Part 1: Where to take gorgeous photos in Tenerife! SUNSETS

One of my greatest passions since I can remember has been photography until this day, something which has given me so many moments of fun and which has also made me grow little by little into the world of art, which is also what I study.

It is because of this that, for many years already with my Nikon D7000 on my back, I have been able to discover magical places on the island where taking photos is a true pleasure and where there are simply spectacular views. Since I know that many people won't count on my 20 years exploring this place, here I have made this blog (that will be divided into different parts) that will show these charming places directly to you. So, without further ado, here is:

WHERE TO TAKE GORGEOUS PHOTOS IN TENERIFE

I think we all agree that photos of sunsets and sunrises are the ones that captivate people the most. I know that there are places where, due to the mountains, it is difficult to take good photos during this time of day as you are surrounded by them. You have to go quite far to get to a place where there is a good look-out point, that doesn't have a coastline... In Tenerife, this problem doesn't exist. It is an island totally surrounded by beaches, so if you are next to one where you can't see the sun, with a simple car ride for less than half an hour you can reach the perfect place to enjoy taking great shots.

The first place where I'm going to recommend you is, in my opinion, the perfect place to see the sunset in all its glory. This place is called "La Punta del Hidalgo", located in the more coastal area of San Cristóbal de La Laguna. It won't take you more than half an hour from the metropolitan area by car to get here to this series of beaches and cliffs. This place has an enormous tourist avenue that is full of restaurants, but the place that I always go to take photos is at the end of the avenue, where a dirt path starts towards a lighthouse with rather strange architecture. It is here that you can take photos of the sunset with the lower part of the shot occupied by precious "callaos" (I don't know if that word is used outside of the Canaries, but just in case, "callaos" are the rocks on beaches that are not sand), and where you can also use the shocking background of the lighthouse with its beautiful orange tones. I don't think that there is any other place in Tenerife where I have taken more photos than right here, its warm, comfy, near to the centre of town in northern Tenerife and doesn't have the noise of all the people. As you can see, this stop is almost obligatory, so don't think about it and go directly to La Punta de Hidalgo and take photos. Also, make sure you finish the day off with some calamari, they are some of the best on the island!

Punta del Hidalgo during the sunset.

This place is also great for taking photos with a longer exposure. (Own photography).

Secondly, we have a viewpoint that will simply take your breath away and that, no matter how many times you go, will never stop surprising you. Climbing the Teide from the La Esperanza road and passing the 18th KM of the TF-24, we have the "Mirador de Ortuño". This is a place where you can stop and take a rest from your climb up Teide (or not, because most of us have this as our final destination) so that you can contemplate the splendour of the volcano and the immense valleys that surround you. It is simply luxurious to see the sea of clouds (a phenomenon that, due to you being above the clouds, seems as if they form a sea surrounding the island) grazing the top of the immense pine forest that flourishes here. The pine trees take up more than you can see, and crowning all of this is the peak of Teide, which, if you are lucky, will be accompanied with the shadow of the volcano that is projected onto the sea with a perfect triangular shape. I'm not kidding, it has a perfect geometric shape! It stretches so far out into the horizon that it is officially the world's largest shadow. Obviously, this place that you have probably started to sketch in your imagination is worthy of being photographed a thousand times, but the bad news (for some, depending on each person) is that maybe the sunsets here, although they may be beautiful, they cannot be seen on this side of the island. Therefore, from here it is better to watch the sunrise. You'd better take your breakfast and a blanket, because you'll be over 2, 000 meters high and no matter how long you have lived in continental Europe and are convinced that the subtropical climate is really pleasant, going up the Teide you'll be surprised to see the thermometer drop below zero... It's usually more, a little higher than snow, so that "Canary's, tropical paradise! " is only applicable to coastal areas. Remember my words and you'll do well!

The Viewpoint of Ortuño with Teide, the sea and the clouds and the pine forest of Las Cañadas.

Furthermore, near the lake in a straight line but through a rather tedious road due to the many hills that you have to pass to get here from the city, we will find the Viewpoint of Las Mercedes crowning the mountain range of Anaga, which has been a biosphere reserve for a few years. This viewpoint is framed by a mountainous area which is the oldest on the island and where you can find the largest number of indigenous plants and animals of all continental Europe, that is to say, it is a place where photography occurs to capture all its splendour. If there's something I love about this place is because without a doubt, it is the best place to take a picture of what comes to be the island of Tenerife itself. From this viewpoint, if and when the weather is kind and the haze, clouds or winds don't inhibit your vision, you can practically see the other end of the island and the enormous contrast between the metropolitan area with the greenery up to the Teide mountain. The metropolitan area is filled with buildings (okay, it's no Madrid, but here there are 400, 000 people which, for an island, is overcrowded), while the hills are the colour green, the absolute and undisputed King. All of this area is protected, in fact, almost 50% of the entire island is environmentally protected. As you have both north and south of the island at your feet, you will have no problems getting to know what is known as "golden hours", because both sunrise and sunset are a spectacle from Las Mercedes. Before questioning whether you would prefer to go in the morning or in the afternoon, know that this place is ideal, because you will always get it right".

Viewpoint of Las Mercedes with Teide and Las Cañadas. The constructed part is called the city of La Laguna.

Lastly, (for now, because I already know that there will be other posts about this topic) the pilgrimage location for all photographers can be found in Tenerife. The Médano beach, or in the Tejita, is a series of beaches located in the municipality of Médano on the South of the island, you can get here by 50 minutes in the car from Santa Cruz de Tenerife or from San Cristóbal de la Laguna. These are, apart from being great locations for photos, the best beaches on the island without a doubt. Kilometres of sand that are either white or black, depending on each beach, with crystal-clear waters and a friendly atmosphere between locals and foreigners and without the over-crowding of local beaches in the more tourist areas of Tenerife. It's because of this that it is a pleasure to come here with your camera, because the tranquillity helps you take your photos more comfortably. Due to the winds that hit this beach, the amount of people practising water sports is indescribable, and you'll see all the windsurfing sails and kite-surf kites suspended in the air mixing perfectly with their impressive jumps. It is the ideal scenario to put your camera in burst mode or better yet, make the shutter go at unsuspected speeds to freeze those manoeuvres. All this, with the red mountain below, an imposing volcano that enters the sea that has a structure that is simply beautiful. As I commented before, the white and black sand take turns, and there are no longer areas with only black sand and others with white sand, but in the same square meter you can see stripes of both colours, a chromatic spectacle that fascinates me. In addition to this, this is another place where you can capture some sunsets that seem like they are taken by professional photographers, because you have a thousand elements to use. Do not miss the opportunity to visit this corner!

Beach of El Médano during the sunset, with the Montaña Roja below.

These are the first places that I would insist you go to photograph, although this post is focused on reddish and orange colours, later I will publish other suitable places where you can go to take other types of photographs, such as nature, night and so on.

I just want to add that I hope you enjoy the island a lot and that you take good photos that will make everyone so envious!

Formatting:

You can access the links to all these images that are published in this article by clicking on the link in the caption of each one. The images here are not with the link because I have the authorship of them.

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