Tenerife — Introduction

From the tip of Mt Teide – 3,718m above sea-level – to its gently shelving south coast, Tenerife has more to explore.

Its beach resorts may be famous for fun party nights but there’s also another side to the island.

Tenerife is a walker’s paradise with tiny hillside villages offering a place to rest and experience traditional Canarian life.

Take to the sea and you’ll find bountiful reefs for diving, or join a boat trip to see the whales and dolphins that frequent its warm waters.

The south hosts family resorts and Siam Park – a thrill-a-minute water park. While cities like Puerto de la Cruz, the capital Santa Cruz and the UNESCO World Heritage site of La Laguna in the north are great for shopping and culture.

The highlight of Tenerife’s social calendar is the carnival – comparable only to Rio’s in Brazil – which is held in February and sees the whole island come alive in a blaze of colour, music and joy.