Tenerife

“I’ve driven around Tenerife several times, but have never really taken to it. It’s as though Mount Teide, the great volcano which sprawls across the middle of the island, has corroded everything, and left only black wilderness behind. Black beaches, dark mountains, barren rocks, and a deserted landscape between the scattered settlements. I was pleased at first to see the greenery in the towns and villages, but only until I spotted the cunningly concealed irrigation pipes. It’s as though without these, there would be no vegetation whatsoever, and everything would be lifeless. In the north it’s often cloudy and rainy, with strong winds, while the south is almost always sunny but crammed with tourists, while the beaches are lined with rows of dull, nondescript hotels.

We had a look at the thousand-year-old dragon tree, which may or may not be a thousand years old. We sunbathed on Las Teresitas, the only beach with white sand, which was blown there from the Sahara Desert. We also visited the famous Loro Park, where the animals have so little space it move we felt pity for them. However, walking in the historic quarter of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, built by Spanish Conquistadors, we felt like time travelers. This, along with the soothing sound of the ocean waves, was just about the only interesting thing we saw at sea level in Tenerife.

---------------------------------------

“I’ve been to a lot of places, and Tenerife is one of my favorites. The island is so diverse that everyone is sure to find what they’re looking for somewhere: the southern part is bare, the north is green, and in the middle of the island looms the volcano of Mount Teide. The south is characterized by mass tourism, and there are many enormous hotels. I much preferred the north of the island, e.g. Puerto de la Cruz.

I’d definitely recommend renting a car to explore the island – it isn’t expensive, and can be arranged on the spot. Mount Teide itself is one of the most unique places I’ve ever visited, and even the drive up to it is captivating, as you see the landscape gradually transform. The crater, which is approximately 80km in diameter, is an almost lunar landscape, and offers great hiking opportunities along well-marked trails. There is a cable car to the summit of Mount Teide, but you can only go right to the top with a pre-booked ticket.

If you prefer sunbathing, Teresitas Beach, formed of sand from the Sahara, is right next to the capital, and is (almost) the only white sand beach on the island. My secret tip, however, is Taganana Beach, on the north-eastern tip of Tenerife, is great, and don’t forget to try the freshly fried fish at a seafront bar! (Attila, 2016)

Transport

Driving

Speed limits: on motorways 120 km/h, other country roads 90/h, in urban eras 50 km/h.

Almost all the country roads are mountain roads, which are narrow and winding in the mountains (like the road to Masca in the Teno Mountains), often with no roadside barriers.

------------------

"I told Bunny that we’d rent a car in Tenerife because it's not true that we never rent one, and it's cool that you go wherever you want, stop whenever you want, and you're not tied to schedules or sullen drivers – you can just enjoy your holiday. And it’s well worth it anyway – only 74 euros for the whole holiday. I even booked and paid for it from home, which seemed great, but then they wrote in the confirmation email that when we got there 330-euro security would be temporarily charged to our credit card (which we don’t have). Bunny said that obviously, they would charge our bank card, and not to worry. I didn’t worry.

Everything went smoothly – almost too smoothly. The plane landed with us on it, and we went to the correct counter, where the correct lady directed us to the correct minibus, which was right where they said it would be. Orlando Rent a Car was written in pretty red letters. Mrs. Orlando smiled and led us to the vehicle … and about nine and a half minutes later I was already in tears at an unknown suburban location, pleading with a total stranger who indifferently told me that if we don’t have a credit card, we don’t get a car. Even the embossed MasterCard isn’t worth a thing – if you ain’t got a credit card, you ain’t really a person. Either we pay another 81 euros for the car and they would overlook our lack of a credit card, or we could make a complaint, but not to him because he doesn’t have the authority. And he really didn’t. Tourists arrived, picked up their gleaming cars, and headed off on vacation. Evidently, they had credit cards. Bunny was tired of my theatrics, which she’d watched for free alongside about twenty foreigners, and heroically paid out 81 euros, just so we could finally start our holiday. And then we'll spread the good word about this car rental, Bunny promised. We didn’t get any of the gleaming cars in the garage, obviously because of the crying and a credit card, but a Ford Fiesta, which is a pretty good car, was waiting for us on the street. Over the next two hours, it became clear who my best friend was: Google, of course, because it took us and our Ford Fiesta to Taoro Garden as confidently as any local, and we never got lost.” (sushi, 2019)

Destination in brief

Size: 2,034 km² (785.5 mi²)

Population (in 2020):12,100

Capital city: Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Climate

"Tenerife is the island of eternal spring. The plants are always green, the bananas are always ripe, the birds are constantly twittering, and people saunter about in flip-flops.
However, the weather changes at such a rate that by the time you’ve picked up a cardigan because you’re cold, you’re already taking it off because you’re warm. The differences are also significant in terms of region, with a tropical effect in the north and a sub-Saharan influence in the south. It rains a lot in the north, but rarely heavily. If it does begin to really pour, you have to run down the barranco, the camino, and the callé, and find some shelter.
The north is greener and more vibrant, while the south is drier and more barren.” (sushi, 2019)

History

Much of Tenerife's history consists of adventure stories: legends, pirates, fierce battles between natives and European soldiers, adventurers, naval battles, volcanic eruptions, floods, hurricanes, beautiful princesses, generous military officers, explorers, Drake, betrayal, and heroism. Tenerife is geographically part of Africa, but presumably, its natives were not Blacks, but rather tall people with light skin and hair. They were posteriorly called Gaunches. No one knows where they came from.

--------------------

“The people of Tenerife do not consider themselves Spanish. The Spaniards are generally short and have dark hair, while the natives of the island are tall, blond, and blue-eyed. Today's islanders are a mixture of natives and Spaniards. The natives were able to protect their island for a long time, making it impossible for outsiders to land. Seven tribal chiefs ruled the island and, so long as they ruled in unison, they were able to repel any outside attacks. Eventually, as usual, one betrayed his comrades, so the island fell. A statue of the seven tribal chiefs was erected in Candelaria.”

Teide

Masca

Costa del Silencio

El Medano

Playa de las Americas

Playa de la Arena

Puerto de Santiago