The largest of the Canaries, Tenerife offers extraordinary scenic contrasts, from the leafy plantations of the north, to the desert-like landscapes and soaring volcanic peak of Mount Teide in the centre.
Flights: UK - Tenerife - UK
Accommodation as per hotel details
Meals as per hotel details
Transfers between the overseas airports and hotels
All local and airport taxes/service charges
COSTA ADEJE This is a small, modern resort, offering a quiet, classy retreat in the sun. Here you'll find a lovely sandy beach and a couple of excellent waterfront restaurants, as well as the usual choice of souvenir shops and cafés. A larger and rather more impressive beach, can be found at Playa del Duque, around 600 metres away. Further to the south, approximately 3 kilometres away, is the island's entertainment capital, Playa de las Americas with its amazing array of bars, clubs and fast food outlets, as well as another good sandy beach.
PUERTO DE LA CRUZ A modern sophisticated resort that offers visitors plenty of choice. Here you'll find elegant plazas with open-air cafés, upmarket shops, a busy waterfront with cobbled streets around the fishing port, and a varied nightlife. For relaxation you can choose between the splendid lido Martianez swimming pool complex that dominates the seafront, and a choice of clean, dark sandy beaches. At the foot of the lush La Orotava Valley, Puerto de la Cruz enjoys a spectacular backdrop, including Monte Teide.
Transfer time from Reina Sofia airport to: Costa Adeje 45-50 minutes approximately; Puerto de la Cruz - 1 hr 45 minutes approximately.
Teide National Park is well worth a visit. Here, Spain's highest peak Mount Teide - some 3,700 metres high - stands majestically in the centre of the island. On entering the park, you'll drive through amazing lava fields, rock formations and moon-like landscapes. A cable car can take you most of the way up (the last part to the peak is on foot) where you will be able to enjoy stunning views over the crater, the surrounding countryside and even to the coast on clear days. Strong walking shoes are recommended, plus a jacket, as the temperature is considerably lower than the coastal resorts and it can get quite windy.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital city, and is located on a gigantic harbour, making it a popular stop-off point for ocean liners. Spreading out from the seafront, it is a curious mix of old and new, tourist and commercial, with leafy streets and pavement cafés intermingling with boutiques, old churches and offices.
Although near Puerto de la Cruz on the other side of the island from our featured resorts, Loro Parque is many peoples 'must do' attraction. It is home to amongst other things, the worlds largest penguinarium, Gorilla Jungle and Shark Tunnel where it has tried to recreate natural habitats for the animals. Other popular features are the killer whales, dolphins and parrots, and there's even a chance to go behind the scenes on the 'Discovery Tour' to see how the park runs and learn about its conservation work.
Siam Park is Tenerife's newest waterpark and opened in Spring this year in Playa de las Americas. It has a huge choice of rides, slides, shows and even a beach and a floating market.
There are seven 18-hole golf courses on the island, the nearest being Costa Adeje Golf and Golf Las Americas, both of which offer club hire. Elsewhere in the south of the island there is Golf del Sur, Amarilla Golf, Abama and 9-hole Centro de Golf Los Palos.
Bicycle hire is available in most resorts, and as they tend to be flat, is an excellent way to explore. Otherwise, there is some wonderful walking to be had, if you are willing to go inland to explore.
Playa de las Americas, has commercial centres throughout the resort offering a wide choice of gifts, clothing, consumer goods and souvenirs, whilst Costa Adeje is the place for more boutique-type shops. On Thursday and Saturday there is a market in Torviscas Fanabe.
Good buys tend to be leather, lace and ceramics, but all the Canaries are known for their excellent duty free shopping and in particular, electrical goods.
A trip abroad isn't complete without trying some of the local specialities, and we'd recommend Potaje, which is a thick vegetable soup; Carne con Papas, a stew with meat and potatoes; Queso a la plancha, grilled cheese with coriander; Ropa Veja, which is a bit like bubble and squeak, or any of the locally caught fish.
Tenerife has a mixture of dark volcanic and golden-coloured sandy beaches. Costa Adeje has a couple of natural golden sandy beaches, whilst Playa las Vistas at Playa de las Americas, is a long manmade stretch of golden sand, whilst neighbouring Playa Fanabe boasts smaller slightly darker sandy beaches.
Average winter temperatures range between 18 to 24 Celsius, making Tenerife a very pleasant escape from the cold, and as in summer, the South is warmer than the North and also less wet. Tenerife lives up to its micro climate billing, as it is possible to be enjoying the sun in one of our featured resorts, and see snow on the top of Mount Teide.
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