The Island
Known as the island of eternal spring, the largest island of the Canarian archipelago offers the ideal year round climate. Warmed by the Gulf Stream, sun worshippers are refreshed by the Atlantic breezes, the resorts in the south enjoy the highest temperatures and clearest blue skies with superb beaches of dark sand mixed with the golden sands of the Sahara. The sophisticated north has beaches of dark volcanic sand and a bounty of beautiful scenery and luxuriant tropical plants and flowers.
The minimum average temperature in the winter months is a pleasant 70°F and in the summer months rarely exceeds 85°F due to the cooling sea breezes.
The European “Blue Flag” denoting clean, unpolluted water and well tended beaches flies throughout the area.
Tenerife has so much to offer as an island that we highly recommend car hire during your visit to the area, enabling you to get out and about and take home some fantastic memories of your visit to this stunning island.
Airports
Tenerife has 2 airports the main is in the South, Sur Reina Sofia Airport and then there is Los Rodeos Airport in the North.
Los Rodeos Airport had only been used for domestic flights between the Canary islands up until October 2003 when BMI and British Airways starting flying there again.
The Sur Reina Aiport was inaugurated by Queen Sofia on 6 November 1978, by the end of its first year there was 1 million passengers that had passed through its doors. In 2003 it handled, 8,850,613 passengers, 62,493 flight operations and 8,775 tons of cargo. As a result the airport boasts operations by more than 150 airlines.
Places of Interest
PLAYA DE LAS AMERICAS
Once renowned as the party capital, over the last few years the resort has undergone a regeneration programme, it now has tree lined pedestrian walkways stretching from the Los Cristianos border along to the extremely upmarket Costa Adeje area. New high class shopping centres and modern bars and restaurants have sprung up all over and given the resort a real cosmopolitan flavour. With its great beaches and attractions, Playa De Las Americas is back in fashion.
LOS CRISTIANOS
The resort is often described as the little brother of Playa De Las Americas, a popular choice with families because everything is within easy walking distance. The fishing port which can be found in the centre of resort is lined with restaurants offering the opportunity to sample the day’s best catches or you can take a boat from here to watch the whales and dolphins at play.
PUERTO DE LA CRUZ
Puerto de la Cruz was founded in the beginning of the 17th century. Originally it was called Puerto de la Orotava. A big harbour was built there and the city became an important centre of commerce and navigation. The most important export articles until the 19th century were sugar and wine. Nowadays the main source of livelihood of Puerto de la Cruz is tourism. Despite of mass tourism Puerto is still a genuine Canarian town.
The heart of the city is the Plaza del Charco de los Camarones which is the meeting place of both the tourists and the natives. The square is surrounded by big Indian laurel trees and several bars, cafés and restaurants. Choose an outside table and have a cup of excellent Spanish coffee or a pint of perfectly drinkable Dorada beer or a colourful cocktail. It is a great pleasure to just sit there and slowly sip your drink and watch the hustle and bustle of people from all over the world around you.
SANTA CRUZ
The capital of Tenerife is the second most populated city of the Canary Islands with more than 200,000 inhabitants. Its present importance comes from the development of its port and its commercial calling which made it progressively absorb the civic centres of La Laguna until it reached the status of capital at the beginning of the last century.
Its greatest development was originated by the decree of free ports in 1852 when the consequent intense commercial traffic contributed to the progress of a middle class intent on making the city grow.
Today, Santa Cruz de Tenerife is a city with large landscaped areas which preserves the calm of the modernist architecture. Its tree lined avenues, parks and squares are ideal for strolling because the green of Santa Cruz complements its peacefulness and the sunny climate which it enjoys all year.
For a few years the city has also had a maritime park designed by Cesar Manrique, where the old trade docks are used for recreation.
MASCA
Masca is one of the most picturesque parts of the island and is the tip of the northwest that is covered by the Teno Mountains.
Deep ravines interlaced with lush green flora accompany the winding roads. The road leading from Buenavista del Norte passes along narrow hairpin bends towards the village of Masca.
It was until recently virtually unknown, but has now become a centre of attraction for those touring the island. The setting of the village is magical and its houses perch precariously on the narrow ridges of dramatic rock formations.
Reputed to have been a Pirate hideaway, the small Bay of Masca on the coast is a three-hour walk from the village through stunning scenery.
MOUNT TEIDE
At a height of 3,718 metres, the summit of El Teide is the highest point of not just the Canary Islands, but also the whole Iberian Peninsular. Declared a National Park on the 22nd January 1954, its 130 square kilometres extend through the municipalities of Santiago de Teide, Icod de los Vinos, La Orotava and Guia de Isora. In 1998 it received 3,500,000 visitors, outnumbering any other National Park in Spain.
The ascent through the foothills takes in an abundant variety of flora and fauna and offers spectacular views over the lower lying parts of the island. At the height of about 2,000 metres the vegetation starts to give way to the characteristic lava landscape of Las Cafladas and then to the central plateau from which the impressive mass of El Teide's peak towers upwards. Other mountains of considerable height including El Cabezon, Guajara, El Roque de Grietas and Montaña Colorada surround this whole area.
By far the most comfortable way to climb the volcano is by the cable car, which will take you to within 200 metres of the summit. From this point it is possible (with a permit) to venture to the very mouth of El Teide and inhale the sulphuric fumes that prove that there is still volcanic activity deep within this ancient but dormant volcano. The peak was formed by eruptions in the late 18th century, which also moulded the surviving lunar landscape.
LA OROTAVA
Corpus Chisti is celebrated with vigour throughout Spain, and Tenerife is no exception. In the town of La Orotava the event is noted for the beautiful carpets of flowers that cover the streets for one brief day of festivities.
The very precise flower pictures and patterns are created using natural sand, coloured salt and flowers and completely cover the main streets, so watch where you tread. The most spectacular carpet is based in Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
In addition to all this there is, of course, a queen of fiestas, music and much merrymaking. This is a stunning time to visit the town and enjoy its magnificent and monumental buildings, characteristic shaded Canarian patios, squares and ancestral houses. There are also three dark-sand beaches - El Bullulllo, Martín Alonso and El Rincón - to be enjoyed.
Beautiful Beaches
PLAYAS DE TROYA
El Barranco del Rey is the boundary between the boroughs of Adeje and Arona. There are several golden-sand beaches along this stretch of coast, like Cuevitas and Playas de Troya, which are very popular for their dry, sunny climate.
They have changing rooms and showers. There are many bars, restaurants and terraces along the pedestrian promenade that has been built along this stretch of coast.
Two beaches in this area, officially known as Playa de las Americas I and Playa de las Americas II, were awarded the blue flag in 1998 by the European Environmental Education Foundation (FEE). This is an award given to beaches that comply with Community regulations in matters of cleanliness of coastal waters and other requisites.
Sun beds, pedal boats, pleasure craft and wet bikes can be rented.
PLAYA DE TORVISCAS
There are complexes in Costa Adeje like Playa del Duque, Fañabé, Torviscas, San Eugenio and the original nucleus of Playa de las Americas.
Works carried out along the coast have created sandy beaches, like Playa de Torviscas, Playa del Bobo, Playa del Duque and Fañabé.
The marina is in Puerto Colon complex, from which you can take one of several fishing or leisure trips.
Close by, on the coast of the Jardin Tropical Hotel, there is a lovely terrace, set out on five levels with gardens and a 90 metre-long swimming pool covering an area of 600 square metre, Las Rocas. The pool and terrace belong to the hotel and they charge an entrance fee. There is a comfortable restaurant.
The next beach along is Playa del Bobo, where there is a windsurfing and sailing school. You can hire boards, sailing dinghies and catamarans.
PLAYA DE LAS VISTAS
The coast between Playa de las Americas (Playas de Troya) and the harbour of Los Cristianos has several good golden sand beaches, like Las Caletillas and El Camisón, along the stretch of coast along the back of the apartment complexes of Parque Santiago III and the Sir Anthony Hotel.
Beyond the Camisón point is Playa de las Vistas, which has been refurbished with sand from the sea bed, making it one of the best and longest beaches on the island. On all these beaches, you can hire sun beds, pedal boats and wet bikes. There are also many bars and restaurants in the neighbourhood of Playa de las Vistas.
PLAYA DE EL MEDANO
The Granadilla coast has the island's best beaches, of fine golden sand. El Médano is a small, quiet, family holiday resort, with the longest beach in Tenerife (2 Km) and shallow seas. There is direct access from the TF-1 motorway.
The beach has changing rooms and showers in the square by the beach. There is a kiosk and many bars and restaurants in the area, as well as a tourist information office (Tel 922 176002).
The constant winds in this area make the beach ideal for windsurfing. Winds are not so strong in September and October.
Windsurfing courses and board hire in the Playa Sur Tenerife Hotel:
Tel 922 176013 and 922 176120.
PLAYA JARDIN
A kilometre of the coastline of Puerto de la Cruz has recently been refurbished, from San Felipe Castle to the district of Punta Brava. 200,000 cubic metres of sand from the sea bed have been used for this.
The beach has been awarded the Blue Flag for 1998, by the European Environmental Education Foundation (FEE). This is an award given to beaches that comply with Community regulations governing cleanliness of coastal waters and other requisites.
The beach is protected by a semi-submerged breakwater and has some 17,000 square metres of gardens .
PLAYA DE LAS TERESITAS
The beach was extended and improved in 1973, with golden sand brought from the former province of Spanish Sahara. It is protected by a breakwater. This extensive beach, one and a half kilometres long, has been planted with Canary Island palms, coconut palms and Canary Island bean caper.
It is near the fishing village of San Andrés, with many fish and sea-food restaurants, just seven kilometres north of Santa Cruz.
It attracts fairly large numbers of people, especially in summer. It has large car parking areas, free showers, kiosks, toilets, telephone boxes, restaurant and Red Cross post. There are sun beds and rowing boats for hire.
PLAYA DE LA ARENA
Playa de la Arena is just half a kilometre from the fishing village of Puerto Santiago. It is one of the finest coves on the island and it also has the brightest sunlight on Tenerife (Protection is recommended).
It has lots of black sand, and is equipped with changing rooms and showers. It also has gardens. You can rent sun beds, sun umbrellas and pedal boats. There are many bars and restaurants on or near the beach.
It has been awarded the Blue Flag every year since 1989, making it one of the beaches that has won most prizes in Spain.