According to cachedhealth, Tenerife is the largest and most hospitable island of the Canary archipelago. Here you can find entertainment for every taste – from a relaxing family holiday in Puerto de la Cruz to unforgettable diving in the southwestern part of Tenerife from the bustling resorts of Las Americas and Costa Adeje to the sands of Playa de la Arena, which many attribute healing properties. Windy beaches with high waves coexist here with calm lagoons. And the largest tourist centers on the archipelago with a developed infrastructure and the famous Loro Park, which is simultaneously a zoo, a botanical garden, an oceanarium and a dolphinarium, annually attract many vacationers to the island.
It is not for nothing that Tenerife is called the “island of eternal spring”: in winter the temperature here does not fall below +20 °C, and in summer it does not rise above +25 °C.
Communication and Wi-Fi
Mobile communications cover the island completely, and mountain areas are no exception. For travelers looking to stay connected, local operators offer the tarjeta prepago contractless SIM card. It requires replenishment as needed, the service package is standard: calls, SMS, Internet. The largest operators are Vodafone, Orange, Yoigo, Movistar, Lebara is famous for its cheap tariffs.
The prevailing information on the Internet about weak Wi-Fi in Tenerife is about to become outdated. If quite recently the lack of coverage was obvious, today the situation is rapidly changing, although the connection speed still leaves much to be desired. Wi-Fi is available in most hotels and restaurants; in 2016, several public transport stops became hotspots. For occasional access to the Web, you can use the services of Internet cafes, there are many of them on the island.
Tenerife beaches
Tenerife is a volcanic island known throughout the world for its dark, sometimes even completely black sand. Such beaches are found on both the southern and northern coasts. It is important to consider that some of them have high waves and undercurrents – especially in the north of Tenerife, where the vast majority of beaches are wild. But, of course, there are also “tamed”. One of them is Playa de la Arena. In addition to quiet walks, this place is also suitable for general recovery – volcanic sand serves as a natural relaxant and has a beneficial effect on the state of the body, especially on the musculoskeletal system.
Tenerife also has several “bright” beaches – they are concentrated mainly in the southern part of the island and are artificially created specifically for tourists. Sand for these purposes is imported directly from the Sahara. There are golden beaches in the north of Tenerife – for example, Las Teresitas. It is located near Santa Cruz and is ideal for families. The beach is well protected from the waves and is equipped with free showers and changing cabins. The only negative is the proximity to the mountain range, because of which it is often windy and cloudy on Las Teresitas.
But the southeastern part of the island is ideal for surfers – constant wind and long coastlines of beaches create all the conditions for practicing this sport. El Medano is recognized as a real paradise for surfers – a natural beach with yellow-orange sand. Here you can also buy all the equipment for surfing and at the same time get a couple of lessons at a special school.
By the way, absolutely all the beaches of Tenerife are municipal, so you can relax on any part of the coast that you like. Umbrellas and sun loungers are paid here (from 2 to 10 EUR depending on the beach). Also, in some places you will have to pay for the use of toilets and showers.
It is worth noting that although there are no “closed” beaches in Tenerife, some of them are quite popular with nudists. Places where it is better not to go with children and jealous girls include, for example:
Playa Blanca (aka Diego Hernandez Beach) is a calm wild beach in the south of the island. During high tide, it is almost completely hidden under water, so you should not leave your things on it for a long time.
Playa de las Gaviotas is adjacent to one of the most famous beaches in Tenerife, Las Teresitas. Nudism here is a seasonal phenomenon, reaching its peak in winter.
Playa de la Tejita is the longest natural beach on the island. Here, too, the wind blows almost constantly, but this does not prevent the beach from being one of the most popular places among connoisseurs of an even tan without stripes.
Diving in Tenerife
If you go to Tenerife for diving, then you should choose the southern and southwestern parts of the island. Of course, there are interesting places on both the north and southeast sides, but strong winds and high waves make it unsafe for divers.
In total, Tenerife has about 30 dive sites for every taste and level of training. The best dive sites on the island are located near Las Galletas, Punta de la Rasca, Playa Paraiso and Punta de Teno.
Do not go to diving centers in the most popular tourist areas – for example, in Las Americas. Diving here is unlikely to leave a vivid impression – the marine fauna is mostly scared and not very diverse, and the coastline is leveled to create a comfortable descent into the sea.
The most famous place to explore the underwater world in Tenerife is the Los Chuchos dive site. The dive at this point is shallow (only about 20 m), but there will be more than enough impressions – stingrays, turtles, sea cats (also, by the way, stingrays), clouds of small fish, behind which you can’t see your own outstretched hand. Moreover, this whole company can (and should) be fed.
If you are attracted not by fauna, but by underwater caves and sunken ships, then in this case you can advise the dive sites Cueva de los Serebros and El Condesito. Other popular dive sites include Punta Blanca near San Juan Beach. The northernmost points where diving is still safe for tourists are Atlantis, Aquario, Barranco Seco. By the way, it is quite possible to meet dolphins here – unless, of course, you scare them away.
