Jan

11

Tenerife Travel & Sightseeing Guide

January 11, 2008 |

A trip to Tenerife

The largest among the seven Canary Islands, Tenerife is a favourite vacation spot for northern Europeans. The island boasts beautiful beaches as well as landscapes that include volcanic rock and dunes. Although it is possible to arrive on Tenerife by boat, most visitors come via Los Rodeos Airport in the north or Renia Sofia Airport in the south.

Flights to Tenerife
Tenerife has two airports: Tenerife North Airport (Los Rodeos) and Tenerife South Airport (Renia Sofia). The North Airport is the smaller of the two, as most visitors head to the southern part of the island. The North Airport is located near Santa Cruz-La Laguna and primarily services European flights, including domestic flights to other Spanish destinations. The South Airport is the seventh busiest airport in Spain and services many charter flights from European cities. Transportation from the airport is via bus or taxi, but many hotels also provide transfers. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Tenerife try lastminute.com.
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For travel around the island, many people hire cars or motorcycles. Within the major cities, such as Santa Cruz, Puerto de la Cruz and Los Cristianos, there are public buses, but many visitors end up using taxis, which are abundant and inexpensive.

Sightseeing in Tenerife
Tenerife is mostly about sun and surf, but the island also offers plenty of natural beauty. Loro Park, a wildlife park, is a local favourite located near Puerto de la Cruz. The park boasts a large collection of animals, including over 20,000 marine animals. Parrots and dolphins are the main attractions here. The Cliff of Giants is a natural wonder where sheer cliffs dramatically plunge into the ocean. About 800 metres in height, these cliffs are best viewed from the sea by boat.

Spain’s highest peak is located on Tenerife. Mount Teide is almost 3,200 metres high and is in fact a volcano. There is a cable car that goes to the peak, which is a great way to get away from the hot weather below. The mountain is surrounded by a national park, which is also well worth exploring.

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Fun by night – eating drinking and partying
Tenerife is a party island and most of the big cities have a wide range of night-time offerings. Partying doesn’t start until late and doesn’t really get going until around midnight. The most popular nightlife area is Playa de las Americas. Here, visitors will find a huge range of restaurants, bars, clubs, cabarets and more.

For those wanting to get away from the crowds and noise, head to quieter resort towns such as Puerto de la Cruz. Here, you can enjoy some quiet tapas and visit the casino for some late night action. The Casino Taoro is a must-visit for many; remember to dress appropriately if you want to enjoy gambling, dining and drinking in this one vast area.

Fun by day - shopping and activities
There is plenty of shopping to be had on the island. The bigger cities, such as Playa de las Americas, Santa Cruz and Los Cristianos, offer a range of boutiques and designer shops. In Santa Cruz, shoppers should head to Villaba Hervas, El Castillo and San Jose streets. In fact, many locals from the mainland come to shop on Tenerife because of the lower taxes, making shopping here cheaper.


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