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Destination

Tenerife

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Hotels in Tenerife

Tenerife is a magical destination that should be visited at least once in a lifetime. The island of Eternal Spring offers everything you need so you can fully enjoy an unforgettable holiday in Tenerife. But its biggest claim to fame is the contrast between north and south. The former, wild and calm, is filled with tropical forests, volcanic beaches and impressive colonial architecture. The latter, lively and full of joy, with comfortable beaches where you can practise water sports and entertainment for the whole family. In order to discover all its charm, Iberostar offers a wide range of hotels in Tenerife: from a historic, urban hotel in Santa Cruz, in the north, to several hotels in the south of Tenerife to enjoy the beach at Costa Adeje. Find the best hotel deals in Tenerife at Iberostar, choosing the offer that adapts best to your requirements and live a magical holiday.

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Things to see in Tenerife

What are the best things to do in Tenerife? Without a doubt, Tenerife's most famous place is the Teide National Park, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2007. The Teide National Park is the place where the Teide Volcano (el Teide or known as Cheide Mountain among locals) is centred. The Volcano is 3,718 m. above sea level and considered to be the highest peak in Spain. To reach the top one can take a cable car up to the central station, located at a height of more than 3,500 m. Also, the so-called Roques de García - strange geological formations shaped by wind erosion - are worth special attention.

Another impressive place is the millennial Dragon Tree Park (Parque del Drago) – which is the main tourist attraction of Icod de los Vinos, located in Tenerife North. This is the place where one of the most important natural icons of Tenerife, the celebrated el Drago - a majestic tree which is more than 800 years old - stands.

a large mountain in the background with Teide in the background

What to visit in Tenerife

Tenerife boasts outstandingly beautiful natural areas. From its towering volcano, Mount Teide, the third biggest volcano on Earth, travellers will admire an extensive carpet with colourful patches of lush flora and rock formations that give the island its unique character. The landscape contains calderas, exotic gardens, lava caves, reservoirs telling magical legends… Getting deep into the island is like discovering the soul of Tenerife.

Nature in Tenerife:

  • Caldera del Rey: Caldera del Rey is one of the most impressive volcanic calderas in Tenerife. Sitting in the south of the island, in the municipality of Adeje, it resulted from a volcanic explosion and the subsequent deposition of the magma that reached the seashore. Caldera del Rey extends for more than 100ha and features troglodyte caves and homes of the families that dwell in the area.
  • Orotava Gardens: They were developed with a clear purpose in mind: to check how different American species adapt to the local soil and climate. More than 3,000 endemic and exotic plants grow in the Orotava Gardens. Some are curious species, with very long aerial roots.
  • Anaga Nature Park: Situated in the north of Tenerife, Anaga Nature Park offers a landscape with a long history, since it was in this area that the native people chose to settle and become shepherds. On 140km2, there are archaeological sites and as many as 26 villages with a total population of 2,500.
  • Natural pools: They can be found throughout the island. You can bathe in them in a wonderful environment. Some of the most famous pools are in the northern coast of Tenerife, like Charco de la Laja, but they are in Costa Martiánez and Punta Hidalgo too.
  • Cueva del Viento (Wind Cave): It is the biggest underground cave in the form of a lava tube in Europe. It is close to Teide Park, on Pico Viejo, which is considered to be the origin of the cave. A walk inside the 17km-long cave-like channel shows lava formations beneath the surface of the Earth.
  • Los Derriscaderos: This is one of the natural monuments that best represent the effect of volcanic eruptions in the south of the island. It is a group of volcanic rocks in the slopes of Las Monjas gully, formed by airfall deposits containing lapilli, that is, pumice lava, magma and ashes that cover the area in funny colours.
a person standing on a rocky hill

What to visit in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Tenerife cuisine includes a lot of recipes of solid and very nourishing food.

We should definitely highlight typical Tenerife food such as stews - ribs with chickpeas or meat with potatoes (potatoes are very popular all over the island). However, unlike cuisine from mainland Spain, Tenerife traditional food includes other ingredients, such as vegetables, chickpeas, sweet potato, corn, pineapples, pears or chayote.

On the other hand, Tenerife’s 342 km of coastline, explains the popularity of fish in Canarian recipes. In fact, specialties such as baked horse-mackerel or horse-mackerel in tomato sauce, weakfish cannelloni or tollos compuestos (brined and sundried shark, dogfish or stingray) are always easy to find in Tenerife restaurants as is the cazuela de pescado - a stewed seafood dish traditionally accompanied by gofio escaldado (corn flour mixed with broth). Meat is less common; usually pork, rabbit, goat, and certain types of poultry are used in recipes for Tenerife food. One of the common meat dishes, for example, is baifo - baby goat baked in the oven, and one must not forget to try one of the area’s most famous dressings - mojo picón. In addition, of course, Tenerife’s best restaurants serve traditional Spanish food, such as traditional Spanish breakfast dishes, Spanish paella and Spanish tapas, accompanied by the best wines. Professional sommeliers will always help you to choose a nice red wine or good white wine that perfectly accompanies your meal. Tacoronte-Acentejo wines are especially recommended local wines.

When it comes to Tenerife desserts, one must mention that the island has an important confectionery tradition. Among the specialties are egg flip, chasneras pastries which are much appreciated in South Tenerife, and the artisan turon de Tacoronte.

If you are looking for the best Tenerife restaurants, be sure to visit those at Iberostar hotels, where our skilful chefs will recreate for you some of the most incredible dishes of Canarian gastronomy.

a plate of food with a fork and a glass of wine

The beaches of Tenerife not to be missed

Tenerife’s beaches shape one of the world’s top sun and sea holiday destinations. The island has a 400km-long coastline dotted with rugged cliffs and wonderful sandy beaches. The brightest and most peaceful are those on the south, in the municipalities of Arona and Costa Adeje, as well as those in the capital, Santa Cruz; they are large urban sandy oases.

Main beaches in Tenerife:

  • Costa Adeje beaches: These beaches, together with those in Arona, are in the southern coast of the island, but their beauty and facilities have earned them a fame of their own. The best known are Troya, El Duque, Fañabé, Torviscas or El Bobo. All of them are extensive sandy beaches with facilities and services that make them safe enough for both adults and kids.
  • South Tenerife beaches: Also quiet beaches, the most famous are in the municipality of Arona: Los Cristianos, a very busy beach protected by a harbour that separates it from another large beach in the south, Las Vistas, one of the most crowded and liveliest in Tenerife. Also remarkable here is the bustling beach of Las Américas.
  • Santa Cruz beaches: An important part of the spectacular urban oasis of the capital of Tenerife, Santa Cruz’s beaches are perfect for a holiday combining sun, sea and relaxation with culture and fun. Las Teresitas, a bright beach away from the centre of town; Las Gaviotas, with its amazing black sand, just behind; Roque Bodegas or the extraordinary Benijo beach.
  • La Orotava beaches: Here you will find wild nude beaches. All these beaches have big waves and are on a rugged coast with access by way of cliff paths. The best in the area are Los Patos, with an impressive talus; El Bollullo, a quiet black sand beach; and El Ancón, a slice of paradise for nudists.
a body of water with a mountain in the background

Events in Tenerife

The local feasts and festivals in Tenerife are almost a must if you wish to learn more about the character of the island people. Traditional, pagan or religious, they shine with emotion and fun. All the municipalities in Tenerife hold feasts to honour their patron saints. You will enjoy them along with locals and will have the chance to know about their culture and history.

Major events in Tenerife

  • Feast of Saint Anthony the Abbot: Arona, next to Costa Adeje, starts the year off with the feast of Saint Anthony the Abbot. The feast oozes symbolism and tradition when the image of the saint is escorted by locals donning traditional costumes and dancing to the rhythm of Canary songs. The procession ends in Plaza de la Verbena. The big celebrations are on 17 January.
  • Carnival in Tenerife: Regarded as one of the best carnival celebrations in the world, along with those in Brazil, carnival in Tenerife is a major festivity on the island, especially in the capital, Santa Cruz, twinned with Río de Janeiro for years now, and in Puerto de la Cruz, in the area of La Orotava. The activities take place on official stages and in the streets, gathering thousands of people every year.
  • Saint Mark’s procession: In late April, the village of Tegueste celebrates with fervour and devotion the huge procession of Saint Mark, which every year attracts more and more locals and out-of-towners. Carriages, local products, traditional dance, cattle fairs… A lively time of year when everybody asks for a blessing from the saint.
  • Easter in La Laguna: There are many who say this is the municipality with the most intense devotional character in Tenerife. La Laguna’s Easter celebrations have floats carried by brethren who take to the streets every year to honour their saints. In stark contrast to what you can see in Seville, celebrations are sober and intimate, but they offer a singular character that is worth experiencing first-hand.
  • Corpus Christi: As in the rest of Spain, this religious feast is held between May and June, and has flowers as its main stars. The enormous flower carpets made by hand by the inhabitants of various municipalities and the devotees take the streets of La Orotava, La Laguna and Santa Cruz.
  • Saint Benedict the Abbot’s procession: Named a Fiesta of National Tourist Interest, the procession of this saint is amongst the most popular in Tenerife. It is held on the second Sunday of July every year in La Laguna. The most peculiar tradition is that of the saint’s escort, made of seven women who wear the traditional dresses of Canary Islands.
  • Feast of the Hearts: Held on 24 August, it honours Saint Bartholomew and is well known for the offerings in the shape of hearts made with sweets, flowers and fruit. In total, they make three hearts weighing 800kg, each carried by 25 men on a procession. The hearts represent the three districts in the coastal town of Tejina.
  • Saint Andrew’s Eve: This feast is held late in the year, in November, in Icod de los Vinos. All the wineries in this lovely town are open to the public to offer wine tastings on this day.

History and curiosities of Tenerife

There are many curious stories about Tenerife that reveal an awesome, magical side of the island. Stories, legends, records and other curious facts are written on the pages that tell the history of the island people and their traditions. If you want to know why Tenerife is the way it is, you must find out what makes it different.

History of Tenerife and curious facts:

  • Las Nieves island: You might think the name ‘Las Nieves’ (nieve means ‘snow’ in Spanish) is misleading, since Tenerife has a mild weather with no distinct seasons. However, the Romans called the island ‘Nivaria’ (Snow Island) because Mount Teide was snow-capped. Interestingly, the Palmeros called the island ‘Tenerife’ or ‘white mount’: ‘tiner’ means ‘mount’ and ‘ifer’, white.
  • The Spanish island with the largest population: Tenerife is the largest Spanish island. It has a surface area of 2,000 km2 and a year-round population of nearly 1 million.
  • La Laguna lake: La Laguna is a municipality that owes its name (laguna stands for ‘lake’) to a big lake that used to supply water to the whole area. Today, it is only noted after a very wet season of heavy rains.
  • The most visited park: Teide National Park, named a Site Heritage by UNESCO, is the most visited in the country, with 2.8 million visitors a year, and is the third oldest national park in Spain.
  • A top tourist attraction: Costa Adeje is one of the three areas in Tenerife that attract the highest numbers of tourists – almost half of the 5.5 million visitors that come to the island every year.
  • Puerto de la Orotava: Puerto de la Cruz was formerly Puerto de la Orotava. The municipality of Puerto de la Orotava is part of La Orotava valley, a pioneering tourist attraction on the island because it was home to the first spa and clinic for visitors.

 

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