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Tenerife

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Tenerife, Spain was actually once an island that was stricken with poverty. With bananas as their main export, this part of the country seemed to have very little to offer and was rapidly declining. However, when the 1960s brought the world commercial air travel, Tenerife started to exploit its natural beauty and wonderful climate in an effort to attract tourists. The attempt worked and today, Tenerife is one of the most beautiful of the Canary Islands and has better living standards than some parts of Europe. Although many Americans still have yet to find this hidden treasure, the island sees many visitors every year from Germany, Britain, and the Spanish peninsula.

Areas

There aren't any extremely distinctive areas of the island that are set apart from each other and there aren't any that are specifically designed for tourists as when the island was recreated as a tourist destination, the entire island underwent improvements and upgrades to make it the complete beauty that it is today. There are however a few major cities on Tenerife and these include: Costa Adeje, Puerto de la Cruz, Las Americas, La Laguna, Los Gigantes, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The south side of the island is where most of the young tourists spend their time while the older tourists and those travelling with family choose to stay close to Puerto de la Cruz.

Weather

It was actually the climate in this area of the world that gave the islands of which Tenerife is a part of the name the Canary Islands. Visitors here will find that there is a climate that is much like springtime and that it remains very consistent throughout the entire year. The usual temperature lies around 22 degrees Celsius and Tenerife rarely sees temperatures dip below 15 degrees Celsius and the island also hardly ever sees temperatures that are above 30 degrees Celsius. The northern part of the island can sometimes be considerably cooler than the southern area, given that it is here that there are mountain ranges and valleys so it's important to dress appropriately when travelling to that area of the island. It is also because of this temperature difference that you will see lush, green foliage almost everywhere in the northern part where it's rare to see in the southern area of the island.

Average Temperatures

F/C	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
F	65	66	67	67	69	72	75	77	76	74	71	68
C	18	19	19	19	21	22	24	25	24	23	22	20

Getting There

By Plane

Most visitors come to Tenerife by plane and land at either one of the island's two airports. These are Tenerife South, which is close to Los Cristianos, and Tenerife North, which is close to La Laguna. Both airports have buses running from them to the rest of the island. However, these buses stop running at midnight and start again at around 5:00am so if you're coming in the middle of the night, you may have to choose the more expensive taxi option.

Getting Around

Public Transportation

There are buses that are available to get around most areas of the island. Because it is a large island and you may want to explore many areas of it by bus, it's a good idea to buy a BONO travel card that will allow you, and a group of any size that is with you, on the bus for a savings of approximately fifty to seventy percent.

By Car

Remember that the buses don't travel to the more secluded areas of the island and so, if you want to travel to these parts, you should probably rent a car.

Food & Dining

Much of the food consumed in Spain by both locals and tourists is fish. Tenerife is well-known for its restaurants that will allow you to handpick your own fish once they have caught it themselves, usually early that morning. Papas are often served with the fish and these are a type of black potato. They are served uncooked and unpeeled and come with a dipping sauce, which has an incredible zing to it! Potato omelets and other rice dishes such as paella are also very common. Tenerife also remains true to its Spanish roots by serving up plenty of tapas, which are usually served with delicious garlic sauces, refried beans, and squid, which is often served as calamari.

Beaches

Teresitas Beach (Sand beach) Location: Approximately seven kilometers north of Santa Cruz. This beach is 1.5 kilometers long and has a beautiful landscape filled with palm trees and sea grapes. This is a wonderful place for visitors to lie on the sand and spend some time enjoying true relaxation under the warm sun. Once feeling fully refreshed, head on over to the port and fill up on seafood in any of the fine restaurants located there!

Playa de El Puertito (Sand beach) Location: Neighbors the village of Guimar Discover the charm of walking along rich, black sand as you stroll along the beach of Playa de El Puertito. This beach stretches for 1.6 kilometers and is another wonderful place to enjoy some of the local fish or grab a coffee in one of the many cafes that can be found right along this beach. There are few times when you can say that you've soaked up a volcanic beach and this is definitely a unique experience!

El Medano (Sand beach) Location: On the east coast Visitors and locals both recognize this beach as being the host for the national windsurfing championships and there's good reason for it! Not only is this a sport that brings thousands of enthusiasts year after year for the phenomenal conditions but it's also has a location right on the beach where you can rent windsurfing equipment and receive short lessons so you can have another once-in-a-lifetime experience! Whether you're a beginner or an expert, visiting El lMedano will give you a windsurfing experience that is unparallel to any other!

Sights & Activities

El Teide

One of the most favored spots by tourists, and the reason why many people travel to this wonderful island, is to catch a glimpse of El Teide. Anyone can ride the cable that will take you to a height of 3550 meters on the mountain. Those who are willing to brave the climb can choose to do so but it should be remembered that although Tenerife has very mild climate on its beaches and in the cities, it becomes very cool on the mountain and at certain times of the year can even bear witness to several feet of snow. It's only a 200 meter climb to the top from where the cable will drop you off but the air is much thinner and so, it's important to remember that it is not a leisurely stroll. Because of this reason, special permission is required if you want to climb but you can get this quite easily at Santa Cruz de Tenerife. This mountain is also special in that it is a volcano, although it has been dormant since 1909. People were once allowed to walk inside a little way however, when it was discovered that sweeping back a thin layer of ash revealed a red, hot substance, visitation inside was banned.

The Black Pyramids

The Black Pyramids, or The Piramides de Gumar, in Ethnographic Park can be found in the town of Gumar, which is approximately 26 kilometers away from Santa Cruz de Tenerife. It is here that you will see six stepped pyramids and it's thought that civilization was formed here in ancient times. There is also a museum within the park that houses ceramics, statues, and other items that further suggest that there was once civilization existing and living within the park.

Natural and Human History Museums

These two museums, which are now housed in the same building, have come together after many displays and exhibits have been strewn in different places. These museums have meant a lot to the island of Tenerife over the last few years and have contributed greatly to the island's tourism industry.

City Library and Fine Arts Museum

This building is a wonderful trip for those true history buffs that want to learn everything they can about the island while spending time there. The library is constantly being expanded and has almost every piece of history regarding Tenerife since the island was established. The building itself is also magnificent so even if you're not a bookworm, you should take a tour of it just to gaze at the splendid architecture. The Fine Arts Museum is also housed here and you will find works that will forever be known as masterpieces so fine art lovers are sure to find something they love here!

Water Sports

Being that Tenerife is an island, there is plenty of water around and there is just as much to do on that water. Just about any water sport that you can imagine can be enjoyed on these beautifu and warm waters although there doesn't seem to be any vendor that rents canoes. However, spending a day surfing, kayaking, parashooting, jet skiing, and windsurfing are all wonderful ways to enjoy Tenerife!

Loro Parque Zoo

This is truly a zoo unlike any other as you will see all kinds of wildlife that is not only enjoyable to look at but has also been rescued from many parts of the world. The zoo seems to specialize in breeding different kinds of parrots to prevent the species from becoming extinct.