TENERIFE

	Click here to search for all Tenerife accommodation.

With a year round balmy climate, a hugely diverse landscape and a fantastic array of activities, its no wonder Tenerife has become such a popular year-round destination.

Explore Tenerife

Lush vegetation and a rocky coastline characterise the north of the island, whilst the south has a lunar landscape with volcanic sand beaches. The popular resorts of Playa de las Americas, Los Cristianos, Puerto de Santiago and Puerto de la Cruz provide an ever improving range of amenities, with beautiful man-made golden sand beaches now complementing the dark sand beaches in some resorts. Mount Teide dominates the island and can be seen from vantage points all over. A journey up through thick Canarian pine forest and mountain villages, leads to the vast volcanic National Park, but to get above the clouds to the peak will involve a cable car ride.

Getting Around
Regular bus services from resorts to major towns and most large villages. There's even a bus service to Mount Teide but be careful not to miss the last bus back! Taxis are readily available 24 hours a day and are ideal and economical for shorter journeys, with some drivers speaking a little English. Hire a car and venture off down narrow country roads to find outstanding views and real local culture.

Eating and Drinking
Potaje is a thick vegetable based Canarian soup. Ropa Veja is a heartening dish and very similar to bubble and squeak. Dried apricots, raisins, almonds and goat's cheese are produced on the island. Ron Miel is a delicious honey and rum liqueur. For those with a sweet tooth, try banana liqueur which can be drunk plain or with a creamy base.

Local Interest and Culture
Take a trip to Candelaria, home to the Patron Saint of the Canary Islands. The seafront of this pretty village is adorned with the massive statues of The Guanches, nine chieftains who stand guard in a row with their backs to the Atlantic. The recently discovered Pyramids of Guimar, found 25 kilometres south-east of Santa Cruz, are also worth a visit.

Beaches
Playa Fanabe in Las Americas is a long stretch of sandy beach, over 1 kilometre in length and offers the full range of water sports and safe swimming with a wide range of cafes, bars, restaurants and shops lining the seafront promenade. Las Teresitas, outside Santa Cruz, is a beautiful beach made of sand from the Sahara desert with very few beachside developments. There's a mixture of golden sandy beaches and attractive dark volcanic beaches around the island, so there's a beach to suit all tastes. Blue Flag beaches with Summer 2002 awards in Tenerife, refer to www.blueflag.org.

Fun for the Children
Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz, is a man-made nature reserve which houses the world's largest collection of parrots as well as an aquarium. In contrast, Aguillas del Teide (or Eagle Park) in Chayofa near Los Cristianos, is like entering the jungles of Tarzan. There's also an impressive eight acre seafront lido in Puerto de la Cruz.

Highlights

Five must sees: Mount Teide, Whales and dolphins, La Gomera, Masca mountain village, Carmen Mota's Spanish Ballet at La Pyramid de Arona.

Great Views: Sunset over La Gomera from Chinguegue Village.

Memorable moments: Reaching the summit of Mount Teide and then enjoying the views.

Destination treasures: There are many including Sitio Litro Orchid Gardens, an old house in Puerto de la Cruz which has been in the same English family since the early 1800's and has been visited by people including Agatha Christie.

Travel tips: Don't try and cover big parts of the island too quickly because around almost every corner will be a view or site worth stopping at and taking your time to ponder over.

Practicalities

Cost of living: A 3 course meal in a restaurant 11-33 Euros, half a bottle of wine in a restaurant 8-16 Euros, coffee 1.46 Euros, a small beer 1.46 Euros and an ice cream 3.25 Euros. A litre of petrol costs 0.68 Euros. Prices are approximate and may change.

Spanish Tourist Office: 22-23 Manchester Square, London, W1M 5AP Tel. 09063 640630. (Brochure line 60p/min).

Activities
There are plenty of marked walking routes throughout the island including Teide National Park. Try a camel ride and admire the landscape fro this lofty position at a gentle pace. Scuba divers, from beginners to experienced, can enjoy the clear Atlantic Ocean with its wealth of aquatic wildlife. Take a boat safari just off the coast of southern Tenerife, to spot pilot whales and common bottled-nosed dolphins.

Recommended Reading

• Landscapes of Tenerife by Noel Rochford

• Tenerife South Walking Guide by D.A.Brawn
• Tenerife by Klaus Wolfsperger and Tony Pearson
• Tenerife by Rod Weale

Your Resorts

Please click for further information on the following Tenerife resorts:

	Special Offers in Tenerife     Tenerife Half Board Holiday From £25 per person     The Sol Princesa Dacil is situated near the beach in Los Cristanos. The hotel has many facilities to offer from two swimming pools surrounded by large gardens, Tennis court, minigolf, Disco-Bar, Restaurant and Poolside Snack bar. Prices from £25 per person per night throughout September. More about this offer »     Click here to search for all Tenerife accommodation.

© Copyright. Design & management by Bang Online