Page 540 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

538  SP AIN ’ S ISLANDS

Tenerife

In the language of its aboriginal Guanche inhabitants Tenerife
means “Snowy Mountain”, a tribute to its most striking geo­
graphical feature, the dormant volcano of Mount Teide,
Spain’s highest peak. The largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife
is a roughly triangular landmass rising steeply on all sides
towards the cloud­capped summit that divides it into two
distinct climatic zones: damp and lushly vegetated in the north,
sunny and arid in the south. Tenerife offers a more varied
range of attractions than any of the other Canary Islands,
including its spectacular volcanic scenery, water sports and
a vibrant atmosphere after dark. Its beaches, however, have
unenticing black sand and are rather poor for swimming.
The main resorts are crowded with high­rise hotels and
apartments, offering nightlife but little peace and quiet. Bananas in northern Tenerife
later becoming popular with
4 Los Cristianos the other large resorts, with genteel English convalescents.
its bungalow developments The town’s older buildings give
Santa Cruz de Tenerife. * 60,000. @
g n Paseo Playa de las Vistas 1, 922 surrounding fishing villages. it much of its present character.
78 70 11. ( Sun. _ Fiesta del Carmen Los Abrigos has lively fish res­ The beautiful Complejo Costa
(first Sun of Sep). ∑ webtenerife.com taurants lining its harbour. Martiánez, designed by the
Further east, El Médano Lanzarote architect César
The old fishing village of Los shelters below an ancient Manrique (see p552), compensates
Cristianos, on Tenerife’s south volcanic cone. Its two beaches for a lack of good beaches with
coast, has grown into a town are popular with windsurfers. its seawater pools, palms and
spreading out along the foot foun tains. Other attractions
of barren hills. Ferries and 5 Parque Nacional include the tropical gardens of
hydrofoils make regular trips Loro Parque, where visitors can
from its little port to La Gomera del Teide also see parrots and dolphins.
and El Hierro (see pp536–7). See pp542–3. Outside town, the Jardín de
To the north lies the modern Orquídeas is the oldest garden
expanse of Playa de las Américas, in Tenerife, and has a large
Tenerife’s largest development. 6 Puerto de la Cruz orchid collection. Icod de los
It offers visitors a cheerful, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. * 27,500. @ Vinos, a short drive west, has a
relaxed, undemand ing cocktail n Calle Puerto Viejo 13, 922 38 87 77. spectac ular ancient dragon tree.
of sun and fun. ( Sat. _ Carnival (Feb–Mar), Fiesta
A brief sortie inland leads to del Carmen (second Sun of Jul). Y Loro Parque
the much older town of Adeje ∑ webtenerife.com Avenida Loro Parque. Tel 922 37 38 41.
and to the Barranco del Infierno, Open daily. & ∑ loroparque.com
a wild gorge with an attractive Puerto de la Cruz, the oldest Y Jardín de Orquídeas
waterfall (2 hours’ round walk resort in the Canaries, first came Camino Sitio Litre s/n. Tel 922 38 24 17.
from Adeje). to prominence in 1706, when a Open daily. &
Along the coast to the east, volcanic eruption obliterated ∑ jardindeorquideas.com
the Costa del Silencio is a Tenerife’s main port of Garachico.
pleasant contrast to most of Puerto de la Cruz took its place,
The Dragon Tree
The Canary Islands have many unusual
plants, but the dragon tree (Dracaena
draco) is one of the strangest. This
primitive creature looks a little like a
giant cactus, with swollen branches that
sprout multiple tufts of spiky leaves. When cut,
the trunk exudes a reddish sap once believed to
have magical and medicinal properties. Dragon
trees form no annual rings, so their age is a
mystery. Some are thought to be hundreds
of years old. The most venerable surviving
specimen can be seen at Icod de los Vinos. The landscaped Lago Martiánez lido,
Puerto de la Cruz
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p575 and pp604–5

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Date 5th December 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm