are many places around the island for a seafront stroll – the black sands of Los Gigantes beach (45 minutes) are worth a trip, as is El Bollullo (an hour), best reached by hiking through banana plantations. Closer to home, naturists can strip off for a dip in a little cove at the end of La Tejita beach, and active sorts can get their kicks kitesurfing, surfing and scuba diving from El Médano (five minutes’ drive).