Discovering Tenerife

The Island Winter Forgot

Tenerife has deservedly retained its reputation as a paradise island over the years, renowned for its beautiful beaches, breathtaking scenery and temperate climate. Situated in the Atlantic off the coast of Africa, Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, formed by a series of volcanic eruptions millions of years ago.

A mountain chain runs through its centre from Anaga to Teno and on both of its slopes there are large, exuberantly fertile valleys, among them, La Orotava and Guimar. In the heart of the chain lies the third largest volcano on Earth, Las Cañadas del Teide, an official National Park. North of the crater stands El Pico del Teide, the highest peak in Spain. Tourists have flocked to Tenerife for more than 100 years, attracted to the islands exotic black beaches, breathtaking landscapes and iconic Canarian towns.

Despite the ever increasing population of holidaymakers and foreign home owners on Tenerife, the island has retained much of its traditional charm. Like the rest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife has a multinational environment resulting in a blend of art, architecture, culture and food. The warm weather allows for an outdoor lifestyle with plenty of beach activities and spots such as roller blading, skate boarding, surfing, wind surfing, Tennis and Golf. The people of Tenerife love to party and there is always an excuse for a celebration! Fiestas are usually associated with the celebration of saints' days and religious dates where locals and visitors can enjoy the parades, stalls and folk dancing. You will never be bored in Tenerife!

Climate

Known as the Island of Eternal Spring, Tenerife has the lowest temperature difference between summer and winter for anywhere in the world. The average daily temperatures reach around 24 degrees in the summer and drop to around 18 in the winter months. The island is divided by the mountain range resulting in a hot, dry climate in the south and a cool, tropical paradise in the North. The temperate climate and cooling breezes created by trade winds allow for afternoon golf, tennis, and walking all year round, while the coastal resort of El Medano is a Mecca for fans of water sports.


Sightseeing


Loro Parque
Set against the lush backdrop of Puerto de la Cruz, Loro Parque is Tenerife's premier tourist attraction. Translate the name, and you'll find out exactly how this excellent wildlife park began. 'Parrot park' still has entertaining parrot shows every day, but nowadays you can also watch gorillas, penguins, crocodiles, giant turtles, jaguars, monkeys and many more species here. Sharks slip silently over the long underwater walkway, and dolphins and sea lions cheerfully perform for the audience. The park has won many awards and is well worth a visit.

Mount Teide
Towering at an enormous 12,402 feet, Mount Teide in Las Canadas National Park is Tenerife's most famous landmark and is the highest mountain in Spain. In clear, fine weather, you can take the cable car to the top of this towering, dormant volcano to soak up awesome views of Tenerife and the other Canary Islands scattered across the blue ocean. On your way, look down at the surrounding landscape moulded by ancient volcanic eruptions. You will also notice that the climate changes through 4 distinct temperate zones, showing off Tenerife's flora and fauna in its colourful entirety.

Santa Cruz
This is Tenerife's vibrant capital, a living, working city where memories of colonial Spain lie around every corner. The Museum of Nature and Mankind tells the story of the Guanches, Tenerife's ancient tribal inhabitants, with everyday pottery and tools as well as mummified bodies on display. Visit the Museum of Fine Arts housed in an old Franciscan monastery, or the African market, which sells flowers, home-made honey, cheeses, live animals, handicrafts and lots more.

Waterparks
Aquapark in Playa de las Americas, is a popular place to scare yourself silly racing down flumes, slides, rides and wild water. There are even dolphin displays, if watching your fellow holidaymakers isn't sufficiently entertaining! Skypark, also in Playa de las Americas, offers large pools with all sorts of slides.

A walk Through Hell!
Barranco del Infierno is a popular, 8 kilometre walk starting from Adeje, just north of Playa de Las Americas. A good path leads up through 'Hell Gorge', a deep canyon on the edge of the Teide National Park, to La Cascada, where a waterfall splashes down into a natural pool. Stop for a rest, or even a swim, and then return the same way.


Shopping in Tenerife

From perfumes to spirits, Tenerife's tax-free shopping means that you can take advantage of cheap goods. There is a wide range of shops and department stores to suit all tastes, especially around Santa Cruz and Puerto de la Cruz. If you're looking for something more traditional, look out for Tenerife's unusual pottery which is made without a potter's wheel and decorated with tribal, geometric designs.

The island's also known for its good quality Spanish lacework, such as tablecloths, bedlinen and handkerchiefs. If you stumble across a craft fair, you might see artisans making pretty woven wickerwork baskets and knick-knacks, and you'll often find Africans selling tribal drums, leatherwork, beads and carved wooden masks.


Food in Tenerife

Tenerife is renowned for its traditional Canarian cuisine which combines Spanish recipes with African and Latin American influences. There are some mainland-imported meals, but true original tastes can only be found in the Canarian specialities. Away from the standard Spanish food and the many tourist oriented international food restaurants in the hotels, there is a genuine local cuisine in Tenerife. However, it is much easier to find a real British pub or a branch of the known fast-food chains than a Canary ‘tipico', usually distinguished by a short menu of soups, stews and grilled fish dishes.

Spanish tapas and Canarian specialities dominate most restaurant menus - although in the main resorts your favourite fast food joint is never far away.


Local Cuisine

The basis of the typical local cuisine is a variety of fresh vegetables, fruit and fish, generally light meals, easier to digest in a warm climate. Meat usually features as part of a stew and steaks, mostly imported from Spain or South America, are often offered in restaurants catering mainly for tourists.

Still forming an essential part of the island diet is gofio, a sort of flour made from ground and toasted barley, maize and wheat. It is used to thicken soups and sauces or it is stirred into children's milk. It is also made into ice cream and a kind of bread, not unlike Polenta, mixed with oil, salt and sugar.


Canarian Salsas (sauces)

Papas Arrugadas (wrinkled potatoes) is one of the best-known dishes. It consists of potatoes boiled with their skin in seawater. But, their real taste comes from the mojos (sauces), usually two olive oil based sauces: the mojo picón (spicy sauce) and the mojo verde (green sauce). Not to be missed at all, is the local goat cheese


Fish Dishes

If you like fish, you will love Tenerife! Among the most typical regional recipes are caldereta de pescado (a kind of fish soup) and ‘Sancocho Canario’, the most typical of all Canary dishes, which is a salt fish and potato stew served with papas arrugadas, gofio and mojo sauce. You will find a wide variety of international recipes of fish and seafood, too.


Vegetarian Dishes

Among vegetarian dishes potaje de berros, a watercress soup, and sopa de garbanzas, a hotpot with chickpeas, are perhaps the best known. But make sure that there are not any pieces of bacon or pork meat in these soups, as they are often prepared like this.


Desserts & Tropical Fruit

The most typical dessert is bienmesabe, a mixture of honey, almond cream, eggs and rum. Besides that, you have a wide choice of tropical fruits, like mangoes, avocado and papaya. Platanos fritos (fried bananas) are also in great demand. The marzipan pralines from Tejeda and the biscuits and meringues from Moya are simply delicious.