Spanair

Tenerife has two strategically located airports in the north and south of the island: the airport of Los Rodeos in the north and the airport Reina Sofía in the south.

Tenerife also has two major seaports within its communications network; the port of Santa Cruz links with the capitals of each island, and the Port of Los Cristianos is principally a focal point for communications with the capital cities of the province.

The legendary and renowned guaguas (local buses) cannot go without a mention when referring to the transport system. The island has an extensive network of guaguas, offering both urban and intercity services, linking with the large majority of its population centres. Each city has its own bus station, such as the Transport Interchange in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Besides this, to celebrate the new year in 2007, the Tenerife Island Council has set Line 1 of Tenerife's Tram into operation, linking Santa Cruz and La Laguna and other points such as two hospital centres in the area. (For more information see: www.tranviatenerife.com)

Culture
Spanish and Portuguese influences have shaped the evolution of folklore traditions, always merging with Guanche culture. The largest event in the Canarian folkore calendar is the Festival Sabandeño in the month of September at La Laguna. Another such event is the International Folklore Festival held on Los Christianos beach in the month of August.

Tenerife Today (avant-garde)
International MAGMA festival (Meeting Approaching Global Music & Art) A European benchmark on the electronic music scene that meets in Tenerife in the month of December, gathering together the best of electronic music culture and avant-garde art with producers, distributors, record labels and plastic and music artists. In 2006 the fourth edition was celebrated with a select sample of pieces that formed the propeller of European electronic music and culture,  and German music was high on the play lists.

Tenerife's climate is moderate, neither cold nor hot, and very gentle in any season of the year. Average temperatures range between 17-18ºC in winter and 24-25ºC in summer. Tenerife is internationally renowned as the Island of Eternal Spring, an effect caused by the vast banks of clouds - locally known as "la panza de burro o de loro" [the belly of the donkey or parrot] - caused by the trade winds and the cold sea current of the Canary Islands bathing the island's shores. 

Tenerife is renowned for the climatic contrasts that can be found throughout the island. For example, during the winter months, the snow-capped summit of Mount Teide towers 3,000 metres above the sun-soaked coastal areas. Another example are the municipalities of Santa Cruz and La Laguna, that have unique microclimates throughout the whole year in spite of their geographical proximity. The former enjoys a warm climate whilst La Laguna commonly has colder temperatures and higher risk of showers.

Tenerife's most famous recipe is papas arrugadas [literally meaning wrinkled potatoes], a very simple dish of potatoes boiled in very salty water and served in their skin. Papas are directly linked to mojo, a spicy sauce made from an ancient recipe of oil, garlic, chilli peppers and paprika. The most popular varieties of mojo are coriander mojo, green mojo (made from parsley), red mojo (with plenty of paprika) and mojo picón (made with pepper).

The area’s land and climate allow delicious vegetables to grow that are used to prepare typical dishes such as the renowned potaje de berros [watercress soup] or the famous puchero canario [Canary Island stew].

The rich fishing grounds of the Canary Islands can be sampled through the length and breadth of the island, a good dish to start with is the fish stew. Fish is often prepared parboiled, seasoned with oil, vinegar and hot chilli or accompanied by mojo sauce.

Tenerife has an extensive choice of restaurants offering a range of different specialities, and a wide variety of restaurants serving international dishes. Below are some exceptional, inexpensive and very typical guachinches [a word that probably has its origins in “I’m watching you"] and taverns, where one can feast like a king on a budget.

La Carambola
Address: C/ Macetas, 8. El Sauzal
Telephone: (+34) 922 57 08 91
Specialities: Canarian dishes; sweet potato, cod and mojo canapés, Canarian tortilla and fillet steak titbits in coca-cola sauce.
Price per person: under €10

Casa Tomás
Type of restaurant: Casa Tomás is, without a doubt, one of Tenerife’s typical guachinches. Its traditional character is apparent in the car park that has a guard to whom clients give loose change. This restaurant is well known amongst the local population.
Address: Camino Del Portezuelo, without number, next to the church. El Portezuelo.
Telephone: (+34) 922 63 69 71
Specialities: The star dishes are ribs with potatoes and pineapple, cream cheese, gofio stew (in beef bouillon, drier) and chickpeas.
Average price: between €10 and €20

Casa Argelio
Address: Calle Francisco de Paula (Carretera TF-24), San Cristóbal de La Laguna
Specialities: Canarian sausages with mojo sauce and potatoes, pork steak, fried rabbit, meat and potatoes, salty fish and potatoes
Average price: under €10

La Cuadra de San Diego
Address: Camino el Botello, 2 38370 La Matanza
Website: www.lacuadradesandiego.com
Telephone: (+34) 922 578 385
(closed Sunday nights and Mondays)
Specialities: Canary Island stew, gofio with mojo sauce, spinach with pine nuts, bacon and leeks, pork cracklings with gofio, homemade spinach croquettes
Average price: between €10 and €20

Restaurante Cruz del Carmen
Address: Km 6, Carretera Taganana.
Telephone: (+34) 922 25 00 62
Specialities: Canary Island stew, gofio stew, lamb stew, beef steak stew
Average price: between €10 and €20

Casa Doris
Address: km 16, Carretera general La Laguna-Punta del Hidalgo
Telephone: (+34) 922 156 151
Specialities: battered squid, shrimps, octopus, fried moray eel, and grilled limpets
Average price: between €20 and €30

Puerto de la Cruz, in the north of the island is the tourists' favourite for its natural and cultural setting. However, the south of Tenerife has a sunnier climate and beaches with a lighter colour of sand. There is something for everyone…apartments, hotels, hostels and rural cottages.

Bahía Príncipe San Felipe 4* Superior
Location: Puerto de la Cruz centre
Price: High
The Bahía Príncipe San Felipe Hotel is located on the seafront promenade in the centre of the Puerto de la Cruz, just in front of the Martianez salt water lake complex.

Gran Hotel Turquesa Playa 4*
Location: Playa Jardín s/n. 38400 Puerto de la Cruz
Telephone: (+34) 922 37 13 08
Price: Medium - High
The hotel is situated on the first line of the black sandy Playa Jardin beach, the last work planned by César Manrique just one kilometre from Puerto de la Cruz.

Casa El Porte (Rural Cottage Valle de la Orotava)
Location: Ctra. del Socorro, 358. (El Portezuelo) 38297 Tegueste. Tenerife Norte
Telephone: (+34) 922 27 15 70
Price: High
El Porte is a renovated Canarian house in the heart of a privileged natural setting, located in the small town of El Portezuelo, five minutes away from La Laguna.

Finca La Majadera (Rural Tourism)
Website: www.fincalamajadera.com
Location: C/ Las Rosas nº 58 -Las Rosas- El Rosario 38290
Telephone: (+34) 922 680 922 - (+34) 616 596 851
Price: Varied
This finca consists of the two villas La Higuera and El Peral and has been awarded the "Q for Quality" by the Spanish Institute for Quality in Tourism.

Gran Hotel Bahía del Duque Resort 5*
Location: Avda. Brussels, without number, Coast Adeje. 38660 Adeje
Telephone: (+34) 922 74 69 00
Price: High
One of Tenerife's most emblematic hotels, built on a unique spot on the slopes of a hill with an idyllic façade, reminiscent of a impressive oasis.

The north of Tenerife has a well-established shopping area. The shops are focused in the monumental old town in La Orotava, mainly in the streets of Alfonso Trujillo, Calvario, Carrera del Escultor Estévez y San Agustín and Avenida Emilio Luque Moreno. Another great excuse to hit the shops is the old town of Puerto de la Cruz with a large variety of open air cafés and restaurants offering a perfect setting for enjoyment and relaxation.

Travellers wishing to soak up the character in Tenerife should take a wander through the bustling street markets to discover a different way to shop in which the early bird catches the best bargains.

Arona - Los Cristianos
Mercadillo de Los Cristianos - Avda. Marítima de Los Cristianos - Sundays: 9:00 - 14:00
 
Granadilla de Abona - Los Abrigos
Mercadillo de los Abrigos - Tuesdays 6pm - 10pm
 
Guía de Isora - Alcalá
Mercadillo de Alcalá - Plaza del Llano - Mondays 9am - 2pm
 
Guía de Isora - Playa San Juan
Mercadillo de Playa San Juan - located in the street running parallel to the Carretera General - Wednesdays 9am - 2pm
 
Icod de los Vinos
Mercado San Felipe - Daily 9am - 1pm and 4pm - 7pm
 
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Rastro de Santa Cruz - Sundays 9am – 2pm

Cars can be rented at  reasonable prices from any of the rent-a-car companies, although the price depends on the time of the year.  Once a vehicle has been rented, tourists have an endless number of routes to choose from, and will stumble upon discoveries at every turn of the road, almost without searching.  One such example is the fishing village of San Andrés close to Santa Cruz where one can find the Las Teresitas beach and sample the area’s freshly caught fish in the numerous guanchinches, bars and taverns that line the streets. Further up, meandering through the versatile landscape the road leads to the village of El Bailadero bathed in the aroma of the laurel forests. On the other slope is the unique village of Taganana in all its whitish splendour perching on the mountainside, and further down the Almáciga beach can be made out.

The return journey can be made by crossing the Las Mercedes forest which leads into La Laguna, the university campus, with its straight colonial style streets, a true architectonic museum of the island’s history.

A must-travel route is along the carretera dorsal towards Las Cañadas del Teide, passing through the green rolling meadows of La Esperanza. On the way up, the ochre, grey and greenish lands are left behind and the scenery transforms to reveal lava blocks until, all of a sudden, Mount Teide majestically appears in the midst of the scenery.

Upon leaving Las Cañadas, one option is to take the road lined with banana plantations and vegetation leading to the Valle de La Orotava, the alternative is to descend southbound, on the Vilaflor route, teeming with almond blossom trees to arrive at the colossal, sheer and daunting cliffs of Los Gigantes.

Passing Puerto de la Cruz one reaches the palm tree lined route leading to the lower part of the island, passing by Icod de los Vinos, where the millenarian dragon tree (the archipelago's typical tree) sleeps. And finally, following the road, there is a not-to-be-missed photo opportunity in Garachico, an almost circular village that seems to have tumbled straight out of a fairytale.

The aforementioned Mount Teide is the island’s natural space par excellence. El Pico del Teide [The Summit of Mount Teide] a point to gaze at the lofty white clouds floating over the towns and contemplate the contrast of the blue sky with the silver outline of the clouds. This is Tenerife’s symbol par excellence, bestowing the island with a unique character. If given the chance, one must not return without seeing its spectacular scale, silhouette and snowy landscape.

El Valle de la Orotava.  Characterised by its fine black sand beaches, such as El Bollullo, Los Patos (a nudist beach) and El Ancón, and an extensive sea cliff coastline. The Pinoleris Nature Reserve is located on the valley’s final slope that is steep and craggy and is home to species of rupicolous flora such Echium wildpretii and mint, forming part of the La Resbala Protected Landscape.

El Acantilado de los Gigantes [The Cliffs of the Giants]. In ancient times this was called the Great Wall of Hell. Stretching between the town of Los Gigantes and Punta de Teno, its basaltic features plunge dramatically to the sea below. Its giant abrupt rocks are separated by vertigo-inducing winding ravines that drop down to the coastline below.

Garachico. The island's best kept secret. Discover its streets, villas, convents and churches to uncover a spectacular cultural and artistic heritage. The town was awarded the Fine Arts Gold Medal in 1980, amongst other national awards and prizes and is  a fine museum in its own right.

Liceo Taoro
This eclectic-style building situated at the end of a terraced garden was built by Tomás de Ascanio and Méndez de Lugo and currently houses the Liceo de Taoro Cultural Society.  The Society's activities include their participation, along with the town council, in organising the San Isidro pilgrimage and festival.  It has an assembly hall, exhibition hall and sports facilites.

The Auditorio de Tenerife: work of the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava
The Auditorio de Tenerife is situated in the east of Parque Marítimo, in Santa Cruz.  Its great sail imitating a boat has transformed it into a legendary symbol of the island. It was opened on 26th September 2003 by the Prince of Asturias, Felipe de Borbón, and ever since then has continually hosted important soirees.

La Torre de la Concepción de La Laguna. The city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna constructed this prestigious building, one of the oldest in Tenerife and the national territory that has been named a Historical National Monument. Today, the highest part of the tower is accessible offering views across most of the city of the Adelantado (named after the title of military governor of the Crown of Castille).

The Guanches were the ancient island dwellers of Tenerife,  believed to have originated from North Africa. The legends speak of people that were slender and very tall, almost like giants, who named the island Achinet or Chenet.

They were conquered by the different nationalities that were drawn to Tenerife enchanted by the white summit of Mount Teide. Firstly the Romans, and later the English - Horacio Nelson's attack in 1797 was particularly famous -, followed by the Spanish and the Portuguese. Since then, the island has received many visitors, particularly in the last century; friendlier visitors, such as the naturalist Alexander Von Humboldt who was captivated by the stunning views afforded from Mount Teide.

From the 1890s onwards, Tenerife excelled as a tourist destination, in particular the northern cities of Puerto de la Cruz - the first tourist municipality of Tenerife by ministerial order of October 13, 1955, declaring it a Tourist Attraction - and  Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

In March 1936, before rising to power, the Republican Government sent Francisco Franco to Tenerife,  where he organised the military plot that would cause the Spanish Civil War. More specifically, this took place at the Monte de La Esperanza in the municipality of El Rosario.