Volcanoes sleeping in the sun, gently exhaling their wispy plumes of sulphur; plants and wildlife found nowhere else in the world, exciting and extraordinary rock formations, the highest mountain in all Spanish territory and the world’s third largest volcano, Tenerife occupies a unique position among holiday islands, and this along with its almost perfect climate (probably the best in the world) make it one of the most fascinating and easily accessible holiday destinations in Europe.

Situated some two hundred miles off the west coast of Africa Tenerife is the largest of the seven main Canary Islands, with a surface area of around seven hundred and ninety square miles and a resident population of some 700,00. A friendly but independent people whose new found prosperity, brought about by the advent of modern day tourism, sits cheek by jowl with ancient traditions and a wealth of Spanish history and guanche legend.

A large majority of visitors to Tenerife are lured by the all year round sun, sea, nightlife and duty free bargains, but they are well catered for within a relatively confined area. This leaves the major part of this sub-tropical island paradise unspoiled, waiting to be discovered and enjoyed by those with more energetic interests – walkers, climbers, cyclists, - or those who simply want to be away from the crowds and to enjoy the sun in the peace and quiet of the countryside.

Scenically Tenerife is an island of dramatic contrasts. At the top, dominated by El Teide, is Las Canadas National Park, where ‘frozen’ lava flows reach out into boulder strewn desert like expanses. Stretching down the dry southern slopes are light open forests of Canary Pine, giving way to scrub or human cultivation. On the North side, generally somewhat cooler and wetter , is a more lush vegetation – dense forests of laurel on the steep upper slopes of the north –eastern Anaga mountains, with a wide variety of crops grown lower down, the main ones being wine and potatoes. On the north-western peninsular of Teno more than three hundred plant species thrive. The rugged coastline presents many stretches of near vertical cliffs, (particularly at Los Gigantes where massive three thousand foot high cliffs rise from the sea) broken at intervals by deep ravines.

HOTEL SEARCH