If you are planning your holidays to Tenerife the following information may help by giving you an overview on the island.
Tenerife is not only the largest of the Canary Islands, it also offers the tourist more sights, more attractions, more towns and cities to explore, and more contrasts than any of the other islands. Where else in the Atlantic can you look around a banana plantation then take a short drive half way up a mountain for a snowball fight?
The mountain in question is Teide and at 3,718m it is the tallest in all Spain. The symbol of the island, it can be seen from vantage points all over Tenerife, but for the very best views you need to be high over its ring of clouds. A drive up Teide is a must on your Tenerife holidays.
In the language of its aboriginal Guanche inhabitants, Tenerife means “Snowy Mountain”. Mount Teide divides the island of Tenerife into two distinct climatic zones – damp and lushly vegetated in the north, sunny and arid in the south. Read more …
Other Canary Islands
Discover GRAN CANARIA
Most people go on a holiday to Gran Canaria for its abundant sunshine and golden beaches and head for the resorts of Playa del Ingles, Maspalomas and Puerto Rico. As for nightlife, there’s a huge choice and clubs, pubs, cabarets and casinos to satisfy everyone.
Discover LANZAROTE
Lanzarote is a dry and fairly flat island whose bizarre landscape has been shaped by volcanic activity. However, there are regions of green hills and sandy beaches giving Lanzarote is reputation as an island of visual impact.
Discover FUERTEVENTURA
Second largest of the Canary Islands, Fuerteventura is arid and desert-like, although is perhaps most famous for its beaches with over 50km of stunning white and golden sand making this island and ideal choice for the beach lover.
Discover LA PALMA
Not to be confused with Las Palmas [the capital of Gran Canaria], La Palma is one of the three smaller Canary Islands and is also known as La Isla Bonita [the pretty island], and La Isla Verde [the green island]. Beautiful it certainly is!
Discover LA GOMERA
You will be astonished at what the stunning island of La Gomera has to offer! From valleys laden with produce, elegant palm groves and pockets of pines. A peaceful island – ideal for unwinding and just a stone’s throw from its neighbour, Tenerife.
Discover EL HIERRO
Due to the absence of sandy beaches, the island of El Hierro has escaped the holiday tourist invasion experienced by other islands. Superb pine forests, sheer mountains walls and fantastic outlook points are just part of its appeal.
Discover LA GRACIOSA
La Graciosa is one of the Canary Island’s best kept secrets, with its stunning beaches of soft, pale sand and crystal clear waters with barely a soul to be seen anywhere. La Graciosa is recommended for the ultimate stress-busting break – even for a day’s excursion.
TENERIFE – MAP
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Beaches in Tenerife
Here is a guide to the best beaches to enjoy on your Tenerife holiday. Tenerife has few natural beaches along its rocky coastline, but to satisfy the tourist appetite, a few have been made on Tenerife using imported sand from the Sahara. The beach of the popular southern resorts, Playa de Las Americas and Los Cristianos, tend to be crowded affairs offering various watersports, though quieter, more secluded beach options for your Tenerife holidays are easy to find across the isla
Playa de las Vistas : This huge sweep of sand between Los Cristianos and Playa de Las Americas is the best in the area and rarely overcrowded.
Playa de las Teresitas : Northeast of Santa Cruz, this is the best sand beach on the island – and surprisingly quiet outside summer weekends.
Playa Fanabe : Touristy but decent beach, with plenty of bars and restaurants nearby.
El Medano : El Medano is easily the best natural beach on Tenerife, though strong winds sometimes make a windbreak a necessity.
Playa Bollullo : Idyllic beach at the base of some cliffs, an enjoyable half-day hike from Puerto de la Cruz.
Playa Jardin : Puerto de la Cruz’ main beach is rarely crowded and the promenade running alongside is lined with cafes and bars.
Eating Out on your Tenerife holiday
Fresh fish and seafood provide one of the culinary highlights of a holiday to Tenerife. Paellas using the local catch are common on the island, as is the traditional Canarian fish stew, zarzuela. Specialities of the inland include the rich conejo en salmorejo [marinated rabbit in a garlicky sauce].
Both fish and meat are generally grilled and served with papas arrugadas, a typical Canarian potato dish, and the presence of mojo can be virtually guaranteed. To wash it all down, there’s a good range of Canarian wines and beers.
Shopping in Tenerife
Low sales tax makes Tenerife holidays something of a shopper’s paradise with hundreds of small outlets in the resorts selling everything from jewellery and perfume to electrical goods, not to mention the huge malls stationed at the edge of the main towns. These malls attract Canarian shopaholics in their droves, so are often where the largest and best value selections of designer clothing are found.
Los Cristianos : The pedestrian core of Los Cristianos has an array of outlets selling the kind of luxury goods that airport shops usually specialise in.
Calle del Castillo : Located in Santa Cruz, this is Tenerife’s Oxford Street and is pedestrianised and packed with clothing boutiques and electrical shops.
El Corte Ingles : Located in Santa Cruz, this is Tenerife’s biggest department store and has more than enough to give shopaholics their fix.
Flea Market – Santa Cruz. For unusual souvenirs of your holidays to Tenerife, head for the flea market held outside Santa Cruz’ Mercardo de Nuestra Senora de Africa on Sunday mornings.
Mercado de Nuestra Senora de Africa : Santa Cruz’ bustling, Moorish-style covered market sells mostly groceries and is a great place to pick up inexpensive local produce – particularly cheeses.
Disclaimer
By its very nature much of the information in our travel guides is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they are relying with the relevant authorities. Corona Holidays [UK] Limited cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.