Teide National Park Declared a national park in 1954, the Parque Nacional de las Cañadas del Teide includes an enormous volcanic crater 48 km in circumference, out of which rises Mount Teide (pronounced the same as Lady) at a staggering 3.718 metres, making it the highest mountain in the whole of Spain.

The park itself lies at around 2000 metres above sea level and in winter snow falls, gale winds blow and the roads are sometimes closed off. During the summer months this arid landscape which gives the impression of having walked into a cowboy movie, can reach temperatures above 40C.

Access to the now extinct volcano is either by foot or by cable car that will carry you almost to the very summit. From the peak, on a clear day, you are in heaven and have breathtaking views of Gran canaria, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. This is the Canary Islands most visited tourist attraction and must not be missed.

Playa de Las Americas is the most famous tourist area, and so this is where you will find plenty of small beaches, protected by long breakwaters to stop the made up sand banks being washed away.
Being an area with a large number of tourists, always count on meeting a considerable crowd on the beaches. The great thing about this area is that all beaches are just a footstep away from each other.
This is the place to practise all kinds of water sports and enjoy lovely scenery, much more attractive than any description.

Los cristianos Beach What used to be a fishing village has today become one of the biggest holiday areas, with some large beaches including a new man made beach. One of its beaches is 400 m long and 100m wide, which makes it one of the safest for bathers and especially for children.

Garden Beach. And the dish of the day on Tenerife seems to be the man made beaches. So, here is another one!
Divided in three parts by the rocks, we suggest that you walk to the last beach, best for swimming and walking. This is where you can also find a cascade, a sure winner among children.
This beach has been awarded the European Blue Flag.

La Laguna is Tenerife's second most important city. It is the old Capital of the Island (until 1723) and situated just inland from Santa Cruz in the Aguere Valley amid a beautiful countryside. It is also the cultural and religious Capital, due to the fact that it lodges the San Fernando University and the Bishop's Palace. The whole city is full of outstanding architectural monuments, palaces and traditional houses of the XVII and XVIII centuries.

Among its religious buildings the most outstanding are the Cathedral, the Santo Domingo Church and the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción - this latter one has a fine Mudejár carved wooden ceiling and an exceptional Baroque wooden pulpit from the 18th century.One can also find the Church of the Holy Christ and the San Miguel Chapel.

History and art in La Laguna are to be found in the Casa Ossuna Museum, the Friends of the Country Economic Society Museum, the Concepción Church's Museum and the Cathedral's Museum. La Laguna's Municipal boundaries extend to the towns of Tejina and Valle Guerra - very rich agricultural areas - as well as Bajamar and Punta del Hidalgo, which have become tourist resorts with first class hotels, natural swimming pools and extraordinary landscapes. Areas such as La Cuesta and Taco, where part of the industries of the Island have been situated in the last few years, are also part of La Laguna.

La Laguna - Tenerife

Lunar landscape. Tenerife is indeed a continent in miniature... and more. Bizarre natural rock formations have created a lunar landscape that will really make you feel as though you are walking on the moon.

Not a trip for the easily winded, but certainly worthwhile for any walking enthusiast. To get there, head towards mount Teide from Los Cristianos. Halfway to Teide you will encounter Spain's highest town 'Vilaflor'. At over 1400 metres above sea level, is a quiet town surrounded by pine trees and almond trees, with an outstanding typical architecture: the parish church and the old Palace of the Lords of this area of Tenerife.

About two kilometres beyond the town you turn right at an easily missed sign 'Lomo Blanco'. After a steady half hour drive along this dirt track you will encounter a sign 'Paisaje Lunar' (Lunar Landscape). Park your car and walk the rest of the way (40 minutes).

The Villa of Orotava lies on the banana plantations of the Valley which bears its same name. This old town distinguishes itself by its magnificent and monumental architectonic structures, by its characteristic well-shaded Canarian patios, squares and ancestral mellow houses.

The old historic centre - declared monument of artistic national interest - should certainly be visited. The Concepción Parish Church is also a national monument. The Casa de los Balcones ('balconies' house) is a jewel of the Island's traditional architecture. In La Orotava one can also find the Documentation Research Centre of Spanish and American crafts.
In the Orotava mountains there are many tourist paths where one can enjoy tracking excursions - some of which reach the great Cañadas del Teide, a protected National Park area.
The town also has a botanical garden - "La Hijuela del Botánico" - with more than 3,000 different tropical and subtropical plant species mainly of South and Central American, African and Australian origin. In the city centre one can also find the Jardín Victoria (Victorian Garden) - a recreational green area with many walking paths amid trees and flowers with its famous Carrara Marble Mausoleum designed by the French architect Adolph Coquet in 1882.
La Orotava offers three beautiful dark-sand beaches - El Bullulllo, Martín Alonso and El Rincón - all of which are rarely crowded.

Santa Cruz is both the administrative centre of the western Canary Islands and the capital of Tenerife. Located on the northeast cost it is a bustling city and shipping port (one of the busiest in Spain and deepest in the world). The enormous harbour holds many container ships, cruise liners and inter island jet foils and ferries.

Situated in a large natural bay, it has a stunning backdrop of mountains (Anaga mountains) that are over 1000 metres high. The city does not offer very much for the sightseeing tourist but is an excellent base for exploring the northeast of the island.

Shopping is excellent and most visitors begin at the Plaza de España on the seafront and work their way up Plaza de Candelaria, which offers excellent international brands at 'tax free' prices.

The Island Tourist Board is located in the city and here you can collect maps, street plans and other information

El barranco del infierno. In spite of its fearsome name 'Hells Gorge', this lush green ravine is an oasis in the harsh and arid south Tenerife landscape. It is the only location you will find natural running water.

It has become a walker's paradise and is popular as a morning track as the entire stretch (there and back) takes only two and a half hours and can be enjoyed before the midday sun reaches its peak. Also many parts of the walk are within the deep ravine that sometimes grows quite dark and cool.

The walks end at a waterfall that is not particularly exciting in it but it's quite unexpected in such a dry landscape.

Teide - Tenerife

The Northwestern area of Tenerife is fascinating to explore. The Teno Hills are stunningly beautiful and there exist charming towns such as Garachico and Icod de los Vinos.

Garachico is a small fishing port that was almost totally destroyed by lava flowing down to the sea in 1706. The lava solidified and formed a small peninsula upon which parts of Garachico were rebuilt. The most well known survivor of this volcanic outburst is the beautifully preserved Castle of St. Michael (Castillo de San Miguel).

Among the many wonderful places to explore along Tenerife's north coast is the quaint town of Icod de Los Viños. This is one of the Tenerife's oldest towns, with a famous dragon tree (Drago Milenario) as the main attraction. This tree is known to be over 1000 years old, although its real age remains a mystery. No matter what, the important thing about this tree is really its beauty.