Travel guide for Tenerife - how to experience the island in a unique way

Why Tenerife is worth a visit

Three factors are among the outstanding arguments in favour of a holiday in Tenerife: the unique, year-round mild climate, the trade winds that bring the island, the extremely varied and contrasting natural landscape and the charming islanders with their Canary Island traditions and customs. Numerous excursions and activities invite you to explore every corner of the island.

Climate

The most important reason for many tourists to spend their holidays in Tenerife is the unique climate of the island. Due to the trade winds, which blow with 20 to 25km/h over the north-east of the island, Tenerife attracts with an average annual temperature of 23°C. In summer the temperature rarely climbs above 30°C, while in winter it is at least 17°C. Consequently, Tenerife is also called the "Island of Eternal Spring" - and is therefore worth a visit all year round.

Flora and Fauna

On the largest and highest island of the Canary Islands, tourists are presented with a special ecological diversity. In a stretch of just a few hundred metres you can admire the vegetation of Tenerife, which is constantly changing in radical ways. The different altitudes, trade winds and microclimates have created six very different ecosystems in Tenerife:

• Succulent scrublands: Along the coast up to 700 metres above sea level, succulents grow, adapted to drought, strong winds and the many hours of sunshine per year. Although the Canary Islands account for only 1.5% of Spain's surface area, they are home to half of all endemic species

• Thermophilous forests: Sabinas, dragon trees and palm trees grow in so-called thermophilic forests, which are located 200 to 600 metres above sea level. Moderate rainfall and temperatures favour their growth  

• Pine forests: A typical mediterranean aspect are pines, which also grow on Tenerife and at 800 to 2000 metres above sea level

• Laurel forests: A unique floral feature of Tenerife is the dense laurel forests, where not only laurel trees grow, but also ferns, Canary Island holly and Indian perseas. Legend has it that witches lived in the dense cloud forests.

• Bush forests: As the laurel forests were extensively cleared, the tree-heath scrub forests today make up the entire forest area of the island. The Micronesian bagel tree and the tree heath defy the trade wind clouds and grow 10 to 20 metres high

• High mountains: Above 2000 metres there are extremely dry, hot temperatures. This is where the Wildprets Natternkopf grows - the purple-red flowering pride of Tenerife, which can reach a height of 2.5 metres

During a walking or cycling tour through Tenerife, you will literally experience an up and down ride through typical Mediterranean areas, exotic deserts as well as dry areas and mountainous regions. You could encounter over 200 species of birds, rare frogs, butterflies and numerous species of reptiles such as geckos and lizards. The southwest coast is also a popular place to watch fin whales, dolphins, orcas and even blue whales during your Tenerife holiday!

Country and people

There is no doubt that Tenerife owes its special charm also to its compatriots, their special, cheerful nature, their Canarian accent and their traditions and customs - all of which are known beyond the borders of the country. It has a surface area of approximately 2,034 square kilometres, with a population of 888,000, spread over the 31 municipalities of Tenerife. San Cristobal de La Laguna and the island capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife are the largest cities in the archipelago. It is here and in the towns of Arona and Adeje, located in the tourist south of the island, that most of the "Tinerfeños", as the islanders call themselves, live.

Even though tourism has left its mark on the island, the inhabitants of the island have preserved their centuries-old history, so that a holiday in Tenerife makes it possible for tourists to experience Canarian traditions and customs. In particular, the indigenous people of the island, the "Guanches", were able to regain their very own Canarian culture after the period of oppression under the Spanish dictator Franco. Important cultural events - but also tourist highlights - are the Festival de Música de Canarias and the carnival in Santa Cruz. In Canarian folklore, the colourful and splendid costumes, the timple, a typical Canarian ukulele-like instrument, is played at popular festivals and romerías. It is sung and danced to. Whether you are a nature lover looking for peace and quiet in the countryside, a sun worshipper relaxing on the beach or the exciting nightlife in the capital, Tenerife has the right experience package for every type of holiday!