The Spanish island of Tenerife is a popular destination for tourists seeking its volcanic sand beaches, lunar landscape and sub tropical climate. Increasingly dependent on tourism, the Tenerife Tourism Corporation are now promoting the attractions of the island's lesser known regions - called municipalities. Tenerife is one of the largest Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The island contains busy resorts like Playa de las Amricas that benefit from the hot weather south of the Island. Resorts such as Puerto de la Cruz in the north are more humid and mild offering a comparably relaxed holiday. With an average temperature of 23 degrees the climate is the main reason for visiting Tenerife at any time of the year. However, Tenerife is more than just long golden beaches. With volcanic areas, abrupt ravines, black-sand coves and nature reserves there is a whole lot more to explore. Some of the highlights include: the spectacular cliffs of Los Gigantes in Santiago del Teide that tower more than 900 metres over the Ocean; the lunar landscape caused by erosion on the volcanic rock in Granadilla de Abona; and the network of ancient tracks over the Anaga mountain range used by trekkers in the Anaga Rural Park. Discovering the island is easy. Tenerife Tourism Corporation website provides car, mountain bike and walking routes complete with useful trail maps. A network of buses called 'Guaguas' will transport tourists and locals on local and long distance bus routes. An average short journey by taxi in any of the towns will cost between 5 and 10 euros. Car hire in Tenerife has also become popular. You can hire a variety of cars including convertibles, four wheel drives or motorbikes from most towns on the island. Driving in Tenerife is made easy by the motorway (autopista del sur and autopista del norte) that circles the island. This links all main towns except Adeje to Icod de los Vinos in the West which is reached by a small mountain road. Away from the motorway on local roads you can begin to appreciate the diversity of Tenerife's municipalities via the island's steep and winding roads, narrow city streets and mountain views. With continued coastal development around the island, the more adventurous tourist can appreciate the change from resort holiday to island discovery. |
