Tenerife Workation: Why Tenerife is the Perfect Place to Experience a Workation

categories: europe travel tags: article, canary islands, digital nomad, spain, Tenerife

“Paradise” could be the second name of Tenerife. Also known as the “Island of Eternal Spring,” Tenerife attracts people with the perfect weather, outdoor adventures, and affordable cost of living. Do you like to sunbathe? An excellent choice. Do you prefer active recreation? You’ll also enjoy this place!

But what about going there to mix work and vacation?

When I got this opportunity, I was skeptical about it. I didn’t believe working remotely on a Canary island would work for me. Heat, siesta mood, and exotic views calling me from a hotel room made me doubtful: how would I focus on work in a setting like this?

However – as you might guess – workation on Tenerife changed my mind. Everything I worried about turned out to support my productivity. Even more, this experience was so fantastic that I decided to encourage you to try it yourself. In this post, you will find:

a short explanation of workation
essentials of workation destinations
an answer to the question of why Tenerife is the excellent choice

Read on and enjoy the sunny adventure!

Table of contents: (Hide)

Workation Meaning, What is a Workation?

Workation is a wordplay: the mix of work and vacations. This makes it easy to remember the term! But if you struggle, think about it this way: work(vac)ation!

Workation is a time when you work for regular hours but in another place. It may be a different city, country, or even another continent. Once your work is done, you can explore this destination and enjoy your leisure time.

It’s trendy among remote employees who are not tied to their working places, but at the same time, they are vulnerable to feeling stuck in the place. But for all employees, it’s an excellent opportunity to visit a foreign country or change settings while saving your days off. Win-win!

What are workation benefits?

Exploration of new places without using your days off.
The change of scenery. You can avoid feeling stuck in the place with your remote work.
Breaking daily routine, which boosts creativity and helps to kick bad habits
The improvement of work quality. In a recent Passport Photo Online study about workation, 8 in 10 respondents agreed that workations enhanced their creativity, productivity, and work satisfaction.
Burnout prevention. Changing the setting helps to renew your mental strength.

Indeed, workation can bring new energy to your job, making it the experience worth trying.

The workation destination: must-have features

Not every location is fine for a workation destination.

Let’s say you love to spend time in mountain cabins. Views are amazing (and totally Instagrammable!) The peace makes you calm, and the surrounding of nature boost your creativity, making it the perfect place to work. So, you decide to rent a mountain cabin for your workation. However, in a place you realize that the Internet is so slow you can’t work as quickly as usual – and you just get irritated… Peaceful workation turns into a stressful nightmare.

I think you got the point.

The workation destination is more than just a picturesque view. It must meet several expectations that will make your work comfortable and manageable. So, while deciding where to go, consider those must-have features:

Quality internet connection. The speed of the mobile and broadband networks may differ between countries and cities. At the top of the list is Singapore, with 229 Mb/s broadband and 64 Mb/s mobile, followed by Hong Kong, which offers 215 Mb/s broadband and 56 Mb/s mobile internet. Also, always ask about their Internet service in the accommodation you want to rent to ensure it’s possible to work there.
The price of the internet connection. In some countries, the excellent quality of Internet connection comes at a high price. If you prefer more affordable trips, you may want to avoid Bahrain with Internet costs of €135 per month!
A low cost of living. Your workation may last longer than regular vacations. If you don’t want to empty your wallet, think about relatively cheap countries. The average rent for 1 person is the lowest in North African countries (Algeria, Morocco, Egypt), the opposite to Hong Kong or Singapore (about €2,000 per month).
Time zone. Look for the time zone that is close to the time zone of your team or clients. This way, you’ll avoid troubles with attending meetings, and you could work at the hours you get used to.
Infrastructure and amenities. There’s much more to consider than just internet speeds! Think about daily conveniences like public transportation or basics like tap water. Also, as a remote employee, you may want to look around for coworking spaces and laptop-friendly cafes, so check this potential before.
Tourist attractions. Workation is not all about work. When choosing your ideal destination, research fun, and interesting things to do in the region to identify if it falls into your taste. Beyond that, think about the daily activities you want to perform during workation. As a gym rat, you may want to look for gyms in the nearest surroundings.
Weather conditions. Skip this point if the weather doesn’t affect you at all. However, from my experience, the day lengths, temperatures, and cloudiness frequency may significantly impact how we feel throughout the day. It’s better to learn about the weather in the place you want to visit than die from the heat or have trouble getting up because of the morning darkness.

Careful choice of destination is the fundamental step of planning workation. Undoubtedly, the conditions of the place of your choice will significantly impact how you would feel during your workation. But before you start researching beautiful (and well-connected!) places worldwide, let me do one thing.

Let me proclaim one of the best places to experience workation: Tenerife.

6 reasons why Tenerife is the perfect place to experience workation

The weather

Do you know why Tenerife is called the “Island of Eternal Spring”? It’s due to its perfect spring weather all year round.

Tenerife has a Mediterranean-subtropical climate, which means:

320 days of sun a year
temperatures that are mild and stable throughout the year
dry summer with temperatures between 24ºC and 33ºC
the winter with the temperature within the range 18 – 21ºC and some rainfall

The weather condition is excellent for pretty much everyone. The best thing is you don’t have to limit yourself, and you can visit Tenerife any time of year. Tenerife will satisfy you whether you are getting used to the rain in autumn or just want to experience more sun in summer.

Transport

Two points about transportation: it’s easy to get there, and it’s easy to travel there.

From the US, you can take a flight from Newark (EWR) to Tenerife South (TFS) with United Airlines. Tenerife is the Canary island that is the easiest to reach for US visitors.

Going from Europe, you can make a really good deal. Many low-cost airlines fly to Tenerife! Also, daily direct flights are available from many Europe countries, including UK, Germany, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Belgium, and Poland.

When you finally reach the destination, you can easily get around there. The island is well connected by a bus line TITSA, Transportes Interurbanos de Tenerife. It’s not usually the quickest or most convenient way to get around, but it’s cheap and safe.

Low cost of living

Despite growing prices, the cost of living here is lower than in other Western European countries. According to recent data, the cost of living in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is $1,279

Accommodation is also not very expensive compared to other Spanish resorts, and finding a rental flat is not difficult.

The good Internet connection

Workationers know that no Internet = no business. So, a stable and high-speed internet connection is the first and most important thing to consider while looking for a workation destination.

What does it look like in Tenerife? Well, it’s first-class.

First of all, the internet speed. The average internet speed in the capital of Tenerife is 177 Mbps, while the median speed test result is 92 Mbps. Typical internet speeds vary from 65 to 306 Mbps. The highest broadband speed we’ve seen is 911 Mbps from Digi Spain Telecom, and the most common one (at least in Santa Cruz de Tenerife) is Telefonica de Espana, with typical speeds ranging from 71 to 334 Mbps.

And what about free Wi-Fi?

There are many cafes with free Wi-Fi connections, so you can enjoy your work while drinking the famous café leche y leche (and stay longer after working hours to try barraquito, the coffee with liquor 43 added.)

But it’s not all.

The Government of Tenerife has launched a new project: they installed free wireless Internet spots in major tourist locations.

Now, the connection to it is available in those municipalities of the island:

the provinces of Arona: in the port of Los Cristianos, on Las Galletas (the waterfront), in the territory of La Garagnanha Park and the most popular beaches
Santiago del Teide: in the Los Gigantes cliffs area
Adeje: on the beaches of Troya and Fanabe
Puerto de la Cruz: in the castle of San Felipe, on Colon Avenue, in the Charco square

You don’t need to worry about your internet connection working from Tenerife. Instead, you can entirely focus on making your work done and chilling.

Digital nomad community

Tenerife is a magnet for remote employees. Any profs? The digital nomad community in Tenerife has grown exponentially since 2020.

So, don’t worry that you have to spend your workations alone. A great community provides the opportunity to meet people with similar mindsets who are willing to hand out and enjoy free time together. Also, a growing community of digital nomads means more facilities tailored to their needs, such as cafes ready for remote work or co-working spaces.

Things to do

No matter your favorite way to spend your free time, you won’t get bored in Tenerife. Actually, it’s what I love about this place: it’s a paradise with a total wealth of experiences.

Here are some best activities that will help you relax, explore the island, and reenergize for the next day of work.

Going to the beach

Scenic beaches are the real Tenerife’s gem. They are typically made up of black sand due to Tenerife’s volcanic origin. However, you may find some white-sand beaches developed especially for tourists. The most popular one is Playa de las Teresitas with white sand from Sahara! Other famous beaches are Playa La Tejita, Playa de los Gigantes, and Playa del Duque in Costa Adeje. However, if you want unique (and less crowded) experiences, try Playa de Bollullo, surrounded by banana plantations, or Playa the Benijo, well-known for the most stunning sunsets. Both are surrounded by scenic cliffs and impress with crashing waves. Just remember that not all Tenerife beaches are suitable for swimming. It’s safe only in calm, sheltered bays.

Visiting cities and villages

If you are the kind of person who loves to wander around the town and discover hidden gems, you’ll fall in love with Tenerife. Explore small coastal towns, like peaceful Candelaria, Garachico with the best-preserved historical center, La Orotava with its cute balconies and gardens, San Cristobal de La Laguna (a UNESCO city!), San Miguel de Tajao with an excellent traditional restaurant or Icod le Los Vinos with its millennial Dragon Tree.

Tasting Canarian cuisine

Foodies: keep reading! One of the best ways to experience Tenerife is through its delicious cuisine. The Canarian diet mixes Spanish, North African, and Latin American influences, making it worth exploring! Many dishes are simple yet flavorful, with fresh seafood and vegetables taking center stage. My top choice is papas arrugadas (wrinkled potatoes) served with green and red mojo rojo (olive-based sources). Queso asado (grilled cheese) with mojo rojo is also excellent! Actually, it’s worth trying local chees made with goat’s milk because the rural areas of Tenerife still preserve a great cheese-making tradition. Tenerife is also famous for its dish of traditional gofio flour. Still, I agree with the waiter who served it to me – the taste is very specific, and it is a dish for the brave! Finally, we can’t miss barraquito, the iconic drink of Tenerife. It originates from Tenerife, so it’s not so popular on other Canarian islands. The barraquito combines a special liquor, coffee, milk, lemon, and cinnamon, making it an exceptional mixture of tastes.

Hiking trails

Avid walking opportunities and picturesque trails encourage you to spend time in nature. It’s an excellent choice for all remote workers as it helps to relax the mind and body after days spent in front of the screen. Noteworthy, there’s more to see than just the Teide volcano! The Masca Canyon is another magnificent trail for all hiking enthusiasts. The trail passes alongside different water channels built on the banks of the impressive ravine with unique geological formations. You can find there plants and animal species that only live in Masca! When you get tired of the dust and volcanic sand, switch to the Anaga mountains, which are mystical and full of lush tropical flora. It’s the best place to experience the richness of Canarian forests! Just do not miss the Trail of the Senses here!

Visiting banana plantations

Tenerife is famous for its bananas, and Canarians are very proud of them. The people of this island believe that their bananas are tastier and sweeter than others! This variety of fruit is distinguished by its small size. Of course, you can taste them at the local market, but you can also visit banana plantations and see how they grow with your own eyes! This is also the perfect place to stock up on Cobana Banana Liqueur.

Watching whales

Have you ever wished to see a giant whale? Tenerife is a fantastic destination for this. The island is located in the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the best places in the world to spot a variety of whale species, including orcas, humpbacks, and pilot whales. If you are lucky enough, you can even see the blue whale here! However, it’s possible only during their migration period. Fortunately, pilot whales live there, so you can see them all year round. You can book a whale-watching tour and watch these magnificent creatures up close in their natural habitat. With knowledgeable guides to provide information about the whales, the tour is not only a thrilling experience but also an educational one. Remember to choose a sustainable company with a certification for responsible whale watching.

Trying water sports

Surfing? Riding a Jetski? Kitesurf? In Tenerife, you can also start new watersport hobbies! Indeed, many vendors offer lessons in any sport involving water. Learning new things spark creativity, and spending time in water relaxes both the body and mind, putting you in a good mood for the next day of work. If you get bored playing on the water’s surface, consider discovering the underwater world with scuba diving and snorkeling.

Helpful tips

How to get to Tenerife (from Europe and USA)

The direct flight from the US is from Newark (EWR) to Tenerife South (TFS) with United Airlines. It’s a long flight, but some tips and tricks can help you enjoy it.

Direct flights from Newark (EWR) to Tenerife (TFS)

From Europe, there are many affordable flight options from Spain and other European countries. The list of direct flight includes, among many others:

Las Palmas
Agadir
Lisbon
Sevilla
Malaga
Porto
Santiago
Madrid
Casablanca
Valencia
Aviles
Bordeaux
Barcelona
Toulouse
Maresille
Bristol
Nice
Cork
Geneva
Paris
Lyon
Dublin
London
Verona
Luxemburg
Keflavik
Milano
Helsinki
Frankfurt
Copenhagen
Warsaw

Online digital nomad communities you may find helpful when planning your trip:

Recommended co-working and co-living places:

The South or the North? How to make a choice.

The south and the north are two different faces of Tenerife. Thanks to that, it’s the island that fits everyone’s needs. Here’s how to find the place that suits you.

The south is for sunbathing fans. If you love beaches and a vivid touristic vibe, it’s the perfect option. The south is more popular due to its excellent weather – it’s less rainy and windy than the north. Going south, consider Las Americas or Los Cristianos, full of the hustle and bustle, tourist attractions, and the famous Veronicas nightlife strip. The south is a popular location among tourists and digital nomads, making it easy to find coworking areas and an apartment for rent. Also, it offers a great variety of watersport lessons and the possibility of going whale watching.

The north is for all who want to soak up the culture and feel like a local. In Santa Cruz de Tenerife, over 200,000 people live permanently, making it home to nearly half of the island’s population. Its harbor offers ferries to other Canarian islands, making it an excellent choice for explorers. And when saying about explorers… Did I mention the amazing Anaga Rural Park? It’s a stunning place with mountain trails and hidden black beaches. Also, this area is more cultural than the south, and it’s more peaceful. Staying in the north, do not forget to visit San Cristobal de La Laguna (a UNESCO city) and La Orotava (with cute balconies!).

Final thoughts

What is the recipe for a perfect workation? Comfortable place with a reliable internet connection and lovely surroundings, so you can focus on work and enjoy your leisure time.

What is the perfect spot for a perfect workation? Tenerife.

Undoubtedly, there are many amazing places, but Tenerife is definitely at the top of this list. Don’t you believe me? Well… what do you think about checking it by yourself? 🙂

by Karolina Turowska

Karolina Turowska, a writer and travel enthusiast at PhotoAiD. When it comes to writing, she loves bringing dry facts to life. When it comes to traveling, she just loves bikes.

Tags: article, canary islands, digital nomad, spain, Tenerife

Tenerife Workation: Why Tenerife is the Perfect Place to Experience a Workation

Workation Meaning, What is a Workation?

The workation destination: must-have features