03 June 2010
Posted in Tenerife

Tenerife - the perfect year round destination

Known for it's fabulous 12 month climate, Tenerife is the largest and most populated of the entire archipelago of the Canary Islands. With over 5 million tourists filling the Tenerife hotels for their holiday every year it is one of the main Spanish tourist destinations and number one in the Canaries. Tourism is a lot more prevalent in the south which is a lot hotter and drier than the north of the island.

The island of Tenerife is situated 1800 km from the Spanish Capital of Madrid and only a few hundred kilometres from the north-west coast of Africa. It makes up part of the archipelago known as the Canary Islands. Tenerife is the largest and most populated of these islands and has a total land area of just over 2,000 km2, with a population of around 900,000 inhabitants.

The flight time from most places in central Europe is just over 4 hours, and it is known to millions of tourists as the island of eternal spring. Tourism is the most prevalent industry on the island, it is no surprise that it is one of the largest tourist destinations in the world.

There are many well developed resorts like Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos in the south of the island, which is also home to most of Tenerife’s major attractions and theme parks. As it is hotter and drier than the northern part of the island, most of the tourism is based in the south, but the verdant north offers some truly spectacular scenery to make up for it.

Mount Teide and Tenerife's Volcanic History

Tenerife is dominated by the 12,200-foot Mount Teide, the highest peak in any of the Spanish territories, and on clear days the views from the summit enable you to see all of the Canary Islands and even the coastline of the African mainland. The Mount Teide national park is the second most visited national park in the world. It is thought that Tenerife and the rest of the Canary Islands were formed from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean somewhere between 20 and 50 million years ago. The oldest mountain ranges on the island were formed millions of years later even though that was still around 12 million years ago. If history is to be believed then three million years ago there were three islands which consisted of the Valle San Lorenzo, Anaga and Teno mountain ranges. What followed was a violent volcanic process which melted all the mountain ranges together giving us the Tenerife which we all know today. The main crater did not explode but it is presumed that it collapsed inside of itself. The crater today is one of the most stunning craters in the world and is 17 km wide at its longest distance. The last stage of the volcanic process happened only half a million years ago. The old volcanic peak known locally as Pico Viejo erupted first, followed by the eruption of the higher peak (Pico del Teide). Throughout history Mount Teide has erupted every 100 years or so with the last volcanic activity being in 1909 which took place near the town of Santiago del Teide.

The earliest known human settlement on the island of Tenerife dates back to around 200 years BC when it is known that the island was populated by a race known as the Guanches. They were simple people and had little technology even by stone age standards. They lived in caves and dressed in animal hides. These indigenous people lived in a relatively peaceful society until the 14th century when the Castilian Conquest took place. Many of the Guanches died in battle resisting the invasion, but also many died from illness and imported diseases to which the Guanches had no immunity due to their many years in total isolation. Tenerife was the last of the Canarian islands to fall to the Spanish, finally happening in the year of 1496.

Throughout Tenerife’s long history, it has been attacked by pirates from many countries including the British, French and Dutch. The most notable of all these attacks was the British invasion of 1797. On July 25th Admiral Horatio Nelson launched an attack on Tenerife’s capital, Santa Cruz. There were many casualties and this is the battle where Nelson lost his right arm. If legend is to be believed then the cannon "Tiger" was the cause of his injury which was sustained as he was trying to disembark his ship.

Tenerife - All Year Round Climate

The climate in Tenerife makes it the perfect all year round holiday destination, with summer temperatures never being too hot and the winters never too cold. Day time temperatures rarely exceed 30 degrees celsius in the summer and winter temperatures never drop below 20 degrees celsius. This is what makes the island of Tenerife one of the major tourist resorts for the European holiday market. There is nowhere else within similar flight times from Europe that allow you to lie on the beach or play a round of golf in the months of January and February with the sun on your back all day long.

Airports of Tenerife

There are two airports in Tenerife, with the main airport being in the south of the island. The official name of the airport is Reina Sofia or Tenerife South. The northern airport is situated a few kilometres from the capital, Santa Cruz in Los Rodeos. Both airports have flights to the other islands in the Canaries and capital cities throughout Europe. The main tourist airport, Reina Sofia, is based 17 kilometres from the leading holiday resort of Playa de las Americas. Air traffic has dramatically increased to the south airport over the last few years. This has been due to the availability of cheap flights from the UK and Central Europe. With more and more people wanting to holiday in the sunny south of the island rather than in the north, where the weather can be slightly more unpredictable.

Sea Ports of Tenerife

Besides the two main airports, Tenerife also has two maritime ports. One is in Santa Cruz and this port connects the island to the mainland of Spain with a twice weekly service to and from Cadiz. This is used by tourists and residents and the ships can carry cargo and vehicles. The Santa Cruz sea port is also the main destination for passengers who want to travel between the island of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. The other maritime port is based in the tourist resort of Los Cristianos and here you can find the ferries and cargo ships that service the islands of, La Gomera, El Hierro and the beautiful island of La Palma.

By making Tenerife your next holiday destination, you will have the chance to visit two world heritage sites, one national park, and 42 natural protected areas. Whether you are alone, or with your family, get ready for a unique experience as you explore some of the wonderful treasures that Tenerife has to offer. Everyday will bring a new experience. Take a shopping trip in the capital of Santa Cruz or visit a museum, maybe try one of the many cultural events that take place in Tenerife. But that’s not all... prepare yourself to enjoy an incredible variety of landscapes of extraordinary natural wealth in a land scored throughout with ravines, as well as spectacular cliffs, forests of prehistoric species, extensive wooded areas of the Canary pine, remarkable rock formations, hidden bays, lively beaches, volcanic peaks, heath lands, valleys growing tropical fruit... These are places that are home to multifarious species of flora and fauna, many of which are exclusive to the island. Equally exciting are the various theme parks, designed for the entertainment of both young and old. In fact, you’ll get the impression that the whole island is one big park, with a range of different settings and an infinite number of attractions and things to do.

Great Places For More Tenerife Information

With the popularity of Tenerife, there are a huge variety of holiday companies providing great trips to the island. Sometimes it is tough to know how to choose a good company, but you may want to check out this site if you are looking for cheap holidays to Tenerife

Images of Tenerife

(click for full size)