Tenerife is easily accessible from European cities, and has long been the island of choice for travellers wishing to guarantee time in the sun.
Sitting aboard a catamaran, cruising to see whales and dolphins, it’s easy to see the attraction.
I joined a group setting sail from the pretty harbour of Puerto Colón, just one great idea for an incentive or teambuilding event.
Resident species of whale and dolphin live in the southwest coast year round, and this island is one of the world’s top whale watching destinations.
Our cruise was also a chance to continue our team challenge and see who could make the best mojito, having had a quick ‘demo’ on deck.
It was a fun event, in a great setting, adding a further sweetener to an incentive option that really did sell itself.
One great appeal of this destination is the passion of its people. Most of those welcoming us were from the island and this made a positive impact.Local knowledge, fused with local enthusiasm is a great cocktail, mixed with the microclimate and varied landscapes.
We didn’t try it, but hot on the heels of our incentive option is volcano hiking.
It’s not for the faint-hearted, or the unfit, but for those accommodating a group wanting ‘something different’, trekking the summit of Spain’s highest mountain, Teide, has got to top the list.
The closest we came to the lava-strewn landscape was a jeep excursion through the national park, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It seemed a million miles from the beach-based images associated with this island, but is, in fact, just up the hill. It’s easy to see why directors and musicians find this place inspiring, and hard to stop yourself taking a photo overdose.
The hotel Parador del Teide was our next stop, and the setting for our next challenge, to make Gofio, a kind of flour that has been used by local inhabitants for more than five centuries. We continued our cookery masterclass in the Finca Punta del Lomo banana plantation, where we concocted seafood paella.
For event bookers who don’t need such an engaging agenda, there’s wine-tasting at Casa del Vino, where you can also enjoy food al fresco among the vines.
The purpose-built ‘water kingdom’ of Siam Park caters for exclusive events and private parties, and its ampitheatre accommodates 2,000, with views over the wave palace. Its aquatic park can also be booked for sales presentations and shows and has four private cabins and a VIP villa for incentive options.
