The island of Tenerife

A PLACE OF CONTRASTS

Tenerife is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, belonging to the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands (Spain). Together with La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro, it forms the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. With an area of 2,034.38 km² and a population of 888,184 inhabitants (2015),5 it is the largest island of the Canary Archipelago and the most populated island of Spain.

Its subtropical climate, and the spring-like temperatures that the Canary Islands enjoy, with sunshine practically all year round, and all this together with its variety of volcanic landscapes, its people, and its beaches, make Tenerife an ideal place for your vacations.

The island has another place listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the Teide National Park, which is the most visited in Spain and one of the most seen in the world. It is the highest elevation in Spain and the third largest volcano in the world from its base on the ocean floor, the Teide. For its natural and ethnographic richness, the Anaga Massif has also been catalogued as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. This is also the natural area with the greatest number of endemic species in Europe.

With theme parks, blue flag bathing areas and natural swimming pools, the south of Tenerife is a tourist destination suitable for families.

Enjoy its nightlife or a relaxing stroll by the sea, visit its shopping areas, forget the heat in its water parks and relax in its spa and relaxation facilities.

Coast and beaches

WHITE AND BLACK SAND BEACHES

The coasts are generally rugged and steep, although more so in the north than in the south. These cliffs are formations of great beauty, such as the cliffs of Los Gigantes and its stone bodies, which are accessible by pleasure boats and guided excursions. Tenerife offers 67.14 kilometers of the island's coastline are beaches. On the northern coast are frequent black sand beaches, while in the south and southwest of the island beaches with finer sands and lighter shades predominate.

In the municipalities of Buenavista del Norte, Los Silos and Garachico we can find a large number of intertidal pools, coves, bathing areas between the rocks, although most of these are artificial.

Small gravel beach located in the village of the same name, has all kinds of services, although caution should be taken in the bathroom due to the strong waves.
In the municipalities of La Guancha and San Juan de la Rambla we can find accesses to the sea in environments with strong waves.

Symbol Accessible Beach.svg In an environment of great natural value is located this black sand beach which highlights its conditions for surfing.

Located on the coast of the tourist town of Puerto de la Cruz is bordered by exotic gardens and leisure areas. Composed of fine black sand and moderate waves.

This beach located in the tourist center is composed of gravel and picón.
Playa de San Telmo: This small beach is in the middle of the promenade within the municipality and is composed of black sand and picón. Depending on the height of the tides, small puddles form natural pools.

In the area of El Rincón, La Orotava. There are people who consider it nudist. A portion of the beach belongs to the municipality of Santa Úrsula and they give it the name of Santa Ana.

It is a beautiful and isolated beach of volcanic sand that stands out for the extraordinary cleanliness of its waters and its quiet atmosphere. A unique environment of cliffs frames this 400-meter long beach.

This wide beach is also composed of fine black sand. It is suitable for surfing and nudism is also practiced.

Extensive nudist beach in an area declared a Protected Natural Area, with complicated access because it is at the foot of a cliff, but with stunning views of the coast of Acentejo.

This beach of rocks and gravel and strong waves is located in this traditional fishing port.

In the surroundings of Mesas del Mar, we find this beach of dark sands and calm waters.

It is the most popular beach of the capital of Tenerife is only seven kilometers from the urban center of the city. Artificial beach, it is composed of fine blond sand and has a breakwater that protects it from currents and waves. It has a kilometer and a half of extension and is dotted with palm trees.

This beach is located behind Las Teresitas, accessed by a narrow detour from the road that connects San Andrés with Igueste de San Andrés, past the viewpoint of Los Órganos. It is a small cove of black sand where nudism can be practiced.

It is in the Anaga Massif and it is the first beach we find once we leave Taganana towards Benijo. Black sand and strong waves, not so much the currents.

Black sand beach, with strong currents and strong waves, where surfing is common. It is once past the Roque beach (or Roque de las Bodegas) in the direction of Benijo.

Beach overlooking the Roques de Anaga. Nudist beach.

Leisure and fun

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY


Many are the leisure options offered by the island, from nightlife, nightclubs, pubs, etc.. to traditional festivals or theme parks, as well as adventure sports and guided tours, cinemas, show culture ... Undoubtedly an innumerable quantity of which we offer you a complete guide in "Tenerife 100% life".
But if you want to enjoy Tenerife up to date, we recommend you to visit Lagenda, a very complete and updated guide of the cultural, sports and leisure activities in general of the island.

On the island are located several of the best theme parks in the world that you can not miss if you visit the island.

Towns and trails

A WALK THROUGH THEIR TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS


Gastronomic offer

OF TENERIFE

The island offers a wide and varied gastronomy, from international food and food from other cultures to the cuisine of the Canary Islands, which deserves special attention.

As is logical due to the marine influence, the products of the sea enjoy a certain abundance here, both in quantity and variety. Among the most appreciated species are the old ones, and also, among others, the sama, the bocinegro, the salema, the cherne, the grouper... They also emphasize the different types of tuna that abound in its coasts. Mackerels, sardines and mackerels should also be mentioned among the most consumed fish. Another species that enjoys a certain fame is the moray eel, which is usually served fried. These marine varieties are usually prepared simply boiled, or cooked on the back, in salt, etc. They are often accompanied with mojo sauce and wrinkled potatoes.

In the meat section, a very popular dish is the typical fiesta meat (marinated pork tacos) that is prepared for the festivities of the towns in ventorrillos (fair stalls), bars and private homes, rabbit in salmorejo (a kind of gazpacho), kid, and of course beef, pork and poultry are also commonly consumed. Another typical dish of Tenerife's gastronomy is the puchero canario, which, like other Spanish stews, represents one of the most complete pots of the national cuisine. The content of the stew can obviously vary, but it is rich in vegetables, vegetables, legumes and meats.

Both fish and meat are usually accompanied with papas arrugadas (wrinkled potatoes). This is a typical dish of the Canary Islands that simply responds to the way of cooking potatoes. With water, a lot of salt, and without peeling.

A typical Canarian sauce that gives a certain spicy flavor to food. This word, probably of Portuguese origin, is used to designate the typical sauces of the islands. The mojos constitute an authentic world of flavors, colors, textures, etc., among which are the coriander mojo, parsley mojo, paprika mojo and the distinguished pepper-based mojo picón. However, the range of these sauces is very wide and allows the use of different ingredients in its preparation, such as almonds, cheese, saffron, fried bread, among other possibilities. It is an accompaniment for some meats and for certain fish.

As soon as the conquest of the islands was over, one of the first economic activities that immediately began was the production and marketing of cheese. It was a rational way of making the existing small livestock profitable. As an anecdote, we can point out that cheese was even used as a currency of exchange and buying and selling. Since then it has been a fundamental food in agricultural areas.

It is another of the most commonly elaborated and consumed dishes. The ones produced in farms of Arico, La Orotava or Teno stand out. In turn, there are several varieties: soft cheeses, cured, semi-cured, smoked... and most of them are handmade. Today, goat cheeses predominate, although sometimes they are made with certain quantities of sheep's or cow's milk. They are usually served as a starter or simply as a snack. Canary Island cheeses enjoy a good international acclaim, among other things, for their softness and flavor, giving them a personality that differentiates them from other European cheeses. Specifically, Tenerife's cured goat cheese with paprika and gofio toppings from the Quesería de Arico has been awarded in its category as the best cheese in the world in the final of the World Cheese Awards 2008 held in Dublin.

One of the latest studies reveals that approximately 3,400 tons of cheese are produced in Tenerife each year, which represents 50% of the province's production and 25% of the entire archipelago. There are currently 75 artisan cheese dairies, according to the General Sanitary Register of Foodstuffs. At present, the cheeses of Tenerife have a guarantee mark promoted by the Tenerife Rural Foundation in order to homologate their quality. The aim of this guarantee mark is to publicize the main qualities of the cheeses, enhance the value of the product and improve its commercialization.

Gofio is one of the traditional elements of the Canarian cuisine and particularly of Tenerife. It is made with cereal grains that are toasted and then ground. The most consumed type on the island is wheat, although there are other types such as millet or, to a lesser extent, chickpea. It is also relatively frequent that of mixed type, wheat-millo. Even before the conquest of the Canary Islands, it was already a source of sustenance for the Guanches. In later times of famine and food shortages it was part of the popular Canarian diet. Nowadays it is used as a unique dish (gofio escaldado) or as a complement in different kinds of dishes: meat, fish, stews, desserts. Also typical are the so-called pellas de gofio, in which this main ingredient is kneaded together with others (honey, sugar, water, almonds, raisins, cheese, etc.) and served as small round shapes. Gofio pellas are frequently eaten in pilgrimages, traditional fairs and grape harvests. Even some prestigious chefs have made gofio ice creams and received good reviews.

Tenerife's confectionery is represented and strongly influenced by the confectionery of La Palma, with delicacies such as bienmesabe, leche asada, Príncipe Alberto, frangollo, huevos moles, quesillo and a long etcetera. Likewise, rosquetes, trout, and various types of cakes, among which are the laguneros and the unique rosquetes de Guía de Isora, are part of this chapter of the recipe book.

The cultivation of the vine in the archipelago and especially in Tenerife was born after the conquest, when the colonizers brought varieties of vines and verified the nobility that the Canary wines acquired. In the XVI and XVII centuries, wine reached a great importance in the economy of Tenerife, as many families were dedicated to its cultivation and subsequent business. Special mention should be made of the Canary malvasía, which came to be considered the best wine in the world and was coveted by the European courts and the largest wineries in Europe and America. Writers such as William Shakespeare or Walter Scott refer to these wines in some of their works. The island currently has five denominations of origin: Abona, Valle de Güímar, Valle de La Orotava, Tacoronte-Acentejo and Ycoden-Daute-Isora.

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38683 Puerto de Santiago,
Santa Cruz de Tenerife

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