Things to Do in Costa Adeje | Tenerife Guide

Costa Adeje: A Quick Overview

Costa Adeje sits on the south-west coast of Tenerife, about 18.4 km (a 15-20 minute drive) from Tenerife South Airport. It is widely regarded as the most upscale resort in the south, with a wider spread of activities than its neighbors. It has 14 named beaches, along with the marina, the golf belt, and the older town.

For broader planning around the resort, check out the Costa Adeje destination hub.

How Costa Adeje Compares to Other South Tenerife Resorts

Costa Adeje costs more than its neighbours, but that premium price tag buys a wider spread of activities — golf, whale watching, spa culture, a genuine old town — and is generally reflected in a higher standard of hotel infrastructure and beach upkeep.

Things to Do in Costa Adeje

1) Beaches

Costa Adeje’s beaches range from the upscale to calmer family beaches, all connected by a walkable promenade. Water sports like jet skiing, parasailing, and paddleboarding are quite popular here.  It is also the best departure points for whale and dolphin watching.

Playa del Duque: The Flagship Beach

Playa del Duque is Costa Adeje’s most prestigious stretch of sand. Blue Flag certified, lifeguard-covered, with sunlounger hire and beach clubs attached to the five-star hotels behind it. It’s also the most expensive spot for a sunlounger and fills fastest in high season. So, arrive early if you want a spot without paying beach-club rates.

Full detail on all of the resort’s beaches, including access points and facilities, can be found in the Costa Adeje beaches page.

Playa de Fañabé and Playa de Troya

These beaches are calmer and cheaper, and are better suited to families with young children. Both sit closer to the main hotel strip and are less expensive for sunlounger hire. Playa de Torviscas, a smaller beach between the two, is quieter if you want sea access without the crowds.

3) Boat Trips, Whale Watching and Dolphin Tours

Whale and dolphin watching departs from the marina year-round, with resident short-finned pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins making sighting rates unusually reliable for this kind of trip. Trips run for 2–3 hours, costing anywhere from £26 to £75 per person, depending on the size of the boat, group size, and excursion duration.

Private catamaran charters are a popular upgrade for special occasions, typically including food and drinks and a longer stretch of open water away from the busier tourist boats. Larger sailing catamarans with open bar packages tend to attract a livelier crowd, while smaller charter boats suit couples or families wanting a calmer trip.

Estimated Cost by Tour Type

Budget / Large Catamarans (2 Hours) – Larger vessels carrying up to 50+ passengers. Includes drinks and basic whale/dolphin sighting.

• £26 – £34 per adult
• £13 – £17  per child

Standard Catamaran Cruise (3 Hours) – The most popular option as it includes a sighting tour, a swim/snorkel stop in a coastal bay, plus drinks and light snacks or lunch.

• £38 – £51 per adult
• £20 – £26 per child

Small-Group/Yacht Tours (2–3 Hours) – Capped at around 10–12 guests on sailboats, small luxury yachts, or rigid inflatable boats. This features marine biologist guides, hydrophones to listen to underwater sounds, and a more intimate experience.

• £56 – £73 per adult

Extended Coastal & Cliff Excursions (4.5 – 5 Hours) – This includes whale watching along with a longer cruise up the coast to the massive cliffs of Los Gigantes and Masca Bay for swimming and lunch.

• £51 – £68 (€60 – €80) per adult

Private Boat Charters – Private yacht or sailboat hire for 3 hours, customized to your itinerary.

• £300 – £510+ per group (up to 8–11 passengers)

Insider tip: Book at least a day ahead in peak season, and pick a morning slot if you can as calmer seas mean a smoother ride and better visibility.

4) Water Parks

Siam Park and Aqualand Costa Adeje are the two major water park options here. Siam Park is consistently ranked among the best water parks in the world while Aqualand is smaller and generally better suited to younger children.

Siam Park

Siam Park is the headline attraction — a Thai-themed park combining high-thrill slides, a wave pool and a lazy river, and one of the most consistently highly-rated water parks in the world on TripAdvisor. Adult tickets generally run from £36 to £41 depending on season. Check out our 2026 Siam Park Ticket Price Guide for more details.

Insider Tip: Arrive at opening as the first two hours are reliably the quietest before coach parties build up at the main slides.

Aqualand Costa Adeje

Aqualand Costa Adeje is smaller, gentler, and better matched to younger children, with cheaper tickets than Siam Park. Adult tickets cost £35 for adults, £23 for children (aged 5 to 10 years), and £13 for toddlers (aged 3 and 4 years). It even has a small penguin enclosure.

Insider tip: Book online in advance, especially in July–August and Christmas week, when gate queues run long.

Siam Park vs Aqualand: Which Should You Choose?

Choose Siam Park for thrill-seekers, teens and a full day out. Choose Aqualand for younger kids or a shorter, cheaper visit. If you’re staying two weeks with a mixed-age group, one day at each water park is a reasonable split.

5) Theme Parks

Loro Parque and Monkey Park are the two standout animal attractions within reach of Costa Adeje, with Jungle Park, Karting Tenerife and Octopus Park rounding out the family options.

Loro Parque

Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz is roughly an hour’s away and a genuine full-day commitment — best paired with time in the town itself. Its penguinarium and dolphin/sea lion shows are the highlights, and organised excursions typically bundle transport, tickets, and sometimes lunch, which simplifies things considerably for families without a hire car.

Monkey Park Tenerife

Monkey Park in Los Cristianos offers a smaller, more intimate half-day alternative for younger children who might struggle with a full day at Loro Parque. Close-up encounters with lemurs and other primates are the main highlight, and the smaller scale means less walking than the larger parks.

Jungle Park, Karting Tenerife and Octopus Park

Jungle Park (Parque Las Aguilas), Karting Tenerife, and the Octopus Park adventure playground round out the options for a half-day between beach time. Jungle Park’s bird shows and botanical exhibit suit families wanting a lower-key alternative to Loro Parque, while Karting Tenerife appeals more to teens and adults looking for something active on a non-beach day.

6) Golf in Costa Adeje

Golf Costa Adeje

Designed by Pepe Gancedo in 1998, Golf Costa Adeje is an 18-hole, par-72 championship course built into volcanic terrain with Atlantic and La Gomera views. There is also a shorter 9-hole Los Lagos course for those who want a quicker round. Golf Costa Adeje often receives praise for its course quality and the scenic setting: mountain, ocean, and volcanic terrain views. The layout uses the old farm terracing and dry stone walls of the plantation, and it’s a genuinely more demanding course than its resort setting suggests — elevated tees, undulating fairways, and real elevation change rather than a flat, manufactured layout. It has hosted several European Tour events over the years.

Activity Cost Estimate

Green fees vary by season and tee time, generally sitting in the mid-to-high range for the Canary Islands. Here are some estimates:

18-Hole Championship Course Green Fee

• Peak season (Nov to March): ~£124
• Mid season (May to Jun): ~£94
• Low season (July to Sept): ~£62

9-Hole Green Fee:

• Peak season (Nov to March): ~£68
• Mid season (May to Jun): ~£51
• Low season (July to Sept): ~£38

Rental & Equipment Fees

• Buggy: £36 (18 Holes); £21 (9 Holes)
• Manual Trolley: £5
• Electric Trolley: £15
• Standard Golf Clubs Hire: £26
• Premium Golf Clubs Hire: £38

Abama Golf and Golf Las Américas

These are alternative golf courses, both a short drive away if you want to play more than one course during a stay. Abama’s mountain-to-coastline setting often draws praise, and it is widely considered as Tenerife’s premier luxury course. Abama’s green fee is an all-inclusive experience—every booking automatically includes a buggy equipped with GPS, iced bottled water, and fresh fruit. That’s why its green fees run noticeably higher than at Golf Costa Adeje.

Green fees range from £149  during low season to £192 – £231 during high season.

Practical Tips for Golfers

• Book tee times in advance, particularly in the winter high season when UK golfers travel in volume. Early morning slots are recommended in summer to avoid midday heat
• Club hire and lesson packages are available for anyone travelling without their own equipment.
• Most golf hotels in the area offer package deals bundling accommodation with green fees.
• Dress in smart-casual attire

7) Day Trips from Costa Adeje

Teide National Park, La Gomera, Masca village and Los Gigantes are the four standout day trips from Costa Adeje, each requiring different logistics.

Mount Teide and Teide National Park

Teide National Park is the most popular day trip. At 3,715m, Teide is Spain’s highest peak. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sunset and stargazing tours run roughly £40–50 per adult — a hefty price tag worth the premium as the clear night skies over the volcano will be a genuine highlight of your trip.

Insider tip: Cable car tickets to the summit area sell out fast on clear days during peak season, so book ahead rather than booking it on the same day.

Masca Village and the Teno Rural Park

Masca in the Teno Rural Park is roughly a 45-minute drive from Costa Adeje and is one of the most photographed villages on the island. The access road is narrow with sharp bends; self-driving is manageable for confident drivers but an organised tour is the hassle-free option. Beyond the village itself, the Masca gorge hike down to the coast is a serious full-day trek that requires proper footwear and, in recent years, advance permits, so check current access rules before planning it.

La Gomera Island Day Trip

Ferries to La Gomera depart from Los Cristianos, a short drive from Costa Adeje, with day trips typically including a guided tour and lunch. It’s a quieter alternative to the Teide and Loro Parque excursions, and one worth considering for a genuinely different day away from the resort crowds. The ferry crossing itself takes roughly 50 minutes, and several operators combine the trip with a coach tour of the island’s laurel forest and coastal villages.

Los Gigantes and the Cliffs

Los Gigantes sits around 30 minutes north of Costa Adeje and is best known for its dramatic volcanic cliffs, reaching several hundred metres above the Atlantic. A boat trip along the base of the cliffs is a natural pairing with a visit, and the drive itself is straightforward without needing to tackle Masca’s mountain road. The small harbour town also has its own beach and marina, making it easy to combine the cliffs with lunch and a short stroll before heading back to Costa Adeje.

8) Hiking

Barranco del Infierno (“Hell’s Gorge”) is Costa Adeje’s best hike and one of the most accessible protected walks in southern Tenerife. Starting in Adeje old town just above the resort, it’s a there-and-back route of roughly 6.5km, taking about 3–3.5 hours to complete, with the journey ending at a waterfall over 200 metres high.

Entry is capped at a set number of visitors per day and must be booked in advance. Sturdy footwear is genuinely required since the path crosses loose scree, and a mandatory helmet is issued at the entrance.

The coastal promenade linking Costa Adeje’s beaches is the free alternative: flat, well-maintained, walkable at any fitness level, and best enjoyed early morning before the heat builds. Bike hire shops in the resort cover both this flat route and more demanding inland climbs towards Adeje town for anyone wanting real elevation gain.

9) Exploring Costa Adeje Town: Culture, History and Local Life

The historic town of Adeje, about 10–15 minutes by taxi from the beach strip, is a genuine contrast to the resort. It features a parish church (Iglesia de Santa Úrsula), local bars, and streets with real daily life rather than a tourist-facing front. It offers a quieter, more authentic side of Costa Adeje. This activity is best treated as a half-day excursion rather than an add-on. If you indulge on the simple daily pleasures of life, then the weekly rhythm of the town, with locals doing daily errands rather than posing for photographs, will surely be right up your alley.

Casa Fuerte de Adeje

Casa Fuerte de Adeje is a fortified 16th-century house tied to the Ponte family, who once controlled the local sugar trade. This house is a genuine piece of Canarian history within easy reach of the resort and a strong contrast to the modern hotel zone below. The building’s history reflects a period when Adeje’s sugar cane plantations made the area one of the wealthiest parts of the island, long before tourism reshaped the coastline.

Local Markets and Authentic Canarian Experiences

Local markets here sell Canarian cheeses, mojo sauces, local wines and handmade crafts, giving visitors a more genuine shopping experience than the main tourist strip typically offers. For authentic Canarian food at lower prices, taking a taxi up to the old town rather than eating on the tourist strip is the better choice. Market days vary by season, so checking current schedules locally before planning a visit around one is worth doing.

10) Wellness, Spa and Relaxation

Costa Adeje has the highest concentration of luxury hotel spas in southern Tenerife, with several five-star properties opening their spa facilities to non-residents for a day pass, a strong option for couples and solo travellers wanting a break from the beach.

Hotel Spas Open to Non-Residents

Several of the resort’s five-star hotels sell spa day passes to non-guests, giving visitors staying elsewhere access to pools, saunas and treatment rooms without booking a full stay. Thalassotherapy (seawater-based treatment) is a local speciality, often bundled into half- or full-day packages alongside volcanic stone massage. Day passes at the top-tier properties aren’t cheap, and prices vary considerably by hotel and season, worth checking direct with the property before committing. Accommodation options with luxurious spa facilities are covered on the Costa Adeje hotels page.

Yoga, Pilates and Wellness Retreats

Specialist operators run yoga and Pilates sessions and short wellness retreats within the resort, perfect for the year-round warm climate. Beachfront and rooftop sessions are the most commonly advertised format, often run as drop-in classes rather than requiring a multi-day retreat commitment.

11) Eating and Shopping

Costa Adeje’s dining runs from international hotel buffets through to fine dining, making it one of the more gastronomically varied resorts in the Canary Islands, though the main strip leans heavily towards international chains rather than authentic Canarian food.

Where to Eat in Costa Adeje: From Tapas to Fine Dining

The resort supports everything from casual tapas bars to Michelin-recommended restaurants, giving visitors genuine range regardless of budget. For deeper coverage of specific restaurants and cuisine types, the check out our Costa Adeje restaurants guide. Fine dining venues cluster around the marina and the Playa del Duque hotel zone, while more affordable options are found further inland along the main road through the resort. Restaurants along the Playa del Duque and Fañabé promenades offer west-facing terraces perfect for sunset dining with sea views, and these tables need booking well ahead.

Local Canarian Food to Try

Papas arrugadas with mojo rojo or mojo verde, grilled vieja (parrotfish), gofio, and local wines from the Abona DO region are all worth trying. For the most authentic versions at fairer prices, the old town above the resort consistently outperforms the tourist strip. Smaller family-run guachinches (informal Canarian eateries) typically found further inland, are rare directly in Costa Adeje itself but worth the short drive for anyone wanting the most traditional version of the cuisine.

Where to Shop in Costa Adeje

The Playa del Duque area and Safari shopping centre form the retail core, mixing international brands with local boutiques. Plaza del Duque in particular carries a run of designer and premium brands rarely found elsewhere on the island.

Local markets sell aloe vera cosmetics, honey, mojo sauces, and handmade crafts, genuinely local products worth seeking out over generic souvenirs. For full listings including market days and locations, see the dedicated Costa Adeje shopping guide.

Because the Canary Islands operate under IGIC rather than mainland Spanish VAT, prices on electronics and perfume often undercut both mainland Spain and the UK, worth factoring into a shopping list before travelling. Comparing prices between resort shops and the larger centres near Playa de las Américas can also be worthwhile, since competition there sometimes pushes electronics prices slightly lower.

12) Nightlife and Evening Entertainment

Costa Adeje’s nightlife runs more upscale and low-key than neighbouring Playa de las Américas, better suited to cocktail bars and live music than late-night clubbing.

Bars and Clubs in Costa Adeje

The resort favours relaxed cocktail bars and lounges over nightclubs, appealing to couples and adults wanting a quieter evening. For a full club scene, Playa de las Américas’ Veronicas strip is a short taxi ride away and offers a genuinely different atmosphere. Full listings can be found on the Costa Adeje nightlife page.

Live Music and Shows

Several hotels run evening entertainment, flamenco shows, live music, themed dinners, some of which are open to non-residents, giving visitors staying elsewhere a taste of the resort’s higher-end evening scene. Smaller marina-side bars also run acoustic sets several nights a week, offering a lower-key alternative to the larger hotel shows.

Evening Boat Trips and Sunset Cruises

Sunset catamaran cruises departing the marina are a popular evening choice, often combining whale watching with a social atmosphere and food and drinks included, a strong pick for things to do in Costa Adeje at night beyond the bar scene. Smaller, quieter charters are also available for couples wanting something more intimate than the larger party boats.

Free Things to Do in Costa Adeje

Free Beaches and Coastal Walks

All Spanish beaches, including Playa del Duque and Playa de Fañabé, are free to access by law; sunlounger hire is optional, not compulsory. The promenade connecting the beaches is flat, well-maintained, and free to walk at any time of day. Bringing your own towel and arriving before the beach clubs open is an easy way to enjoy the resort’s best sand without spending anything at all.

Exploring Adeje Town for Free

Adeje’s old town costs nothing to explore, the parish church, historic streets, and coastal views are all free, and pair well with a half-day out combined with lunch or a market visit. Even without visiting the interior of any historic buildings, simply walking the old streets gives a genuine sense of local life absent from the resort strip below.

Free Events and Festivals

Tenerife’s carnival season (February/March) and local fiestas, including the Fiesta de Santa Úrsula in Adeje each October, are free public events with real local atmosphere, worth timing a visit around if the dates line up. Costa Adeje remains one of Tenerife’s pricier resorts overall, but genuinely enjoyable free activities are readily available if you know where to look.

Things to Do in Costa Adeje in Bad Weather

Costa Adeje receives very little rainfall, the south of Tenerife averages under 50mm a year, but occasional overcast or windy days do occur in winter, and it’s worth having a backup plan for longer stays.

Indoor Attractions and Rainy Day Options

Both Siam Park and Aqualand remain open in most weather short of genuinely poor conditions, and indoor dining, cooking classes and wine tasting sessions run through local operators as a cultural alternative to a beach day. Wine tasting sessions focused on Tenerife’s own DO regions are a particularly popular option for adults on an overcast afternoon.

Shopping Centres and Covered Markets

Shopping centres around Playa del Duque and the Safari centre provide covered entertainment on a wet or blustery day, combining browsing with dining options under one roof.

Spa Days and Wellness as a Rainy Day Alternative

A spa day at one of the resort’s luxury hotels becomes particularly appealing when the weather turns, and it’s often the most enjoyable way to spend a genuinely poor-weather day in Costa Adeje. Prolonged rain is rare here, but it’s sensible to have one indoor option in mind for a longer stay.

Planning Your Costa Adeje Holiday: Practical Tips

Costa Adeje is served by Tenerife South Airport (TFS), making it the natural arrival point for UK visitors; Tenerife North, on the opposite side of the island, is far less convenient for this resort.

Getting to Costa Adeje from the UK

Jet2 is one of the most popular UK carriers flying into Tenerife South, alongside TUI, easyJet and Ryanair, from a range of UK regional airports. For journey times from specific departure points, the flight time from UK guide breaks this down, and the Tenerife airports comparison covers both TFS and Tenerife North in full.

Getting Around Costa Adeje

A taxi takes roughly 20-25 minutes and costs around £30-47; pre-booked private transfers and the TITSA 111 bus service are the main alternatives. Within the resort, the beach strip is walkable, taxis are plentiful, and TITSA buses connect to Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas. A hire car is worth considering for day trips to Masca, Los Gigantes or Teide. More detail on the Costa Adeje transport page.

Best Time to Visit for Activities

April-May and September-October offer the best balance of settled weather, manageable crowds, and lower prices. This is also the easiest windows for tee times at Golf Costa Adeje and shorter queues at Siam Park.

December-February brings the busiest winter crowds with mild, pleasant weather, while July-August is hot and heavily booked, particularly around the water parks and beaches.

Seasonal weather patterns are covered in full on the Costa Adeje weather page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Costa Adeje worth visiting?

Yes! Visitors consistently rate Costa Adeje among Tenerife’s best resorts for beach quality, upscale amenities and activity range, from whale watching to golf and water parks. It costs more than neighbouring Los Cristianos or Playa de las Américas, and the main strip can feel crowded in peak season, but the range of things to do justifies the higher price for most visitors.

What activities should be on your bucket list while in Costa Adeje?

• Siam Park, one of the world’s top-rated water parks, a short drive from the resort.
• A whale or dolphin watching boat trip departing the marina, with near-guaranteed sightings.
• A day trip to Teide National Park, home to Spain’s highest peak.
• An afternoon at Playa del Duque, the resort’s flagship Blue Flag beach.
• The Barranco del Infierno walk, starting in Adeje town above the resort.
• A sunset dinner on a sea-view terrace along the Fañabé or Playa del Duque promenade.

Where do celebrities stay in Tenerife?

Costa Adeje’s luxury hotel zone, particularly around Playa del Duque, is the area most associated with high-profile visitors to Tenerife, given its concentration of five-star properties. No specific claims about individual guests can be verified beyond this general pattern.

How do I get from Tenerife South Airport to Costa Adeje?

Costa Adeje is around 18.4 km from Tenerife South Airport (TFS). A taxi takes roughly 15-20 minutes and costs around £30–47; pre-booked private transfers and the TITSA 111 bus are the main alternatives. Tenerife North Airport is much further away and isn’t recommended for Costa Adeje visitors.

What is the best time of year to visit Costa Adeje?

April-May and September-October offer the best balance of good weather, manageable crowds and competitive prices, based on seasonal review patterns. December-February is the busiest winter period with higher prices but mild weather, while July-August is hot and heavily booked. The climate stays mild year-round overall.

How many days do you need in Costa Adeje?

3–4 days covers the highlights (a beach day, Siam Park, one day trip); a week lets you add golf, the old town, and a spa day without rushing.

Do you need a hire car?

No — the resort itself and nearby Los Cristianos/Playa de las Américas are covered by taxis and TITSA buses. A car only helps for self-driving to Masca, Los Gigantes, or Teide.

Is tipping expected in Costa Adeje?

No — tipping isn’t obligatory in Spain. Rounding up or leaving 5–10% for good service in restaurants is appreciated but not expected.