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Resort Guides
Costa Adeje
An extension to Playa de las Americas, Adeje is considered to be something of an upmarket resort with its range of good restaurants and bars and is a host to some of the most sophisticated hotels and apartment complexes on the island. It is a very modern area made up predominantly of 4 and 5 star hotels. It has a quieter atmosphere then some of the other resorts in Tenerife. The resort of Costa Adeje is situated on the black volcanic sand beach of Playa de Fanabe and offers a good selection of water sports and nearby water parks. You can easily get into Playa de las Americas by bus if you want to sample the great nightlife. There's a good selection of local shopping centres here, but if you want to shop 'til you drop, Playa de las Americas is just around the corner.
Transfer approximately 15 mins and 15 GBP from Reina Sofia airport.
Costa del Silencio
Adjacent to the lively, Canarian village of Las Galletas lays the peaceful town of Costa del Silencio. As the name suggests it is quieter than some of the other resorts, and makes an ideal retreat for those seeking to get away from it all. However, it is still home to a good selection of bars, shops and restaurants. Costa del Silencio stretches from Las Galletas to El Medano. Here you will find the best fish restaurants.
Transfer Approximately 15 mins and 10 GBP from Reina Sofia airport.
Golf del Sur
Golf del Sur is located on the south coast, 15 minutes from Los Cristianos and 20 minutes from Playa de las Americas. As the name suggests, golf is the main business in the Golf del Sur, there are a number of superb courses however other entertainment has not been left behind. The main square is San Blas and is the central point for all kinds of evening entertainment. This modern resort comprises of many restaurants and bars to choose from along with a large shopping centre. There are lovely fish restaurants in the next village Los Abrigos, which is still totally unspoilt.
Transfer Approximately 10 mins and 7 GBP from Reina Sofia airport.
La Caleta
La Caleta is a new area about 10mins drive to the West of Costa Adeje and Playa de las Americas. It consists mainly of good quality accommodation in a tranquil setting. There is a small sandy beach with its own Spanish style beach bar and a walkway leading into Costa Adeje. There are a couple of local shops and restaurants to choose from with nightlife to be found in neighbouring resorts.
Transfer Approximately 25 mins and 25 GBP from Reina Sofia airport.
Los Cristianos
Offering a more relaxing atmosphere than its busier neighbour Las Americas, Los Cristianos is aimed at those who want a laid back holiday with the resorts amenities close to hand. It used to be a fishing village, but now this attractive and modern resort tends to attract families and couples who enjoy its sophisticated atmosphere and cosmopolitan town centre which is closed to all traffic. One of the highlights of Los Cristianos is the golden, sandy beaches which are renowned to be the best on the island.
Transfer Approximately 20 mins and 15 GBP from Reina Sofia airport.
Playa de las Americas
Playa de Las Americas is situated on the south east coast of Tenerife and has developed into the largest and most popular of the resorts on the island, if not the whole of the Canaries. A well developed resort with all year-round sun, it offers a wealth of opportunities for a wide range of holiday makers. For night owls, the main attraction is the lively Veronicas strip with its buzzing atmosphere and wide variety of bars, clubs, restaurants, even a casino. For those wanting a more laid back holiday, the resort also offers the Playa Fanabe area which although central, is less hectic and more aimed towards families. There is also a water park here to entertain all.
Transfer Approximately 15 mins and 15 GBP from Reina Sofia airport.
Playa la Arena
On the sunny west coast of Tenerife, the relatively small resort of Playa de la Arena is a tranquil place with an air of exclusivity about it. For a relatively small resort, Playa la Arena boasts an extensive array of bars and restaurants, ranging from the big and bold to a handful of small and intimate venues. This part of the coast is dominated by massive black cliffs that drop dramatically into the ocean the area is a favourite with people in search of a quiet, relaxing holiday and Playa la Arena enjoys the sunniest climate on the island. The resort has a small, natural beach of black sand and is one of the cleanest on the island. The area has many small coves, steep ravines, rocky headlands and dramatic views - ideal for those who enjoy exploring! At the same time, there are plenty of shops, supermarkets, bars and cafes as well as restaurants serving food from around the world. Just 1 mile north of Playa de la Arena you can embark on a boat trip to spot whales and dolphins. If you don't spot a whale, the sight of the awesome cliffs of Los Gigantes are as impressive. There are regular local buses to take you the 30 kms along the coast to the resort of Playa de las Americas.
Transfer Approximately 25 mins and 25 GBP from Reina Sofia airport.
Playa Paraiso
About 15 kilometres north of Playa de las Americas you will find Playa Paraiso, which is another sun-worshippers paradise but with a very different personality. Like is neighbour Los Gigantes, the resort offers stunning views of the volcano sculpted scenery. Although a popular resort, it still manages to retain a strong Spanish flavour which is evident in the distinctive shopping areas. Nightlife here is limited to a few bars and restaurants.
Transfer Approximately 35 mins and 30 GBP from Reina Sofia airport.
Puerto de la Cruz
One of the older resorts in Tenerife, Puerto De La Cruz is located on the cooler, northern coast of the island. The resort maintains a strong Spanish flavour with numerous shops, bars and restaurants in the attractive Old Town area. This resort is perfect for those who want a relaxing break away, with stunning scenery and natural beauty but do not expect a consistently warm climate as it tends to be slightly cooler and cloudier than the south. Those who like nightlife are well catered for as there is a wide variety of evening entertainment available, with a popular casino in the heart of the resort. The beaches in Puerto De La Cruz are a sight to behold, with the stunning man-made beach of Punta Brava proving the most popular.
Transfer approximately 1 hour and 50 GBP from Reina Sofia airport.
Transfer approximately 20 mins and 16 GBP from Los Rodeos airport.
Puerto de Santiago
The quaint village of Puerto De Santiago is situated in a hilly area on the north-west coast, it is a peaceful haven dominated by the impressive, Cliff of the Giants. The fish, fresh from the mornings catch is also not to be missed. The larger beaches of Los Gigantes and Playa de la Arena are both within 1.5kms and there are some bars and shops. The resort has a peaceful atmosphere with some secluded bays. Nightlife here is mainly hotel based. The beaches have black volcanic sand which has a striking contrast to the deep blue sea.
Transfer Approximately 40 mins and 30-35 GBP from Reina Sofia airport.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The bustling city and shipping port of Santa Cruz is the administrative centre of the western Canary Islands and the capital of Tenerife. The city is sandwiched between this large natural bay and the stunning backdrop of the 1000 metre high Anagna Mountains, a location that makes it an ideal base for those visitors who wish to explore the north east of the island. For those of you who prefer to shop, Santa Cruz will not disappoint. Many visitors begin their shopping trips at the Plaza de Espana on the sea front and then work their way up to the Plaza de Candalaria, which offers the best in international brands at "tax free" prices.
Transfer approximately 1 hour and 35 GBP from Reina Sofia airport.
Transfer approximately 20 mins and 9 GBP from Los Rodeos airport.
Weather in Tenerife
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Beaches
The volcanic nature and evolution of Tenerife have created just a few 'natural' beaches, all of a fine black shingle or sand. The dramatic increase of tourism and demand for public beaches has been met by huge investments. High quality, man made beaches are now plentiful. These are mainly around the major tourist resorts. Most have good access, meet stringent European standards of cleanliness and most offer shower facilities, sun beds, shades and water sports.
Tenerife has an array of beautiful beaches and these are what the island is typically most famous for! You should make the most of the islands diverse coastline. Whether you are going for the windsurfing/surfing or just to top up that tan, the 217 miles of shoreline with the plunging cliffs in Los Gigantes and the sandy crescent in Las Teresitas are perfect. The popular beaches that are more sheltered for relaxing and sunbathing are in the south around Playas de Las Americas and Los Cristianos. Some of these with the famous black volcanic sand!!
If you were looking for the beaches that are great for windsurfing, surfing and kite-boarding then you will find them in the North in El Medano. El Medano is an excellent place for you to practice Windsurfing and Surfing whether you are a beginner (Tenerife has several windsurfing schools) or someone with more experience, with its open flat beach that's facing East, although windy it is not too choppy, which makes it an ideal all year round windsurfing competition site.
Tenerife also has plenty of snorkelling and diving coves around the island. In La Caletta there is a great snorkelling cove, with flat rocks leading into clear deeper water and a small flat reef. In Playa San Juan, which is at the West of the Island, the edges of the black sand are surrounded by rocks. In Puerto de Santiago there is a rocky cove with three pools full of marine life. And in Buena Vista there is a large rock pool formation in the extreme North West.
In Playa del Duque is one of the newest beaches the breakwaters here provide reasonably safe swimming. Playa de las Vistas in Los Cristianos is undoubtedly the best beach for children. Others include Playa de las Americas and Costa Adeje, here there are lots of water sports available along the beach like parasailing, several diving clubs and your typical holiday sports the ringo's and banana boats, as well as peddlo's and wet biking. At this beach there are a lot of restaurants and bars along the front, sun beds, changing rooms available and showers and toilets - this is a blue flag beach. Playa de Jardin in Puerto de la Cruz is good for children. It is divided into three different stretches of beach, the one with the finest sand is Playa de Punta Brava, and the others are Playa del Vastillo and Playa del Charcon. All these beaches have changing rooms, showers and toilets, sun beds, restaurant and bars, beach services and water sports!! Playa de las Teresitas in Santa Cruz is another child friendly beach, it stretches over 1.5 km with bars, restaurants and again, toilets and showers, water sports, first aid and public phone boxes.
Top Attractions of the Area
Baranco del Infierno - In spite of its fearsome name 'Hells Gorge', this lush green ravine is an oasis in the harsh and arid south Tenerife landscape. It is the only location you will find natural running water.
Cactus and Animal Park - A botanical garden specialising in cacti and plant life from the arid regions. The animal park houses a variety of species from marmosets to terrapins. Next door is Amazonia, 7000 sq m of tropical rain forest. Exotic birds fly freely and there is s a beautiful collection of hummingbirds, a host of other game birds, parrots and reptiles. There is a free bus from Los Cristianos/Playa Las Americas.
Ecological Park - Has 75,000 sq. metres of tropical gardens with many natural attractions, exotic wildlife, crocodiles, penguins, elephants and a variety of 'birds of prey' - which are used for exciting 'demonstrations set in open arenas. Open all year with free buses from Playa Las Americas.
Lunar Landscape - Bizarre natural rock formations have created a lunar landscape that will really make you feel as though you are walking on the moon. Not a trip for the easily winded, but certainly worthwhile for any walking enthusiast.
Puerto de la Cruz - Is the main tourist resort of the northern part of the Island. It is a cosmopolitan city with excellent hotels and the great Lago Martianez, an architectural wonder of the renowned international artist Cesar Manrique. In Puerto de la Cruz the modern and the new functional structures coexist with the typical and old corners of the small fisher's town which gave origin to the present city. The Taoro Park, where the Casino is situated, is a great vegetable area which lies over the city; one can also find the Botanical Garden which has other vegetable species from all five continents.
Teide National Park - The Parque Nacional de las Cañadas del Teide includes an enormous volcanic crater 48 km in circumference, out of which rises Mount Teide at a staggering 3.718 metres, making it the highest mountain in the whole of Spain. Access to the now extinct volcano is either by foot or by cable car that will carry you almost to the very summit. From the peak, on a clear day, you are in heaven and have breathtaking views of Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. This is the Canary Islands most visited tourist attraction and must not be missed.
The Cliffs of Gigantes (The Giants) - The Cliffs of the Giants (Acantilados de los Gigantes) are remarkably sheer rock walls that plunge into the ocean a quarter of the way down the west coast of Tenerife. Massive cliffs drop almost sheer into the sea from a height of 500m and 800m in some places.
The Pyramids of Guimes - The Piramides de Guímar Ethnographic Park is located in the town of Guímar, a 26 kilometres from Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Since 1991 the step pyramids of Guímar were investigated by the famous Norwegian anthropologist Dr. Thor Heyerdahl, who considered them to be extremely similar to the ones in Peru, Mexico and ancient Mesopotamia. The Ethnographic Park Piramides de Guímar offers you the possibility to visit these rare and interesting structures, and will provide you with theories regarding the possible diffusion of ancient civilisations.
Shopping
The Canaries are known for exquisite embroidery, fine thread work and decorative lacework. Exceptional patience, skill, delicacy and care are required of the local women who do the work. However, you should beware of street sellers and market traders offering very inferior low priced imported factory-made embroidery and claiming that is genuine local craftwork.
Canarian potters traditionally didn't use the potter's wheel, and still today on Tenerife and La Gomera highly skilled local potters working entirely by hand producing distinctive household objects and decorative items. Look out in the craft shops for their ganigos, household pots made without a potter's wheel, necklaces and other jewellery decorated with Guanche symbols.
There is a beautifully restored 17th-century mansion which contains a craft shop, where local people can often be seen at work. As well as cheap souvenirs, a wide range of high-quality items, such as Spanish and Canarian lace and linen and traditional Canarian embroideries, are on sale. Some are made on the premises, as the Casa de los Balcones also serves as a highly regarded school of embroidery.
The most important craft shop on the island, a jealous guardian of authenticity and tradition. It is run by the state-run crafts organisation, the Empress Insular de Artesania del Cabildo de Tenerife, and specialises in genuine local work. There is a craft museum attached. Choose from banana-shaped bottles of sugary cobana (banana liqueur), dolls in national costume, items made from palm leaves, or banana-leaf baskets. On a more serious level, there is a wide range of high-quality local pottery items, linen goods or lacy handmade handkerchiefs, napkins, place mats and tablecloths.
At Armenime in the south, Tenerife's Palace of Pearls, is where thousands of square feet are devoted to pearls and pearl jewellery. Casa del Viño, housed in a traditional country house in the north of Tenerife. Lovingly restored, this is a museum and visitors centre. Sample excellent quality wines of Tenerife. Authentic cuisine and impeccably run restaurant.
One of the strangest specialties in the Canaries is the palm-tree 'honey' of La Gomera. Not real honey, Miel de Palma is made like maple syrup. The guarapo, or sap, of the date palm is tapped, then boiled. The result is a dark paste that is rich, tasty and sweet. Buy it where you see signs at smallholding's around the island, or in San Sebastian at the market.
La Gomera retains many ancient qualities, including the making of handmade pots without a potter's wheel. One of the villages best known for this is tiny El Cercado, high on a narrow, winding road in the west of the island. Many of its simple cottages are pottery workshops, where the pots are made from the island's striking dark red clay.
Self-caterers and others will sometimes prefer to go to a supermarket to make shopping easy. The Continente Centro Commercial not only has a huge hypermarket with a vast range of goods at reasonable prices, but there are also 150 other shops on the site. The Continente is 6km south of Santa Cruz.
Getting Around
Bikes
Several companies offer bicycle hire (mountain bike hire), moped hire, scooter hire and motorcycle hire. The powered machines usually range from 90cc moped/scooters to larger motorcycles such as the Kawasaki Tengai 650. Prices vary depending on the number of days you hire the bike. The more days you hire a bike for the lower the price will get. You have to wear a crash helmet that you can hire at the same time as you hire your bike. For hiring bikes you have to be at least 18 years.
Buses
If you plan to get around by bus (known as guagua in Tenerife), you can pick up a timetable from a bus station, shops, or perhaps from your hotel. The bus service on the island is quite good but time consuming. If there is more than one of you or you plan to visit several places, it will be better and most likely cheaper, to rent a car.
Buy the "Bus Card", as it is a lot cheaper to pay for the fare with it, than by cash, (approximately 12 euros). It can be used to pay for any number of journeys but only for a single passenger until the credit has been exhausted. If there is insufficient credit available for the final journey then the balance must be paid in cash. Typical fares range from euros 1.50 for the trip from Los Cristianos to Reina Sofia Airport to 14 euros for the journey from Los Cristianos to Puerto de La Cruz. The public bus company, TITSA, operates services throughout the island and offers outstanding value for money.
Car Hire
One of the best ways to discover the island is to rent a car, driving around and finding your favourite places. As with most things on Tenerife, car hire is a very competitive market. There are many car rental companies and they all seem to offer more or less the same. If you book in advance you can be sure that you'll get what you want. To rent a car you will need a valid driving license (of course!), passport, and you have to be at least 21 years old. Make sure that the price you pay includes mileage and insurance.
Taxis
On Tenerife most taxi drivers are honest and give good service, but watch out for some of them. They might try and take advantage of you. Taxis are recognisable by a green light in the windscreen or on a white roof and an official plate with the letters SP (servicio público - public service).
For short trips inside the tourist areas many drivers won't bother to put their meters on, but we believe you will rarely be cheated. The main taxi ranks display fixed prices between most popular destinations. Taxis can also be hired for sightseeing. Just stop any good-looking taxi and ask what they offer. Most offer pre-planned itineraries covering the main island sights for around 80 euros for a half a day tour.
When taxi drivers turn the meter on, you pay 1 euro for the flag fall and after that you will pay 30 centimes per km. If you choose to travel between 10 pm and 6 am on Sundays or holidays and for each piece of luggage carried you will pay a surcharge of 33 centimes.
Nightlife
Tenerife is renowned for its buzzing club scene. They say Tenerife comes alive by night. The tourists and locals alike put their best outfits on and go dancing until the early hours in the nightclubs in Tenerife.
Discos and nightclubs in Tenerife are situated mainly in the south of the island. The most famous are at Veronica's strip in Playa De Las Americas & Los Cristianos. This is where the famous DJ's from around the world come and play. Nightclubs in Tenerife that are situated in this area have a wide variety of music from your 80's, Top 40 all the way to your groovy R&B clubs. You'd never get bored! As soon as the sounds of the 80's tire you it's only a stones throw away to other discos in Tenerife.
They say that clubs in Tenerife don't come alive before midnight. The majority of people start in the bars and pubs for the happy hours then merrily sway to the bubbly discos in Tenerife. Los Cristianos offers a selection of nightclubs in Tenerife and is only a short taxi drive away from Veronicas.
Eating Out
There are a wide range of restaurants/snack bars on offer in Tenerife. It is very cheap to eat out in Tenerife whether you are looking for a snack or a full meal the choice is endless. If you want a snack there are hundreds of snack bars across Tenerife whether you fancy eating in a British or Spanish Bar.
During the past few years quite a few of the big food companies have invested in Tenerife for example: McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken plus many more, so you can still feel at home.
There are so many good restaurants with international cuisine in the tourist areas, which makes that simple island cooking, based on fresh local produce (excellent fish, meat, vegetables and fruit), difficult to find.
For the first course mixed vegetable stews and fish casseroles, both accompanied, if one wishes, by the traditional toasted Canary flour: (El Golfo) and chickpea dishes are the most typical. The most appreciated fish is an island species, "la vieja", which has fine white meat like the sama and the cherne. The sardine and the chicharro are among the most popular fresh water fish. The king of the meat is undoubtedly pork, one of the most requested dished being pickled pork, here called "festival meat" and also "conejo en salmorejo" served mainly in the countryside. The "papas arrugadas" with green or red garlic sauce stand out above the rest as a side dish. The small and buttery potatoes that the island produces have an extraordinary flavour, and by itself is a delicious dish.
The young wines of the north of the island of Tacoronte-Acentejo origin are an excellent accompaniment to Tenerife cuisine.
Sports
Most of the sport in Tenerife is water-based. However, if you prefer your exercise to take place on dry land, walking is a popular pursuit. Alternatively you can enjoy a round on one of the island's golf courses.
Golf
The excellent Tenerife climate ensures that you can play and improve your golf every day of the year and at any level. This golf friendly island is rapidly becoming the migration point for golfers from all over the world between the months of October and May. For a small fee you can rent your golf equipment at every club. In most of the clubs you'll find a very casual atmosphere. No club requires a membership.
Jet Bikes
No experience needed! Common sense comes in handy and the driver must be over 16 years old. Passengers can be any age. You can race around a triangle of buoys on Yamaha 700 wave runners for approximately 20 minutes. If you fall off the bike stops and you get back on. It is the ultimate adrenaline ride.
Scuba Diving and Snorkelling
Take a journey into the depths of the underworld, and experience the thrills of scuba diving in Tenerife. Beginner's lessons are offered and you can obtain an internationally recognised Scuba Divers Certificate (PADI) quickly and safely. Experience the wonderful underwater world on this uniquely volcanic island. Tenerife Scuba diving offers you exciting diving all year round.
Puerto de Santiago has a rocky cove that does not appear to have any particular name and is protected by rocks. It has 3 different pools, usually calm and starting from very shallow to deeper water. All pools contain various marine life.
La Caletta is a small Spanish village, which has a great snorkelling cove with flat rocks into deeper water. Clear viewing, small flat reef, and located in the South of the island.
Surf & Windsurf
A very famous beach at the East of Tenerife that is ideal for practicing this sport is El Medano, a open, very flat beach. Although windy, it is not too choppy, making it an excellent all year windsurfing competition site. El Medano has already hosted the world championships. Facilities include, Wind surfing club, hire and instruction.
For the Family
Tenerife offers plenty to keep children entertained from aqua parks to nature trails.
Loro Parque
This is an absolutely amazing day out for the whole family. The Tenerife Loro Parque claims to be the "must" of the Canary Islands. Regardless of your age you will be fascinated by Loro Parque. Originally a parrot park, it has now grown into Tenerife's second biggest attraction after mount Teide. It has many attractions; the worlds largest collection of parrots, plus penguins, gorillas, sharks, jaguars, tigers, dolphins, sea lions and alligators... The attraction is public friendly, one can hardly miss any of the animals when doing the complete tour of the Loro Parque with all its various shows.
Octopus Aqua Park
The Octopus water theme park, situated near Playa Las Americas, is open all year round, 10am to 6pm daily. One of Tenerife's great attractions, it features superb selection of sun bathing areas, slides, tubes, pools, diving boards, dolphin shows and a relaxing 'lazy river'. It has safe, supervised climbing and playing structures for children, and high safety standards. Facilities include restaurants and changing rooms.
Quad Park
Set in over 200,000 sq mts of land, their quading trails wind through beautiful and natural surroundings. All of their quads are fully automatic, and all helmets and safety glasses are provided. This is a great day out.
Sky Park
What's a Sky Park? Well the best way to describe it is a combination of a small water park with flumes and terraces, and white knuckle bungee rides. These include a 60m purpose built bungee tower, and a couple of bungee scad ejector swings.
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