Filed under: ancient civilizations, beach, featuredarticle, National Park, volcano
Have You Ever Been to the Island of Tenerife?
If you have never heard of it, it is part of the Atlantic territory of Spain located off the west coast of Africa. Better known as the Canary Islands, Tenerife is the largest of the seven islands and is very diverse, featuring beautiful beaches (including some black sand beaches), the highest mountain of Spain, the third largest volcano in the world, lush forests, deserts, and much more. It is considered one of the last paradises of the European isles.
The Canary Islands are commonly visited by British and German travelers; a vast change prior the 1960’s. The Canary Islands used to be poor in many areas, mainly growing bananas, but with two airports built on the island and living conditions being brought to the European standard, Tenerife is an oasis sought by many travelers from around the world.
The National Park El Teide (map) has an impressive landscape due to the elementary forces of volcano Teide. Cable cars are available to take tourists up 3600 meters close to the top, leaving the summit up to climbers to reach. The summit offers breathtaking views of the whole island on a clear day. For the curious traveler, hiking into the volcano’s crater is an experience; you can explore the still active parts of the volcano.
If you are on the quest to experience wildlife, Loro Parque Zoo (map) located just outside of Puerto de la Cruz (map) is an animal protected area with tons of wildlife to see. Tenerife is also a great place to rent a car and explore the island. There are many picturesque villages and beach towns to discover, such as Tacoronte (map), placed on the edge of a steep coast on the north part of the island, famous for its red wines. For those in search of history, visit the town of Güimar (map), located in a valley, where the Pyramids of Güimar are found. These pyramids resemble those of Egypt, ancient Mesopotamia, and Mexico, with the origins still unidentified.
The island of Tenerife along with the other Canary Islands are owned by Spain, but is a very new experience from Spain. Tappas are commonly enjoyed at restaurants across the island, but local fish and vegetables are staples. If you like to party like the Spanish do in Madrid, check out the nightlife scene in Playa de las Americas (map) and Los Cristianos (map). Many large cultural events also take place on the island all year round, Carnival being one of the most important.
Tenerife is only 2034 square kilometers, and with so many things to see and do all over the island, everything is all under an hour away.
Photo credits: ReservasdeCoches.com, seeareelem, clspeace
