Tenerife

Tenerife is the largest and most populous of the seven Canary Islands. It is roughly triangular is shape and lies north west of Gran Canaria. Holiday makers go to this beautiful island by the plane loads - around 5 million a year, and the island is served by two airport, one in the north and the other in the south.

The island is very roughly divided into two different climates. The north is slightly cooler and with much more vegetation, while the south looks more barren, but is where the largest number of holiday makers holiday because of the splendid beaches. In the middle of the island is Mount Teide, the highest point of the island and in of the whole of Spanish. It has often got snow at the top while the sun worshipers are basking in the sun on the beaches below. Tenerife is a rugged and volcanic island sculpted by successive eruptions throughout its history. A chair lift to near the top offer passengers a spectacular view - but be prepared with your clothing, it can be very cold up there.

The coastline of Tenerife is typically rugged and steep, particularly on the north of the island and the island has about 67 kilometers of beaches. On the northern coast they are tend to be pebble beaches or blackish sand, while on the south and south-west coast of the island, the beaches are much finer and lighter colour sand. The climate on Tenerife is temporal, with 20c - 22c being an average in the winter months and 27c in mid summer.

The most popular resorts are Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos in the south. Los Cristianos is a bustling town with beaches, promenade walks along the rockery parts of the coast, and a little port below the town itself. Playa de las Americas on the other hand has long beaches with a hugh variety of hotels spread all along them which now stretches towards La Caleta, formally a quiet and quaint holiday town. Playa de las Americanos has quality shopping centres, golf courses, restaurants, water parks, animal parks, and a good theatre. Just everything you want for an interesting holiday.

In the north of the island is the resort of Puerto de la Cruz which is the second largest tourist city on the island. Here there are few beaches of note, but plenty of gardens laid out with swimming pools and sunbathing areas. The accommodation available in Puerto de la Cruz is also different from many other resorts on the island as it offers more hotel accommodation than apartments. The town itself is a busy and interesting place and well worth strolling around the streets, for eating in the many restaurants or just sitting at an outside cafe and watching the world go by. Just inland rise mountains covered with green vegetation, which provides a spectacular backdrop to the town.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital of Tenerife is the second most populated city of the Canary Islands with over 200,000 inhabitants. It is situated at the north east tip of the island, and while interesting to visit, is not generally considered to be a holiday destination.