The Island of Tenerife

Tenerife, a Spanish island, is the largest of the seven Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. The island's population is 839,000 making it the most populated in the archipelago.

The capital city, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, is as well as the second biggest city in the archipielago, the capital of the island and seat of the Cabildo Insular (island Government); it is also the capital of the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and officially co-capital of the autonomous community of the Canary Islands together with Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, with whom shares the government institutions, such as Presidency, Parliament, ministries and Superior Court of Justice.

Tenerife is an ideal island for a full and different holiday at any time of the year and has first-quality hotels and outdoor facilities, which make it a prime tourist destination in Europe. Its wonderful climate and exuberant natural wonders, including its landscapes so full of contrasts, together with the kindness and hospitality of its people make it yet more attractive to the visitor. The climate in Tenerife is mild during September-October and is often suitable for bathing, with temperatures usually in the range 20-25º C during the day and 16-18º C at night.

Modern and cosmopolitan, and at the same time steeped in its traditions, Tenerife is a paradise for those seeking amusement, sport, light and nature, or simply relaxation and peace. An island, and at the same time, a world in itself, there is always more to see and learn about in Tenerife which never ceases to surprise and always beckons us to return.

The Island’s dramatic orography (Mount Teide, the highest point in Spain, reaches a height of 3718 metres) and the north-easterly trade winds provide Tenerife with a variety of microclimates which are among its many attractions, with landscapes ranging from desert to rainforest and volcanic badlands to rolling green hillsides.

The South of Tenerife is completely different. Years ago it contrasted so much with the rest of the island - with the green of the trees of the forests of Las Mercedes and of La Esperanza or the pine groves - that you could think that you were in a totally different world. Inhospitable extensions that today, thanks to channelled waters and the tourist dedication of places like Las Américas, Los Cristianos or El Médano, offer a different look without losing the attractiveness of the great plains.

Puerto de la Cruz

Puerto de la Cruz: is located on the north coast of Tenerife in the Orotava Valley. It is a seaside resort, about 42 km from the capital city, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The town is the main tourist centre of the north of the island, catering for "quality tourism". The climate on the coast is mild and international nature of the town, make it a popular place for foreigners to settle and many people come to the area to retire. This gives Puerto de la Cruz a very international atmosphere with a very active nightlife.

Restaurants can be found that cater for many types of international cuisine and it is easy to find places with their menus in many foreign languages apart from the ubiquitous Spanish, English and German; these include Swedish, Finnish, Danish, French, Dutch, Russian and Italian. A list recommended of restaurants will be provided in your conference folder.

There are facilities of all kinds in the town for visitors and their families, including a small port (used by private vessels). As in most of Tenerife, sandy beaches are in short supply (the islands are too young to have much natural sand), but there are a large complex of chlorinated and salt-water pools for swimming, the famous Lago Martiánez and a small beach of black, volcanic sand within the town itself.

"Fascinating" is the word for this island and not only because of Teide or Las Cañadas. On the Northern route, around a bend on the highway, the green Valley of 'La Orotava' appears with Teide in the background. People say that, when the naturalist Alexander found it he couldn't resist the impulse to put himself on his knees, astonished. In the valley you can find the Villa de La Orotava, filled with small palaces, wooden rows of balconies and other elements of public and domestic architecture, also found in the rest of the islands, but that reach special profusion and wealth here. The splendid nature of the valley and its fertile vegetable gardens meets the divine through the hands of the artists whom every year, during the festivities of the Corpus, creates monumental floral carpets for the passage of the Santísimo.

Sites of interest:

  • Costa Martiánez (El Lago) completed and designed by the famous architect César Manrique
  • La Plaza del Charco in the town centre is worth a visit.
  • Loro Parque, a famous park and zoo located on the outskirts of the city.
  • La Casa de los Balcones (the house with balconies) and the local handicrafts, whether in the form of textile products, ceramic, or local cakes and sweetmeats.