Tenerife, Canary Islands
The Island of Eternal Spring
Tenerife is an island of extreme contracts. Its know as the Island of Eternal Spring (along with some of the other Canary Islands) due to its very temperate climate. Tenerife is part of the Canary Islands Autonomous region of Spain that is located a few hundred miles West of Africa and is Co-Capital with the Island of Grand Canary. Tenerife is the largest and most populous Island in the Canary Islands. It is home to many different climates that Donna and visited. We saw near the coast a tropical environment filled with nice beaches and Banana Plantations, in a little higher elevation pine forest, a cloud forest with small shrubs and then a desert/volcanic area near Mt Teide that reminds you of a Martian landscape. Donna and I came to the Island as a port of call on a cruise we took and it was a un-forgettable journey to this unique place.
Teide National Park
Teide National Park is a Unesco World Heritage site and has the 3rd highest volcano in the world (measuring from the ocean base) that the park is named after. The landscape is out of the world and is actually used in studies related to Mars It truly looks like you are on Mars with the mountains and desert like area. The park is at higher elevation and in the center of the island. There are many stops within the park to read interpretative signs to read about the geology and history of the area. You can see many Lava Flows and geological formations in the area. You can also ride a aerial tram to the top of El Teide Volcano while within the park. There is also a major observatory within the park you can tour that contains one of the largest solar telescopes in the world. There have been movies filmed in the area and while we were there we stopped where the recent Clash of the Titans was partially filmed. The scenery and hiking is very nice in this area and its worth spending some time in. This is one of the best places to visit on the Island. Our tour that we took spent quite a bit of time traveling through the park.
Casa De Los Balcones and La Orotava
After spending time in the Teide National Park we descended to the city of La Orotava close to the coast. The climate once again became tropical full of lush green banana plantations and Dragon Trees. We stopped in the city and walked through the pretty parks full of flowers and trees. We stopped at the Casa De Los Balcones (The House of the Balconies) to see a traditional Canary Island Balcony. We saw the ornate balcony and went inside to see an exhibit on a traditional home and the historic way of life in Tenerife. After visiting the home Donna and I walked the streets of La Orotava and visited some shops and enjoyed the scenery of this nice city.
Tips for Tenerife Island
Tenerife is a very popular getaway Island for Europeans especially so it can get crowded at times. In the Winter time like when we went the climate is very mild as always so you can go swimming at the many nice beaches. Teide National Park is well worth visiting and to me beyond the beaches and shopping is the highlight of the Island. There are many museums as well on the Island that we did not have the chance to visit such as one dedicated to the natives of the Canary Islands (The Guanches). You can easily fly to Tenerife if you would like to spend more time on the Island or get a flavor of the Island like Donna and I did on a cruise excursion. I recommend going by cruise so you can experience other Islands in the area. Like in all of Spain Tenerife uses the Euro as the currency and the native language is Spanish. English is widely spoken in most areas I found.