Five Things You Want to Know About Tenerife, Canary Islands

Cost Adeje, Tenerife, Canary Islands.

Tenerife is one of the Canary Islands which people call the islands of permanent spring because the weather here is good all year round, about 18-27 C. In the second half of June, we stayed on the south of the island in the town of Adeje.

Playa de Duke, Tenerife, Canary Islands.

Tenerife is a slightly unusual vacation place and I’d like you know why


1. Its beach is not a golden-yellow color, but grey-black, and the surf is not silvery-white, but black. I had the constant impression that an oil tanker had wrecked somewhere not far away and we were seeing the consequences. But in fact, this sand (and the island, too) is made by a volcano, and the color of the sand has nothing to do with an ecological disaster. This is simply exotic. In short, don’t bring a white swimsuit on a Tenerife vacation.

Torviscas Playa, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
Torviscas Playa, Tenerife, Canary Islands.

Torviscas Playa, Tenerife Canary Islands.

However, fans of pebble beaches can also find those here.

Stone beach, Adeje, Tenerife, Canary Islands.

Stone beach, Adeje, Tenerife, Canary Islands.

2. The food is good in most cases, but have your lunch and dinner not in a hotel, but in any of the numerous cafes in the city or on the beach. Fresh seafood dishes and gazpacho (cold tomato soup) are especially good. Compared with London, Tokyo, or Moscow, the prices are wonderfully low.

Check every bill carefully. Local waiters can simply include the charge for a liter of Sangria you didn’t order, and it will be about 12 Euros extra! Sellers in Indo-Arab shops along the beach may try to give you change from your ten Euros as if you had given them five.

Seafood of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.

The second breakfast on Tenerife, Canary Islands.

Seafood paella. Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.

3. Select excursions carefully. Many of them are far-fetched, and if you buy them, the sensation of lost time and money can appear very soon. However, I highly recommend visiting Loro Parque. Why? Because this is one of few places where you can see these beautiful animals so close. Another place is northern Norway, for example, where Oceanwide Expeditions organizes its Arctic cruise. Okay, okay I admit it will be a little colder than here, yes, but the landscapes, animals, and people of Arctic are unique.

Orca show in the Loro Parque, Tenerife, Canary.

Orca show in the Loro Parque, Tenerife, Canary.

People say the excursion to the crater of the volcano of Tenerife is breathtaking. We have not been there and don’t know, but we believe it.

4. A permanent pleasant breeze blows from the Atlantic Ocean, so you don’t feel the burning sun; however, its rays are very strong. If you tan quickly, like me, the wise step would be to buy a broad-brimmed hat and long-sleeved shirt, and take the sun bath as gradually as you would do in Egypt or Thailand.

Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.

 

5. Spanish waiters are not very smiley. Here, you will not get as many smiles as in Italy, but don’t take it personally. Maybe this is a national feature. Tenerife and all the Canary Islands still smile at you.

Adeje, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.

Adeje, Tenerife, Canary Islands.

 

Playa de Duke, Tenerife, Canary Islands.

Torviscas Beach, Tenerife, Canary Islands.

Adeje, Tenerife, Canary Islands.

Adeje, Tenerife, Canary Islands.

Now you know! Happy vacation!

Victor Tribunsky

More about Spain:

Cochinillo Asado or Segovia’s Roast Suckling Pig. Please Bring Second Portion!
Sagrada Familia by Antoni Gaudi. The Sand Castle
Holidays to Spain? How About Cordoba and Seville?

78 thoughts on “Five Things You Want to Know About Tenerife, Canary Islands”

  1. Nice post, really helpful! When I was in Tenerife, I actually thought it would be much nicer seeing dolphins in the wild! I did this tour, which was so amazing.

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  5. Yes, Tenerife is such a good place to spend vacation but you are right, their beaches aren’t that attractive anymore. Its sand isn’t that white but grey. One thing good for Tenerife is excursions… Just an advice when traveling to Tenerife, better get a car for hire. Some of their cab driver is a scammer. They would charged you 300 euro for just a few kilometer ride but if you ask other cabs, you will learn the fare is only 100 euro. So, better hire a car for rent.

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  16. The trip up teide is well worth it – we have just come back from Tenerife and it was the highlight of our trip. The cable car station is at about 7,500 feet and the cable car then takes you to just over 11,000 feet, though it is quite expensive at 25 Euros each (half that for children). The top station is about 150 metres below the actual summit crater and you can only get right to the top if you get a pass (you can apply for them online but need to book well in advance). The views are amazing and despite al the people it is a very peaceful place to be. There is a lot to see on the way up and down, too.

    Great pictures! I was glad to see you built a rock tower – we walked along that beach and there are hundreds there now.

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  17. Ah yes, Tenerife. We didn’t go to the volcano either, but given that the island had the aroma of sulphuric eggs in the afternoon I’m guessing it may have literally taken our breath away if we’d got any closer. And can you imagine my particular horror after leaving my homeland of beaches with pebbles bigger than your own head to arrive on holiday to a beach with black sand?! Other than that I do agree that it’s a lovely place to visit and the all year temperate climate was the biggest attraction for us to escape an English winter (my kids would probably vote for the Water Park though!) – thanks for stopping by my blog today fellow ‘truthful traveler’!

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  18. Hooray for building a rockpile on the stone beach. Reminds me of a rockpile I want to blog about. I’ll tag you when I do since you jogged my memory on that. ❤ Great blog. I'm enjoying your posts.

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  23. I think non smiling is a Spanish trait. We found it all over Spain. This place looks lovely but I am not sure about that black sand and sea. I think I will stick to our gorgeous Australian beaches.

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    1. Not all of them are the same. In one cafe, the bill was near 10 Euros. I gave the money and left the cafe. But in 15 minutes, the waiter found me and returned 10 euros. It turned out I gave him 20.

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          1. Good comment about this highland, thanks you for these wonderfull picture and your presentation. you are right about the waiter but they mean no harm. That is their nature.
            You are a star

            from Alfred okuns

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              1. I am thinking of going to in October,2015 and staying until March, 2016. I would really like to talk to people who are making this Island home. I am from California, and unfortunately speak very little Spanish, so would appreciate feedback on how that would be. Thanks! Joy

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  31. Your photos are so splendid. I really enjoy your posts — keep up the great work and enjoy your travels! Following because I absolutely can’t wait to see more! 🙂

    ~Kay

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  33. Great pics and it looks like you had a wonderful time. Sorry, but I don’t understand this statement. Are the euro amounts correct or backwards? “A sellers of indian-arabish shops along the beach can try to give you a change from 10 euro like you have given them 5 euro.” Thanks and safe travels.

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