Tenerife - The miniature continent

Tenerife is an island full of superlatives: the biggest zoo in Spain, the highest mountain in Spain, the highest, steepest coast in Europe, an unbelievable diverse vegetation, breathtaking canyons, 300 days guaranteed sunshine a year, beaches and bays inviting you to swim and relax, whale and dolphin obervations and the possibility to enjoy the authentic Spanish spirit in typical communities.

Tenerife has the most well-balanced climates in the world. Nowhere else are the temperature fluctuations as low as they are on the Canarian archipelago. During winter the temperatue is rarely below 20 degrees, whereas it does not exceed 30 degrees in summer. On the island of everlasting spring, happiness is an everlasting feeling.

General Information:

Capital: Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Population: approx. 900.000
Size: approx. 2.000 km2
Climate: 6 to 11 sunshine hours per day (winter/summer), an average of 18 to 25 degree; felt temperatures can be much higher, swimming is possible throughout the year
Location: Together with Gran Canaria Tenerife forms the center of the Canary Islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean.
Tenerife on Google Maps

Excursions of Tenerife

Tenerife forms its own continest just in a small format. Therefore, Tenerife has lots of things to offer: North impresses with a green landscape and beautiful, historic cities; south attracts especially the tourists with golden sandy beaches.

The most popular attractions are the Loro Parque, the biggest zoo of Spain; a boat trip around the island, a hike tour through the canyon of Masca; a climb to the Teide, the highest mountain of Spain, a boat trip for whale and dolphin watching, and many more. The water parks Siam Park and Aqualand also invite with many slides and water attractions to enjoy your stay and having fun.

Loro-Parque

The Loro Parque especially attracts with its impressing animal shows. Sealions, dolphins, whales, and parrots show what their abilities are. Originally the zoo was funded as park for parrots (that's why its named Loro - it's Spanish and means parrot).
The park has its own breeding facilities and that's why the zoo owns the biggest collection of parrots worldwide. With a normal visit it can only be seen partly. To get a full insight you need to book a "Behind the scenes-Discovery Tour" (extra charge). In the park itself you can see the fledgelings being feeded as well as an extract from different types of parrots and parakeets.
The zoo has a big house for penguins, various aquariums including a shark tunnel and of course diverse exotic animals in various facilities. A new ground has been opened in September 2009, it's the new home for the Katandra. Katandra has its origin in the aboriginal language and means "birds singing in the treetops".

The Loro Parque is situated in the north of Tenerife in Puerto de La Cruz, and its bright yellow Loro Parque train picks you up at the centre and brings you back, all free of charge.

On the Internet: http://www.loroparque.com

Teide

Once you've been on Teide - you just want to go back up to the top again. Climbing the peak of Spain's highest mountain is very easy and it doesn't need much mountaineering skills. You can go by car or alternatively by the TITSA-Bus (no. 342 from Las Americas or no. 348 from Puerto de la Cruz) up to the "Parador de Turismo". The scenery is breathtaking, you feel like being in an artificial world. The Teleferico (cable way) brings you up to 200m near the top, though for the last meters you need a summit permission, which you can obtain for free in Santa Cruz if you apply for it.

Who books an organised Teide-Tour doesn't have to care neither about the summit permission nor how to go to the Teide, but additionally gets insider formation. In the Parador Turismo there is a visitor center which informs about the most visited national park and Tenerife's natives - the Guanches - all at no extra fees.

More about the Teide National Park and the summit permission.

Dolphins and whale watching tours

Also dolphins and whale watching tours provide attraction. They start e.g in Los Cristianos, Las Americas, Los Gigantes or in Puerto de Santiago. Who wants to observe whales or dolphins in their natural habitat here on Tenerife, has the possibility to do so on a catamaran, a speed boat or glass-bottom boat, or even on a pirate ship. There are offered different tour durations, so that you get the chance to anchor in a lonely bay for smwimming or to allow yourself a refreshing bath in the deep blue Atlantic Ocean.

Nightlife on Tenerife

Clubs and Bars can be found in all tourist areas and hotel complexes. The people love to dance to international music and hot salsa rhythms. On Tenerife the following bars are very popular:

Adeje:

Matrix Club, Torviscas Bajo, Calle Ernesto Sarti 7
Achaman, Torviscas Bajo, Calle Ernesto Sarti
Faro Chill Art, Costa Adeje, C.C. Torviscas Costa
Tropica Atlántico, Adeje, Edif. La Cúpula 79
Tropicana Tenerife, Costa Adeje, Cruce de Los Olivos

Arona:

Ansammlungen von Bars, Discotheken und Clubs findet man vor allem in San Telmo (Los Cristianos) und Las Veronicas (Las Americas)
Casablanca, Los Cristianos, C.C. San Telmo, an der Strandpromenade
Zona 21, Los Cristianos, C.C. San Telmo, an der Strandpromenade
Club Magic, Playa de las Américas, in der Pyramide
Pleasure Island, Playa de las Américas, Las Veronicas
Discoteca Busbys, Playa de las Américas, Las Verónicas
Discoteca La Habana Social Club, Bajos Hotel Columbus
Tibu Tenerife, Americas Shopping Center, Playa de Las Americas

Puerto de la Cruz: