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The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2027 runs from 19 to 28 February 2027, with Carnival Tuesday (a local public holiday) falling on 23 February. It’s the world’s second-biggest carnival after Rio, with over 250,000 visitors expected around the theme « Rome, the Empire of Carnival ». No Viator activity covers the street carnival itself, which is free and can’t be packaged, so I’ve picked 10 experiences across the whole island — Teide, Anaga, whales, La Palma — all rated 4.7 or above, to fill the days between two nights of parades. Book your accommodation 3 to 6 months ahead.
During carnival, Santa Cruz de Tenerife becomes a city that lives outdoors from 19 to 28 February 2027: the opening cabalgata parade, the Gala Dragnaval, the closing Coso parade, and the Entierro de la Sardina (Burial of the Sardine) that traditionally ends the festivities. But ten days of celebration doesn’t mean ten days of non-stop parades — between the evening balls and the costume contests, there are whole days left to fill, and Tenerife is a volcanic island far bigger than its capital alone.
I first looked for an activity tied to the carnival itself on Viator: nothing cleared the quality bar I set myself (a rating of 4.7 or above, at least 100 reviews) — which makes sense, since a free street carnival doesn’t sell like a packaged tour. So I widened the lens to the whole island, starting with the exclusive, private tour of Teide National Park: at 3,715 metres, it’s Spain’s highest point, and seeing it at sunset before the parade nights begin sets the tone for the whole trip.
The 10 experiences below cover both the arid south (whales, diving, paragliding at Costa Adeje) and the lush north (Anaga, the banana plantation), with a side trip to the neighbouring island of La Palma. Budget: from €20 (banana plantation, 1h) to €325 (private small-group Teide tour). The full programme of carnival evenings is on carnavaldetenerife.com, the event’s official website — and remember to book your accommodation in Santa Cruz 3 to 6 months ahead: over 250,000 visitors crowd into this one festive week.
Tenerife Carnival: the world’s second-biggest carnival
The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is considered the world’s second-biggest carnival after Rio de Janeiro’s, and the largest in Europe. Its origins go back to the 16th century, when Spanish and Portuguese settlers brought the Catholic carnival tradition to the island. The celebration reached a golden age around 1930, driven by Canary Islanders who had emigrated to Cuba and Venezuela and returned home with new musical and aesthetic influences. Banned for several decades under the Franco regime, the carnival returned to its full scale in 1977.
The traditional programme includes the Carnival Queen election gala — monumental costumes that can weigh over 100 kg, presented on a 1,200 m² stage — the opening cabalgata parade, the Coso (the main parade bringing together every troupe), and closes with the Entierro de la Sardina: a symbolic giant sardine carried in a mock funeral procession before being burned, traditionally marking the end of the festivities. The 2027 theme, « Roma: El imperio del Carnaval » (Rome, the Empire of Carnival), marks 40 years since Santa Cruz’s first-ever themed carnival, which was also built around Rome, back in 1987.
If you want to compare it with another major European carnival, I did the same selection exercise for Venice Carnival 2027 — a radically different atmosphere, all masks and palazzos rather than street parades and noise.
The 10 Best Experiences on the Island of Tenerife
1. Teide National Park — Private Sunset Tour in a Small Group
Mount Teide rises to 3,715 metres — Spain’s highest peak and the world’s third-tallest volcano measured from the ocean floor. This small-group outing, reserved exclusively for your party, climbs by air-conditioned minibus into the national park for sunset over the lava flows — I’d book it early in your stay, before parade nights start eating into your evenings. Pickup available from Siam Mall, Callao Salvaje, Playa Paraíso, Costa Adeje, Las Américas or Los Cristianos.
- Exclusive tour, reserved only for your group
- Sunset over Spain’s highest summit (3,715 m)
- Skip-the-line access included
2. Pilot Whale Watching off Costa Adeje
The waters off Costa Adeje are home to one of only four resident pilot whale populations in the world, alongside Japan, California and Hawaii — so sightings aren’t left to seasonal chance. The 2.5-hour trip is led by marine biologists who explain conservation issues without ever getting too close to the animals. A short format that’s easy to combine with a Teide morning or an afternoon dive. Departure: Victoria café, jetty 4, Puerto Colón.
- One of only 4 resident pilot whale populations on Earth
- Guided by specialist marine biologists
- 2.5-hour format, easy to fit into half a day
3. Hiking the Anaga Massif, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
The island’s north-eastern tip holds the Anaga massif, declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2015 for its record concentration of endemic species in Europe. This full day alternates a scenic drive with a guided hike through the laurisilva, a laurel forest tens of millions of years old — picnic and walking gear included. The contrast with the arid south, less than an hour’s drive away, is striking within a single day.
- UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2015
- Laurel forest (laurisilva) tens of millions of years old
- Europe’s highest concentration of endemic species
4. Tandem Paragliding over Costa Adeje
Take off at around 800 metres above Costa Adeje, tandem with an instructor, for a sweeping view over the island’s entire south coast. Hotel pickup is included in the price, which simplifies planning a free morning between two visits. Short format (2h including transport), no previous experience needed.
- Take-off at around 800 m altitude
- Panoramic view over the whole south coast
- Hotel pickup included in the price
5. Teide: Sunset, Dinner and Stargazing
Teide National Park ranks among the world’s three best stargazing sites thanks to its altitude and low light pollution — if astrotourism interests you beyond this one evening, our pick of the world’s best starry skies covers other dark-sky reserves. Here the format differs from the private morning visit above: coach transport, dinner and telescopes included, with 2,809 reviews — the most-reviewed product in this selection. A solid, lower-budget option for an evening between two carnival balls.
- Ranked among the world’s 3 best stargazing sites
- All-inclusive format: sunset, dinner and astronomy
- 2,809 reviews, the most-reviewed product in this selection
6. Day Trip to La Palma: Tajogaite Volcano and the Old Town
A 90-minute ferry ride from Los Cristianos, the island of La Palma saw the birth of the Tajogaite volcano during an eruption that lasted from September to December 2021 without a single casualty — one of many examples in our active volcano treks around the world. This full-day inter-island excursion combines the Cumbrecita viewpoint, the still-smoking volcano and the old town, with an official Canary Islands government guide. A good way to step outside the Teide-Anaga-Costa Adeje triangle if your stay runs longer than a week.
- Inter-island trip to La Palma, away from the crowds
- Tajogaite volcano, active until December 2021
- Route designed by an official Canary Islands guide
7. Ecological Banana Plantation in La Orotava
On the lush north coast, in La Orotava, a small family-run farm grows bananas using ecological methods — the opposite of the large industrial plantations in the south. The one-hour guided visit ends with a tasting of bananas and local banana liqueur, a short format that slots easily before or after another activity in the north of the island. The only fully terroir-driven experience in this selection.
- Small family-run farm on the lush north coast
- Short format (1h), easy to combine with another activity
- The only fully terroir-driven experience in the selection
8. Private Guided Tour of Tenerife’s North Coast
An air-conditioned vehicle, a local guide and a fully customisable itinerary over 6 hours along the north coast: the option to pick if you’d rather build your own day than follow a fixed circuit. The contrast between the lush north and the arid south, which you can experience in a single outing, takes on another dimension thanks to stops chosen with your guide. Hotel pickup and drop-off included.
- Private group, pace and stops fully customised
- Lush north / arid south contrast in a single day
- Local guide for an in-depth reading of the territory
9. Luxury Yacht Cruise with Champagne and Tapas at Sunset
A small-capacity luxury Beneteau Antares 42 sailboat, departing from Puerto Colón for 3 hours at sea with free-flowing champagne, wine, beer and tapas. It’s the upscale alternative to busier boat trips, with paddle boards available on board. A way to carry the carnival’s festive spirit out onto the water, with no direct link to the Santa Cruz parades.
- Small-capacity luxury sailboat, not a mass-market boat
- Free-flowing champagne, wine, beer and tapas
- Upscale alternative to crowded boat trips
10. PADI Discover Scuba Diving Try-Dive
The PADI Discover Scuba Diving try-dive at Costa Adeje requires no certification or previous experience: full equipment and supervision are included for a first dive in the island’s volcanic seabeds, rich in marine life. A 3-hour format: briefing, then a supervised dive with an instructor. A good way to try diving before considering a full certification elsewhere.
- No certification required, open to beginners
- Full equipment and PADI supervision included
- Volcanic seabeds rich in marine life
Planning Your Trip to Tenerife
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See flights2,809 reviews, 4.78/5. Sunset, dinner and telescope stargazing — the most affordable way to experience Teide.
See availabilityPractical Tips for a February Trip to Tenerife
Weather and season. February falls at the heart of the dry season in the south of the island: 21 to 23°C by day (up to 25-26°C at Costa Adeje and Playa del Duque), cool nights around 15-16°C, sea temperature 19-20°C and 7 to 8 hours of sunshine a day. The north (La Orotava, Anaga) stays cloudier and greener — the contrast between the island’s two faces is obvious within a single day trip.
Getting around the island. The main airport for international visitors is Tenerife South « Reina Sofía » (TFS), close to Costa Adeje and Playa de las Américas. For trips to the north (Teide, Anaga), allow 45 minutes to an hour’s drive from the south: car hire or excursions with transport included, which cover most of this selection, make getting around simpler.
During carnival. Central Santa Cruz streets close to traffic during the main evenings (cabalgata, Coso, Gala Dragnaval): plan to reach the centre on foot or by tram/bus from your accommodation. Shops and restaurants stay open during the day, including throughout carnival week.
To compare Tenerife with other European islands popular with travellers, see our roundup of Paros, Kos, Madeira or the Canaries.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tenerife Carnival 2027
Are the 2027 Tenerife Carnival dates really confirmed?
Yes, for the street events: the official programme from Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s city council, published in late June 2026, sets the festivities for 19 to 28 February 2027, with Carnival Tuesday (Martes de Carnaval, a local public holiday) on 23 February. One exceptional shift affects only the opening gala, brought forward to 22 January 2027 for logistical reasons linked to the Espacio Ferial venue — the parade nights themselves remain firmly in February. Some third-party sites still showed older dates at the time of our research: always defer to the official municipal programme.
Do I need to book accommodation far in advance?
Yes, 3 to 6 months before your stay. Over 250,000 visitors flock to Santa Cruz de Tenerife for this one week, and central hotels fill up fast. If everything’s booked, La Laguna (a few minutes away by tram) and Puerto de la Cruz are credible alternative bases.
Are these 10 experiences connected to the carnival?
No, and that’s by design: the street carnival is a free, popular event (parades, public balls), not a packaged activity you can sell on a booking platform. So I widened the selection to the whole island — Teide, Anaga, whales, La Palma — to fill the days of your stay outside the evening festivities. None of these 10 experiences take place during a parade or a ball.
Can you hike to the summit of Teide during your stay?
Yes, but a free permit is required for the summit trail (PNT 10, « Telesforo Bravo »), booked through the Tenerife ON platform: slots open every Monday at 7am for the following 28 days. Neither the private morning tour nor the dinner-under-the-stars evening in this selection includes that permit — the cable car up to La Rambleta (3,555 m), on the other hand, doesn’t require one.
Do you have to choose between Tenerife Carnival and Gran Canaria’s?
Not necessarily: the two Canary Island carnivals’ calendars don’t always line up exactly, which sometimes lets you combine both in a single trip. Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s is the bigger and more choreographed of the two; Las Palmas de Gran Canaria’s is known for being more participatory, with an iconic drag queen contest. It’s up to you to decide which one suits what you’re after.
Sources
- Ayuntamiento de Santa Cruz de Tenerife — official 2027 Carnival programme — accessed 2026-07-09
- Diario de Avisos — historic change in Tenerife: Carnival 2027 postponed, new dates confirmed — accessed 2026-07-09
- Carnaval de Tenerife — official website — accessed 2026-07-09
- Carnaval de Tenerife — Santa Cruz adjusts the 2027 calendar — accessed 2026-07-09
- Canarias7 — official programme of the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2027 — accessed 2026-07-09
- Wikipedia — Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife — accessed 2026-07-09
- Webtenerife — The History of Tenerife Carnival — accessed 2026-07-09
- FlightConnections — flight connections from Paris (CDG) to Tenerife (TFS) — accessed 2026-07-09
- Canarias Lovers — Visiting Tenerife in February — accessed 2026-07-09
- Volcano Teide blog — Mount Teide permit — accessed 2026-07-09
- Wikipedia — Macizo de Anaga — accessed 2026-07-09
- Whale Watch Tenerife — Tenerife Whale Watching Season — accessed 2026-07-09
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