Tenerife Holidays

If there is any spot on the globe that enjoys a perfect climate, Tenerife in the Canaries is it. There is markedly little variation in the average temperatures between summer and winter, which hover between 15ºC and 24ºC, with only very occasional rain. Throw this in to the mix of verdant forests in the northern part of the island as well as mountains, deserts, volcanoes, exotic plant and animal life, and spectacular beaches (with black volcanic sand) - and you have a holiday paradise.

Tenerife offers a unique experience of swimming and sunbathing on a beautiful beach while just a couple of miles away snow sparkles on the crest of Mount Teide. The island's central mountain stands at 12,200 feet, the highest in Spain, and a cable-car ride to the summit offers unrivalled views of the lunar-like landscape of the volcanic slopes.

The island's capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, is an upbeat town geared for tourism. Its port, where once the first shots of the Spanish Civil War were fired, is today a morass of ferries, jetfoils and freighters.

 

Attractions

Masca

For scenery a visit to the northwest tip of the island of Tenerife, around the picturesque village of Masca, is hard to beat. The village is set in the Teno Mountains, clinging to the slopes of a deep green ravine beside a narrow road full of alarming hairpin bends. Until recently Masca was off the beaten track and not accessible by road. The zigzag drive from Santiago del Teide has now opened up the village and its magical setting, reputed to have once been a pirate’s hideaway. Hikers have popularised a two-hour walk from the village through a gully to the sea at the base of the majestic cliffs of Los Gigantes.

 

Pirámides de Güímar

On the east coast of Tenerife, south of Santa Cruz, stand six mysterious step pyramids which archaeologists have yet to discern the origin of. The pyramids were initially thought to be just remains of agricultural stone terraces, or random piles of stone cleared from fields by early Spanish settlers. However Thor Heyerdahl, the Norwegian anthropologist who lived in Guimar on Tenerife until his death in 2002, thought differently. His research indicated that the pyramids were constructed on similar principles to those in Mexico, Peru and ancient Mesopotamia. The pyramids are now enclosed in an Ethnographic Park; the site includes a museum, life-size replica of Heyerdahl's reed ship Kontiki, a cafeteria and souvenir shop.

Address: Calle Chacona; Telephone: 922 514 510; Website: www.piramidesdeguimar.net; Opening time: Daily 9.30am to 6pm; Admission: €9 (adults), €4.50 (children 9-12 years old)

 

Teide National Park

The Parque Nacional de las Canadas del Teide was declared a protected area in 1954 and has become recognised as offering one of the most spectacular landscapes of the world, including an enormous volcanic crater with a circumference of 30 miles (48km), out of which rises the highest peak in Spain, Mount Teide. In contrast to the coastal regions of Tenerife, winter in the park, which lies at about 6,562ft (2,000m) above sea level, brings snowfall and gale force winds, while in summer temperatures can soar to above 40ºC. A cable car carries visitors to the summit, but many prefer to hike the route to experience the flora and fauna, including rare specimens like the violet of the Teide, the Tajinastes, as well as the many varieties of lizards and birds.

 

Tenerife Beaches

The volcanic nature of the island of Tenerife meant that the land has few natural beaches. Those that exist are characterised by black shingle stretches created from the island's volcanic rock foundations. The demand for tourist sun-bathing space, however, has led to the creation of resorts and man-made beaches, with golden sand having been imported in some cases. The good beaches on Tenerife for sunbathing and soft sand are Los Gigantes and San Juan in the west and Fanabe, with its soft, yellow sand, showers and other facilities, located to the south. Also popular are Torviscas with its marina, Playa las Americas for its grey sandy stretches, the soft yellow expanse of Los Cristianos' beach, Las Vistas, and Los Cristianos. Candaleria in the east has a small black shingle beach. Up north Puerto de la Cruz has a beach with fine black shingle, but at Santa Cruz golden sand has been imported for its Terasitas beach.