Tenerife Holidays

Tenerife holidays are so popular because the island is packed with so much to do! You'd find it hard to fit it all into just one holiday, which is probably why many visitors to Tenerife return year after year.

The natives of Tenerife were known as the Guanches who were the inhabitants of Tenerife until the Spanish conquest of the XV century. Traces of the Guanches can still be found in Tenerife today, even though it is dominantly a Spanish culture, for example certain words of their language still remain, including the word Tenerife which was the name of a great Guanche king named Tinerfe. Also, you will be able to find many features from when the Guanches lived on the island including caves and pyramids, clay pots and engravings on certain rocks.

Whilst the religion in Tenerife is Roman Catholic, not everyone on the island practices, and although the main event of the year - the Santa Cruz carnival is loosely connected to saints’ days, the festivities don’t really have a religious meaning. The different theme year after year further cements the fact it’s now primarily a social event.

Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz is Tenerife's popular zoo, home to the largest display of penguins and parrots in the world. You will also find sea lions, dolphins, jaguars, chimps, gorillas and many more.

Siam Park is situated near Costa Adeje and Las Americas and is Tenerife’s new biggest and most exciting waterpark! Mimicking the ancient kingdom of Thailand, you can ride the red dragon, the Mekong Rapids or take the plunge in the Tower of Power for a true adrenaline rush. However, be warned that in the summer months, Siam Park gets incredibly busy, so make sure you get there early to avoid the queues.

Tenerife holidays grant you access to an abundance of beaches with fantastic watersports facilities, including windsurfing, parascending, jetskiing and many scuba diving centres and dive clubs. You will also find activities not found in other European beaches such as BOB diving which a cheats way to go scuba diving- you are transported underwater on a scooter and in a Breathing Observation Bubble meaning you don’t need to be an experienced diver to see the underwater marine life.

Mount Teide and the National Park is one of the most popular tourist spots in Tenerife and is a must if you are visiting the island. The Teide National Park includes a huge volcanic crater out of which Mount Teide soars to its status as the highest mountain in Spain. Cable cars take you effortlessly up to the top of Mount Teide, however these are a little pricey so most visitors choose to walk, which is well worth it due to the breathtakingly beautiful views, and you definitely feel like you've earned that beer once you get back to the bottom!

If you want to take a trip away from the island of Tenerife, head over to the small island of Gomera which is to the south west of Tenerife. You can take a ferry or hydrofoil from Los Christianos to this island where you will find rugged mountains, tropical misty forests, earthy valleys and a beautiful coast.

Tenerife is a great destination for all you shopaholics out there! Santa Cruz is home to many of the larger, more popular shops, department stores and large shopping centres. If you are after a serious shopping trip you should head to the Continente Shopping Centre, Santa Cruz’s Calle Bethencourt Alfonso, Calle El Castillo, Calle Sabino Berhelot, Calle San Jose, Calle Villalba Hervas, Rambla de Pulido, the Plaza de la Candelaria and the Plaza de Espana.

If, however, you want a more traditional feel to your shopping, the markets in Tenerife are always buzzing and a great place to pick up a bargain. You will find a number of markets in Tenerife, some small and traditional and others which are larger and targeted more to tourists. The largest markets in the south of Tenerife are the Torviscas Market on a Saturday and Los Cristianos on a Sunday.

For a night to remember, Playa de las Americas is the perfect location and the Veronicas strip is where you should go. With loads of bars and clubs with many providing cheesy entertainment like drinking games, it isn’t for the light hearted.

If you are looking for a more relaxed time, most of the resorts in Tenerife offer beach side bars and quiet restaurants especially Costa Adeje which is a much more chilled out scene. Head into the hills to Adeje for a more traditional evening with the locals, where you will find the drink prices significantly cheaper than in the resorts.

For a truly relaxing day Los Gigantes is the perfect choice. A beautiful resort with a charming marina, you can sit in one of the waterfront cafes and watch the boats coming and going. Whale and dolphin boat trips run from this marina which not only promises a magical experience but also gives you a tour around the coast of Tenerife’s south shores.

Tenerife beaches are beautiful and a great place to unwind on Tenerife holidays. Many beaches in Tenerife, such as those in Los Cristianos and Playa de lad Americas are man-made, with sand being shipped in from Africa’s Sahara Desert, these are all incredibly popular with tourists who prefer white sands to black. One of the most popular beaches in Tenerife is Playa de las Teresitas near San Andres. Tenerife also boasts many Blue Flag beaches, for example the Playa Jardin beach in Puerto de la Cruz which is a black sand beach.

Just as there are two varying climates in the north and south of the island, there is also two very different landscapes. While the south is dry with little vegetation, the north has a lovely lush terrain that’s flush with pine forests, palm trees and banana plantations.

The island is famed for its lunar landscape which shows off natural rock formations that makes you feel you are moon walking. A trip to see Mount Teidi is an out of this world experience, and you'll see traces of the volcanic eruptions all over the island.

Tenerife is a paradise island with a huge variety of scenery and attractions, something to please all tastes. By using On the Beach's live online booking system you can create a Tenerife holiday tailored to your needs, so book now for your perfect holiday in the Canary Islands.