Tenerife may be closer to Africa than Spain but the atmosphere is definitely Spanish – relaxed and unhurried by day, the pace hots up as the sun goes down. It’s one island that can offer two very different breaks. Go south for hot sunshine, and north to Los Gigantes for dramatic scenery and sophistication.
With sun-baked sandy beaches and exuberant bars and nightclubs, the south coast of Tenerife feels a million miles away from the lush banana plantations and cosmopolitan towns of the north of the island. In fact, Tenerife is only 90 kilometres from north to south, but majestic Mount Teide cuts the island into two very distinct zones, imbuing Tenerife with two very different characters. Step away from the holiday resorts and Tenerife’s Spanish heritage reveals itself in sleepy whitewashed plazas and tiny Spanish tapas bars, in fun-loving fiestas and elegant colonial buildings.
Tenerife is dominated by the mountains that divide the island into the south and north. At just over 12,000 feet, the volcanic Mount Teide, in Las Canadas National Park, is the highest mountain in Spain and has a cable car which runs almost to the top. The resort of Puerto de la Cruz boasts stunning views of Mount Teide, a picturesque waterfront and excellent shopping and entertainment. Here you can stroll through the old town, replete with balustraded wooden balconies, beside the main square. The south of the island is hotter and sunnier and has an impressive lunar landscape. The buzzing resort of Playa de las Americas is located here.
Tenerife offers you more than you will expect from your holiday. You could visit one of the 106 vineyards on the island, where wine production has been established here for centuries. Why not take a trip to the sandy beach, Las Teresitas, five miles north of Santa Cruz. Here you will find half a mile of golden sand imported from the Sahara, lined with palm trees, kiosks and typical snacks and tapas. If you want to explore, discover the Pyramids of Guimar, constructed according to similar principles as those discovered in Mexico and Peru. To experience a taste of culture, try a visit to the Symphony Orchestra staged at the Tenerife Auditorium in Santa Cruz
