A purpose built resort flanked by a variety of beaches.

Is it for me? With its extensive nightlife, watersports action and shopping facilities the resort has evolved to become a permanent attraction for sun and fun seekers.

Facilities The broad strip of hotels, bars and clubs that chases along the coastline is complemented by water parks and a lush green interior for exploring.

Must see Watch the dolphins put on a display nearby at the Octopus Waterpark

Approx. 25 minutes from the airport.
See pages 64-73.

The largest of the Canary Island cluster, basking in year-round warmth off the African coast, Tenerife is a split personality . . . lush in the Orotava valley, barren on the slopes of Mt. Teide; traditional villages in the North, all-out-fun resorts in the South. Sample as much of its colour as you can!

beaches
Shingle shorelines and bays of black sand are best in the south of the island, ranging from the busy beach of Playa de las Americas and gently shelving Los Cristianos to peaceful La Caleta. Puerto de la Cruz more than makes up for its lack of sand with an 8-acre lido of pools and waterfalls.

places to see
Climb to a different climate with a coach ride up Mt Teide – Spain’s highest peak. Soak up the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the island’s capital, Santa Cruz. Hire a car to find the timeless villages of Tenerife. Visit the archaeological digs in Pyramid Park. Make a splash at the waterpark in Playa de las Americas. A visit to Loro Parque is also a must! Located at the foot of majestic Mount Teide, you can marvel at the amazing inhabitants and variety of fauna from every continent or take a trip on the catamaran to experience the calming and playful nature of these magical animals.

eating out
Seafood is a staple dish on most Canarian menus – try sancocho canario (boiled fish, potatoes, gofia and sweet potatoes). There’s light local lager, Spanish wines and Canarian rum (produced from bananas in and around Arucas in Gran Canaria) to add the extra dimension to your meal. International cuisine and imported drinks are widely available too.

shopping
Duty free shopping is an obvious bonus for imported items, but there’s plenty to consider in the local markets too – from embroidered linens to pottery, basket work and finely carved wooden ornaments. While most resort shops open all day and every day, siestas are still the norm in the capital.

nightlife
The liveliest night scene has to be around the burgeoning resort of Playa de las Americas, especially frenetic in July and August when discos, clubs, cabarets and a casino are all in full swing. Elsewhere, after-dark facilities range from a sprinkling of bars and hotel entertainment to a lively list of music bars and a disco or two.

getting around
Local bus services link the South coast resorts and you could use (less frequent) local transport to travel to the North, though car hire would give you more freedom to explore the island’s interior.

car hire
Avis offers total flexibility and a wide variety of cars. Enjoy the freedom to explore, so you can go wherever and whenever you want this holiday.

need to know
Language Spanish
Currency Euro
Flight time Approx 4-4½ hrs from the UK
Time difference Same as UK
Average costs Typical three course meal without wine £12.00, drinks: bottle of wine from £5.50, glass of beer £1.75

Ave daily max temp °C
23		24		26		28		29		28		26
Ave daily sunshine hrs
8		10		11		11		11		9		7
Ave monthly rainfall mm
13		5		0		0		0		6		28
Apr		May		Jun		Jul		Aug		Sep		Oct

All information is based on a daily mean average. Data based on information supplied by the Met Office © Crown Copyright 2004

experiences

Freebird Sailing
An amazing cruise on this prestigious catamaran gives you the opportunity to see the whales and dolphins which frequent the waters around Tenerife in their natural habitat. With food and all-inclusive drinks included in this spectacular cruise, you won’t forget the Freebird Sailing experience.

Loro Parque
Situated in Puerto de la Cruz, Loro Parque houses the largest collection of parrots in the world, an aquarium with a shark tunnel, Planet Penguin, the largest penguinarium in the world with nearly 250 Antarctic and Subtropical Penguins, orca, dolphin, parrot and sea-lion shows all held in beautiful surroundings, making Loro Parque one of the most visited attraction in the Canaries.

Siam Park
Siam Park brings together the exotic mystery and adventure of the ancient kingdom of Thailand with twenty first century know how - to bring you the biggest and best themed waterpark in all of Europe.

All excursions are operated by local suppliers, are subject to availability and change, and are only bookable in resort. Please see the booking conditions for details.

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