Santa cruz de tenerife canary islands spain. Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital of Tenerife and sometimes the Canary Islands

And it is the main port of the island. The second largest port in terms of passenger traffic is Los Cristianos, which is located in the south, 84 km from it. It is predominantly blown by north-eastern and south-western trade winds, the height difference between high and low tides is 2.7 meters. Divided into 4 separate deep water docks: Los Llanos, Anaga, Pesquera and Este harbors.

In 2016, he was among the three largest ports in the world, according to the cruise traffic "Seatrade Cruise Med" and shares this place among the ports: Southampton (UK) and Kai Tak (Hong Kong).

Port building

In a buiding seaport you will find: car rental, bar, toilet, ticket sales, rest area and police. If you want to purchase tickets, it is better to do this through the website of the carrier company: Trasmediterranea, Naviera Armas, Fred. Olsen.

Arriving at cruise ship to the island of Tenerife, you can always use the services of our company, for example, book an individual excursion with a Russian-speaking guide. If you are a group of friends, then you can reduce the cost of the trip by dividing the cost of the excursion in half with your friends, which is obvious, and order a minibus for up to 8 people. Our guide will be happy to provide you with interesting information And best places Tenerife islands.

Additionally, we have the opportunity to travel to any destination you choose; for this you can use the service of a driver with a car, with knowledge of Spanish and Russian and an excellent knowledge of the island. Any directions, you will be quickly taken to wherever you say it can be wine tour, any beach or take the funicular to Mount Teide. We offer you flexible tariffs, where payment is made for every 30 minutes, starting from the third hour of employment (the first two hours are limited). In addition, if you want to take a walk on your own in the outskirts of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, then you can get acquainted with the places that are interesting to visit near the port, for this follow the link: What to visit in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Have a nice holiday!

Destinations and carrier companies

Directions	Trasmediterranea	Naviera Armas	Fred. Olsen
Gran Canaria (Las Palmas)	4 hours 00 minutes	2 hours 45 minutes
Gran Canaria (Agaete)			1 hour 20 minutes
La Palma (Santa Cruz de La Palma)	5 hours 30 minutes
Lanzarote (Arrecife)	17:00	14 h. 30 min.
Fuerteventura (Puerto del Rosario)	20 hours 30 minutes	11 hours 30 minutes
Fuerteventura (Morro Jable)		6 hours 00 minutes
Cadiz	49 hours 00 minutes
Huelva		31 hours 15 minutes
Graciosa (Caleta de Sebo)		17:00
Times are approximate

History of the port

Since the arrival of the conqueror and military leader Javier Alonso Fernandez de Lugo, the port has become a connecting sea route for Tenerife. Javier Alonso, during the conquest, chose this bay as the most suitable and convenient place; and after the place was secured, it was made into a defensive fort in order to prevent any attempt at attack. Thus, this defensive support played a decisive role during the battle with the ancient Guanches, and in the future, against attacks by pirates and various invaders.

The port began to emerge on a small beach, with the name “La Carnicería” (butcher shop), next to the “Santos” gorge (Spanish: Santos) with the adjacent small bay “Blas Díaz”, which overlooked several meters into the ocean and served as protection from the waves. Many residents called this place "La Caletilla" (La Caletilla - cove), where local fishermen unloaded their catch and moored their boats. Initially, the location and security of the bay suited everyone, but over time there was an increase in boats, the development of trade, and soon the question of expanding the pier and its safety became acute.

In 1526, by order of Juan de Aguirre, the City Council of Tenerife requests financial assistance from the Royal Court. Having received a positive response, the first foundation is laid for the construction of a real port, with its further subsidies.

During construction, many new problems arise, some of them: unfavorable weather, a strong storm in 1551, 1585 and 1600, entail a change in the reconstruction plan, the creation of additional fences, breakwaters and, of course, an increase in the cost of the project. After all, we need to make sure that all ships are safe, even during strong winds and a hurricane.

Despite the fact that the sea pier in which the defensive fortress was located had good security, the port never received overwhelming trade, although it was proclaimed “Main” by the Municipal Council. This happened due to the fact that ports in the cities of Garachico and La Orotava took over most of the commercial activity, as the humid northern climate Tenerife provided more harvests and wine production, and close accessibility from production to sea docks made the choice obvious.

Port fortresses of Santa Cruz

Following the expansion of the seaport and trade, in 1575 the Legislative Authority of the city of San Cristobal de La Laguna decided to build a fortress, which would be named after the name of the city itself “San Cristobal” or Saint Christopher. Two years later, on January 20, 1577, she entered military service to protect the coastline.

The Italian military engineer Leonardo Torriani (Leonardo Torriani 1559 - 1628) visited the island at the end of the 16th century and recommended that the monarch build two more bastions to strengthen the shore, which should be located in adjacent areas.

With the arrival of Major General Francisco de Andía, Torriani's recommendations are implemented, it is decided to establish the Paso Alto fortress in the La Alegria area in order to improve the protection of distant approaches. The idea was implemented in 1625 and would later play a decisive role in the defense and significant damage to the English army of Admiral Robert Blake on April 30, 1657 during the attack on Tenerife.

After 16 years, the third coastal tower “San Juan” (Spanish: San Juan) or “Black Fortress” was born in the town of Caleta de Negros in 1641, closing almost the entire coastline of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which In the future, you will have to inevitably participate in hostilities.

Port during the 18th century

During the 18th century, several important key moments occurred in the development of the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

There is progress at the level of internal communications, which significantly facilitates the movement of industrial cargo from the northern part of the island.

Accommodation General Captaincy Santa Cruz.

The emergence of a small bourgeois commercial class associated with the port.

A volcanic eruption in 1706 completely destroys the port of Garachico, which at that time had a very important commercial role in trade on the island. These premises lead to the consideration of the port in Santa Cruz as the main trading center.

The need for constant improvement of the docks raises the question of deepening the pier. In 1729, the military engineer Miguel Benito Herrán designed a plan for a new pier in the place where the San Cristobal fortress was located.

Later in 1741, the commander Don Andrés Bonito de Pignatelli entrusted the engineer Antonio La Rivière to work on the early design of Miguel Benito and the very next year La Rivière submitted his plan, which was studied in May 1742 in Madrid, but nevertheless, as in the first case, this project never saw the light of day.

7 years later, Commander Juan de Urbina tried to complete a new pier project. They sent out a request to influential businessmen to make gifts and donations in order to speed up and facilitate the implementation of their plans. This time, engineers Francisco La Pierre and Manuel Hernández introduced a new design plan. A year later, construction begins, in the place where it was previously planned, near the fortress of San Cristobal.

However, later in 1755, new bad weather caused severe defects in the breakwater. Merchants and port staff doubted the correctness of the project and suggested returning to the old bay of La Caleta for all activities. Nevertheless, in 1784 Andrés Amat de Tortosa, in collaboration with Francisco Jacot, began restoration work, finishing it in 1787.

Construction of a powder warehouse

The powder magazine (Spanish: Casa de la Pólvora) was designed by military engineer Francisco La Pierre in 1756 to store gunpowder, which was used by fortresses and weapons batteries. The powder warehouse undoubtedly has historical and architectural value in that its structure is in excellent condition, surviving to this day from the moment of construction. Located a few meters from the San Juan fortress, between the Tenerife Auditorium and the Cesar Manrique Marine Park.

The work was supervised by the military engineer Francisco Gozar from 1756 to May 24, 1758. It is a rectangular building of 10 × 30 meters of masonry, covered with a barrel vault. It could store up to 3,000 quintals of gunpowder without moistening it, being close to the ocean. The building had a lightning rod. In 1779, the powder warehouse was additionally lined with thick brick walls, carefully protecting it from cannon shots from the sea; at the moment there are none, they are destroyed.

Abandoned in the 19th century and preserved as an artifact of a bygone era.

Construction of the Customs House (Real Aduana)

The general commander, Bonito Pignatelli, decided in 1742 to found a Customs building in the esplanade of the small bay of Blas Dias, square in shape, two floors, made of lime mortar and wood, with the decorative addition of marble from the island of Lanzarote. The building stood for almost two centuries, eventually it was demolished and a Post Office - Telegraph was built in its place.

19th century

Starting from the second half of the 19th century, the seaport experienced a period of strong prosperity, until 1950 it became the economic axis of the island. Primarily based on the cochineal trade (cochineal mealybug, natural red dye, carmine). The increasing demand for this product brings good economic benefits from the enactment of the Free Ports Law (Puertos Francos) in 1852.

Colonial routes: Geographical location Canary Islands turned this place into a transit point for European powers. In addition, this fact contributed to the opening of many European companies. Most companies are encouraged by the good results of future port projects, which have led to an increase in the economic dynamism of the port. The Trade Council decided in 1845 to build a new pier with new safety measures. The project was entrusted to landscaping technician Pedro Maffiotte, with the intention of increasing ship traffic and therefore trade. In 1846, the famous civil engineer Francisco Clavijo y Plo arrived on the island to design roads, canals and ports. Up to this point, all work was designed by military engineers.

In 1852, the port of Santa Cruz was declared a major interest, which must meet all the new requirements of modern ports, which must have centers for trade contracting, an area for warehouses, areas for unloading materials and other necessary services.

The Clavijo Plan was approved in 1864, which proposed a profound improvement in the port facilities of the capital, starting reconstruction at the end of the 19th century, with the advent of new high-tech machines and technologies.

Port in the 20th century

At the beginning of the 20th century, in the lower rocky area called La Jurada, 50 tons of gunpowder and 65 kg of dynamite were used to extract 300,000 tons of building material for a new offshore platform. Stones from this quarry were used for the construction of the southern dam, which were delivered through railway. The first steam locomotive was brought to the island in 1890, soon followed by additional diesel locomotives manufactured by Henschel. One of these cars from 1924 has been preserved and can be found at the foot of the former quarry, near the TF-11 highway, which goes to Las Teresitas beach.

Over the past century, the port has been very sensitive to economic influences and highly vulnerable from external sides. One of the significant crises occurred in 1916, due to the severe reduction in international shipping and the activity of German submarines during the Second World War. After almost 40 years, since 1953, shipping has gradually been restored to high level previous years, which brings additional cash injections, development and support for the seaport of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Anaga Harbor (Darsena de Anaga)

Anaga Inner Harbor consists of 4 piers: Sur, Norte, Ribera and Enlace.

Norte Pier: Designed in 1909 and has little activity. This is where the missing Jet Foil stood in 1991. Currently, the historic steam ship La Palma, built in 1912, is preserved and moored here.

Pier Sur: Revived in the 19th century and extended in 1921. It is 1351 meters long and 12 meters deep. Now reserved for the berthing of large tourist cruise ships.

Ribera pier: Construction began in 1951. The structure of the port is quite complex, 269 meters are allocated for passengers, a fruit berth of 397 m and a main goods berth of 382 m. Its characteristics allow the mooring of up to two ships at the same time, both ferries and Ro-ships. Ro.

Enlace Wharf: Opposite the Plaza de Espana, this large area between the docks of Anaga and Los Llanos was a busy trading post of former times, with active trading of goods.

Eastern Harbor (Dársena del Este)

Consists of the Eastern seawall, the Contenedores pier and the Bufadero pier.

The eastern dam is used as a technical intermediate port for tankers and longboats. It is where ore cargo ships, pneumatic ships and oil tankers carry out their operations.

Contenedores (Container) Berth: Forms a space with a capacity of 5000 TEU, for loading and unloading of large container ships.

Bufadero Quay: 421 meters long and 14 meters deep, was opened in 1993 and has an area of ​​130,000 m2, which can accommodate a 6,000 TEU container ship. Reconstruction is currently underway to increase capacity.

Pesca Harbor

Designed for economic sector development operations, as well as the placement of sports courts.

Los Llanos Harbor

Consists of the Dam and the Ribera II pier

Dam: 1426 m long and 8-12 meters deep, currently used for special traffic. There is also a recreation area (crew change) for permanently floating shipyards.

Berth Ribera II: Accommodates two adjustable docks of 400 and 470 meters each and functions to accommodate RO-RO ships and container ships.

Lighthouse

The identifying sea lantern is the La Farola del Mar lighthouse, built by Henry Leapaute, who arrived from Paris in May 1862. It is one of the previously active lighthouses of the south pier. Its work began on December 31, 1863 (9 years after the adoption of the “Free Ports” law in 1852), and was active until 1954, when it became useless with modern requirements for port development.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital of the island to which our site is dedicated, as well as the province of the same name. In addition to Tenerife, it includes the islands of El Hierro, La Palma and La Gomera.

Once upon a time, not far from Santa Cruz, the Spanish history of the island began. In 1494, the conquistadors first landed in the town of Añasa, now located eight kilometers from the capital. However, in those days it was not safe to settle on the coast, so after the conquest the Spaniards built their first city in a sheltered valley. This is how San Cristobal de la Laguna was born. In the same place where Santa Cruz now lies, there was only a fishing village.

Later, an important port appeared here, which already in 1723 allowed Santa Cruz de Tenerife to receive capital status. Today it is the second largest port in Spain, where the most famous and largest ships call. The population of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is more than 220 thousand inhabitants, which by Canarian standards gives the city the right to be considered very large.

Many major European cities today represent an amazing synthesis of modernity and history. This is also the capital of Tenerife, the largest of the islands of the Canary archipelago. On the one hand - huge shopping centers, brands known throughout the world, the latest tram line... on the other - narrow old streets and small houses that keep the secrets of past centuries.

Attractions of Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Auditorio de Tenerife

One of the symbols of the capital, built by the notorious architect Santiago Calatrava. Inside there is a large concert hall, which hosts performances by both local groups and world stars.

Castillo de San Juan

The fort, now in the shadow of the huge Auditorio building, is one of the oldest landmarks in Santa Cruz. It was built on the coast in the mid-17th century to protect the port, famous at that time for the slave trade from Africa, from attacks from the sea. Named after John the Baptist. The fort's second name is Black Castle (Castillo Negro).
Every year at the end of July, a performance is held here that recreates the events of 1797, when the British attack led by the legendary Admiral Nelson was repulsed at the Battle of Santa Cruz. It was in this battle that he lost his arm.

Torres de Santa Cruz

Not far from the Auditorio you can see two skyscrapers - twin residential towers, built in 2004 and 2006. Their height is 120 meters. These are the most high buildings in all of the Canary Islands and the tallest pair of twin towers in all of Spain. Interestingly, a quarter of the total area of ​​the buildings is underground.

Carnival emblems on Constitution Avenue (Avenida de la Constitución)

For many years, in February–March, Tenerife hosts a carnival known throughout the world (it is considered second in scope after the Brazilian one). Each carnival has its own emblem. You can see the images created for the celebrations of past years on the Avenue of the Constitution (Avenida de la Constitución). You need to go from the old fort, towards the exit from the city. The emblems are built directly into the pedestrian path.

Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África

This curious building, recognizable by its arched vaults and pink clock tower, is located on San Sebastian Avenue. The most unusual thing about it, perhaps, is its purpose: Mercado de Nuestra Señora de Africa, despite all its architectural sophistication, is a two-story market built in 1943. Moreover, the market is active. You need to come before lunch, and best of all - in the morning: at this time you can buy the freshest vegetables and fruits, flowers, seafood (including oysters), cheeses, poultry, and spices. On Sundays, in the morning, there is a flea market where they sell souvenirs and various original things.

Teatro Guimera

The attention of passers-by is primarily attracted by the bronze sculpture installed in front of the theater façade. The sculpture in the form of a huge female face is named Per Adriano (“For Adriano”). It was created in 1993 by the famous Polish sculptor Igor Mitoraj, whose “faces” adorn more than one world capital.

The theater itself is also noteworthy - it is the oldest in the Canary Islands. The building was built in 1849 in the classical Romanesque style, after which it was repeatedly completed and reconstructed. The theater has been named after Angel Guimera (the author of many famous plays, a native of Santa Cruz de Tenerife) since 1925. On this stage you can see not only dramatic, but also dance and musical performances.

Masonic Temple (Templo Masónico de Santa Cruz de Tenerife)

The building, located at the intersection of Calle San Lucas and Calle Viera y Clavijo, was built more than a hundred years ago by order of a local Masonic workshop. The temple has been under reconstruction for quite some time, so you can only explore it from the outside.

Ancient Egyptian symbols were used to decorate the temple: under the very roof there is an eye with rays radiating from it (“Radiant Delta”), figures of sphinxes are installed below, and an eagle spreads its wings above the entrance.

Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción

Among the Catholic churches of the city, this one occupies a special place. Here at the Church of the Immaculate Conception Holy Virgin Mary, there is a cross installed on the coast of Añas by the conquistadors who arrived here to conquer the island at the end of the 15th century. There was also a place for captured British flags, preserved from the Battle of Santa Cruz.

The chapel on this site was built already in 1498, literally two years after the final conquest of Tenerife - after all, in those days, conquests went hand in hand with Christian missionary work. It is no coincidence that the Church of the Immaculate Conception has the title “Mother Church” (Iglesia Matriz), emphasizing its importance in the spread of Catholicism in the Canaries. In addition, it was from this square that the city grew.

The current appearance of the building, the distinctive feature of which is the spire, is the result of reconstruction carried out after the fire of 1652 and completed only in the second half of the 18th century. This only five-nave church in the Canaries is also interesting for its interior - in particular, the altar.

Plaza de España

According to the architects' idea, the central square of the city and the entire island was turned into a kind of bowl with sea ​​water and a fountain in the middle. The original lighting also corresponds to this idea: light bulbs placed in garlands around the perimeter are made in the shape of water drops of different sizes.

The architectural dominant of the square is a huge obelisk (Monumento de los Caidos) in the shape of a cross, dedicated to the residents of Tenerife who died during the Spanish Civil War. At the top of the obelisk there is an observation deck, below there is a now empty underground chapel. Part of the composition is a group of sculptures.

Behind the obelisk is the Tenerife government building - the Cabildo Insular, an example of architecture from the 1930s. The main information center is located in the same monumental building with a clock. tourist office islands, where you can purchase a good map of the city with landmarks marked.

Plaza de España was built on the site where San Cristobal Castle once stood, protecting the city from pirates. Now the walls of the castle can only be seen underground, where galleries have been built specifically for this purpose - outwardly they look like angular dark buildings covered with plants. The exhibition is called Centro de Interpretación “Castillo de San Cristóbal”. Admission is free, Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00.

The continuation of the square is the green and shady Alley of the Duke of St. Helena (Alameda del Duque de Santa Elena). There is a marble fountain brought from Genoa in the year the alley was built.

Plaza de la Candelaria

Plaza de la Candelaria, located next to Plaza España, was founded much earlier - back in 1701. Previously there was a source here drinking water, and the name was appropriate - La Pila (literally - “pool, reservoir”). Subsequently, instead of a source, a monument dedicated to Santa Candelaria, patroness of the Canary Islands, was erected in the center of the square.

The obelisk "Triumph of Candelaria" symbolizes the appearance of the Virgin Mary to the indigenous population of the archipelago, the Guanches, and their conversion to Christianity. The composition consists of four Mensei (Guanche rulers) and the Virgin. Previously, they were complemented by four angels riding dolphins - symbols of the seasons. However, this part of the composition was damaged in 1825, after which it was removed.

Among the buildings located on the square, it is worth noting the Rodriguez Carta Palace (Palacio de los Rodriguez Carta), dating back to the 17th century. If you go inside, you can see a luxurious courtyard with verandas and stairs made of dark wood.

The pedestrian Calle del Castillo, which runs up from Candelaria Square, is home to many small shops. For tourists who want to spend time shopping, combining it with a walk through the city streets, this is the most suitable place. But do not forget that many shops close for siesta from one in the afternoon to half past five.

Duck Square (Plaza de los Patos)

This small but very green square is loved by the residents of Santa Cruz. The stone benches installed here are decorated with ceramic tiles with various patterns, and plaques stylized as advertisements from a previous era are attached to the center of the backs. Duck Square is called because of the fountain, in the center of which there is a stone duck.

Rambla de Santa Cruz

One of the largest and most beautiful streets in the capital of the island. Consisting of elegant buildings, numerous restaurants and cafes, it stretches in a semicircle through almost the entire city. Where the street reaches the coast and intersects with Avenida de Francisco la Roche, there is a huge monument to General Franco. The street itself was named after him for a long time (on many maps it is still designated as Rambla del General Franco).

The street is decorated with palm and laurel trees, as well as modern sculptures, making it a kind of arts boulevard. There are signs on the trees with the names of great artists: Warhol, Michelangelo, Vermeer and others. On Sundays there is a flea market here.

Park García Sanabria

Parque García Sanabria, named after the mayor who approved its construction, is the largest urban park in the entire Canary archipelago, rightfully considered the “lungs” of the city of Santa Cruz. It was created in the 1920s and today has a rich collection of plants, mainly tropical and subtropical. Here you can also find a brief summary of the history of the island: on the backs of three benches, the landing of the conquistadors, the everyday life of the Guanches and their defeat at the Battle of Acentejo are depicted.

At the entrance to the park, which can be reached along Calle del Pilar, there is a large flower bed with a clock built into it, next to which guests of the capital like to take pictures. Citizens often make appointments here. Two grand staircases to the right and left of the clock lead to the central fountain, where, at the intersection of two alleys, there are monuments to Mayor Garcia Sanabria and Doctor Guigo, who at one time proposed building the park.

Las Teresitas Beach

Those who want to combine a “metropolitan” vacation with a beach vacation should go to the town of San Andres, located seven kilometers from Santa Cruz. It is here that the beautiful artificial beach of Las Teresitas is located, more than a kilometer long, surrounded by mountain ranges. It was developed back in the 1970s, when about four million bags of yellow sand were brought here from the Sahara Desert, and Canary palm trees were planted along the shore.

A stone dam built along the entire beach protects it from waves and allows the water to warm up. This is a serviced area: rental of sun loungers and umbrellas is organized, there is a shower, parking, restaurants and a medical center. Access is free, like all beaches in Spain.

Mirador de los Campitos

The Mirador de los Campitos viewpoint offers views of the residential area of ​​Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the port and the lower part of La Laguna. On a clear day you can see the island of Gran Canaria almost in detail; It is especially interesting to explore the surroundings with binoculars. To get to the observation deck, you need to take the Los Campitos Highway (Carretera de los Campitos).

View of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (online weather) via webcam

From a flying height, Tenerife, like a tasty piece of pizza in the turquoise waters of the Atlantic, beckons fans of the eternal holiday. The largest of the seven Canary Islands, the highest in the ocean and popular among tourists, it occupies 2057 square meters in the heart of the archipelago. km and awaits guests off the coast of Africa, between sister resorts - eastern Gran Canaria and southwestern La Gomera.

Volcanic eruptions gave life to the island 12 million years ago, the tribe of blond Guanches called it “snow mountain”, and the two-faced nature (the moist, flowering north and the sun-kissed south) gained fame in ancient Greek myths - the resort is famous as the garden of the Hesperides inhabited by nymphs. Here you will see everything that remains of the legendary Atlantis: the Martian landscape of the black desert at the foot of the highest point in Spain - Mount Teide, blocks of frozen lava hanging over the ocean, tropical forests and banana valleys.

As the most populated and busiest island in Spain (904,713 people), Tenerife has been welcoming millions of travelers for two decades. The mild climate does not require getting used to, and the speech of the expressive residents requires translation, their gestures are so clear. But everything you need, even menus in restaurants, is available in Russian, so you won’t have a language barrier.

Don’t look at the calendar; at any time of the year, welcome to the oasis of spring blossoms - Tenerife. Here the sun gives you a bronze tan, but there is no sweltering heat, and clean air and healing volcanic sand are in harmony with European service and developed infrastructure. Open the window to the world of green hills and piercingly clear skies, let the breeze play in your hair, and Spanish wine sparkle in your glass...

Tenerife is the largest and most famous island Canary archipelago: it is visited by more than 10 million tourists annually. Listed Island world heritage UNESCO has at its center big mountain with Teide peak. The height of the peak is 3718 m, this is the highest point in Spain, you can climb it by cable car. Mount Teide is a dormant volcano that last erupted in 1909. Today, around the crater of the volcano (diameter 48 m), on the slopes of the mountain and at its foot National Park Teide.

The climate of Tenerife is humid, rich in vegetation in the north, and dry and sunny, with a stable average daily temperature, in the south, making the island year-round resort.

The main city of the island is Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which has been the capital of the entire Canary archipelago for 4 years in a row, in turn with the city of Las Palmas (Gran Canaria) with interesting sights: the Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, the Municipal Museum of Painting and Sculpture, the Carta Palace, the Church of La Conception. Other famous cities islands - the ancient town of Orotava, the chic resorts of Puerto de la Cruz, Playa Las Americas, Los Cristianos. Excellent training opportunities aquatic species Sports are offered by the town of El Medano, located on the windy south-eastern side of the island.

Among the main attractions of the island are six ancient stone pyramids of unknown purpose in the town of Guimar in the east; the famous Loro Parque, which is simultaneously a zoo, a botanical garden and a huge aquarium; “Eagle Park”, on the territory of which about 500 species of animals and birds live.

In February, Tenerife hosts a major event - a carnival, the second largest and most colorful after the Brazilian Carnival. Carnival processions take place everywhere, but the most important events take place on the streets of Santa Cruz.

Current time in Santa Cruz de Tenerife:
(UTC 0)

All beaches on the island are public, admission to them is free, but all services are paid. The beaches in the north of the island are especially picturesque - they are covered with black sand of volcanic origin, which has healing properties.

You can read more about the climate, attractions, cities and beaches of Tenerife in the blocks below.

How to get there

On Fridays in Tenerife there are direct flights from Moscow to Tenerife South Airport (formerly Reina Sofia"), which is in the southern part of the island, the flight time is about 7 hours. VIM Avia and Transaero airlines have direct flights from Russia.

Alternative flights from European carriers with transfers allow you not only to save money when purchasing tickets online, but also to create a combined tour, combining the trip with a visit to Berlin, Vienna, Dusseldorf, London, Milan and other European cities.

If you wish, you can see the museums of Barcelona, ​​dress up in Italy, dine in a restaurant overlooking the Champs Elysees or admire the castles of Germany. An intermediate stop is often made in Madrid - from here the maximum number of routes to the island is open. The daily flight Moscow - Madrid takes about 5 hours, Madrid - Tenerife - no more than 3 hours.

Regular flights of European airlines are served by the airport in the northern part of the island - Tenerife North, former airport Los Rodeos. Vacationing in Tenerife has become easier for residents of St. Petersburg - Ryanair operates flights from the nearby Finnish city of Lappenrante via the German Weeze airport.

You can visit any of the islands of the Canary archipelago in the shortest possible time by direct flight from Tenerife North Airport; the longest route to Lanzarote will take you no more than an hour. Despite the many daily flights, we recommend purchasing tickets in advance, since the islanders love to travel by air and fly at special rates.

Weather forecast

Saturday 15.02

Sunday 16.02

Monday 17.02

Tuesday 18.02

Wednesday 19.02

Thursday 20.02

on "Pogoda.Tourister.Ru"

Weather in Tenerife by month

	Temperature daytime, °C	Temperature at night, °C	Temperature water, °C	Quantity precipitation, mm
	21	15	19	36
	21	15	18	34
	22	16	18	24
	22	16	18	15
	22	17	19	3
	24	18	20	1
	27	20	21	0
	27	21	22	0
	27	21	23	8
	26	20	23	18
	23	18	21	38
	22	17	20	51

Reviews by month

January 21 February 11 March 17

April 14 May 4 June 8

July 9 August 9 September 10

October 12 November 4 December 17

Photos of Tenerife

Transport

Transport in Tenerife is represented mainly by Guagua buses, as well as a tram that runs to Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Other options for getting around the island are taxis and car rentals. You can also buy a ferry ticket and sail from the port of Tenerife to other islands of the Canary archipelago.

You can read more about getting around Tenerife (types of transport, ticket prices, useful links and other information necessary for traveling around the island) in our special material “Transport in Tenerife”.

Districts

Of the seven Canary Islands, most holidaymakers prefer Tenerife - it has the largest tourist centers, the highest level of service and developed infrastructure.

Playa de las Americas

The largest among the southern resorts and the main place of attraction for tourists, Playa de las Americas is the center of the best hotels and beaches, where guests are caressed by the ocean and warmed by the sun all year round. Almost all the hotels here are new and equipped with the latest technology, and a wide selection of entertainment will diversify your leisure time both day and night. The resort coast, 6 kilometers long, is divided into 2 areas - western Costa Adeje and eastern Playa de las Americas.

The mountain range protects this area from northeastern winds, thanks to which the southern town is not familiar with the vagaries of nature. Only tens of kilometers separate the south and north, but the climate is different, as if in different countries. The calm ocean and the stability of beautiful weather delight the heat-loving guests of Las Americas; here is the most interesting choice excursions are in Russian, there are a lot of Russian-speaking staff, and even those who do not speak foreign languages ​​are not in danger of remaining misunderstood.

Once upon a time, only fishing settlements huddled in the south overgrown with milkweed, but in 20 years they rebuilt tourist town teeming with hotels, restaurants and entertainment. The name Beach of America was given in honor of the achievements of Columbus; the monument in the port of Puerto Colon points towards the United States.

The western part of the city is calm and respectable, the lively center - near the Sol Tenerife Hotel - thunders with the bass of discos and clubs, inviting young people on vacation. The crowded east of the resort is full of shops and restaurants, falling asleep closer to midnight, when establishments close and tourists scatter to their rooms. There are countless supermarkets on the streets, proudly called supermarkets and offering everything you need for beach leisure. However, there are also stores with a wide selection at reasonable prices, including a network of outlets under the Mercadona logo.

The pioneer among Las Americas hotels, the four-star Gran Tinerfe, was built in 1971, the rest were rebuilt in recent years - a significant plus in the resort’s treasury of advantages. There are bars and restaurants serving international cuisine on literally every corner in the city. You are unlikely to be offered truly Canarian dishes made from freshly caught fish or rabbit, but we recommend trying juicy ribs with honey opposite the Conquistador Hotel, and good signature cuisine awaits you in the Jardin Tropical Hotel restaurant. In the evenings, clones of Elvis Presley and Freddie Mercury sing in pubs and restaurants, and shows are held in hotels. However, while away the evenings in a hotel is the lot of pensioners from Germany, while flamenco burns with passion, and the temperament of the Spanish soul is revealed on the stage of the Pyramid of Arona.

The main charm of the resort is its eight well-equipped sandy beaches, where you will find everything from sun loungers and umbrellas to water attractions and cafes. At your service are boat trips and deep-sea fishing, catamarans, jet skis, yachts and 2 water parks, as well as spa centers, knightly tournaments, karting, Spanish ballet, exploring exotic nature and much more - the city will not let you get bored. A pedestrian promenade stretches along the entire coast of Las Americas - it is pleasant to stroll along it in the evenings, remembering the delightful Tenerife sunsets. The panoramas of Las Americas are amazingly good.

Los Cristianos

An inexperienced tourist will not notice where Beach of America ends and the calmer one begins tourist centre south - Los Cristianos. The resorts have merged together, and the miniature Chaiofita Mountain is a silent marker of their separation. Located at the foot of the dormant volcano Montaña de Guasa, the resort is inferior to its brother in area and range of hotels and entertainment. Only bright fishing boats remind of the past of the once picturesque village, giving the resort a special flavor. The name of the city is historical, with an emphasis on the religion of the inhabitants.

The foundation of tourism in Los Cristianos was laid by reporter Don Benito. Suffering from multiple sclerosis, he moved here in the hope of curbing the disease, and his health began to improve. As an employee of a television company, he discovered a village on the ocean for Sweden, where nature itself cures ailments. And soon Swedish speech began to sound in these metas, and the small village was reborn into a climatic resort.

The compact low-rise center is densely built up with modest apartments; narrow streets are separated by shops, bars, and offices. The main hotels are lined up in the eastern part of the city; fishing today is more of a form of recreation than a trade, but there are good fish restaurants in the port area. Several bunkers from World War II, created in case of a possible British landing - perhaps all the cultural buildings of the city. However, the English “landing force” descended on the island, but decades later - with inflatable mattresses and sunburn creams. Guests have two sandy beaches at their disposal: Playa de las Vistas and Playa de los Cristianos, a favorite among vacationers. The promenade along the pedestrian promenade from the port to the center of Las Americas will take you just over an hour.

When darkness falls, the resort, far from the noise of nightlife, falls asleep. The younger generation does not stay here often, but older Europeans have a great time; Los Cristianos will also be comfortable for people with disabilities.

El Medano

In the eastern bay at the foot extinct volcano is a resort for windsurfers and lovers of uncrowded beaches. It is always windy in El Medano, and therefore people from all over Europe come here who want to curb the elements. Living up to its name, the “Red Mountain” of Montaña Roja turns purple in the sunset, there is little entertainment here and it is not noisy - when the city is shrouded in twilight, life glimmers in a few bars and restaurants. The small neighboring town of Los Abrigos is famous for its fish restaurants.

The natural sandy beach attracts fans of a relaxing holiday away from the bustle and mass tourism. On west bank The beach of Playa El Medano spreads out, the winds brought its light sand from African lands. Opposite Montaña Roja lies the Playa La Tejita beach, beloved by nudists and the local population.

El Cabezo Bay has a rocky shore, the wind is smoother and the waves are not as steep as in the sandy El Medano Bay, the natural conditions of which are suitable for speed riding.

According to windsurfers, a bad day in El Medano is comparable to a great one in Hurghada; it is no coincidence that the resort was chosen as the venue for international competitions. Sailing equipment and paraphernalia can be rented; surf centers are located in the vicinity of the Playa Sur and Atlantic Playa hotels. Even if you do not consider yourself an experienced athlete, but are ready to take your first steps, Russian-speaking windsurfing school instructors will help you get trained.

The choice of hotels at the resort is limited: apartments and simple suites. Reasonable value for money can be found right on the coast in the three-star Medano, although you can also stay in Las Americas: it's only a 10-minute drive away.

Playa Paraiso

For fans of the system all inclusive You'll love Playa Paraiso - secluded " Paradise Beach» is located west of the tourist center next to the town of Callao Salvaje. Despite the beautiful name, the rocky shore leaves no chance to splash in the ocean, except perhaps sunbathe on a sun lounger by the pool. However, the beaches of Las Americas are about 12 km, and this is only half an hour by regular bus or 10 minutes by car.

The center of the Playa Paraiso resort area is four economical three-star hotels overlooking the ocean, designed for an unpretentious audience. You will find more respectable hotels on the periphery - the five-star Roca Nivaria and 4* Bahia Principe give guests comfort and silence. All inclusive in Paraiso Floral and Bahia Principe, some hotels transport guests to and from the beach for free. Restaurants and shops line the highway, and clubs and discos are open in the city.

Beginner divers can get training, and sightseeing enthusiasts can rent a car and get to the most interesting places in the island's south in minutes.

Ten Belle

Hidden in the southernmost part of Tenerife is an oasis of peace - the resort village of Ten Belle on the rocky shore of the Costa del Silencio, whose name translates as “Coast of Silence”.

The harmony of silence of this place invites you to relax in solitude, as if the tourist boom has not affected the atmosphere of the leisurely life of the fishing villages. Located on the east coast near the town of Las Galletas, for half a century Ten Belle has been attracting lovers of tranquility who are tired of the hustle and bustle of tourist centers.

Cafes and small shops and impressive panoramas are perhaps all you need for a family vacation. The village does not have a beach or luxury rooms, but can offer an all inclusive system in inexpensive comfortable hotels, as well as one of the largest seawater swimming pools in Europe and a sandy slope into the ocean.

The most comfortable among the hotels are Parque Don Jose and Maravilla - the aparthotel is built on a ledge near the ocean, and its windows offer amazing views.

Don’t let Ten Bel’s isolation scare you; renting a car will allow you to visit the most interesting corners of the island.

Puerto de la Cruz

The climate of Tenerife determined the southern location of almost all resorts, with the exception of the very first, the founder of island tourism - Puerto de la Cruz.

Conan Doyle’s contemporaries also rested in the cool subtropical flora of the northern coast. Unlike the others, this city is not built specifically for tourists. Puerto de la Cruz, the keeper of centuries-old history and the place of residence of the islanders, is not similar to the tourist centers of the south either in climate or atmosphere. If the landscapes of the sultry south evoke thoughts of the desert, then the humid north breathes freshness after the rain and is fragrant with the aromas of flowers.

Resort life began here at the end of the 19th century - following fashion trends, the English aristocracy sailed on beautiful ships to spend the winter in Tenerife, decorously took promenades under umbrellas and enjoyed the island, which was pleasant in all respects. After the Second World War, lines of simpler tourists stretched out; Puerto was the leader among the Canary resorts until the 80s, when the delights of the south finally took the palm. The British are traditionalists and still love this place; Russian holidaymakers prefer the south, but it’s still worth visiting the town at least once.

The choice of hotels is wide - from luxurious five-star to budget. The neat streets of the Old Town retain their charm, and the violin cries in cozy restaurants. Cuban palm trees decorate the bustling Plaza del Charco, where lovers meet, ladies discuss the latest gossip, and gray-haired gentlemen play dominoes. It seems that residents do not care about the numerous holidaymakers, and this is the secret of the city's modest charm.

In Puerto de la Cruz you have a choice of two beaches - the eastern Playa Martianez and on the opposite side the more convenient Playa Jardin for swimming. The coast pleasantly surprises not only with black sand, but also with a marvelous garden of exotic trees. However, from the northern shore the ocean is not kind; in the winter months it attacks the island with strong, high waves. This minus is more than compensated by the pretty Lago Martianez - a whole complex of lava islands and pools with sea water. Take a walk along the embankment in the evening - music flows in the light of the lanterns, and artists paint portraits, then turn onto Calle Quintana - it will lead you to historical center. Puerto's main treasure is the beloved young tourists Loro Park with penguins and tame killer whales. No less worthy of attention is the botanical garden, laid out in the 17th century by the will of the Spanish king.

What to see

Lost among the rocks in the thickets of the north-west is the village of Maska, whose picturesque landscapes are the value of mountain settlements. Rural houses can be seen under a cliff of breathtaking heights, and an unforgettable panorama of the gorge of the same name opens up. Fifty years ago, only narrow rocky paths connected Mask to the outside world. Even today, those who want to touch the island’s past overcome the pass along the serpentine mountains.

Siam Park gives guests a fabulous atmosphere of the Thai kingdom - it is one of the largest European water parks and is located in Las Americas. In pursuit of his dream, Christoph Kiessling traveled to a lot of interesting corners of the world - Thailand, Cambodia, amusement parks in different parts of the world, collecting the best ideas and new technologies for his creation. Outstanding engineers, the architect Rutai, and the famous Italian artist Paolo Bonanno took part in the embodiment of this comfortable miracle - together they managed to recreate the unique atmosphere of ancient Siam, a stylish and relaxed environment for relaxation and pleasure.

Siam Park is not the only water park in Playa de las Americas; children and thrill-seekers are invited to Aqualand, formerly Octopus. Here you will find both children's slides and attractions for real kamikazes, and what's nice is that there are no queues for them during the show at the dolphinarium. In “Aqualand” you can visit the dolphin museum, take a photo against the backdrop of the main symbol - a water tap that appears as if out of nowhere, and, enjoying the peace, peacefully swim with the flow of the “Congo River”.

For the mysticism of lost civilizations, go to the “Pyramids of Guimar” - an ethnographic park where the ancient Guanche tribes erected ceremonial buildings. When and why they appeared is a mystery; all that is known is that the mysterious stepped structures are built from volcanic lava stones and are very similar to the pyramids of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Peru.

San Miguel opened the gates to romantics, inspired by the legends of King Arthur, fearless knights and valiant tournaments. The atmosphere of the Middle Ages and battles in the best traditions of the genre, the outcome of which is largely decided by you, open in the south of Tenerife. With the onset of dusk, passions begin to boil here - 6 desperate knights compete in the art of shooting and horse riding, and victory in the duel is awarded by the audience. The architecture of the San Miguel Castle exactly replicates medieval buildings; it was built specifically for the theatrical show and is designed to return guests to a bygone era of valor and nobility.

If your vacation falls in February, don’t miss the opportunity to attend the island’s brightest holiday - Carnival in Tenerife. It will surprise you with the scale and colors of the processions. During this month, every corner of the island blooms, but traditionally the epicenter of the action is the capital of Santa Cruz. The Roman Empire gave the carnival a scenario with a change of roles, when nobles and servants, men and women changed outfits and, hiding behind masks, were freed from rules and foundations.

To get an architectural and natural picture of Tenerife, take a walk to the Pueblo Chico miniature park. The small town in the vicinity of La Orotava houses copies of the most iconic buildings and landscapes. Thematic areas have been recreated down to the smallest detail: the modern era and the Guanche era, rural architecture and historical buildings, the lunar landscape and the city of La Laguna, exotic flora and endemic plants. After seeing the best from a distance, you'll want to compare the miniatures to reality.

At the dawn of colonization and until the beginning of the 18th century, the northern coast was glorified town of Garachico- the main port of Tenerife, which saw off ships with full holds of wine and met galleons with overseas goods. Alas, the prosperity of the wealthy city was put an end to the volcano Montaña Negra - lava flows swallowed up the port and most of the island.

Emerald carpet on northern slopes Teide, near Puerto de la Cruz, lies the Orotava Valley, and in its very heart, among the banana plantations, a picturesque town of conquistadors grew up. The best time to be here is June, Celebration of the Octave del Corpus, when the alleys are strewn with flowers and carpeted with petals, and the central square amazes with fantasy paintings of colored volcanic sand.

The capital of ancient times, the cultural and spiritual core of the Canary archipelago - San Cristobal de La Laguna. The palaces, monasteries and churches of these places seem to have stepped out of the paintings of a brilliant artist. Museums make a significant contribution to the city’s merits: the Tenerife History Museum, the Science and Space Museum, and the Anthropology Museum. Another very interesting museum is the Museum of Nature and Man in Santa Cruz. When planning to explore museums, do not forget to take your Bono Bus magnetic card with you - you will save half the cost of visits.

In the east of Tenerife, in the vicinity of the capital, the coastal town of Candelaria blooms. He gathers parishioners and carefully preserves the Black Madonna - a statue of the patroness of the Virgin of Candelar, revered by the archipelago. Legend has it that at the end of the 14th century, ocean waves carried a sculpture of a woman ashore. The Guanches found her, and in the king’s cave they worshiped her for half a century, and the settlement was called Candelaria, which translated sounds like a meeting with God.

The burning passion and temperament of the Spanish soul will be revealed to you by Carmen Mota's ballet in concert hall"Pyramid of Arona". If previously a ticket to the ballet only brought boredom, this bright emotional performance will radically change your attitude.

Do you want to know what made Cuba famous in its time? Come have fun at Los Olivos! The south of the island, flavored with Cuban flavor, is unforgettable when dozens of acrobats, musicians, dancers and singers rock the Tropicana show.

National parks of Tenerife

As you descend the ramp towards the bleak views, don’t believe your eyes. As soon as you drive a little deeper into the island, the world of evergreen forests and flowering strange plants opens up before you. Rare places can compete with the rich flora of Tenerife - due to the mild climate, there are excellent conditions for more than a thousand species of flowers, trees and shrubs.

Delightful flora and the dormant Teide volcano form the landscape Las Cañadas del Teide National Park, reminiscent of Mars or the Moon, or the Earth before the Ice Age. The amazing panoramas of this national park were chosen for the filming of Star Wars and One Million Years BC.

To make sure that the island fauna is in no way inferior to the flora, invite you to a man-made treasure in Puerto De La Cruz - “Loro Parque”, which has gathered in its open spaces the richest collection of parrots, the largest penguinarium, dolphinarium and oceanarium in Europe. Here you will have the opportunity to walk through a glass tunnel, watching sharks and rays, be applauded by killer whales, tame dolphins and artistic fur seals, see white tigers, feed monkeys and pet rare exotic animals. An explosive mixture of zoo, circus and botanical garden will give your children an unforgettable experience.

A beautiful and no less spectacular oasis of the tropical world, “Eagle Park” sparkles with waterfalls and delights visitors with views of a real jungle. Here lions and hippos yawn, crocodiles rest in the shade and orangutans scratch themselves, open sky Eagles soar, and tourists hone their balancing act skills on rope bridges. Don't miss the breathtaking show of feathered predators.

We recommend visiting the town for lovers of wine and fluttering butterflies Icod de los Vinos and taste excellent varieties from local cellars in an atmosphere of Canarian tradition. Charming views of the province surrounded by greenery, orchestral music and the decoration of the city center leave no doubt - people here know how to enjoy life. In souvenir shops you will be offered to sip wine; pay attention to the flavor bouquet of the white Brumas variety.

A real holiday awaits you at the Butterfly Museum; its garden is replete with the colorful wings of hundreds of species of fluttering beauties from Asia, Australia and America. Surrounded by flowers and butterflies, lives a venerable iguana, often luring guests at the entrance. Try to get here on a sunny day, as cloudy weather puts the museum's inhabitants to sleep.

Also in the town of Icod de los Vinos there is a must-see place - the Dragon Tree Park, where the oldest dragon tree of the Canary archipelago, and possibly the whole world, grows - there are rumors that the huge dracaena is 3,000 years old and is the oldest living organism on planet.

Having rolled to shrouded in haze La Gomera island, you will see a miraculously surviving relict forest - for a walk between the laurel thickets Garajonay National Park It's worth taking the earliest ferry. The island closest to Tenerife is named after the grandson of Noah; here you will see the landscape amazing beauty- like the steps of a staircase, the terraces and palm groves of Valle Gran Rey stretch out on the rocky slopes, and the basalt pillars of the northernmost point - Los Organos - plunge into the ocean. The Count's Tower keeps the secrets of the meetings of Christopher Columbus with the lady of his heart who ruled the island - Beatrice de Bobadilla, and, according to legend, America was baptized with water from a local well - here great navigator replenished supplies.

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Private guides in Tenerife

Russian private guides will help you get acquainted with Tenerife in more detail.
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Things to do

Beaches in Tenerife

For amateurs beach holiday a wide selection of sand and pebble beaches in different parts of Tenerife, as well as a string of comfortable and equipped beaches on the coast of the southern resort of Playa de las Americas. Many of them have been awarded the European quality mark - the Blue Flag as a symbol of safety, high level of service and environmental friendliness. Guests of the island can swim and sunbathe in any of the places they like, including on the territory of the most star hotels. Only the service is paid for: straw umbrellas, mattresses and rental of sun loungers, entrance to showers and toilets, as well as water attractions, catamarans and jet skis. The embankments are dotted with all kinds of cafes and restaurants.

The volcanic nature of the island has created several natural black sand beaches, and the development of tourism has contributed to the emergence of sand beaches from Africa and the ocean floor. The artificial beaches produce light sand, and only winds from the Sahara Desert brought it to the shores of El Medano. Connoisseurs of secluded relaxation will appreciate the wild pebble beaches in the eastern part of Las Americas as an alternative to the developed but crowded sandy shores.

The leading tourist center of the south, Las Americas, is built in the image and likeness of Miami: kilometers of comfortable sandy beaches, protected by stone dams, stretch along the rocky coastline. The calmness of the ocean waters allows you to relax here all year round. A promenade has been created along the coast and a long chain of hotels, bars, restaurants and shops has been lined up - in this area every guest will find a place to their liking.

Playa El Camison beach, located opposite the Mare Nostrum and Sir Anthony hotels, delights tourists with golden sand and lush lawns under the shade of palm trees. In the heart of the resort, not far from the youth area of ​​Las Veronicas, there is a wide sandy beach Playa Troya, and the best family holiday awaits you at Playa La Pinta near the large sports port of Puerto Colon - a lot of slides and inflatable attractions will delight kids, and sea excursions on yachts and sailboats will entertain adults.

The prestigious Playa del Duque, the main five-star beach, is recognized as the best in Las Americas south coast. Nearby is the most luxurious hotel in Tenerife, included in the first hundred hotels in the world - Bahia del Duque. Sugar sand, landscape design and stylized cabins, a wide range of services, chic commercial centers, elite boutiques, restaurants and the architecture of nearby hotels attract visitors and local elite on the shore.

Near the capital of Santa Cruz, at the foot of the Hangar in San Andres, lies a picturesque and iconic beach - Playa de las Teresitas, depicted on the pages of every guidebook. Three hundred tons of sand from the Sahara Desert cover the two-kilometer, palm-fringed shore with gold. The ocean is tamed by a stone breakwater; thanks to the dam, the water here is always at a pleasant temperature, but the peaks mountain range Clouds often gather - to avoid getting caught in the rain, check the weather forecast before your trip. There is everything for a wonderful holiday, and home-made restaurants in the surrounding villages attract with the aromas of fish dishes according to Canarian recipes. Las Teresitas is loved not only by tourists, but also by islanders; on weekends the beach is especially crowded.

Among the new beaches, pay attention to Playa Torviscas, which quietly merges with the shore of Playa Fanabe, where the five-star hotels Gran Anthelia and Jardines de Nivaria overlook. Gray bulk sand, boulders of four breakwaters, playgrounds and an endless series of shops, cozy “chiringuito” bars with cold cocktails, and an abundance of restaurant dishes allow you to have a great time here for the whole day. Everything is at your service active rest: catamarans, jet skis, paragliding.

Los Cristianos delights tourists with two popular beaches. The golden and calm Playa de los Cristianos huddles in the port, is closed from the ocean by piers and offers a wide range of excursions, water activities and children's playgrounds. It was completely renovated in 2008 and invites guests to play beach volleyball and sample fresh fish at seaside restaurants. In the bay behind the port lies one of the longest beaches - Playa de las Vistas, a fountain gurgles in its very center, and there are many bars and restaurants along the shore. There are a lot of festivals and concerts on the beach; the coast party is fun until the morning, entertaining guests at night disco bars.

The southeast of Tenerife awaits lovers of solitude and water sports in the area of ​​​​the miniature resort of El Médano, offering two spacious natural beaches with natural orange-golden sand, rare for the island, brought by winds from Africa. Partially covering the territory of the city, El Medano beach is located next to the airport and abuts the Montana Roja rock - velvet dunes stretch at the foot of red rocks, and the constant trade winds attract European kiters and windsurfers, as well as those who prefer the comfort of an uncrowded shore to the noisy centers. Athletes are invited to buy equipment from branded stores, and the doors of a surfing and kite school are open to beginners.

On the other side of the volcano lies the windswept beach of La Tejita. He will impress fans wild holiday, a nice place under the Montana Roja rock has been chosen by naturists. Perhaps this is the only well-maintained beach for nudists - there are sun loungers, umbrellas, and a food kiosk. However, adherents of nudity rest behind a stone wall, without embarrassing people of traditional views. Behind the pier is the rocky shore of La Cabeza beach - the steady wind and waves of this place gather participants and fans of the windsurfing championship every August.

The north of Tenerife is not so kind to those who like to swim in the ocean - high waves are quite dangerous, but the artificial lakes Lago Martianez compensate for the harsh nature of nature. Islands of volcanic lava, fountains and impressive artificial lake, spilled over 15,000 sq. meters and bordered by smaller pools, await visitors to the complex. As on well-maintained beaches, a range of recreational services is presented to your attention - cafes, restaurants, sun lounger rentals, cabins.

On the territory of the largest northern resort - Puerto de la Cruz, there are two beaches with healing volcanic sand: the eastern Playa Martianez and the more comfortable Playa Jardin with parking, rental of umbrellas and sun loungers, restaurants, showers and a first-aid post.

Experience healing power You can get black sand in the southwestern resort of Los Gigantes in the vicinity of Puerto de Santiago - on the beautiful natural beach with volcanic sand Playa de la Arena. Surrounded by apartments, it is hidden in a rocky bay and protected from steep waves and strong winds. It’s worth coming here early in the morning, before the coast is flooded with tourists from neighboring resorts, and admiring the contrasts of milky white foam, azure waters and dark sand. For twenty years in a row, Playa de la Arena has been awarded a blue ribbon for its beautiful views and cleanliness. The sun's warmth and minerals from volcanic sand will relieve you of osteochondrosis, sprains, radiculitis and arthritis, and a scattering of restaurants and shops diversify the promenade along the quiet, uncrowded shore.

Active holidays and excursions in Tenerife

Tenerife's climate and winds are perfect for kiting both on the waves and in the lagoons. Everything here is like in Spain, although the island makes you overestimate the level of preparation. The most popular beach among kiters, equipped with full service for water sports - sandy El Medano . Wave catchers will love the northern shores, but the reefs and sea ​​urchins are required to wear special shoes.

There are a lot of golf clubs on the island, including international ones - an excellent opportunity to get training and join such a prestigious and aristocratic sport. The clubs are mainly located in the southern part of the island, where it rarely rains.

You can dive from the deck into the azure waters of the bay and get acquainted with whales, dolphins and sperm whales in their natural environment. sea ​​excursions. The plankton-rich coastal waters of Tenerife are home to a huge number of species and species: sharks, mackerel, blue marlin, barracuda, and two dozen whales. The guides joke that the inhabitants of the ocean are on their payroll, and therefore communication with them is a guaranteed point in the walking program. However, only the luckiest travelers manage to meet a sea turtle or sperm whale. The best choice The port of Puerto Colon offers pleasure yachts, pirate sailboats, boats and catamarans with a transparent bottom; you can also go to meet the open spaces of the sea from Los Gigantes or Los Cristianos.

Named in honor of Columbus who visited the island, the port of Puerto Colon is recognizable by the statue of the great navigator - the pointing finger of the monument is raised in the direction of the path across the Atlantic. The port is home to the largest company in the field of water attractions - Water Sports & Charters, offering a full range of kayaks and bicycles, motorcycles, boats and yachts, skiing, banana boats, parachute flights, sea voyages, fishing and diving. Don't miss the opportunity to ride the B.O. B. Diving - a moped with a helmet and an oxygen tank dives several meters and moves along the rocky bottom, the pleasure does not require a certificate or skills, but includes photography.

The widest variety of fish species from the Mediterranean and Atlantic will delight lovers sport fishing V open ocean— special boats, equipped with all the gear down to the echo sounder, promise a big catch of trophies and vivid impressions. Fishing connoisseurs can try out the gear to suit their tastes, and beginners will quickly learn the fishing craft. It is impossible to predict who will be tempted by the bait - tuna, swordfish or the dream of experienced fishermen - blue marlin, and this is the special excitement of deep-sea fishing. If you decide to go fishing on your own, go from the port of Los Gigantes.

You can see bizarre volcanic landscapes underwater and feed huge stingrays. diving in Tenerife. Look for the most delicious diving spots in the south - Las Galletas, southwest and southeast. In the town of The Rays, dozens of stingrays pose for tourists and are served directly from their hands. A few minutes drive from Los Gigantes, the picturesque Octopus Cove Bay is hidden - sea anemones, corals and a reef overgrown with sponges will appeal to lovers of colorful photos. Like ruins ancient city, the mysterious Atlantis is hidden under the water column, the Bay of Masca is edged with black corals, the caves of Palm-Mar, Las Cuevitas and the sunken ship “Condesito Shipwreck” keep their secrets.

Those wishing to ride on the ships of the desert are greeted by Camel Park, located in the vicinity of Los Cristianos between the villages of La Camella and Chayofa. Hours of camel safaris await guests at the La Casa del Camello farm near the resort of Las Americas. Quad Park, located a stone's throw from La Camella and the village of Arona, invites you to race ATVs over the bumps of the volcanic off-road. You can try one of the best European tracks in two karting clubs, the best of which is Karting Club Tenerife, located next to Los Cristianos. There are six models of karts and two tracks at your disposal for all ages and skill levels.

However, extreme sports fans will get the most powerful adrenaline rush in sports park " Agua Y Cielo” - if you are a true Gagarin at heart or a desperate parachutist, the merging of water and sky in Las Americas will give you a storm of thrills. These breathtaking rides have gained wild popularity in the world: where else will you have the opportunity to throw yourself down from a 20-story high-rise and in a second accelerate on a “rocket” to hundreds of kilometers, freely fall from a bird’s eye view and jump to your heart’s content from a springboard, reaching a height of eight meters. While adults behave like children, kids will also have something to do on attractions for the youngest tourists.

SPA in Tenerife

Relax after an active holiday in the SPA center - what could be more pleasant? The healing power of thermal baths has been known since Ancient Rome, even then, water from mineral springs was used to treat ailments and restore health. Therapeutic muds and herbs for SPA treatments give the skin youth, elasticity and beauty, activate metabolism and rid the body of toxins, saturating it with energy, restoring vigor and well-being.

For those wishing to experience thermal pleasure in the south of Tenerife, the Aqua Club Termal complex near the Villa Tagoro aparthotel has opened its doors. The SPA centers of five-star hotels in Playa de las Americas welcome all guests of the island, and in Puerto de la Cruz a new chic club in the oriental style, Oriental SPA Garden, has opened on the territory of the Botanico Hotel.

Purchases

The Canary archipelago is a free economic zone, not burdened with high import duties, making the cost of goods in Tenerife significantly lower than in Europe. The best shopping awaits you in the shopping centers of the capital Santa Cruz on Calle del Castillo.

Take a look at the largest shopping center “El Corte Ingles” for clothes and shoes - the range of world famous brands on the island is not rich, but it is easy to find interesting Spanish brands. In addition, the store will delight you with jewelry, perfume and leather handbags.

Nearby you will find a small clothing store with an excellent balance of price and quality - Wehbe. The mall, equipped with a cinema and restaurants - Hipermercado Carrefour, invites you to combine business with pleasure, and it is better to buy electronics and household appliances, without fear of Indian counterfeits, in the Saturn center.

In Las Americas, near the Parque Santiago hotel, a shopping gallery has opened, and in the southern corner of the island of Armenime, the largest Spanish pearl center has been opened, Tenerife Pearl. The store’s assortment will pleasantly surprise even the most demanding fans of pearl jewelry, and in the workshop you can personally observe how mother-of-pearl beauty is born from the exhibition salon. Take part in the “Catch a Pearl” lottery by pointing to your favorite mollusk in the aquarium - the treasure of the shell will be yours along with an expert assessment of the catch and a certificate.

The sales season - rebajas - starts twice a year: at Christmas and in mid-summer, when the stores are flooded with crowds of shopaholics. Discounts - from 20% to 90% on the most stale goods.

The highlight of shopping in Tenerife is high-quality alcohol, cheaper - only for free, even at the airport in Duty Free the price tag is higher than on the island. Buying perfumes and expensive watches here is also much more profitable than in Russia. Near the hotels there are a lot of retail outlets with intrusive Indians and tempting prices for electronics, but do not rush here to make purchases - the origin of the equipment is questionable, and the warranty does not apply in Russia. For gadgets, it is better to go to the capital's stores.

For those who find a special charm in the world of flea markets, excitedly looking for something unique among the nesting dolls and ritual African masks, Tenerife offers several flea markets: in Los Cristianos - Hotel Gran Arona, in Las Americas - Mercadillo de Torviscas, as well as in Plaza de Llano, Los Abrigos and Playa San Juan.

Food and drink

Canarian cuisine is a fusion of Spanish and Mediterranean traditions with the best recipes from Africa and Latin America. The basis is the freshness, simplicity and quality of dishes from fish, seafood, pork, young lamb and marinated goat meat, seasoned with juicy vegetables, olives and tropical fruits.

Breakfast in Tenerife starts with coffee and traditional gofio - roasted corn or barley flour mixed with milk. Multifaceted gofio is added to desserts, soups, roasts, ice cream, sauces, porridge is prepared from it and bread is baked. This product is very rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals; it formed the basis of the diet of the ancient Guanches, helped the population survive in the difficult post-war years and is still included in the daily menu of the Canarians.

Highlight local cuisine- “wrinkled potatoes” Papas Arrugadas. Small young potatoes are boiled in their skins until the water has completely evaporated so that the salt settles on the skin. This side dish, often served with chicken, gets its unique flavor from mojo sauce, a mixture of spicy and green sauces based on olive oils. Rounding out the island menu is the “old clothes” Ropa Vieja, a combination of beef, chickpeas, potatoes, chicken and potaje roast. Many versions of canary stews, including Puchero Canario, are prepared from several types of meat, and a favorite among traditional dishes is the freshly caught boiled wrasse in olive oil - Vieja. Among the spices, saffron is the leader - a frequent guest in the recipes of local dishes.

The simplicity of the Canarian menu pleasantly surprises with its bizarre combinations of products. The first courses are replete with a variety of vegetable soups made from zucchini and watercress; the rich Potaje de Berros on pork ribs with beans, corn, cumin and watercress is popular.

At the head of the table is tender boiled fish of various varieties in mojo sauce or seasoned with oil, vinegar and pepper. In addition to the exquisite purple-yellow vieja, be sure to try bocanegro, grouper, several types of tuna and chicharro. Dorado, swordfish and sardines are very popular, as are typical island dishes: salted fish in mojo sauce Caldereta, poached sama with sweet potatoes Sancocho Canario and fried fish with garlic, coriander and vinegar Frita con mojo verde. Sea delicacies will delight gourmets with the freshest oysters, mussels, clams, squid, snails, shrimp, knifefish, cuttlefish and boquerones anchovies.

In the humid tropics, meat dishes are a particular pleasure: grilled pork with marinated Carne De Fiesta peppers and the famous Chuletones bone-in chops. The natives hold in high esteem goat meat and young lamb, a delicious stew with tomatoes and rabbit meat, Conejo al salmorejo, as well as Puchero stew with saffron, beans and chorizo ​​sausage. Vegetarians will appreciate the Potaje Berros and vegetable mixed rice with corn, tomatoes and Arros con verduras peppers.

The sauces deserve special attention: green mojo verde with coriander and spicy mojo rojo with pepper. Local sauces are 100% natural, do not contain chemicals or preservatives; the best souvenir for a gourmet is a set of bottles with different types of sauces. It is impossible to get an idea of ​​the cuisine of Tenerife without trying rabbit marinated in Salmorejo.

The Canary Islands are famous for their original tapas; they are served before dinner with fine wine or beer in the form of canapés or pinchos with a stick. The range of snacks is wide: cheeses, cold meats, seafood, hot vegetables.

The wine list opens with sweet and strong amber malvasia; 33 types of Canarian wines come from the volcanic region of Lanzarote - similar wine-growing areas no longer exist in the world; in the entire history of production, local vineyards have not been affected by natural disasters, which has a beneficial effect on the quality of white and red varieties.

The production of white and dark rum flourishes in the Canaries - carefully protected sugar cane plantations give the drink not only excellent taste, but also medicinal properties. Try the local Daiquiri, Cuba Libre and the signature honey Ron Miel - the cost of alcohol in Tenerife shops is more affordable than in Duty Free.

And for dessert - a medley of fresh tropical fruits: papaya, mango, pineapple, avocado, guava, melon and pow pow. Palm honey and juice, delicious egg flan pudding and amazing quesillo cheese, as well as the famous bienmesabe - honey and egg cream with rum, almonds, cinnamon and cream.

You can get acquainted with the original cuisine of Tenerife in family-run village restaurants that open their doors far from the resort routes. In addition to the traditional island menu, you can easily find multinational cuisine in numerous establishments. It has everything from British pubs and fast food chains such as Little Italy and McDonald's to upscale restaurants. “Canarian tipico” serves excellent soups and fish dishes, and the unexpected combinations of dishes from Platos combinados are very tasty. The gradation of establishment levels is based on forks: from one to five forks assigned the best restaurants for the luxury of the interior and assortment. However, many restaurants with the best cuisine can boast only 4 forks; the most accurate indicator of the quality of food is the presence of local residents in the room. The staff is fluent in English and often Russian. Tips are usually included in the bill, although if you're in the mood, you can add 10% for a good time.

You will be treated to delicious meat dishes in the restaurants: “Juan Pedro's” in Los Menores, “Romania at Adeje”, which is not far from Las Americas, in “Los Arcos”, opened north of Los Cristianos, as well as behind the resort of Puerto de la Cruz in the town La Montaneta. Once upon a time there was an ancient monastery here, and today “El Monasterio” is the best complex of restaurants in Tenerife, where the variety of the menu is amazing, they bake real black bread and serve monastery beer. After having a hearty lunch, it’s nice to take a walk in a wonderful park and feed the animals. And for Brazilian grilled meat, go to Rodeo, which is not far from Las Americas. We recommend trying seafood in the fishing villages of Los Abrigos and La Caleta, as well as in the Los Cristianos restaurant - El Cine; chicken is well prepared in the provincial restaurants of Adeje - Oasis and Damaray.

Pleasant service, atmosphere and sophistication of Spanish cuisine will greet you at the family-run Meson Castellano - suckling pig, fresh fish, Spanish wines... Molino Blanco invites you to Adeje with its original presentation of meat dishes based on Canarian recipes, everything is thought out to the smallest detail in a way that has preserved the spirit of Castilla “El Torito”, and “El Duende” is famous for its wine cellar and snails in green pepper. Casa Regulo invites you to enjoy a meal within the walls of a beautiful house, open to guests in the historical place of Puerto de la Cruz, to taste delicious international dishes: swordfish straight from the fire, spicy peppers, king prawns and the best Canarian wines. And delicious pies, seafood and any of two hundred wines will be served on the terrace overlooking the ocean at Casa Pancho.

Leaving a tip is not necessary, but it is a sign of good manners, but too large a tip is equivalent to bad manners. To reward the waiter for his service, it is enough to add 10% to the bill amount, and the money is distributed to the entire staff of the establishment.

Connection

On the streets of every city you can easily find blue-green Telefonica payphones; the cost of a five-minute call to Russia is about 1 euro. International communication services are provided by any Internet cafe at a rate of 12 - 25 cents per minute, payment by meter is made at the cash desk. You can call from your hotel room by paying your bills on the day of departure at the reception desk, but this is the most expensive type of communication. It is cheaper to purchase a SIM card from a Tenerife mobile operator - from 25 euros, including a balance of 15 euros, tariffs are about 1.5 euros per minute of conversation with a Russian subscriber. The SIM card is topped up at mobile operator offices, gas stations, post offices, electronics stores and through ATMs.

Calls to Russia to landline numbers:

• 007 or +7 (this is the Russian code) + city code + landline number of the subscriber
• Calls to Russia to mobile numbers:
• 007 or +7 + mobile number subscriber without eight.

Computers with Internet connections are installed in almost all hotels, the cost of services is 6-8 euros per hour. Access to the World Wide Web is several times cheaper in slot machine halls. You will find Wi-Fi in the reception area of ​​almost any hotel, free - in the H10 hotels and the McDonald's chain.

Safety

Calm and prosperity reign in Tenerife, the standard of living of friendly Spaniards is quite high, and there are simply no places or areas that are dangerous for tourists on the island. Travel at your leisure by car or by bus, walk safely under the moonlight, but do not neglect simple precautions.

Keep valuables, bags, wallets, and equipment with you; do not leave them unattended on a sun lounger or in the car. Don’t be too lazy to hide your bags in the trunk - if thieves break the glass, your insurance will be powerless. It is better to keep international passports, money, jewelry, tickets and other documents and valuables in a safe and not take them with you to the beach - it is unlikely that on the island you will be asked for a passport for verification, and to pay for purchases with a plastic card, sellers only need a driver’s license. Wallets and large bills have no place in the back pockets of trousers.

We strongly advise against paying with bank cards at retail outlets opened by Indians, which includes almost all electronics stores in Las Americas. And don’t rush to buy goods from them for cash: most likely, they will be of low quality and of dubious origin.

Avoid intrusive distributors of free lotteries.

Try not to get sunburned and beware of sunstroke, best time for a beach holiday - before 13.00 and after 16.00. Panama hats, protective creams, glasses and umbrellas will help you - start with cosmetics with a high degree of protection, reducing to SPF 15 as you tan. Tanning oil is suitable for dark skin.

It’s safer to keep your distance from living creatures in the water; catching crabs on slippery cobblestones is not a good idea. Sea urchins live on the ocean floor and rocks; if you are unlucky enough to step on one of them, treat the wound with fresh lemon juice. The fruit can be found in any coastal bar, it will soften the pain, and the needles will come out less painfully. The remaining needles are removed with tweezers, and the doctor will prescribe a special ointment from the pharmacy.

If you encounter any difficulties, with the exception of car rental, please contact the host.

For help from a doctor, call the numbers indicated in your health insurance policy. You are required to be consulted and, if necessary, send a specialist to you or arrange for hospitalization. The cost of calls, treatment and transportation is reimbursed by the insurance company. However, if serious treatment is not required, you pay for the doctor’s services yourself, and after returning home you present a bill from the pharmacy and for the doctor’s services to the insurance company. Having a medical insurance policy is not a whim of the embassy, ​​but a guarantee of receiving expensive medical care in Spain.

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The capital of the archipelago (Canary Islands), Santa Cruz de Tenerife, is located in the northeast and is tightly surrounded mountain system Anaga.

History of the capital Tenerife

The city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife was founded in the 15th century on the site where the first Spaniards landed. These were far from tourists, and pursued very specific goals. The Empire needed to expand its own territories. A wooden cross was erected at the landing site of the Spaniards, and this became historical place and a starting point in the growth of the future capital of the Canary Islands. Years passed and Santa Cruz from a small port town turned into a modern metropolis, with many narrow streets in the old center, large areas and green park areas. And of course with gorgeous beaches and developed tourist infrastructure.

The most port city of the island

The conquistadors also noted the favorable geopolitical position of the future capital of the island; in their times, Santa Cruz de Tenerife became the most important port. Moreover, in our time it is considered the third largest and most important port in Spain. It is an important logistics hub in transcontinental trade routes, connecting Europe with Africa and the Americas. Every day in the port of Santa Cruz you can see ships flying the flags of different countries of the world. Small tourist ferries, as well as giant ocean liners, also stop here.

Attractions Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Of course, the capital of Tenerife does not live up to the title of metropolis: the entire city can easily be walked on foot. Let's take a walk through the very center of the city and learn about the main attractions of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. All of them are concentrated mainly near the Plaza de España. The central place in Plaza de España is occupied by a memorial in memory of the bloody Civil War of 36-39 of the last century. Not far from the square is the Church of St. Francis, built in the 17th century. Another attraction of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is worth paying attention to the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción church, dating back to the 16th century. Inside it is kept the same wooden cross erected by the first Spanish settlers, and this is not only a symbol of the capital, but also of the entire Canary Islands. Walking to Plaza Candelaria, you will reach the main pedestrian street of the capital - Calle Castillo. Tourist and shopping life is in full swing here with shops, restaurants and cafes. The city's central market is located nearby: Mercado de Nuestra Señora de Africa. Here you can buy fresh products for dinner or try ready-made dishes. Despite the fact that it is far from the east, local sellers are not averse to bargaining.

Museums of the capital Tenerife

If you have a free minute, be sure to stop by the Museum of Archeology and Anthropology. Here is a unique collection of household items from the Guanches, the indigenous population of the Canary Islands. These include mummies found in the caves of the island, farming tools, weapons, household items, household utensils, jewelry and much more. From Guanche weapons, let's move on to more recent times and look at the collection presented at the Military Museum of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Armor, weapons from the times of the conquistadors and more modern types of weapons. The museum’s exposition also houses a truly unique specimen: according to legend, this is where the cannon is located, the shot from which tore off the hand of the famous Admiral Nelson. Whoever comes to the Canary Islands with a sword will be left without an arm. Let's move from weapons to the world of art and go to the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Nature. Each of them has something to see and create an impression of. cultural life islands, as well as flora and fauna.

Modern symbols of the city

Of course, this is a little strange, but this makes the building of the Auditorio Tenerife opera house, built in 2003, even more mysterious and attractive. The Canary Twin Towers look interesting, rising to a height of more than 100 meters. Timeless in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, another symbol is the most... big park throughout the archipelago - García Sanabria. Its area is more than 67 thousand square meters. m. True, it must be said that the capital of Tenerife is itself a very green city. Trees grow on every street in the city.

Carnaval de Tenerife

Once a year, in February or March, the capital Tenerife hosts a carnival, which is considered one of the largest and most colorful in Europe. Residents of all islands and Europeans come to Santa Cruz especially for the holiday, not just to witness the action, but also to take an active part in it. At first glance, it seems that the carnival is a fun and simple pastime, but in fact, preparation for it takes many months. The holiday begins with the selection of the carnival queen, followed by a traditional horse parade, and therefore the wildest fun begins. The Tenerife Carnival is even called little Rio for the similarity of colors and atmosphere. But it is worth saying that the Brazilian carnival, the Canary Carnival, is still inferior in scale.

Beach capital

To the east of the capital is located where the most popular and largest beach in this area of ​​the island is located. Tourists from Europe and islanders come here to bask in the sun and laze on the white sand. By the way, the sand here is real - from the Sahara Desert. In 1973, it was brought here in incredible quantities.
In the capital's suburbs there are several diving clubs, and the dives are intended for both beginners and seasoned divers. The underwater landscape is very beautiful and rich: Coral reefs, underwater caves and even a real sunken ship. But it’s better not to go there; local underwater inhabitants have been living there for a long time: sharks, stingrays and barracudas.

In the vicinity of the capital

The capital of the Canary Islands is also the starting point of a variety of tourist routes. From here the journey starts for everyone who wants to conquer the highest point of Anagi - a mountain range at the foot of which is the village of San Andres. North of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the first capital of the island - the town of La Laguna, which, although it has lost the official status of the capital, is secretly the cultural capital. If you drive a decent distance from the capital, you should pay attention to

Plaza de España is the most important and large area Santa Cruz de Tenerife, located in the Canary Islands.

The square was erected in 1929 between Morsky Avenue and Sreteniya Square. The most important attraction of the square is the monument to the fallen, built after Civil War designed by García Escamez. The monument is a tower in the shape of a cross, at the top of which there is an observation deck. Under the monument there is an underground chapel, which is empty today.

Over time, the square was rebuilt according to the design of architects from Switzerland who won the competition. The result of the reconstruction of the square was a fountain with sea water installed in its center. At night, Piazza di Spagna is illuminated with many lights and garlands.

Coordinates: 28.46761600,-16.24744900

Taganan

Taganana is a small, lovely mountain village located in the south-eastern part of Tenerife, Canary Islands. Its area is 1.5 hectares, on which there are several white houses and a small church made in the medieval style. Local residents mainly work in small fields or gardens. From here you can enjoy magnificent views of the ocean and mountains, you can take unique photos and breathe fresh air. A narrow serpentine road leads to the village, driving along which you will experience many extreme sensations.

Once you reach your destination, you will be pleasantly surprised by the many homemade fish restaurants where you can taste delicious Canarian cuisine - fried octopus, goat cheese, fresh fish and Canarian rosé wine, which has a unique taste and aroma. Not far from Taganana there are three natural wild beach: Playa de Beniggio, Playa de Almáciga and Playa de Roque, which are considered the most beautiful on the island of Tenerife. The special flavor of Taganan will give you a lot of unforgettable impressions that will be remembered for many years.

Coordinates: 28.56085300,-16.21818100

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La Arena Beach

La Arena beach is in the center resort town Puerto Santiago, comfortably located in the western part of the island of Tenerife. This area is reliably sheltered from the northern winds, so the local climate is stable and very mild. Throughout the year, the temperature varies by 5-6 degrees, reaching its peak in August. La Arena beach does not stand out with any special delights; it is not the best vacation spot for people who prefer extreme pastimes. There are no noisy discos or large crowds of people in the vicinity of the beach, so this place is suitable for those who want to relax and take a break from the noisy city.

La Arena beach annually attracts tourists from all over the world thanks to its black sand, blue ocean and wonderful landscapes. Almost every place here seems to be copied from a painting, which is why professional photographers often come here. Near the La Arena beach, two panoramic elevators were built that take everyone to the beautiful observation deck. Entrance to the beach is absolutely free, but you will have to pay to rent a sunbed or umbrella. A team of rescuers is on duty at La Arena around the clock.

Coordinates: 28.22956200,-16.84106500

San Agustin Beach is a small city beach that is intended for... have a relaxing holiday. This cozy place for those who seek peace and tranquility. Usually on weekdays there are not many vacationers on the beach. People come here on weekends local residents living nearby. San Agustin Beach is sandy. There are several showers on the beach. Entry is free. Next to the showers there is a small shop where you can rent umbrellas and sun loungers. The total length of the beach is six hundred and seventy meters.

Near the beach there is a convenient parking lot for two hundred cars. There are several hotels and inns along the coastline of San Agustin Beach. A beautiful promenade has been built next to the beach. There are several shops, bars and cafes here. They offer visitors dishes made from seafood. Nearby there is a small market where you can buy food and necessary things.

Coordinates: 28.39593100,-16.65355700

Castle of Castillo de Paso Alto

In the near future, it is planned to create a museum of torture from the times of Francoism in the Paso Alto fortress.

Members of the Association for the Restoration of Historical Memory want to turn the castle, located on the coast of Tenerife, into a memorial, as well as restore the former appearance of the structure, as it was from the end of the 18th to the beginning of the 19th centuries.

The Paso Alto Fortress is considered one of the examples of the unique architecture of the Canary Islands. The castle walls withstood the siege of the island in 1657, when Robert Blake tried to capture Tenerife, and a century later, when Admiral Nelson tried to do the same. During the years of Francoism, the building was used as a prison building.

Coordinates: 28.53071700,-16.36410600

Castle of San Juan Bautista

The fortress of San Juan Bautista was named after John the Baptist and is one of the oldest and main attractions of Santa Cruz.

The castle was built in 1641 and also has a second name – the Black Castle. The powerful Fort San Juan Bautista is located in the very center of the city and attracts attention with parapets, loopholes for artillery pieces and a round tower. The structure played an important role in protecting the city from the invasions of invaders.

Every July, a reenactment of the Battle of Santa Cruz takes place on the grounds of the castle, during which Horatio Nelson, a British admiral, was defeated while attempting to capture the fortress.

Coordinates: 28.47053500,-16.24878200

Auditorio de Tenerife

The Auditorio de Tenerife is an incomparable piece of architecture, with avant-garde design and wild popularity. The construction was made exciting and eye-catching by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. Such an unusual creation was released in 2003.

The interior decoration is as beautiful as the exterior: symphony and chamber halls. The stage of the first is 17 meters, the depth of the orchestra pit is 14, the effect of “surround sound”. An enviable set, I must say.

This very stage regularly hosts the best symphony orchestras and jazz, pop and rock musicians perform here. They also teach dancing and host a lot of musical events.

Coordinates: 28.45631600,-16.25131100

Market Municipal Nuestra Señora de Africa

The Municipal Nuestra Señora de Africa market is located in Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife. It is best to visit it in the early morning - it is at this time that you can find a huge selection of exotic products and the freshest fish. And on Sundays, next to the main pavilions, there is a flea market offering interesting goods.

The market is housed in a magnificent building built in oriental style; the central entrance is decorated with towers with spiers. The first floor of the market is occupied by butcher shops, among whose products jamon, chorizo ​​sausage, various varieties of ham and rabbit meat are especially popular.

In the lower, underground floor there are fish rows. The range of fish shops is amazing in its richness and variety. And the main advantage of the local market is the exceptional freshness and quality of the products. There is also an abundance of fruits and vegetables, most of which were grown in Tenerife. It is also worth visiting the stalls with all kinds of spices, which can also be purchased as a souvenir.

Coordinates: 28.46322800,-16.25193100

Port of Santa Cruz

The Port of Santa Cruz is the city's commercial, fishing, sports and passenger port, as well as the main one in the Canary Islands and the second most important in Spain. It is divided into four harbors and is located in Santa Cruz Bay.

The port was formed on the site of La Carniceria beach near the small bay of Blas Diaz, favored by fishermen. Previously, the port was used as a means of communication with the outside world and defense against pirates. Soon he became the main one on the island. In the 16th century, the castle of San Cristobal was built here - the first main fortress of Tenerife, and in the 17th century two defensive bastions were erected.

Today, the port of Santa Cruz is the largest in Tenerife and the first fishing port in the Canary Islands. Every year up to 8,000 tons of fish are caught here. This port also has the largest passenger traffic among all the Canary Islands. This is the largest Spanish port in terms of the number of longboats, cruisers and other ships. It is the only one in the Canary Islands that maintains a permanent connection with the Iberian Peninsula.

Coordinates: 28.48592100,-16.23636600

Playa de las Teresitas beach

The beach of Playa de las Teresitas welcomes its guests with a light sea breeze and crystal clear water. The sand was specially brought here from the distant Sahara Desert, and in order to prevent waves from disturbing vacationers, a barrier pier was built along the entire beach. Despite the fact that the beach was created artificially, it gives the impression of a piece of land untouched by man. There are no ubiquitous hotels here - instead, the landscapes are decorated with mountain tops. Along the entire one and a half kilometer beach strip powerful palm trees were planted.

Playa de las Teresitas beach is the ideal place for a relaxing holiday. Just keep in mind that due to its popularity, the beach is always crowded, especially on weekends. But there is always something to do here - volleyball games or yoga or aerobics classes are regularly held on the beach.

Coordinates: 28.50950300,-16.18519300

The most popular attractions in Santa Cruz de Tenerife with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places Santa Cruz de Tenerife on our website.