Tenerife Travel Guide

Summary

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Isles and one of the UK's most popular package holiday beach destinations. Year-round sunshine, cheap flights and a wide range of affordable accommodation are its main draws.

Meanwhile, bucketloads of restaurants and nightlife catering to Brits have helped fuel its fun-in-the-sun image.

You'll have to escape from the high rise hotel-scapes on the coast to discover a slice of authentic Canarian life. For those willing to explore, the northern capital city of Santa Cruz provides a complete contrast to the sprawling south coast resorts. It hosts the annual Tenerife Carnival in February, a colourful spectacle that is said to be one of the biggest in the world. The country also boasts the world's third largest volcano, Mount Teide, with its bizarre lunar-like landscape.

Getting there, getting around

There are two airports, Los Rodeos in the north, and Reina Sofia in the south which receives the bulk of most charter airlines from the UK. Most package holidaymakers will be transfered to their hotel. Otherwise, there are plenty of white Mercedes taxis available at the airport.

The island's bus service is excellent but hiring a car is the best way to explore the island. In Santa Cruz, a new 15 min tram service is planned to connect the capital to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of La Laguna.

Beaches

Tenerife's beaches are unexceptional. Most of them are jet-black due to the island's volcanic sand. Tejina in the south is naturally golden and is popular with windsurfers. In the north, 1.5km long Las Teresitas beach close to Santa Cruz attracts families. There are also several nudist beaches on the island.

Popular resorts include legendary Playa de las Americas which has practically merged with neighbouring Los Cristianos. Further to the west is Playa de La Arena which claims to have one of the island's best coves, and is close to Los Gigantes and Puerto de Santiago.

Puerto de la Cruz on Tenerife's north coast is also characterised by hotels, shopping malls and restaurants serving English food. It has an artificial lake filled with sea water, fringed by bars, restaurants, stalls and a nightclub that is actually under sea level.

Sightseeing

In Santa Cruz, visit museums and take a guided walking tour of the city's monuments. The Tenerife Auditorium is also rather impressive. But the capital can't rival the more charming La Laguna with its narrow cobbled streets and historical buildings.

Puerto de la Cruz is one resort that has a smattering of historical buildings, tree-lined squares and the 17th century Castillo de San Felipe, overlooking the beach, that was built to keep pirates at bay. Puerto Colon marina is also worth a visit, if only to gawp at its sparkling yachts.

Family attractions

Children are well-catered to on the island, with hotel kids clubs, beaches and watersports providing more than ample entertainment.

But there is more. From Playa de las Americas, book a five hour glass-bottomed boat trip to spot dolphins, whales and porpoises. Pleasure Islandoffers golf, rides and a children's play area consisting of an inflatable magic mountain, bouncy castle, arcade games, pool tables and air hockey tables. There's also Aqualand, camel riding, a monkey park and activities like horse-drawn cart rides, hot air balloon trips and submarine safaris

Day trips

Visit the National Park for close up views of dormant Mount Teide. A cable car whisks visitors to within 200 metres of the summit, but you'll need a pass to climb any higher. There are also plenty of well-marked paths for hikers.

Take an energetic walk up to the top of Los Gigantes to enjoy the superb panoramic view over the craggy coastline. Dusk is the best time to walk as it's slightly cooler and the sunsets are breathtaking.

Eating out

Mass market tourists resorts like Playa de las Americas have strong British ex-pat communities, where English pubs serving all day breakfasts and roast beef are the norm.

Search hard however and you can sample Lebanese, Japanese, Moroccan and Argentinean food. Fishing villages like Los Abrigos or La Caleta serve excellent seafood and tapas bars are also popular. Canarian cuisine must be tried if only for the spicy red mojo sauce.

Nightlife

Tenerife's reputation for all-night discos and parties is legendary. Whilst the Veronicas complex in Playa de las Americas has tried desperately to shed its binge-drinking and drugs image, it still draws party revellers in their droves. Tramps and Metropolis are the clubs to try out.

Santa Cruz's Calle Noria is popular with trendy locals. The capital has laid back rooftop bars and sporadic live music performances. Sol Time, Arco Pub and Karma are some of the better spots.

Shopping

Don't expect anything special.Parque Santiago III in Playa de las Americas sells clothes, discounted electrical goods and represents one of the best shopping areas in the south. If you're looking for souvenirs then head for Los Cristianos or the Thursday and Saturday market in Fanabe.

Santa Cruz has a number of covered malls, including the upmarket Corte Ingles department store. La Laguna features designer shops as well as more traditional stores.