Overview

Tenerife is the the largest island of the seven that make up the Canaries archipelago and is extremely popular as a summer holiday destination for good reason - it has a rich culture, fascinating history and is packed with things to see and do - there is something for all ages and all tastes.

Tenerife is an island of extreme variety from the dry south and the lush green valleys in the north to the lunar landscape around the volcanic crater in Teide National Park. The crater or Las Cañadas del Teide, sits in the middle of the mountain chain at 2000m, is 29kms across and is certainly worth a tour. North of the crater is Spain's highest peak on Mount Teide standing at 3718m. You can get a cable car to the top where the panoramic views are breathtaking. Its always cold at the top but if you are visiting during winter, be prepated for a few feet of snow! Unlike the volcano Mauna kea in Hawaii, its not possible to ski on Mount Teide.

North Tenerife

Apart from the capital city of Santa Cruz and the more exclusive resort of Puerto de la Cruz, the northern part of the island remains in stark contrast to the popular holiday hot spots such as Playa de las Americas, just 47 miles away, in terms of tourist numbers. With its lush green landscape, slighter cooler climate and incredible mountain trails and historic villages, North Tenerife is refreshing, invigorating and won't be below the radar for long.

South Tenerife

A magnet for holiday rentals, the south of Tenerife has the highest concentration of beach resorts on the island. With golden sandy beaches, watersports galore and a nightlife to rival the best in the Med, Tenerife's south coast is a mecca for family holidays and those looking to party. Playa de las Americas is the party capital but there are many resorts such as Los Gigantes that are quieter and offer a more refined holiday experience with great value villa rentals.

A Four Season Holiday Destination

With 300 days of sunshine, Tenerife is a year-round playground with weather to suit sun worshippers and outdoor sports enthusiasts.

Tenerife has a tropical climate with hot, dry summers and mild, winters. During the summer, the average daily high is 82°F/28°C and the average high over the year is 22°C with a low of 18°C. The north of the island receives more rainfall and is slightly cooler than the south. So if you prefer lush green vegetation, a holiday rental on Tenerife's northern coast is your best choice.

Tenerife Holiday Rentals

Self catering holiday rentals along the beach resorts and villages of Tenerife are plentiful and certainly good value especially for family holidays. You will find beachfront villas, often with private swimming pool, spacious apartments and family holiday homes to rent along the entire coast.

Around the mountainous region of the island, the beach villas are replaced by exquisite hillside fincas (country estates) that are ideal for getting away from all the bustle ofen found in the popular coastal resorts.

Best Beaches on Tenerife

The beaches fall into 2 main categories - those with golden - white sand and those with black. Basically, the beaches on the south of the island are made from volcanic rock and are black sand while the northern beaches are typical of a tropical island - silky golden talcum powder sand. Some of the more popular beaches around Tenerife include...

Playa del Duque

On the western tip of Costa Adeje, the "Duke" is more of an exclusive beach and is more of place to relax and chill out.

La Tejita - beautiful white sany beach

Arguably the best beach in Tenerife in terms of natural beauty, La Tejita is just a short drive or 30 minute walk from the surfing resort of El Médano in Granadilla de Abono

Las Teresitas

This is a man-made beach flanked by palm trees next to the old fishing village of San Andrés just north of Santa Cruz. Lunch in the village is a highlight as the fish restaurants are amongst the best in Tenerife.

Tenerife Attractions - Best Things To See & Do

Tenerife is packed with things to see and do to suit the whole family. Lush tropical gardens, historic towns and the capital of Santa Cruz can be found in the north while the majority of the water parks and watersports are around the resorts in the south of the island.

Distance in kms from Santa Cruz

El Bollullo

Located in Puerto de la Cruzhe this is the black beauty equivalent to La Tejita

Los Gigantes

Sitting on the west coast under the giant 800m cliffs, Los Gigantes beach is spectacular and with the marina, is the starting point for many boat trips.

Masca

Masca is a beautiful mountain village and is a tourist attraction in it's own right. Many people don't realise that the beach down the mountain road is one of Tenerife's finest and best-kept secrets with an incredibly stunning gorge cutting the beach in half - definitely worth a visit.