Tenerife is an island made for photography. Volcanoes, wild beaches, fairytale pine and laurel forests, and skies that seem painted. In summer, the light is more intense, the colors more vibrant, and the days longer, making the island a paradise for travelers, content creators, and photography enthusiasts.
If you are preparing your trip, here are the 10 most photogenic places in Tenerife in summer, selected so that you can return home with spectacular images.
- Discover the most spectacular corners of the island
- 1. Roques de García — The most iconic volcanic landscape of Teide
- 2. Benijo Beach — The most photogenic wild beach
- 3.Garachico Natural Pools — Lava, sea and historical architecture
- 4. Masca Viewpoint
- 5. La Laguna — Colonial streets full of color
- 6. Charco de La Laja — A hidden natural pool
- 7. Cliffs of Los Gigantes — 600-meter walls
- 8. Anaga Forest — Laurel forest, fog and wild ravines
- 9. Playa del Bollullo — The beach of La Orotava
- 10. Teide's night sky — The most photogenic place of all
- Map of the photographic route through Tenerife
- Pro tips for photographing Tenerife in summer
Discover the most spectacular corners of the island
1. Roques de García — The most iconic volcanic landscape of Teide
Los Roques de García, with Mount Teide dominating the horizon, form one of the most recognizable landscapes in the Canary Islands. In summer, the contrast between the reddish rocks, the deep blue sky, and the sidelight creates striking photographs.
The golden hour is the perfect time: the rock formations are bathed in warm tones that enhance their dramatic beauty. Ideal for landscape photography, silhouettes, and epic compositions.
2. Benijo Beach — The most photogenic wild beach
Benijo is pure magic. Black volcanic sand, towering cliffs, and an ocean that never sleeps. In summer, the sunset paints the sky in oranges and purples, creating cinematic scenes.
Perfect for long exposures, coastal photography and capturing the wildest essence of northern Tenerife.
3.Garachico Natural Pools — Lava, sea and historical architecture
Garachico combines three irresistible elements: black volcanic rock, turquoise water, and traditional architecture. In summer, the intense light highlights the contrast between the lava and the Atlantic, creating vibrant and textured landscapes.
An ideal location for landscape photography, details and compositions that blend nature and heritage.
4. Masca Viewpoint
The Masca viewpoint offers one of Tenerife's most iconic vistas: a deep valley surrounded by rugged mountains that appear hand-sculpted. In summer, the vegetation takes on warm hues and the sky is usually clear, allowing for crisp, high-contrast photographs.
The light of the sunset bathes the ravine in golden hues that enhance its depth and drama. It's an ideal spot for landscape photography, panoramas, and shots that convey the immensity of the surroundings. If you're looking for an image that represents the wildest and most mountainous side of Tenerife, this is the place for you.
Masca is stunning during the day, but if you're looking for otherworldly landscapes, don't miss our guide on what to do in Tenerife at night, where Mount Teide transforms into a natural observatory under the clearest skies in Europe.
5. La Laguna — Colonial streets full of color
San Cristóbal de La Laguna, a World Heritage Site, is a perfect setting for urban photography. Its pastel-colored facades, wooden balconies, and cobblestone streets shine especially brightly in the soft light of a summer afternoon.
Ideal for architectural details, lifestyle photography, and scenes with historical charm.
6. Charco de La Laja — A hidden natural pool
El Charco de la Laja is one of the most photogenic secrets in northern Tenerife.
This natural volcanic rock pool, with its turquoise and crystal-clear waters, offers a striking contrast between the black of the lava and the color of the sea. In summer, the intense sunlight highlights the vibrant hues and creates spectacular reflections.
At sunset, the sun bathes the rocks in golds and oranges, transforming the spot into a paradise for landscape and long-exposure photography. Ideal for minimalist shots, capturing details of textures, and compositing scenes with waves crashing around the pool.
7. Cliffs of Los Gigantes — 600-meter walls
The imposing cliffs, over 500 meters high, plunge vertically into the Atlantic Ocean. In summer, the sea turns a brilliant turquoise, and the direct sunlight accentuates their sheer magnitude. The best shots are taken from the viewpoints at sunset, when golden light bathes the rocky walls.
Essential for panoramic photos that convey power and grandeur.
8. Anaga Forest — Laurel forest, fog and wild ravines
From Anaga, you can see a sea of clouds and deep ravines covered in laurel forest. In summer, mornings usually offer clear skies and soft light that highlights the mountain ridges. Perfect for aerial and panoramic photography, capturing the greenest and wildest side of Tenerife.
9. Playa del Bollullo — The beach of La Orotava
Bollullo Beach is one of those spots that surprises even those who already know Tenerife. Its black volcanic sand contrasts with the deep blue of the Atlantic, creating a spectacular palette of colors for any photograph.
In summer, the light falls sideways on the cliffs, highlighting the textures of the rock and the movement of the waves. It's a perfect place to capture the island's most natural and wild essence, especially at sunrise or sunset, when the beach empties and the atmosphere becomes magical.
10. Teide's night sky — The most photogenic place of all
In summer, the Milky Way stretches across the sky like a river of light. It's one of the best places in the world for stargazing.
If you want to take home the most breathtaking photo of your trip, stargazing on Mount Teide is the perfect experience. Dark skies, professional telescopes, and the Milky Way in all its splendor.
Map of the photographic route through Tenerife
Pro tips for photographing Tenerife in summer
- 📷 Take advantage of the extended "Golden Hour": In June and July, the days are longer, and the sun sets in Tenerife around 9:00 p.m. Arrive at locations like Benijo Beach or the Roques de García an hour earlier. This soft, sideways light will highlight the textures of the lava and the relief of the rock formations like no other time of day.
- 💨 Stabilize your tripod well at high altitudes: If you're heading up to Teide National Park to photograph the sunset or night, keep in mind that at 2,100 meters altitude, gusty winds are common, even in the middle of summer. Use a sturdy tripod and, if necessary, hang your backpack from the center column for added stability and to avoid blurry photos.
- ✨ Clean your lenses (Beware of haze and salt spray): Summer in the Canary Islands can bring days of light haze or suspended sea spray if you're shooting near the coast (like in Los Gigantes or Garachico). Always carry a blower bulb to remove dust and a clean microfiber cloth so your images don't lose sharpness or contrast.
- 🌌 Basic settings for capturing the Milky Way: If you stay to try astrophotography on your own at Teide, put your camera in Manual mode, use the fastest lens you have (F/2.8 or lower if possible), raise the ISO between 3200 and 6400, and calculate the exposure time with the 500 rule so that the stars come out as points and not as streaks.
For those looking to go beyond the scenery and delve deeper into the cosmos, check out our 2026 astronomical calendar. August is full of surprises.
