Honeymoon in Tenerife
Tenerife's captivating mix of Africa and Spain, with its dramatic mountains and is the a perfect destination for a luxury honeymoon. The Spanish island is located in Atlantic ocean and is the largest of the seven Canary Islands.
With 400 kilometres of picture-postcard beaches and more than 40 protected natural spaces, it is undoubtedly the most popular.
What's more, the island is set against the amazing backdrop of the majestic volcano, El Teide, the highest peak in Spain.
The Climate
Tenerife is thought of as "the island of eternal spring", blessed with 365 days of sunshine. In the peak summer season temperatures regularly hit 30 degrees Celsius.
Although Tenerife and the surrounding Islands belongs to Spain, they are closer to Africa than anywhere else. Lying in the Atlantic Sea, sitting a mere 200 kilometres from the North West coast of Africa, Tenerife enjoys a lot of the same sub-tropical climate, with cooling winds blowing over from the African deserts.
The people of Tenerife
Tenerife locals are known as Tinerfeños and there is a saying from a folk song that "Canarians are like the Giant Teide, snowy quietness on the outside and fire in the heart...". When visiting Tenerife you will find proud, friendly and easygoing people, who are happy to share their culture and countryside. As a bridge between Europe and the rest of the world for so long, there is a great ethnic mix of people.
Things to do and see in Tenerife
Whatever your taste for your honeymoon, you'll find something to interest you in Tenerife.
Teide National park
Declared a national park in 1954, the Parque Nacional de las Cañadas del Teide has an enormous volcanic crater 48 kilometres in circumference. Out
of this rises Mount Teide (pronounced the same as Lady) at a staggering 3,718 metres, making it the highest mountain in the whole of Spain.
The park itself lies at around 2,000 metres above sea level and in winter snow falls, making it a winter playground for adventurous skiers and
boarders. During the summer months this arid landscape can reach temperatures above 40
degrees Celsius.
Access to the now extinct volcano is either by foot or cable car, which will carry you almost to the summit. From the peak, on a clear day, you have
breathtaking views of Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. This is the most visited tourist attraction on the canary islands and not be
missed.
Loro Parque
The Loro Parque is a Spanish zoo >> located on the outskirts of
Puerto de la Cruz >> and home to the largest parrot collection in the world! It is also the most diverse, with more than 300 species of the colourful bird. The park also
has an impressive collection of gorillas, chimpanzees, tigers, jaguars, flamingos, alligators and tortoises. There is even an Aquarium with Shark
tunnel. But if all that doesn't interest you, you cannot fail to be impressed by the world's largest penguinarium which has an amazing reproduction of
Antarctic climate and, 12 tons of snow fall a day!
Boat Trips
Whale and dolphin fans should take a boat trip around the island as this is a great opportunity to see the beautiful mammals in the wild. A large
number of companies offer boat trips, which start from either Puerto Colon in Playa de las Americas, or from the port at Los Cristianos. Most operators
also offer a free bus service from the larger hotels in the main resorts.
Los Cristianos
Los Cristianos is situated 15 kilometres west of the southern airport (Reina Sofía).This is without a doubt one of the most popular resorts on the
Canary Islands. The beaches are stunning, with a wonderful harbour that offers fishing trips, pleasure cruises, glass bottom boats, diving excursions
and ferries to La Gomera.
Sports
The excellent all year climate makes Tenerife a favourite year-round venue for amateur and professional sporting enthusiasts. There is a whole range of
sports available including golf, tennis, diving, sailing, fishing and windsurfing.
Beaches in Tenerife
Tenerife is known for its fantastic beaches. The volcanic nature of the
island means the land has few natural beaches. Those that exist are
characterised by black sand created from the island's volcanic rocks.
Torviscas and Fañabé
These two golden beaches are located in the south of Tenerife and
probably the most romantic places to visit on your honeymoon, since they
actually
join together to become one. They are connected by a long promenade that
runs along a beautiful azure beach.
Playa de Los Gigantes
Los Gigantes, or 'The Cliffs of the Giants', is located on the western
coast of Tenerife and is home to a very small sandy beach and a busy
yacht
marina. At the foot of the cliffs lies the small beach made of black
volcanic sand. The beach here doesn't get too crowded and is perfect if
you want
some privacy.
El Médano Beach
El Médano Beach is the longest, natural sandy beach in Tenerife, a
two-kilometre stretch of fine golden sand that ends at a volcanic cone
called
"Montaña Rojo" (Red Mountain). There are lots of good fish restaurants
here because this used to be a fishing village. It is also the perfect
spot
for windsurfing, as the waters are usually fairly calm.
Where to stay in Tenerife
Honeymooners can enjoy a romantic, luxury stay in any of the following:
Gran Hotel Bahia del Duque >>
The outstanding Gran Hotel Bahia del is surrounded by luscious gardens complemented by crystal pools, which lead down to the cashmere sands and deep
blue waters of the beach of del Duque
Iberostar Grand Hotel El Mirado >>
The Iberostar Grand Hotel El Mirador on Costa Adeje is a favourite stay with newlyweds, perfectly located in an elevated position, opposite the
glorious golden sands of the Playa del Duque beach.
Iberostar Hotel Anthelia >>
For direct access to the beautiful golden coastline, consider the Iberostar which is located between the two main beaches of the, Costa Adeje. All
rooms are designed to combine luxury and comfort, but if you wish to experience the next level of opulence, upgrade to a Superior Suite located in the
Salome VIP area, where a private pool, gourmet breakfasts and special services await you.
Abama Golf & Spa Resort >>
On a cliff-top with beautiful sea views, the luxurious Abama Golf & Spa Resort offers an idyllic setting with lush green gardens, calming lakes and
rushing waterfalls. For golf enthusiasts or those after a more serene experience, consider this hotel in Guia de Isora.
Tenerife Nightlife
Tenerife has it all when it comes to nightlife with countless bars, cafés, restaurants, and nightclubs you can try something different every night of the holiday. By far the liveliest resort in Tenerife is Playa de las Americas; having an array of bars, clubs and restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets.
Transport in Tenerife
Cars
One of the best ways to see Tenerife is to rent a car, and discover your own favourite spots on the island.
A couple of things worth noting are:
- You drive on the right hand side of the road
- You must carry a warning triangle and reflective jacket in the vehicle by law
- Unleaded petrol is known as 'In Plomo'
- Stations on the main roadside open 24 hours and most take credit cards
There are also heavy on the spot fines for:
- Not wearing seat belts
- Not stopping at Stop signs
- Overtaking where forbidden
Buses
Most buses (called guaguas and pronounced 'wah wahs' by the locals) are run by TITSA. They are very cheap and run frequently on
island's main roads. A great money saver is a pre-paid Bono Bus ticket and costs approximately 12 euro for several trips and saves between 30%
to 50% of the fare.
Taxis
Licensed taxi cabs display a special SP (Servico Público) licence plate and some taxi ranks display fares between the main destinations.
A few useful phrases
The language of the Canaries is Spanish (Castilian), but their accent is more like the Spanish spoken in the Caribbean, Cuba, Venezuela and Puerto Rico unlike the Spanish spoken on mainland Spain.
- Hello - ¡Hola!
- Good morning - Buenos días
- Good evening - Buenas noches
- Yes - Sí
- No - No
- You're welcome - De nada
- Please - Por favor
- Thank you - Gracias
- Excuse me - Perdón
- I don't know - No lo sé
- How much (something costs) - Cuanto cuesta
- Where - Dónde?
Article provided by our honeymoon partners, www.sovereign.com , the luxury holiday and honeymoon specialists.
