Tenerife holidays

Things to do

Explore your destination

Here's a little taste of what's on offer: for more excursion ideas, speak to your Rep.

Loro Parque
With tigers, sharks, gorillas, chimps and the biggest population of penguins outside the Arctic, you’ll find loads of animals here. Plus, there’s more than 700 parrots who call this park home. Just don’t miss the killer whale and dolphin shows.

Siam Park
Water lovers won’t be able to get enough of Europe’s largest waterpark - there’s loads to enjoy. And, if the rides get too much, there’s animals to see, a children’s play area and you can even learn to catch a wave at the surf school.

Medieval Night
Want to see how the real knights in shining armour did it? Step back in time to the Middle Ages and feast on a banquet fit for a king and enjoy the spectacle of fighting knights on horseback.

Freebird
Soak up the sun and get an ocean-to-coast view of Tenerife on this VIP cruise. During the three-hour Catamaran trip, keep your eyes open for pilot whales and dolphins. To give you a hand, there are expert guides on board and they’ll tell you about other marine creatures that live off Tenerife too. Plus, you’ll also enjoy a buffet lunch and drinks.

Highlights

• Discovering the island’s capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the ideal place for getting into the Spanish spirit of things
• Checking out Tenerife’s old capital, La Laguna, which mixes a fun nightlife with beautiful architecture in the stunning north of the island
• Climb to the top of Spain’s biggest mountain, Mount Teide; or get a cable car if you don’t fancy the walk. At 3,718m above sea level, you’ll be rewarded with amazing views from the top
• Seeing Roques de García, uniquely shaped magma rocks just a couple of kilometres from the Mount Teide mountain
• Having a great day out at Loro Parque, in Puerto de la Cruz, with its world of animals, from parrots and chimps to sharks and penguins
• Enjoying a splash-tastic time at Tenerife’s brilliant Siam Park, a waterpark full of adrenaline pumping waterslides, with a wave palace and beach
• Exploring the home of amazing marine life while on holiday in Tenerife, with the island’s best diving facilities at Los Gigantes
• Seeing Los Gigantes’ appropriately named Cliffs of the Giants, massive rock walls that reach skywards from the ocean
• Lazing the day away on golden sands in Los Cristianos or Playa de las Americas
• Partying into the night in Playa de las Americas’s neon-lit bars and clubs
• Taking in a round of golf on the island’s fairways, like at Golf Costa Adeje and Golf las Americas in Playa de las Americas

Food and drink

If you’re looking for fast food outlets, pubs serving food and international favourites, Tenerife’s holiday resorts have your appetite covered.

Meanwhile, Tenerife’s meals usually feature the bread-like staple, Gofio, used in many of the island’s dishes, and plenty of fruit, veg and fish, although meat is imported for the tourist trade. You’re sure to see Papas Arrugadas on the menu on your holiday, a popular side treat of salty potatoes and hot ‘mojo’ sauce.

One of the island’s main exports, bananas are served in all kinds of ways, with liqueur a firm favourite for tourists.

Evening Flavour

Playa de las Americas is the nightlife capital of Tenerife, with its main party zone, Veronicas strip, packed with bars and clubs and a hub for night owls looking for holiday fun.

The southern resort of Los Cristianos is also known for its upbeat after dark scene, but with a less full-on vibe and an excellent choice of bars and restaurants, it’s also a great family choice.

Shopping

Perfume, designer goods and electronic goods can all be picked up in Tenerife for fantastic prices. Shops line the streets in most major resorts and Los Cristianos’s shopping centre, Vistasur, is perfect for some retail therapy.

If you’re after boutique shops and local goods, the north of the island is the best place to go, while the capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, mixes well-known brands and traditional goods on the main shopping strip, Calle Castillo.

Dates for the Diary

Santa Cruz’s Carnival takes place throughout February, with a different theme every year, a colourful parade of floats and people dressing up in costumes to celebrate.

For the Family

• Have splash-tastic fun at Tenerife’s water park Siam Park. Not only does it have great slides and a wave palace, but it’s also got its own beach.
  
• See the penguins, give the biggest group of male lowland gorillas a wave and say hi to the tigers at Loro Parque.
  
• For something a little different, why not try a medieval night. Not only will you get to enjoy a feast but you’ll also see knights duel.

Local weather

Information

Language: Spanish. Currency: Euro. Standard GMT: +0. Spanish Tourist Office: 2nd Floor, 79 New Cavendish Street, London W1W 6XB. Telephone: 020 7486 8077. www.spain.info

Travel money

Euro

You can get commission-free foreign exchange on currency notes and travellers cheques at most First Choice Travel Shops and Holiday Hypermarkets.