A travel advisor who moved part-time to Tenerife after marrying a local has revealed there’s one part of the island that’s often overlooked by Brits.

Tenerife is hugely popular with British tourists, with nearly half of its 7.8 million annual arrivals coming from the UK. The majority head to resorts such as Costa Adeje and Playa de las Américas. Natasha Mooney has spent more than a decade booking holidays to Tenerife, often to its popular resorts, yet says that since she moved to the island part-time to live with her husband Javier, she’s found a new appreciation for areas off the beaten track.

Natasha said: “I’ve been a TUI travel advisor for 10 years, now working as a homeworking retail expert. Javi and I split our time between the UK and Güímar in northern Tenerife, so I can genuinely call it my speciality.”

She urged holidaymakers planning a break in Tenerife to look beyond the south of the island, where many Brits head to, and look at the greener, more traditional north. She highlighted that the north’s wild, unspoilt beaches surprise people the most.

“Playa Bollullo is one of my favourites,” Natasha says. “You walk through banana plantations to reach it. It’s stunning – dramatic cliffs, black sand and just one traditional chiringuito, a type of laidback beach bar serving fresh local food and drinks.”

She also recommends looking out for some of the island’s charcos, which are natural lava rock pools formed by the ocean. “Charco del Viento and El Caletón in Garachico are perfect for safe sea swimming and offer incredible views” she says.

Natasha also says that the north is a great place to experience authentic Canarian cuisine. She recommends looking out for guachinches. “They’re family-run eateries serving traditional Canarian food with their own local wine. They’re always authentic and very affordable too”, she explains.

Another perk of living Tenerife, according to Natasha, is that you can find eateries that are off the beaten path and don’t come with premium tourist prices. She recommends a visit to La Matanza de Acentejo, where you’ll see vineyards climbing the volcanic slopes. “There’s a great restaurant there called Lomo de Santo. They don’t have a website or any social media, which means it’s truly a hidden gem. A huge meat platter for four and a litre of wine only costs around €20 (about £17). That’s where you taste Tenerife as locals know it.”

Bottles of wine can be bought in supermarkets and local restaurants for €6–€10, about £5-8.50, according to Natasha, and she recommends that visitors look out for Listán Blanco or Malvasía whites, and Listán Negro reds.

Northern Tenerife also offers some spectacular hikes, and this time of year is perfect to get outdoors. Natasha says: “Anaga Rural Park feels like another world, with ancient laurel forests and ravines, while Teno Rural Park delivers jaw-dropping views over the Los Gigantes cliffs.”

Natasha lives near Güímar, famous for being the home of several lava stone pyramids, thought to be 19th-century agricultural strictures. Tickets for the Pyramids of Güímar start at £11 and include access to the Poison Garden, where lots of dangerous fauna lurks. Another option, if you’re looking to explore the north west is to book a full day tour with TUI. Prices start at £46 per adult, including lunch, and you can see sights such as the ‘lost’ village of Masca, once said to be the home of pirates.

If you prefer to travel independently, Natasha has this advice: “Be confident enough to explore. The public transport is excellent, and buses connect the north, south and capital. So, wherever you’re staying it’s easy. Tenerife is an island of contrasts, and the north rewards curiosity with culture, scenery and food that stay with you long after you return home.”

TUI offers a range of breaks in the north of Tenerife, including a seven-night holiday at The Hotel Hacienda del Conde in Buenavista del Norte from £863 per person based on two adults sharing on bed & breakfast basis, travelling from London Gatwick with TUI Airways. Overseas transfers and 10kg cabin and 20kg hold luggage included.

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