Tenerife
If there is any spot on the globe that enjoys a perfect climate, Tenerife in the Canary Islands might just be it. There is markedly little variation in the average temperatures between summer and winter, and there is only very occasional rain. Add to this landscapes of verdant forests, mountains, deserts, volcanoes, exotic plant and animal life, and spectacular beaches (with black volcanic sand) and you have a true holiday paradise.
Tenerife offers the unique experience of swimming and sunbathing on a beautiful beach while just a few miles away snow sparkles on the crest of Mount Teide. The island's central mountain stands at 12,200 feet (3,719m), the highest in Spain, and a cable-car ride to the summit offers unrivalled views of the lunar-like landscape of the volcanic slopes in the UNESCO-listed Teide National Park.
The island's capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, is an upbeat town geared towards tourism. Its port, where once the first shots of the Spanish Civil War were fired, is today a morass of ferries, jetfoils, and freighters ready to take visitors on various cruises and ocean adventures. Other picturesque towns worth visiting on this picturesque island include Garachico, La Orotava, and Masca, all of which have much to offer travellers.
The Basics
TIME
GMT +1, and GMT +2 during DST.
ELECTRICITY
Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. European-style two-pin plugs are standard.
LANGUAGE
Spanish is the official language, but English is widely understood in areas frequented by tourists. Catalan, Galician and Basque are spoken in the relevant areas.
TRAVEL HEALTH
There are no health risks associated with travel to Spain, and no vaccination certificates are required for entry. Medical facilities are good in Spain, but comprehensive travel insurance is always advised. Spain has a reciprocal health agreement with most EU countries, including the UK, providing emergency health care for EU travellers on the same terms as Spanish nationals. EU travellers should take a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Note that the scheme gives no entitlement to medical repatriation costs, nor does it cover ongoing illnesses of a non-urgent nature, so comprehensive travel insurance is still advised. Travellers should take any medication they require along with them, in its original packaging and accompanied by a signed and dated letter from a doctor detailing what it is and why it is needed.
TIPPING
Hotel and restaurant bills usually include service charges, but additional tips are welcomed for services rendered. In established restaurants, tips of about 10 percent are expected. In Mallorca, value added tax is usually included in restaurant bills, designated IVA, and may be mistaken for a service charge. Drivers of metered taxis expect small tips and it is customary to tip about 5 to 10 percent for most services, including guides.
SAFETY INFORMATION
Most visits to Spain are trouble-free, except for occasional street crime, which is common in the big cities; travellers are advised to take precautions to avoid theft of passports, credit cards, travel documents and money. Crime is usually petty and violent assault is rare. Be wary of strangers offering or asking for help of any kind, as it is often a distraction for accomplices. There are also scams involving letters for outstanding traffic fines or Spanish lottery winnings. If travellers exercise all the normal precautions they should have a trouble-free holiday in Spain.
LOCAL CUSTOMS
Smoking in public places is banned and stiff fines will be imposed for smoking in areas such as enclosed public spaces, areas where food is prepared and sold, public transport, non-smoking areas of bars and restaurants, and any places that cater for children. Drinking alcohol in the streets of Madrid and the streets of the Canary and Balearic Islands is illegal.
Attractions
Tenerife's main attraction is its ideal weather, which offers warm sunny days all year round and allows visitors to enjoy the beautiful beaches in all seasons. There are plenty of great beaches, lively resorts, charming ports and villages, and even a volcano to explore in the centre of the island.
The tax-free status enjoyed by the Canaries makes nightlife and shopping additional draw cards. Water sports are another popular attraction: windsurfers and kite surfers will enjoy the strong winds of the east coast, while surfers have perfect conditions in the south of the island. For the kids, there are numerous theme parks and water parks that guarantee a cooling day out for the whole family.
Getting around Tenerife for sightseeing excursions or days of beach hopping is easy; almost every attraction on the island can be reached in under an hour by bus. There are plenty of metered taxis available in the resorts and a good, cheap bus service operates around the resorts and between all the main towns on the island. Local car rental companies have offices in all the main resorts and are good value and popular with those wanting to explore the north of the island.
Eating Out
Playa De Las Americas Playa de las Americas has top-rated restaurants in which holidaymakers can dine, including favourites like Montana, Vista Sur, Meson Castellano, Mei Shi Xuan and Da Angelo. There are restaurants in las Americas catering for every taste; along the seafront are dozens of fast food stalls and restaurants advertising English breakfasts and Sky TV, and international dishes of all varieties are also offered including Indian, Chinese, Italian, and excellent tapas and local Canary Islands cuisine. Many of the better restaurants are located in the Torviscas areas and in the neighbouring resort of Los Cristianos. There are also some nice restaurants overlooking the marina in Puerto Colon.
Los Cristianos Los Cristianos has several top-rated eateries for holidaymakers, its trendiest being Piccolo, Bar El Cine, Plan B and Chill Out. Los Cristianos cannot be beaten for the quality and variety of eating establishments available throughout the day and night, from the ubiquitous English breakfast through midday fast-food snacks, to dinner from China, India, Mexico or anywhere else one cares to mention. There are also more traditional Spanish eateries and tapas bars.
Nightlife
Playa De Las Americas With more nightclubs than some British cities and some of the best nightlife in Tenerife, las Americas is a honey pot for those looking for more of a nocturnal holiday. The area known as The Patch is the best place to start the evening as most of las Americas' bars are located within easy walking distance. The Patch also has a fine choice of nightspots and most bars have a happy hour or two. The most popular are Rags and Linekers, dance bars that play a good mix of Pop, R&B, Dance and 80s party music. Many of the bars also have good live music. Later on, the Veronicas complex and the Starco Commercial Centre are the places to head to for a good party. The streets are packed with revellers until the early hours, particularly during the busy summer months. Tramps is the largest club on the island and very popular. There are also two casinos at the resort.
Los Cristianos Los Cristianos is very well supplied with fun pubs, some discos and a few nightclubs, but holidaymakers will notice that the nightlife here is nowhere near as wild and exciting as it is next door in Playa de las Americas. Taxis are plentiful and available round the clock, however, so there is no problem popping off to join in the unadulterated partying in nearby lively spots like Veronicas and The Patch, which are usually jumping and pumping until 6am or so. Those who prefer a more sedate evening will be happy to sit back and unwind at a waterfront bar in Los Cristianos, watching the world go by and perhaps enjoying some live music.
Climate
Tenerife has a wonderful climate; the average temperature is comfortable all year round. The cooling sea breeze ensures that there is little humidity and that the summer heat is bearable. During winter, between December and February, the evenings get cooler and the water temperatures drop, but it is never cold by European standards.
The coldest month, January, experiences average temperatures between 59°F (15°C ) and 68°F (20°C) and August, the hottest month, experiences average temperatures between 70°F (21°C) and 84°F (29°C). Rainfall in the summer months is almost non-existent, but showers are possible between October and April. The rain showers are usually short-lived and quickly replaced by sunshine.
There are, however, distinct climate variations according to region on Tenerife: inland, particularly around Teide National Park, temperatures can drop far lower so dress for cool evenings and rainfall (or perhaps even snow) if exploring the high altitudes around the interior of the island.
The most popular time to visit Tenerife is in the summer months of May to September, when it is hot and dry, but the beaches can be enjoyed year round (although the sea may be too cold for swimming).
LGBT+ Customs
Spain is a tolerant and progressive place for LGBTI travellers. There are active LGBTI communities and social venues, particularly in big cities. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Spain since 2005. As of 17 March 2007, the law allows a transgender person to register under their preferred sex in public documents such as birth certificates, identity cards and passports without undergoing prior gender reassignment surgery. Spain does not recognise a third gender.
Health
VACCINE RECOMMENDATIONS
Details of vaccination recommendations and requirements are provided below.
All Travellers
Travellers should be up to date with routine vaccination courses and boosters as recommended in the UK. These vaccinations include for example measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and diphtheria-tetanus-polio vaccine.
Country specific diphtheria recommendations are not provided here. Diphtheria tetanus and polio are combined in a single vaccine in the UK. Therefore, when a tetanus booster is recommended for travellers, diphtheria vaccine is also given. Should there be an outbreak of diphtheria in a country, diphtheria vaccination guidance will be provided.
Those who may be at increased risk of an infectious disease due to their work, lifestyle choice, or certain underlying health problems should be up to date with additional recommended vaccines. See the individual chapters of the ‘Green Book’ Immunisation against infectious disease for further details.
Certificate Requirements
There are no certificate requirements under International Health Regulations.
Most Travellers
The vaccines in this section are recommended for most travellers visiting this country. Information on these vaccines can be found by clicking on the blue arrow. Vaccines are listed alphabetically.
Tetanus
Some Travellers
The vaccines in this section are recommended for some travellers visiting this country. Information on when these vaccines should be considered can be found by clicking on the arrow. Vaccines are listed alphabetically.
Rabies
22 January 2022 - 7 Nights
Please enquire for alternative Departure Dates, Durations & Hotels
Playa de las Americas is Tenerife's largest tourist playground, a purpose-built hedonistic haven for holidaymakers of all ages who come here for fun in the sun from all over the world.