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The Island |
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Tenerife is truly an island of contrasts with a beautiful year round climate and stunning scenery.
The volcano is the most dominating feature of the island, snow capped through much of the year at 12,000 feet it is a spectacular sight and its summit can be reached by cable car for the adventurous. It is surrounded by incredible volcanic scenery, much studied by Geologists and used in many films as a western or even pre-historic backdrop. Lower down the slopes are covered with beautiful forests and views through pines across the top of the clouds are spectacular. The forest to the North-West are more broad leaf and there are miles of tracks which can be explored in total solitude on foot or with a 4x4. It is rare to see another person taking in the quiet and unique beauty of this place.
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The beaches are good and varied with golden sand in the South, one of the world’s best windsurfing locations at El Medano, family beaches in Las Americas and indeed in most of the resorts and even a number of naturist beaches.
The towns and cities too provide great contrasts, from the friendly Spanish atmosphere of Puerto Santiago and Los Gigantes to the wonderful ancient architecture of La Oratova, or the designer shopping and bustle of Las Americas. Add to this the sophistication of its capital, Santa Cruz and there really is something for everyone. |
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The Climate |
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Tenerife climate is quite similar to all of the other islands of the Canary archipelago and has an all year round stable and mild climate.
The North and the South of Tenerife have different climatic conditions with more hours of sun all year in the South and more rainfall and high humidity in the North explaining the differing landscape and tones of countryside, although both climates are extremely pleasant and stable throughout the year. |
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Los Gigantes |
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Los Gigantes is a very pretty resort. Great care has obviously been taken over its design and construction. With the exception of one multi-storey hotel, all of the resort's central apartment complexes and residential areas are low-rise and blend in well with the surroundings. It is a small, tranquil place and has an air of exclusivity about it. There is not much danger of the resort losing this atmosphere and ambience by expanding in any direction either, closed in as it is on all sides, nestling between the area's natural rocky confines and the Atlantic Ocean. |
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The roads in Los Gigantes are very narrow, with a one-way system operating throughout most of the town. It has a climate that is second to none in the Canaries, some beautiful scenery and many amenities. Lying at the foot of the cliffs there is a small, clean, black sand beach which is rarely crowded, despite being suitable for children.
Right next to the public beach is the marina, where you will find an array of private boats and yachts moored next to the boats which take visitors out to see the dolphin and whale colonies which live between the west coast of Tenerife and the neighbouring island of La Gomera.
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You can have a drink or a meal at the bars and restaurants that line the front of the marina, or you can walk on top of the protective sea wall that surrounds it, thereby getting a good look back at the boats and the town and the apartments and villas, rising up into the cliffs. |
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