Even if the main reason for taking a holiday in Tenerife is to bask in the sunshine on the beach and take frequent dips to cool down, your holiday will not be complete without exploring this wonderful island. With the island lying closer to the west African coast than Europe, the landscape is extremely varied and must be travelled. There is no better way to do this than by taking daytrips across the island.

By pealing yourself away from the paradise style beach, you can discover fascinating attractions and landscapes that you will not find anywhere else on earth. A short trip by boat or car will allow you to visit highlights such as the island's second city, Puerto de la Cruz; Spain's highest mountain, the dormant Mount Teide volcano (12,200 feet); the famous statue of the patron saint of the Canary Islands; the Black Virgin Madona or experience the jaw-dropping experience of whale watching.

Tenerife is the most popular of the four Canary Islands, and with good reason. When planning your holiday, you will have virtually the entire coastline to choose from on this paradise island. Playa de la Am?ricas, with its great beaches and nightlife; cultural Puerto de la Cruz; the less touristy and home to a beautiful harbour, Los Cristianos, and the alluring area of Los Gigantes all have upmarket, luxurious, five-star accommodation as well as comfortable mid-range hotels, making Tenerife a great all-round destination regardless of your budget.

Given the relatively small size of Tenerife, travelling around the island is uncomplicated and hassle-free; perfect for making the most out of the dozens of different daytrips available. Daytrips can be carried out under your own steam by hiring a car, or by utilising the services of the numerous travel agents you will find in all the tourist areas.

You can, and some say must, work your way around the island exploring attractions like Loro Park, with its 340 different species of parrots; the busy port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the west of the island, and surely four million annual visitors can't be wrong by exploring the vast Del Teide National Park. Don't worry if you are not a climber, the cable car at Pico del Teide will take you up to enjoy the fantastic vista on top of Mount Teide.

Terrific offshore activities are an essential part of any itinerary. Snorkelling, scuba diving and plain old swimming will unveil a plethora of marine species. For those who don't like to immerse themselves in the clear warm waters around the coast, fear not; boat trips will keep you dry and still allow you to enjoy the marine life, with glass bottomed boats available. Other boat trips include exciting game fishing or for a complete contrast, watching majestic whales come up for air.

To the west of the island you can visit Cueva del Viento (Cave of the Wind), the largest volcanically created cave in the world. Living nature can be explored here too as the area is home to dragon trees, some of which have been around for over 800 years.

For a unique experience, why not try a daytrip in the air. From the south of the island, an experienced helicopter pilot can take you to marvel at Tenerife's wonders from a bird's perspective. The trip flies over Los Christianos, Playa del Am?ricas as well as the fantastic golf courses, before heading along the highest cliffs in Europe: Los Gigantes. It is also possible to see dolphins and whales from the air as the helicopter flies over the ocean between La Gomera and Tenerife.

Another spectacular daytrip from Tenerife is to head, by ferry, to the island of Gomera and visit the Garajonay National Park. The park itself is comprised of 10,000 acres of land with a laurel forest in the centre. You can lose yourself in the park with the mist generated by the Atlantic winds mixing with the warmer air, providing a truly magical experience.

Located just outside Puerto de la Cruz is Loro Park where you can experience a variety of animal attractions such as an aquarium, parrots, dolphin shows, gorillas and even jaguars. If animal attractions are of interest to you, then a trip to Tenerife Zoo is another must, with its monkey park and a very interesting camel breeding centre. Perhaps combine Loro Park with the zoo and give yourself an animal filled fun day.

It is possible to take a daytrip to the nearby island of Lanzarote. You can fly from Tenerife by helicopter to Lanzarote, passing over the popular destination of Puerto del Carmen before arriving at Timanfaya National Park. Here you can take a 20-minute camel ride to reach the Mountains of Fire, where an active volcano still exists.

In case you don't believe the guides regarding the status of the volcano, geothermic displays are shown, proving how hot the earth is just a few metres below. This daytrip also takes in other highlights of Lanzarote such as the former capital, Teguise, and the wine producing region of the island.

However you choose to spend your time on, or just off, the island of Tenerife, rest assured that by taking advantage of the daytrips on offer, you are guaranteed to have a great holiday and a ?tenerific? time!