Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands situated off the North West coast of Africa and due to its constant good weather, excellent beaches and spectacular natural beauty it attracts over three million visitors every year.
There are several resorts to choose from around Tenerife. A popular resort you’d find at the tip of the West Coast is Los Gigantes which gets its name from the giant cliffs that border the town. The area has mainly hotels and apartments with a variety of live entertainment to enjoy. Los Gigantes has a black sand beach that is small but safe for swimming and surfing and is rarely crowded.
Things to do in Tenerife
There are plenty of things to do in the sun kissed island of Tenerife. Here you’ll see the volcanic landscape of Mount Teide, which is the highest peak of all Spain, and there is an array of exciting resorts in the South of the island. Tenerife is full of fantastic beaches and beautiful coastlines.
You may want to hire a car and visit Teide National Park or travel to the archeological digs at the Pyramid Park in Guimar. There are water parks, jungle parks and the best botanical and zoological park in the Canary Islands! You can guarantee that Tenerife has something for everyone.
Shopping in Tenerife
If you love markets, then Tenerife is a great place to visit. There are markets all over the island. Some are very local in flavour and others like the huge Sunday market in Los Crisitanos, geared very much to tourists. The other great market for a bargain is the Torviscas Market, offering clothing, a fashion show, health, books, electrical, fabrics, souvenirs, jewellery and even property! There is an African market, little church markets and even a market that gives its proceeds to K9, a local dogs home.
If markets aren’t for you though, there are many department stores in Tenerife, mainly in the tourist areas where it’s largely populated. A great place to shop is Santa Cruz, Tenerife’s capital. This is where you’ll find all your posh labels!
Nightlife in Tenerife
Dress up, have fun, day and night in Tenerife. By day you can see the sights, but it needn’t be time for bed. After tasting the local cuisine, and you don’t want the night to end, then Tenerife nightlife is ready for you! The island is well known for its buzzing club scene. Discos and nightclubs in Tenerife are situated mainly in the south of the island. The most famous nightclubs in Tenerife are situated at Veronicas, Playa De Las Americas. The music is your 80s, Top 40 all the way to your R&B clubs. Another place to party is Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz where saucy salsa songs swing you through the night. There is more an sense of exotic native cultural roots, and culturally these regions offer fresh and exciting experiences.
Eating out in Tenerife
Common in the Canaries is its love of home grown ingredients. The restaurants thrive in cooking their wonderful fish, meat, vegetables and fruit. There are many good restaurants with international cuisine in the tourist areas, using simple island cooking techniques. Mixed vegetable stews and fish casseroles are typical but most enjoyable. 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. A favourite island meat is the pork, which is often served up pickled and called ‘festival meat.’
In Tenerife there is one bar or restaurant for every seven residents, so be rest assured, you won’t miss out on the great Tenerife fun!