What to do in Los Cristianos and Tenerife

A few ideas of what awaits whilst staying in our Los Cristianos apartment on the beautiful island of eternal spring.



Tenerife - An island with two faces
"Dramatic volcanic scenery and sandy beaches vie for your attention on an island that is drenched in year-round sunshine. Tenerife may be closer to Africa than Spain but the atmosphere is definitely Spanish - relaxed and unhurried by day, the pace hots up as the sun goes down."

With sun-baked sandy beaches and exuberant bars and nightclubs, the south coast of Tenerife feels a million miles away from the lush banana plantations and cosmopolitan towns of the north of the island. In fact, Tenerife is only 90 kilometres from north to south, but majestic Mount Teide cuts the island into two very distinct zones, imbuing Tenerife with two very different characters. Step away from the holiday resorts and Tenerife's Spanish heritage reveals itself in sleepy whitewashed plazas and tiny Spanish tapas bars, in fun-loving fiestas and elegant colonial buildings.



Beaches
For sheer fun and plenty of sun, Tenerife's hard to beat. Playa de las Americas has three dark sandy beaches, and three man-made ones, all with watersports galore to choose from. Purpose-built in the 1960's, it's packed with bars, restaurants and clubs. Costa Adeje, which runs along the coast, has a fabulous, white sandy beach, but watch out for strong undercurrents when swimming. Los Cristianos has an original village and boasts a huge, man-made sandy beache protected by breakwaters making them ideal for children. Halfway up the west coast, a sheer rock face soars 600 metres from the beach to the sky. Los Gigantes means 'the giants', and if you see a tiny sightseeing boat at the base of these mammoth cliffs, it's easy to guess how they came by the name! A fairly quiet resort, Los Gigantes bay features black sand and has clear water, perfect for paddling and snorkeling. Just to the south, larger Puerto de Santiago is centered around the black sand beach of Playa de la Arena. Up on the lush northern coast, Puerto de la Cruz is a charming beach resort. This is where the first holidaymakers came, and those who arrive today still head for the three beaches of black sand along the rocky coastline. For sand-free sunbathing, head to the lovely Lido Martianez, where saltwater lagoons are encircled by terraces and dotted with lava rock islands.



Shopping
From perfumes to spirits, Tenerife's tax-free shopping means that you can take advantage of cheap goods. There is a wide range of shops and department stores to suit all tastes, especially around Santa Cruz and Puerto de la Cruz. If you're looking for something more traditional, look out for Tenerife's unusual pottery which is made without a potter's wheel and decorated with tribal, geometric designs. The island's also known for its good quality Spanish lacework, such as tablecloths, bedlinen and handkerchiefs. If you stumble across a craft fair, you might see artisans making pretty woven wickerwork baskets and knick-knacks, and you'll often find Africans selling tribal drums, leatherwork, beads and carved wooden masks.



Nightlife
Set in the south-west corner of Tenerife, the larger than life beach resorts of Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos link arms and party into the night! This is the place to come if you dance into the early hours and walk home carrying your shoes! Overflowing with clubs, bars and discos, there's no shortage of things to do in the south once the sun goes down. Tenerife's other beach resorts offer a slightly more relaxed atmosphere when it comes to nights out.



Eating out
Spanish tapas and Canarian specialities dominate most restaurant menus - although in the main resorts your favourite fast food joint is never far away. If you're tempted by the local cuisine why not give samu a try? It's a local fish baked on a bed of salt and served with small jacket potatoes and mojo, a spicy garlic sauce. Seafood plays a large part in many of the dishes and is a real treat since it is nearly always plucked fresh from the sea that day. To finish off your meal why not try a gooey but tasty liqueur made from bananas grown on the island. Go on, spoil yourself!



Sightseeing
Loro Parque
Set against the lush backdrop of Puerto de la Cruz, Loro Parque is Tenerife's premier tourist attraction. Translate the name, and you'll find out exactly how this excellent wildlife park began. 'Parrot park' still has entertaining parrot shows every day, but nowadays you can also watch gorillas, penguins, crocodiles, giant turtles, jaguars, monkeys and many more species here. Sharks slip silently over the long underwater walkway, and dolphins and sea lions cheerfully perform for the audience. The park has won many awards and is well worth a visit.

Mount Teide
Towering at an enormous 12,402 feet, Mount Teide in Las Canadas National Park is Tenerife's most famous landmark and is the highest mountain in Spain. In clear, fine weather, you can take the cable car to the top of this towering, dormant volcano to soak up awesome views of Tenerife and the other Canary Islands scattered across the blue ocean. On your way, look down at the surrounding landscape moulded by ancient volcanic eruptions. You will also notice that the climate changes through 4 distinct temperate zones, showing off Tenerife's flora and fauna in its colourful entirety.

Santa Cruz
This is Tenerife's vibrant capital, a living, working city where memories of colonial Spain lie around every corner. The Museum of Nature and Mankind tells the story of the Guanches, Tenerife's ancient tribal inhabitants, with everyday pottery and tools as well as mummified bodies on display. Visit the Museum of Fine Arts housed in an old Franciscan monastery, or the African market, which sells flowers, home-made honey, cheeses, live animals, handicrafts and lots more.

Waterparks
Aquapark in Playa de las Americas, is a popular place to scare yourself silly racing down flumes, slides, rides and wild water. There are even dolphin displays, if watching your fellow holidaymakers isn't sufficiently entertaining! Skypark, also in Playa de las Americas, offers large pools with all sorts of slides.

Golf
Golfers will be amazed by the excellent choice of courses in Tenerife. Five are in the south, most within easy reach of Playa de las Americas, whilst one is set amongst lush greenery in the north of the island.

A walk through Hell!
Barranco del Infierno is a popular, 8 kilometre walk starting from Adeje, just north of Playa de Las Americas. A good path leads up through 'Hell Gorge', a deep canyon on the edge of the Teide National Park, to La Cascada, where a waterfall splashes down into a natural pool. Stop for a rest, or even a swim, and then return the same way.


Insider tip
Watch out for news of local festivals. Villages in Tenerife celebrate a whole succession of cheerful Saints days and colourful festivals throughout the year. The Carnival in February is the largest outside Rio, with extravagant parades and outrageous costumes.

Useful links

click on the following links for more information

LORO PARK

Siam Park Tenerife, Europe's greatest water theme park.


Tenerife Tourism website

AQUALAND in Las Americas

JUNGLE PARK