Golf
is now booming in Tenerife, with six courses currently open and
several plans in the pipeline. Tenerife is becoming a major player
in the elite world of golfing destinations. Along with the golf,
there is the breathtaking scenery, dramatic mountainscapes and
fantastic beaches.
Outside
of golf, there is a wealth of things to do, including viewing
dolphins and whales, exploring the charming towns and capital
city, following wine trails or visiting the volcanic gorges.
Part
of the Canary islands, Tenerife is the largest and is situated
300 kilometres off the West cost of Africa and 1,500 kilometres
Southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Tenerife is dominated by Spain's
highest peak, the 3,718 meter high Teide volcano which separates
the north and south of the island, with each side having it's
own climate.
Tenerife
has several national parks and visitor centres including the new
Palm Tree Park in the city of Santa Cruz and the El Drago Butterfly
Centre which has over 350 species flying freely in a 400 square
metre garden.
Santa
Cruz de Tenerife is the capital of the island, a city of 230,000
people with golden beaches and commercial centres with fine shops
and boutiques. The city is rich in art and history with several
fine museums and theatres and well as sculptures and monuments.
In
the north of the island, Puerto de la Cruz is the main
tourist area. This is a cosmopolitan coastal town which boasts
a casino as well as its famous Botanical Gardens which date back
to 1877.
The
old town of La Orotava has been declared of national historic
interest which gives an idea of the monuments to be found there.
Many hiking trails extend through the mountains of La Orotava
and stretch up to Gran Circus de las Canadas del Teide, a protected
national park. There are also magnificent botanical gardens to
be found here, as well as three beautiful beaches.
Adeje
has a tranquil coastline, along with the impressive Barranco del
Infierno, ravines with narrow vertical walls covered in vegetation.
Ancient burial caves have also been discovered on ledges under
the sea.
The
Canary Islands themselves are known for their year round sunshine
and Tenerife is therefore a popular destination throughout the
year. Temperatures range between 20°C in January to 26°C
in August. The language of the islands is Spanish, with the currency
being the Spanish peseta.
