Tenerife - Canary Islands Hotels

Mini guide to Tenerife - Canary Islands

Under the attentive gaze of El Teide, the highest mountain in Spain, and with the sea as an ever-present backdrop, Tenerife offers a rich diversity of natural and man-made attractions. There are craters, lava formations, cliffs, black- and white-sand beaches, creeks and natural swimming pools, as well as slick resort development. Tenerife is the biggest of the Canary Islands and, with over 400 years of history, it has a charming historical side which becomes apparent if you venture off the beaten track.

Tenerife is the Canary Islands' most popular walking destination and offers great and varied hiking terrain for all levels of expertise, including: country lanes for strolling; nature trails for hiking; and mountains for climbing - including El Teide, the highest in all Spain.

There is much more to Tenerife than sun, sea and sand, and driving around the island can be a great way of exploring those untouched areas where tourist day trips do not stop. For example, the panoramic Anaga mountain region is still relatively unexplored and contains several rural villages; the Parque Nacional de las Canadas del Teide includes an enormous volcanic crater 48kms in circumference, out of which rises Mount Teide (Spain's highest peak).

Geographically, Tenerife is unusual in that it is an island of natural contrasts. The south is totally different, both visually and climatically, from the north. Southern Tenerife is hot, dry and arid, and it's where holidaymakers crowd onto beaches, like Playa de Las Américas and Los Cristianos. The north is green and lush, which of course means occasional rain, but it is also peaceful, beautiful and free from the tourist crowds.

The ancient history of Tenerife is one shrouded in myths and legends, from its claim to being part of the great Atlantis Empire, to the building of Aztec style pyramids by the original inhabitants, the Guanches. The modern history is equally colourful. Tenerife was the last port of call by Columbus before he made his way to the New World (he also had a mistress on the neighbouring island of La Gomera). Admiral Nelson lost his eye in a failed attempt to capture the city of Santa Cruz, and Franco plotted his revolution while in political exile on the island.

You can fly to the Canaries from most European cities, sometimes stopping over in Spain. Transatlantic visitors usually arrive via a European stopover. There are plenty of package deals and charter flights arriving here. Inter-island flights and ferries are numerous, as are taxis and car hire operations.

Selection of hotels in this region:

Sheraton Mencey Hotel
Pelinor Hotel
Playa La Arena

Click below for a full list of hotels and online booking

Selection of other locations with hotels available:

Holiday Inn | Travel Inn | Marriott | Travelodge | Hilton | Hyatt | Novotel | Best Western | Comfort Inn | Sheraton
Tenerife - Canary Islands Hotels Spain from cheaphotelbookings.com