For Tenerife, holidays are big business, making up an important part of the island’s economy, with some 5 million tourists visiting each year. As the largest of the Canary Islands, relatively close to the coast of Africa, Tenerife benefits from a year-round warm climate and low levels of rainfall.
Enjoy a combination of natural beaches, made up of black volcanic sand, and newer artificial beaches made of golden sand imported from the Sahara desert, as well as sand pumped from the bottom of the sea. This gives the island an incredible variety of places to relax in the sun, such as the popular resorts of Playas de Troya and Los Cristianos, which boast two beaches that have proven to be favorites with tourists, along with many smaller ones. .
Playa de Los Cristianos is the central beach, with gray volcanic sand. For people who want a more traditional look, the nearby Playa de las Vistas has golden sand from the bottom of the sea. Both beaches are pleasantly sheltered from the elements, and both are right next to a diverse collection of bars and restaurants for those times when sunbathing turns to hunger. At Playa de Los Cristianos, children are also well catered for, with playgrounds and other activities.
Holidays in Tenerife often include a day at the island’s best-known beach: Playas de Troya. With shallow waters, shelter, and easy access to nearby town, it’s a great place to take part in a wide selection of water sports, or just relax.
A little further north is the small pebble beach of La Caleta, which attracts snorkelers and snorkelers. The high concentration of fish in the nearby ocean means that more culinary-inclined visitors can enjoy delicious meals at one of the nearby seafood restaurants.
However, a holiday in Tenerife has more to offer than just wonderful beaches. One of the largest carnivals in the world takes place every year in the island’s capital, the Santa Cruz Carnival, which aspires to be declared a World Heritage Site. Every February in the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, more than a million people take part in the festivities, which include an impressive opening parade on Friday night, inspired by the processions of the most famous carnival in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. Santa Cruz de Tenerife is twinned with Rio for this reason.
After the great costume show, the carnival continues until Ash Wednesday, with days dedicated to dance and live music, before culminating in a strange ritual known as “El Entierro de la Sardina”. Even then, the fun is not over. The next weekend, the party starts again, with the weekend known as “piñata”.