Mami
In Tenerife island you can go from summer to winter in thirty minutes. It is a diverse island, a very diverse island.
In Tenerife, you can wear shorts one minute, half an hour later you can be touching snow in the highest peak in Spain. These contrasts mixed with the friendly people, the good food and constant sunny weather, 365 day per year, make Tenerife a must see.
Our lodging for these six days was “Villas del Norte” in “La Orotava”, a rural place and an example of a colonial house in Tenerife that has been restored and divided in to six individual houses with outdoor spaces: tennis and communal swimming pool.
Also, the accommodation has some beautiful views overlooking the “Teide”, Orotava Valley and the sea.
The accommodation in this trip hugely memorable, we loved it!
Additionally, there were things that we weren’t used to, for example a daily cleaning services, tennis count and magnificent temperature regulated pool in a fantastic garden.
First day in Tenerife: La Orotava y San Cristobal de la Laguna
Our first morning in the island, was spent discovering “La Orotava”, the town where we were staying for one week, we searched around for supermarkets, chemist and other places of practical interest.
Everything was close and easy and the architecture and views together with the friendliness of the people made our trip so especial and we scaped the heat of August in Valencia.
All of Orotava is pretty, from various points you can see the Teide mountain, the sea and walking about in this town is very much recommended.
We visited the most important buildings in the town: The Town Hall, “the house of Balconies”, the Conception church… for more information you can click on link.
And in the evening, we visited the loveliest city on the island: S. Cristobal de la Laguna. From Orotava it takes 25 minutes by car, for this reason we come back several minutes.
We fell in love with S. Cristobal, we don’t know why but when we returned to Spain and we read fantastic things about this city.
The city is the first example inspired by navigation from the stars, the science of the time (around 1.500 year), used a map of the stars, where two points of the stars corresponded with particular points in the city and all points are related to all the map.
Cristobal was declared UNESCO site in 1999. Also, the city’s 600 building have been pressure (yes, I say 600): churches, palaces, convents, hermitages, chapels and squares… is an open-air museum that you can get around on foot. We have left a link where you can download a map of S. Cristobal with the interesting places to see and of course, not forgetting to stop for lunch, dinner and a chat.
It’s an ideal city!
Second day in Tenerife: Loro Parque. Puerto de la Cruz.
If you go with kids “Loro Park” is must see. The kids will enjoy a lot and will want to see everything on offer, we advice you however, to plan it very well.
The parrots, killer whales, seals and dolphins have district timetables and all four are impressive, it’s important to know beforehand where each exhibition is located so you don’t waste any time… in this link you can find the park’s timetables.
Our advice in the killer whales exhibition is to buy a raincoat if you are in the first few rows as the water splashes over the spectators, it’s not a very big problem because the weather is very good, but it can be uncomfortable walking with wet clothes the rest of the day.
We had lunch in “Loro Park” and in the evening, we took advantage of the time while in the area of Cruz, to visit this pretty town which hasn’t lost its essence of being a old fisherman Village although it is one of the most touristic places on the island.
We left the car in the parking lot before the “Charco Square” and we walked all the city. The “Puerto de la Cruz” is located around the port and you can find in every step beautiful local sites such as the terraces and balconies that’s pervade the town where you want to stop and eat fresh fish cooked on the grill, baked o fried in sauce and always with “papas arrugás” with “mojo” (little boilt potatoes with sauce), there are very options.
The fish is obviously very, very fresh and local… the main fish varieties are… sardines, mackerel and other local fish like: chicharras, Viejas or salemas.
We walked around the historic centre and we continued to the maritime promenade until “Lagos Martianez”, here toy can see the work of Cesar Manriquez who is from Lanzarote, the work is 100.000 square meters and is formed by a central lake, swimming pools, gardens, terraces and restaurants. Although we prefer to lost ourselves in the port area and eat a fresh “vieja” (fish) in one of the many bars.
Third day in Tenerife: Pueblo Chico (Orotava) y P. N. del Teide
In Orotava there was “Pueblo Chico” (a model of the islands in miniature) we decided to visit it and the children enjoyed a lot, Unfortunately, we have realized subsequently after reading an article the is now closed permanently, the photos show the park however we have taken out the links because they no longer to exist.
Our idea was to see the stars from the Teide NP, an experience not to be missed, it is recommended for all ages, we decided to go up after lunch and stay for dinner in the “Parador Nacional”.
We have left a link with the timetable of the cable car so you can plan the visit well.
Our advice is to come down in the cable car and walk around without any rush. It’s one of the 12 wonders if Spain, we loved “The Roques”, “The Llano de Ucanca” … and we had a spectacular sunset with a full moon. It’s a magic place.
For your information in the “Parador Nacional” (heritage site) every Friday at 22:30 h there is stars gazing with the guide, if you can visit on Friday it will be a magnificient experience on a clear night, we have put the link of “Parador del Teide”, if you like our plan, we had bad luck because there was a full moon and it was cloudy, so we couldn’t see the spectacular display that you can see on a dear night, but for this reason we have the excuse to go back.
Fourth day in Tenerife: Icod de los Vinos, Garachico and Giant’s beach.
On the fourth day, we did the northeast route, with the first stop in “Icod de los Vinos” to charge the batteries with a hug for the “Drago Milenario” (an enormous tree, symbol of Canary Island).
Although we needed a bigger family to fit around the trunk, we gave a hug to certain parts and felt better for it. We have left the link fir “Drago Park” with the timetable and prices (is not expensive).
For lunch, we went to Garachico, a lovely fishing Village where you can eat to your heart’s desire and there are beaches with an intense blue sea, from the seaside one of the highlight is the old pier.
You won’t have any problem eating well as the fish comes directly from ocean to plate.
Our route, on the fourth day finish in the west of the island, in Santigo, visiting the “Giants beach”. The photo will explain why, it got this name.
If you have time it will be interesting to go out in a bout that sails between the channel of Tenerife and “La Gomera” (other Canary Island) to see the marine life (dolphins and whales) … but we left this for the next time.
Fifth day: Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Like all capitals, St. Cruz has a lot to see, for this reason we have chosen 3 things for you to do in the day: to see “Carnival house”, stroll along the “Rambla” and “García Sanabria” park and have lunch on the Teresita’s beach.
We have included for the “Casa del Carnaval” (Carnival’s house) a link for you to check prices and timetables.
The Carnival is the most famous party in the Canarian Island, but this oarty is celebrated in February.
Then, if you want to live the party outside of February, you can go to the “Casa del Carnaval” where there is a museum exposition and an interactive zone to live the party digitally.
The Rambla and the “García Sanabria” park. There are other interesting areas like the maritime park designed posthumous by Cesar Manrique o the “Palmetum” (Palm park), but we decided to go to this park because it is in central to the shopping center and you can enjoy the ancient trees and beautiful sculptures of great artistic value in 67.000 m2 square park.
Garcia Sanabria park in the centre of St. Cruz.Teresitas beach, is 20 minutes from the Center by car and when you arrive theirs is ample park. Teresita’s beach is a sandy beach with very calm see for the man-made dams, the beach has palms and bars when you can sit in the shade and have lunch. We went to the authentic “Cofradia de Pescadores” (Fisherman’s Association), we have put a link when you can see the photos of the freshly landed fish that are cooked daily a cheaply.
Sixth day: Candelaria y San Cristobal
If you want to discover real Tenerife (outside to the tourist areas), the Candelaria is the place to go.
It has religious tradition and costumes and black beaches and the Basilica of the Candelaria Virgin which is one of the destination of the religious pilgrims of the Canaries, one of the main costumes is celebrated on the 15th of the August and is a declared of National Interest by de National Tourist board.
It’s without doubt a town with a real Canarian identity.
Also, the town has a patron of the islands, situated near the Basilica where you can find sculptures of “Menceyes”, the native ancient kings, before the conquest.
The sculptures tell the story about the origins of the islands and how it was divided into some kingdoms corresponding to: Taroconte, Abona, Güimar, Taoro, Anaga, Icod, Adeje, Daute and Tegueste.
Furthermore, Candelaria has volcanic beaches that everyone wishes to find here. From the Basilica Square, there is a beach access to “Playa de la Arena”. We spent a while snorkeling with the children.
And they enjoyed a lot because there is a natural bay enclosed by rocks that converts the sea into a swimming pool with a lot of colorful fish close to the shore.
We finish our trip by returning to S. Cristobal, our favorite town in Tenerife. There are pedestrian’s streets where you can buy souvenirs, such as magnets or gifts for your family.
