The Canary Islands - Tenerife
Tenerife first
... because we live here; we love the way of life, the people and the nature!
However saying this, the other six islands are just as beautiful and unique as Tenerife!
Click on the name of the island below to reach the destination page :
CANARY ISLANDS Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro
Canary Islands - Facts and Figures
The Canary Island consist of 7 main islands:
km² Population
Tenerife, 2.034 , 920.427
Fuerteventura, 1.731 , 109.174
Grand Canaria, 1.532 , 852.723
Lanzarote, 845,94 , 141.953
La Palma, 708,3 , 85.115
La Gomera, 369,8 , 21.153
El Hierro, 268,7 , 10.979
Click on the names to get links to the official tourism sites, with more information in your language.
We recommend: http://www.hellocanaryislands.com/
Western Sahara
approx.108 km
See the Beauty of the Canary Islands
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A Brief History - Tenerife
- The oldest areas of Tenerife (Anaga & Punta) are just about 30 million years old.
- Tenerife can be found in sagas like the 'Elysian Fields' and 'The Gardens of the Hesperides'.
- The first reliable testimony came from Plinius (approx. 23 - 79 AD) about the islands, talking
about an expedition sent by the Mauritanian King Luba, where he received big dogs as a present.
- The name Canarias derived from the Spanish word "Can or Canes" (dog or dogs);
- The aboriginal people of the Canary Islands are called the Guanches who presumably colonised the islands. They were Berber Tribes, originating from Africa, who were herdsmen and fishermen.
It seems that the Guanches knew as early as 820 BC how to make fire and mastered the art of embalming.
Mummies can be seen in the museums of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Unfortunately the Guanches passed on their culture and traditions mostly orally, therefore it is difficult to
track any tangible and reliable information about them.
- The conquering expeditions by the Spaniards (1402 - 1496) took decades and thousands of lives on both
sides, until all islands conceded under the Spanish Crown. The Guanches had shown courage, skills and
resilience in fighting a much stronger army.
- The Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1657 was a military operation in the Anglo-Spanish War
(1654–60) in which an English fleet under Admiral Robert Blake attacked a Spanish treasure fleet
at Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
- The Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1797 was a maritime assault by the Royal Navy on
the Spanish port city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Launched by Rear-
Admiral Horatio Nelson on 22 July 1797, the assault was defeated. On 25 July the remains of
the landing party withdrew under a truce, having lost several hundred men. Nelson lost his right
arm by a shot from the cannon "El Tigre" (It can be seen in the "Centro de Interpretación
Castillo de San Cristóbal").
Alexander von Humboldt
Born in Germany in 1769, he was one of the founders of modern geography, an explorer and an expert in natural sciences;
- He visited Tenerife in 1799, climbed the Volcano El Teide, studied the Island's geography and plant life.
- In his book "Kosmos" he wrote about the landscapes in the Orotava Valley, the clouds of
Orotava and Mount Teide.
- His analysis of Tenerife's vegetation, population and its volcanic origin are still relevant in
today's natural sciences.
Humboldt wrote: "I am leaving almost with tears in my eyes. I would like to settle here."
He said something most visitors feel when leaving Tenerife, after experiencing the culture, nature and the way of living on the island.
1. Here you will find some basic Spanish vocabulary for your journey and Information on Spanish food and wine.
2. Restaurants in Tenerife
3. Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants in Tenerife
4. Bars in Tenerife
Arriving in Santa Cruz de Tenerife by Ship
Port Information (Port Webcam)
Your ship comes for a day or an overnight stay in Tenerife. (Please note that all blue text will take you to an external website which provides further information)
1. Your ship will dock on the cruise dock (South Dock)
- The pier in Santa Cruz is very long with limited facilities.
- Only taxis and excursion buses are allowed on the pier.
- A representative from the tourist information will be available for a few hours once you arrive.
- The port shuttle bus brings you to the cruise terminal and the exit.
2. You embark or disembark in Tenerife (Ribera Dock)
You will access the ship from the new Cruise Terminal
Cruise Shuttle Service
- Will bring you to the cruise terminal and the port exit. From here you are 300m away from the Plaza de España. You have to go up one flight of stairs in the building (the one before the new terminal) to get to the bridge which will take you to the street.
Transportation
- Taxis (with meter) are waiting either by the Duty Free shops on the pier or by the Cruise Terminal exit (you will have to negotiate the cost for a tour).
- Hop-on-Hop-off Bus will be next to the Cruise Terminal exit and Plaza de España.
Public Transport Santa Cruz de Tenerife
- This is a cheap way to see parts of the island, but plan ahead. Start from the main bus station (ESTACIÓN DE GUAGUAS DE SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE). TITSA is the name of the bus company. You can also travel with the buses to other destinations such as Candelaria, Teresita Beach, Puerto de la Cruz or La Laguna, to name just a few.
Tranvía or Metrotenerife (Tram)
This is another way to visit San Cristóbal de La Laguna, it is well worth to visit the old town. The station is close to the main bus station.
Car Rental
At the Cruise Terminal you can find ECars Rent a Car (office inside the building next to the Cruise Terminal, website only in Spanish)
You will find Cicar near the exit of the cruise pier and Cabrera Medina as well. Book through the internet ahead of time.
Helpful Tip: We like to use "Rent A Car" by Canarias.com, as we always had a good experience and great service from them, however they don't serve the port to our knowledge.
What to See and What to Do in Tenerife
If you come by ship, check with your tour desk if they offer any excursions you may like. Keep time constraints in mind when driving about, it may appear a short distance on the map however it can take a longer time to travel than you may think. Missing the ship is not an option!
If you like to be independent and make your own arrangements and if you are used to driving on mountainous, winding and small roads - then enjoy the island while discovering your own path! We have prepared for you 2 options (It is also possible to just do parts of it).
Helpful Tip: Use a GPS while driving!
1. Round Trips (approx.60 km, 4 hours) (Google Maps)
Cruise ships usually offer different tours, which cover the sights of the island perfectly well however you may belong to the group of individual travelers who prefer to organize their excursions independently.
Las Montañas de Anaga / Parque Natural de Anaga (Google Maps)
about 55 km, calculate roughly 5 hours for this trip, (the tour is only advisable with nice weather);
- Drive to the beach Las Teresitas to see the only white sandy beach in Tenerife (Street number TF11 & TF121);
- Drive back to San Andrés, take the TF12 to El Bailadero. From there you could go to the other
side of the island (Taganana), at least to the Mirador "Risco Mogote". However, you're
restricted by the time-frame, due to the very winding road. ....read more
Tenerife's Beauty
El Teide with snow Pixabay
Rock-formation Los Roques M&W
Teide National Park M&W
A rarely view of the islands
View of Masca and the Barranco de Masca M&W
View down to Garachico Pixabay
View towards Puerto and the Teide
Punta Brava- Puerto de la Cruz,Tenerife by Steph Hofmann
Church in San Cristóbal de La Laguna by M&W
Entrance to a house in La Laguna, by M&W
Strand in El Médano, By neufal54,Pixabay,CO0
Cliffs Los Gigantes, By stux, Pixabay CO0
Take in Puerto de la Cruise by SBVguenter Pixabay,CO0
Beach near Santa Cruz de Tenerife by mikezwei, Pixabay CO0
2. Pico de Teide, Masca, Garachico, Icod de los Vinos (1000 year old Dragon tree),
Puerto de la Cruz, Ship (8 - 10 hours, approx. 250 km)
Google Maps Part 1 & Google Maps Part 2
Teide National Park a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Video)
Features the Teide and Pico Vieja stratovolcano. It is the highest peak (3718 m) in Spain
(rising 7500 m from the ocean floor and is the world's third-tallest volcano structure). The National
Park, the Teide, the Caldera de las Cañadas is 17 km in diameter. There is a sunken Caldera (or sinkhole) at 2000 m above sea level and the area is bordered to the south by a 500 m high steep cliff face and to the north by Pico del Teide. The area is breathtaking and the experience memorable.
- Start from the Port, pass the Auditorium and take the TF5 Túnel Juan Amigó de Lara, direction
Aeropuerto Norde until exit Carr. de la Esperanza/TF-24, take the fifth exit. ....read more
Tenerife's Beaches to Visit
Beaches:
As Tenerife has many beaches the below website will give you a detailed view of what Tenerife has to offer in regards to beaches in the North and the South parts of the island. To name just a few;
Las Teresitas close to San Andres (9 km / 13 min from the port with a white sandy beach) is the nearest beach to Cruise Port and easy to reach. It is a safe place to swim!
Playa Jardin is a beach in Puerto de la Cruz (a stunning black lava beach), you could combine a swim with a walk around the city.
Candelaria, along the beachfront in Candelaria, you can find public beaches but like most of the beaches, they are black lava beaches.
For others: Please check the following website:
https://www.beach-inspector.com/en/ba/tenerife
Helpful Tip: Beaches in the south will be too far away for just a day trip.
Warning: Be careful when swimming in the oceans in Tenerife. The Atlantic can have very strong swells and a strong currents, especially in the winter. Never go into the water if the flags are red or if you don't see swimmers. If it is too rough to swim, go for a walk along the beach instead, but keep an eye on the sea as sudden huge waves can appear. The very least that can happen is that you get very wet. However be wary, unfortunately some strollers along breakwaters have been pulled into the sea (in Puerto de la Cruz).
Towns and Attractions to Visit in the North of Tenerife
Santa Cruz the Tenerife (by Foot)
In the pedestrian areas of this lovely city center you will find many shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. In Santa Cruz you can stroll about for a few hours. In the district of Los Llanos near to the harbor, in walking distance, you will find the Congress building, concert hall and the botanical garden (Palmetum). Check out also the La Noria street with its restaurants, bars and its carnival societies.
1.Museo de la Naturaleza y El Hombre, 2.Palmetum Santa Cruz Jardín Botanico,
3. Mercado Municipal Nuestra Senora de Africa
There is so much more to see, just stroll around and explore the delights of Santa Cruz.
La Laguna (17 km, 25 min)
You can take the modern tram (Tranvia) to San Cristobal de La Laguna. The former capital of Tenerife is only about 10 kilometers away. The narrow streets are laid out like a checkerboard and are lined with beautiful houses and stately villas in the typical Canarian architecture. In the Museo de Historia de Tenerife you can learn about the history of the island and the city.
(See also trip one)
Candelaria (25 km, 30 min)
The Basilica of Candelaria is an important place of pilgrimage, where you can find the Virgin of Candelaria (the black Madonna), the patroness of the Canary Islands.
La Orotava (40 km, 35 min)
Puerto de la Cruz (38 km, 33 min)
(see Trip 2), 1. Loro Park, 2.Botanical Gardens (Jardin Botanico),3. Hotel Botanico, 4. Lago Martianez, artificial see water lagoons designed by Cesar Manrique. This area also hosts a casino.
El Sauzal (25 km, 22 min)
While in Tenerife there is one thing to do, away from sightseeing, try and enjoy the wine of Tenerife! The vineyards in the northern part of the island produce mostly red wine from various grapes. Whereas in the southern part, some vineyards make also some excellent white wines. The volcanic soil produces a very unique taste and shouldn't be missed.
The cuisine of the Canary Islands combines traditional Spanish recipes with African and Latin American influences. Sometimes the food is very simple but tasty. You can find home cooking in one of the many Guachinches. There are many good restaurants across the island.
Helpful Tip: If you are in the Casa del Vino, visit the excellent Restaurant and Tasca opposite the museum.
Towns and Attractions to Visit in the South
The south has a more desert-like landscape, it is the touristic corner of Tenerife with many beaches, hotels, bars and music.
For cruising tourists it is too far to travel to in one day!
Puertito de Güímar (37 km 28min)
Is a little fishing village direct on the sea with nice restaurants, nearby you can find the pyramids of
Güímar and information related to Thor Heyerdahl.
Los Cristianos & Playa de las Américas , Costa Adeje (87 km 66 min), (88 km 66 min), (93 km 69 min)
Both cities have grown together and offering everything a tourist wants. Costa Adeje is the continuation of this tourist center. Beaches like Las Vistas, Playas de Troya, Torviscas, Fañabé and Playa del Duque (sandy beach, clean & clear water) end up stringing together like a chain of pearls.
Attractions: Siam Park (86 km 61 min) , Aqualand (87 km 62 min) , Jungle Park (88 km 65 min) , Whale watching, boat trips, paragliding .......
Los Gigantes is famous for its 300 m high vertical cliffs. It is a bit more peaceful in comparison to the other cities. It is known for its sailing marina and is the sunniest place on the island. There is a port offering whale watching tours & sailing, a little beach and many restaurants can be found along here.
Between Los Cristianos and Los Gigantes many beaches can be found. However, turning towards the mountains near Arona you will come to Vilaflor (92 km 81 min) , the highest village in Tenerife and Spain, 1400 m above the sea level. You can walk (about 1 hour) through the moonscape called "Paisaje Lunar" with its cone-shaped sand colored tuff stones.
Craving for fresh fish? Los Abrigos (near Médano) and the small village Alcalá between Playa de Las Américas and Los Gigantes are well known for good and fresh seafood meals.
GOLF COURSES in Tenerife (for further information click the link)
Tenerife is a great place for hiking, with many interesting trails, from easy to very hard.
There are many tour operators offering guided hikes. The buttons, below, just offer two possibilities for hiking.
Tenerife EMERGENCY Telephone Numbers
EMERGENCY General - 112
EMERGENCY Policia Nacional - 091
EMERGENCY Guardia Civil - 062
EMERGENCY Ambulance - 061
EMERGENCY Firefighters - 080
Tenerife Hospital Telephone Numbers
Hospital Universitario (+34) 922 678000
Hospiten Sur (+34) 922 750022
Hospiten Rambla (+34) 922 291600
Hospital Las Americas - 922 750 022
Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora De Candelaria - 922 602 000
Tenerife Consulate and Embassy Telephone Numbers
British Consulate +34 922 286 863 or +34 922 286 653
British Embassy +34 917 146 300
US Consulate in Las Palmas, Email: canariasconsagency@state.gov.
Tel.: +34 928 271259
Helpful Tip: If you are on a cruise ship, use the ship's resources and the port agent. If you are
travelling on your own, take a taxi and drive to a hospital, most have a translation service.
