The Island of Eternal Spring is easy to read Oleg. Tenerife

Today, as part of another excursion to warmer climes and distant islands, I propose to talk about the island of Tenerife. Unlike, where eternal summer reigns, the island of Tenerife is called the island of eternal spring (Isla de la Eterna Primavera).

Islands, seas and oceans always attract us with their unique romance and thirst for adventure, and the Canary Islands in particular. After all, it was here that Christopher Columbus stopped when he was looking for a way to India, and in the end (and many people know about this) he discovered America. Subsequently, the Spaniards shed a lot of blood in the battles for these islands. Despite everything, the Canary Islands are still under Spanish rule.

So, Tenerife.
It is the largest and most populous island in the archipelago. In addition, the island of Tenerife is the third largest volcanic island in the world.
The weather here, as well as on all the other Canary Islands, is pleasingly consistent all year round. In the winter months, the air temperature in Tenerife does not fall below 10 degrees, and in the summer months - no lower than 20. Summer here, as expected for a tropical island, is hot - the air temperature often reaches 40 degrees. And what is good news is that the water temperature here does not drop below 20 degrees all year round.

Probably, it was the island of Tenerife that was the prototype of the tropical island of Chunga-Changa from the cartoon “Caterok” (“Miracle island, miracle island. Living on it is easy and simple. Our happiness is constant - chew coconuts, eat bananas...Tenerife...”).

Of course, the main income for the Tenerife treasury comes from tourists, of whom there are plenty here. Over three million people from all over the world visit the island every year. Two international airports receive this number of tourists: Los Rodeos, located in the north of the island near the capital of the Canary Islands Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and the southern one, formerly called named after the Spanish Queen Sofia (El Aeropuerto Tenerife Sur Reina Sofia), located in the south of the island in the province Granadilla de Abona. Unfortunately, there is no direct flight from Moscow to Tenerife and everyone who wants to get to this wonderful island will have to travel this route with a transfer. Most often, flights from Moscow are carried out via Madrid and Barcelona, but there are routes with a transfer at the airport of some other European city, such as Amsterdam, Dusseldorf or Berlin. The bulk of tourists head to the capital of the island Santa Cruz de Tenerife, but besides it there are a number of other resorts on the island, which are located mainly in the southern part of the island. For example this Playa de las Amiricas and Los Cristianos.

It's February, and for Tenerife it's the month of Carnival. Santa Cruz de Tenerife. For a whole week, a costume performance with the participation of island residents and tourists takes place on the streets of the city. This carnival is the second largest after the carnival in Rio de Janeiro.

Besides the carnival, which takes place once a year, Tenerife is full of attractions worthy of attention.

First of all this Teide volcano. And no matter how far this island is from Spain itself, this volcano is its highest point and the highest point in the Atlantic Ocean. The height of the volcano is about 3,700 meters above sea level, and 7,500 meters above the bottom.

Opera located in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, today is a masterpiece of modern architecture and one of the main symbols of the Canary Islands. The building looks truly magical, and its cosmic contours make you remember the stories of science fiction writers.

Located in the city of Candelaria and shrouded in ancient legends, one of which takes us back to the distant 14th century. This legend says that local residents found the image of the Virgin Mary and worshiped it until the Spaniards appeared on the island and explained to them who exactly was depicted in the image. Subsequently, several Catholic churches were built in this place.

And finally, pyramids of Guimara, the meaning of which, as well as their origin, still remains a mystery to scientists. Someone attributes to them miraculous properties, the meaning of which was known only to local residents. Others consider these pyramids to be an ordinary pile of stones that local farmers built for fun.

And to top it all off, a great video by Terje Sorgjerd:

This is the wonderful island of eternal spring and carnival of Tenerife.

Tenerife is rightly called one of the most beautiful and interesting places not only in Spain, but also in the world. And there is not the slightest doubt about this from the first minutes of traveling around the island. Surprisingly, on such a small island there are 7 climatic zones, from tropical forests with relict trees to lunar landscapes!!! And plus a volcano! Tenerife is even considered the remains of the sunken Atlantis. This is not only exotic, it is also a mystical place. You look, you see, you admire and you don’t understand...

To get an idea of the island, we decided to conduct reconnaissance in force and ride around its perimeter. We hoped that we would drive along the coast and be able to see all the bays, beaches, embankments and at the same time we would be able to swim wherever we liked - we wanted to combine the excursion program with a beach holiday. And we succeeded!

We slept, had breakfast, got ready, left Las Americas and took the high-speed TF-1 towards Adeje. From Las Americas, the road TF-1 towards the town of Guia de Isora smoothly turns into TF-62, and then into TF-82.

In the Adeje area we turned onto TF-47 in the direction of Puerto de Santiago (southwest coast of Tenerife). Puerto de Santiago used to be a fishing port, but now, together with Arena and Los Gigantes, it is a cozy resort area and it is not clear where one village ends and another begins.

Our stopover was the beach PlayadelaArena. We were seduced by photographs of this cozy beach, which are often found on postcards and guidebooks. The fine dark sand contrasts effectively with the blue water and white foam.

Let me explain right away, there are three types of beaches in Tenerife: with light sand, pebble and black volcanic sand. Pebble beaches are mostly wild beaches that are not in demand among tourists (the majority of them are in the east of the island). Beaches with light sand are mostly of artificial origin, equipped specifically for tourists (there were many of these in our Las Americas). The sand for them was brought from nearby Africa. In general, nothing special.

And finally, black sand beaches! Local landmark. This sand is said to have healing properties. Radiculitis, arthritis, osteochondrosis, back sprains, and fractures are treated with natural heat and minerals of black volcanic sand. I don’t know how true this is, but we certainly rolled around hard in the sand.

PlayadelaArena — The most beautiful natural beach with black volcanic sand in the southern part of the island. Surrounded by small but numerous hotel and apartment buildings, the beach is located in a rocky bay that protects it from wind and strong waves. It is no coincidence that Playa la Arena is protected by UNESCO as a heritage of humanity.

In Tenerife, all beaches are public and free. The concept of “hotel beach” does not exist here. Sun loungers and umbrellas are available for an additional fee. At all municipal beaches there are always lifeguards on duty and there is medical assistance. office, shower. I was amazed by the attitude towards people with disabilities. At the entrance to the beach, I saw a stand with special crutches on suction cups so as not to fall under the sand, and wheelchairs for swimming. For me, a person from Russia, this was amazing. Having subsequently visited Germany, Italy, Austria, you understand that there is actually nothing to be surprised at, this is how it should be. But, unfortunately, not with us.

Beaches throughout the island are necessarily surrounded by breakwaters, so the water near the shore is calm and children can swim. Leaving your car near the beach is not a problem. There is usually a special parking lot nearby, which we took advantage of.

Over PlayadelaArena There is a promenade that runs along the beach, where we saw numerous restaurants and shops. But by the time we got there and lay on the beach, it was time for lunch and, of course, siesta!!! Which had a very unpleasant effect on us: all the cafes and shops were closed. Siesta lasts from 13.00-17.00.

Next we headed to the neighboring Los Gigantes, whose name speaks for itself. Here, hot lava once met the sea, rising in ridges to a height of three hundred meters. Yes, it is frozen in black rocks, around which lies black sand. The height of the rocks reaches 600 m. This is a miraculous splendor! The local Guanche aborigines believed that in this very place was the edge of the world.

Next the path lay to Maska! From Los Gigantes we left at TF-82, and after Santiago del Teide we left at the corresponding sign for TF-436. This section of the road (TF-436) in Tenerife is truly serpentine! The road is narrow and winding, winding between the mountains.

Although this road is at a high altitude, it is studded with villages and detached houses. The view is wonderful! Masca- This small mountain village is located on a mountain road in the Teno Mountains, at an altitude of 600 to 800 m. Along this road, high mountains surround the tiny villages and there is a small high-altitude peak near the center of the village. The combination of palm trees and cypresses in this area is striking. In ancient times, the village was pirated, and was never attacked by enemies due to its difficult approach. The troublemakers of the pirate village were seen in advance and the robbers had enough time to go down to the ocean and sail away on ships. They say that even the storm of the seas, Barbarossa (Red Beard), was seen in these waters. The white houses of Maska, surrounded by flowers, were completely isolated from the outside world for a long time; until the 1960s, it could only be reached along narrow rocky paths.

And in the 1960s, the village gained automobile access. There is a church built decades ago and several observation platforms that offer beautiful views of the ocean and where you can take great photos.

The Atlantic Ocean is visible several kilometers away. I can say one thing: you should definitely visit Maska, without being afraid of roads and passes. This place is worth it.

From Masca we moved further towards the town of Buenavista. On the way around the town LasPortelas we saw a bizarre hill that looked like a cut pie. The hill is “cut” by landslides. Personally, I was not impressed by this view, but I read on all the forums that tourists like it. Buenovista is the westernmost village on the island. Nothing remarkable. From there towards Garachico take TF-42. Around the village of Los Silos, banana plantations are visible for many kilometers.

Smoothly moving to the north of the island, we felt the climate change ourselves.

Approaching the ocean, Cape Teno appeared before our eyes.

6 km from Los Silos we descended through another pass into a small town Garachico) on the northern coast, founded at the dawn of the colonization of the island by the Spaniards.

Until the beginning of the 18th century it remained the most important port of Tenerife. Ships with full holds of wine departed from the port of Garachico for Europe. And from there, galleons of the Spanish fleet arrived at the port with goods from distant countries. In the spring of 1706, the eruption of the Montaña Negra volcano wiped out the port and most of the city, creating a peninsula of lava. After the eruption, only the fortress of San Miguel (1575) and the Church of St. Anna survived. During the 18th century. on the site of old Garachico, on a semicircle of solidified lava in the sea, a new city was built.

As a result, the coastline consists mainly of volcanic ruins.

The next point of our independent program was Icod de los Vinos (Icod de los Vinos). From its founding (1496) it was called Icod, and only in the middle of the 16th century, due to the increase in the production of excellent world-famous wine, the “nickname” was assigned to it - de los Vinos. The place is cozy, located in a picturesque valley, we drove along a ten-kilometer coastline. One of the oldest cities in Tenerife is famous for the fact that it is here that the amazing Dragon tree or Dracaena draco grows. His image is even on the city coat of arms. This is great dragon tree about 25 m high, 10 meters in girth.

There are different versions about the age of the dragon tree (according to one guide, the tree is 912 years old, but the reality is that the dragon tree has no growth rings and the exact age cannot be determined, let alone yearly). in fact, it is a bush. In 1501, when the city was founded, the dragon tree was already here - that's a fact. It is also known that this tree grows very slowly, so let’s come to terms with this knowledge that the tree is very old and has seen the Guanches, conquistadors, the Inquisition, etc., and now it has greeted us calmly and with dignity. There are two explanations for the name of this tree - firstly, its unusual appearance, and secondly, its red sap. Local residents considered the tree sacred, and its unusual juice - “dragon's blood” - medicinal. When combined with oxygen, it acquires an unusual blood-red color. An old legend says that dragon trees grew from the spilled blood of dragons where they were killed. In Europe, the dragon tree has been known since ancient times - its “blood” was used in the manufacture of seal wax, paints and ointments. They say that the dragon tree was once worth its weight in gold for its ability to cure bleeding, various wounds and dysentery. The Guanches used dragon tree sap to embalm the dead. Incredible but true: The dragon tree in Icod de los Vinos is the oldest plant on the planet. Near the observation deck from which the dragon tree is usually photographed, on the Plaza de Lorenzo Cáceres there is the Church of San Marcos. It was built in the first half of the 16th century, and the stones for the construction of arches and columns were brought from the island of La Gomera. The church, which is representative of the true Canarian style, houses the largest silver cross in the world.

Having entered the city, we followed the signs for Drago Milenariu. These signs led us to a paid parking lot near the square.

It costs a few euros to visit the dragon tree park, but even there it is impossible to get very close to the tree. We decided to limit ourselves to a free observation deck. Millennial dragon tree is a Monument of National Importance since 1917 and, together with the Teide volcano, is a symbol of the Canary Archipelago.

A little higher up is the Plaza de La Pila, surrounded by houses from the time of the conquistadors and in the center of which there is a peculiar fountain topped with a plant. Very nearby there is a tree with seven branches supported by metal ropes, against which tourists willingly take pictures. Down from the Church of San Marcos and the observation deck there is a tropical butterfly garden - Mariposario del Drago. Approximately 2,000 butterflies flutter freely in this tropical-climate structure. But by the time we got there, the butterfly museum was already closed and we couldn’t get inside.

Before the Spaniards, the islands were inhabited by the Guanches, a local people engaged in hunting, fishing and agriculture. Scientists say that the Guanches were tall, blue-eyed and with brown hair, and they were the descendants of the famous Atlantis. The Spaniards conquered the Guanches, some of whom converted to Catholicism, while others chose death over captivity. Only a few local names and some words in the local Canary dialect of Spanish have been preserved from the freedom-loving people. And researchers also say that the great Homer, describing in the Odyssey the paradise islands that are located beyond the Pillars of Hercules (the Strait of Gibraltar), means the Canary Islands. Another great one, Shakespeare, highly praised Canarian wines. Columbus stopped here on his way from Spain to America.

The Canarians say that it is summer all year round on their islands. A controversial statement, given the fact that when there is African heat on the southern coast of the islands, there is snow on the top of Mount Teide (by the way, the highest point in the country) until June. Rather, it is always eternal spring in the Canaries. Judging by the riot of colors. Officially, it is believed that the archipelago has a moderately hot climate, softened by trade winds blowing from the north and the cold current of the Atlantic Ocean. Maybe this is why the winter temperature in the Canaries rarely drops below +10 degrees Celsius and rises above +25. Well, in summer the air temperature on various islands ranges from +20 to 40 degrees. It is clear that thanks to this natural factor, hundreds of thousands of foreign tourists from many countries flock to the islands every year. Especially in winter, when it’s cold and dreary in Europe, but you really want to go to the sea and the sun. The three most popular islands among tourists are Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. In eight days I managed to visit them and literally “get sick” of the Canaries.

Chasing the Blue Bird
It turns out that the bluebird of happiness exists. And nowhere, namely in the Canaries. More precisely, on the island of Tenerife, the largest in area of all the islands of the archipelago. This is a pinson azul - a blue finch. Local endemic, small and very cute bird. There is also a “paloma turke” - a blue pigeon. And many other curious representatives of flora and fauna. Take, for example, the same “tahinaste” plant - a symbol of the islands. Or the local cactus - cordon, from the juice of which the same Guanches prepared a sleeping pill that helped them catch fish. Or local Canarian dogs, used by local peasants for traditional hare hunting. It is curious that in Tenerife the dogs are brown, on the island of volcanoes Lanzarote - black, and on Gran Canaria - brindle, the color of the local sand. Blue finch, as well as canaries and parrots, are very popular on the islands. I think it is no coincidence that the emblem of the Gran Hotel Bahia Del Duque Resort, a chic five-star hotel included in the list of the world's best hotels The Leading Hotels of the World, was the image of a pinson azul. The hotel complex itself is a kind of medieval palace with many restaurants, swimming pools, bridges, and turrets. It feels like you're in a fairy tale. That a kind wizard will come out from around the corner and give you something desired and beautiful. The hotel is located in the south of the island, on the Costa Adeje, the most popular tourist area along with Playa las Americas and Playa de Los Cristianos. There are excellent conditions for recreation for every taste: comfortable hotels, many restaurants and shops and, of course, beaches and the sea. A little further north, in the town of Abama, the construction of a Golf Hotel is being completed, the concept of which is “an oasis in the desert”, causing admiration. A huge red complex, reminiscent of Arab palaces in architecture, is visible from afar. Twenty tons of sand from Sazara were brought here specifically to create the beach. Ninety thousand plants create coolness, and a special breakwater protects swimmers in the picturesque bay. In general, there is something to be surprised about.

However, Tenerife is surprising not only with tourist areas and hotels built in the traditions of local architecture. Isn't it a miracle to see a pod of dolphins and small whales very close by - from a cruise ship? Or admire the Canarian balconies in the town of Orotava, where every year at the beginning of June the streets are literally filled with flowers, and the central square, Ayuntamiento, is covered with a multi-colored carpet from the volcanic soil of Teide! The step pyramids found in the town of Guimar are also surprising; they are the same age as similar buildings in Egypt, Mexico and Peru.

But, of course, the biggest shock for tourists is object number 1 on the island - the Teide volcano. This is a symbol of the entire archipelago. Scientists say that the “white mountain” (and this is how Teide is translated from the Guanche language) is about 600 thousand years old. And although the last eruption of Teide occurred at the end of the 18th century, traces of its activity can still be periodically observed - emissions of sulfur and the remains of black lava, which is used by local peasants as fertilizer for growing Canarian potatoes - small, wrinkled, but very tasty. The excursion through Teide National Park, when you rise from the coast to sky-high heights, is impressive. Along the way you admire the beauty, Canarian pine, cacti. And you freeze on the spot with admiration at the sight of the Roques de Garcia - rocks of bizarre shapes that were depicted on old Spanish money! Dozens of layers of lava of various ages, compositions and colors, incredible stone sculptures, craters and rocks - all this can be seen and photographed in the Las Cañadas mountain basin. And you can look at all the natural splendor almost from the top, where the funicular takes tourists. If you're lucky, you might see the Teide violet, a plant that can survive at an altitude of 3,500 meters. And other rare plants, prehistoric, are still found in the Laurisilva tropical forest - in the north of the island, in the Anaga region. And in the northwest, the steep cliffs of Los Gigantes, the “Giants,” evoke admiration. And in the town of Icod de los Vinos, a thousand-year-old dragon tree is also a Canarian endemic. Once upon a time it was worth its weight in gold - for its ability to cure many diseases. The famous German naturalist Alexander Humboldt, having climbed Teide, burst into tears - his feelings from what he saw were so overwhelming.

Island of wonders and "surprises"
I think that Humboldt would have been absolutely delighted with the island of Lanzarote, which is only 50 minutes’ flight from Tenerife. The unique beauty of the landscape is the most characteristic feature of Lanzarote, often called the “Island of the Moon Landscape”. There is little greenery here, unlike Tenerife, the climate is drier. But there are amazingly beautiful mountains and volcanoes, thanks to which UNESCO declared the entire island a biosphere reserve. The most striking place and popular among tourists is the Timanfaya National Park. It is also called the Fire Mountains. A visit to the park begins with various “tricks” that cause genuine delight among tourists: the eruption of hot steam, hot sand on cool ground. Next door there is a restaurant where meat and fish are cooked in volcanic heat. The excursion itself is carried out by bus along a specially paved road. Walking in Timanfaya is strictly prohibited. Through the bus windows you can see strikingly beautiful multi-colored mountains and sands, black lava forming bizarre figures. The feeling that you are virtually traveling around some other planet in a science fiction film.

"A continent in miniature"
Gran Canaria is often called this way in guidebooks because of the abundance and diversity of natural landscapes and various attractions. The latter can rightfully include the crater of the Bandama volcano, to the bottom of which tourists descend to a depth of 220 meters along a narrow path. And what a magnificent panorama of the entire island opens from the top of the crater! Or the famous Maspalomas beach, which is a whole 8 km of sand dunes. Interestingly, the temperature of the water washing this place ranges from +20 to +24 degrees all year round. Las Palomas is the oldest resort area of the island. Mostly Scandinavians vacation here. Well, the most famous resort area, famous for its nightlife, is Playa del Engles. And in the far south there is a very calm beach called Playa de las Meloneras, the pride of which is the five-star Hotel H10. Playa Meloneras Palace.

The peculiarity of the island, the third in area after Tenerife and Fuerteventura, is its long and deep ravines. They start in the center and end at the sea, where there are many natural sandy beaches. In one of the ravines there is Palmitos Park, a botanical garden and zoo, where you can see Canary parrots, butterflies and even a large monitor lizard from Komodo Island. And nearby there is a fashionable hotel for tennis lovers. A visit to the island capital, the largest Spanish seaport of Las Palmas, is worth interest. And in it: the house-museum of Christopher Columbus, the Cathedral, the Canary Museum, Caam (the Atlantic center of contemporary art). In the Barranco de Balos gorge you can see prehistoric paintings. And in the town of Guayadeque there is a house of local residents in caves, a cave church and even a restaurant. By the way, it turns out that living in a cave is quite comfortable: it is not cold in winter, and not hot in summer. That's what the locals say, at least.

Gran Canaria is famous for its unusual holidays. First of all, the grand carnival that takes place at the end of January. But about him - a special conversation. In the town of Santa Brigita they organize a foam festival - here they pour water on everyone. A cheese festival is held in the town of Gia. And in Marsagan there is a water festival. In another place there is a puddle festival, when locals and tourists dive into a large body of water and catch small fish with their hands. And in the small village of Agaete there is a festival of branches: when crowds of people hit the ocean with tree branches, punishing evil spirits for the drought. “A Storm Frozen in Stone” is about the mountains in the town of Tejede, which offers the most beautiful view of the island, which you want to return to again and again. As in general, the archipelago of paradise, which is just a stone's throw away - just 7 hours of summer...

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Manager of the travel company "Time-Tour" Natalya Kravtsova talks about the amazing Canary Islands.

- As you know, the tourist these days is a sophisticated one, and it’s difficult to surprise him with something exotic. What is special about the direction that Vremya-Tour offers to clients?

Despite the “selectivity” of tourists, the Canary Islands are very popular. Tenerife is not without reason called the Island of Eternal Spring - it is a year-round resort. There are unique climatic conditions here, there is no sweltering heat, it is very comfortable and warm. The island is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, which is considered cold. But even in winter the water temperature does not drop below +20C.

So, the islands are attractive to holidaymakers all year round. Of course, in the summer, competition comes from resorts on the Spanish continental coast. But in winter and in the off-season, Tenerife remains number one. Some tourists are embarrassed by the long flight - about seven hours. But this is perhaps the only inconvenient moment. Comfortable planes with business class fly to the island.

- Natalya, I heard that the level of service in hotels is simply excellent.

Due to the fact that this area is considered elite, there is a very strong hotel base: mostly very strong fours, 4+ and 5 stars. There are also three-star hotels, but they are not typical for Tenerife. There are many well-known hotel chains here - not only Spanish, but also world-famous: H10, Sol Melia, Iberostar. Naturally, they are famous for their high level of service.

Tenerife is a volcanic island, so many of its beaches have black sand. But some hotels import white sand and make artificial beaches. There are many magnificent tennis courts and golf courses built here - carefully maintained, with a unique design. Almost every hotel has magnificent SPA complexes where you can enjoy chocolate or wine therapy, try a variety of treatments and various types of massage. If the ocean temperature seems too cold, heated pools are at your service.

By the way, about the cost. In principle, a tour package to Tenerife is not cheap - for a number of objective reasons. Nevertheless, we are trying to maintain a democratic and loyal pricing policy, which, in fact, distinguishes us from other companies. First of all, we try to focus on customers and offer products in different price categories - from four to the most elite vacation. We have developed special bonus programs for agencies, including an increased system of discounts. So, with a standard commission on tours of 10%, which most tour operators give, in the winter months we give a 20% commission - and this is a lot. Naturally, our prices cannot but interest our clients.

- What can you do here besides playing golf? Any excursions, local attractions?

One of the most picturesque excursions is a sightseeing tour of the island with an ascent to the Teide volcano. By the way, the island is named after the volcano: “Tenerife” means “snowy mountain”. Today the height of Teide is just over 37750-0_bgblur_00 meters - it used to be higher. And its last eruption dates back to 1798. No matter which side you approach the volcano from, you are guaranteed the most amazing and beautiful views. Mountains and forests alternate here - with ancient relict trees; and above begins the volcanic landscape - with frozen lava flows, destroyed craters and weathered rocks. The landscape is very reminiscent of scenes from science fiction films. By the way, the films “Star Wars” and “One Million Years BC” were filmed here.

The most visited attraction is Loro Parque. Here is the world's largest collection of parrots and the largest penguinarium, Planet of the Penguins. Here you can admire the dolphin and seal shows, visit the zoo and botanical garden with unique exotic plants.

The island offers an excellent choice of "easy" holidays. Boutiques and shops of world brands, cozy restaurants and cafes, water parks and all kinds of boat trips, knightly tournaments and flamenco shows - everything is thought out to the smallest detail here. So, a holiday on the Island of Eternal Spring will not disappoint you.

Somewhere in Russia the air temperature is already well below -30, in Rostov it is snowing, and Moscow is covered with frost every morning instead of snow that never falls.
I, a Siberian by birth, like fair winters and hot summers. The Siberian climate is honest, clearly defined and delineated. Winter is just winter. Snow and -30. Summer means summer. Sun and +30. And short transition periods from winter to summer (spring) and back (autumn).

However, not the entire planet is so lucky. In Antarctica (or "on Antarctica"?) there is eternal winter, in Africa it is always hot...

Stop.

Not all of Africa is always hot. There is a piece of Europe next to it, in which eternal spring has established.

And this is the Canary Islands.

Anyone who reads me will remember that I have already declared my love for the Canary Islands in.

I won't show off by calling myself a "nook and cranny specialist." Like most Russians who have visited this archipelago, I have not been to Fuertoventura or Lanzarote. Not to mention the end of the world - El Hierro.

I visited La Gomera and vacationed in Gran Canaria. And I visited Tenerife several times, traveling around this island along, across and diagonally. True, the last time I was there was four years ago, but it’s ticked off in my plans for the future “To visit Tenerife again and, at the same time, visit the other islands that I haven’t been to yet”

It is quite possible that if I had visited not Tenerife in 2008, but, for example, Egypt, I would have fallen in love not with Spain, but with Africa. But from a very young age, I wanted to go to Tenerife, and even at the beginning of the Turkish and Egyptian boom I did not feel any craving for “full-inclusive” and “Russian-style holidays”. In the 90s, the word “Canaries” smelled of something special, unknown, foreign, extra-class, and so on. My parents visited Tenerife in 1996, and to say that this was an event for an ordinary Barnaul family is to put it very modestly. It was an EVENT.

Today, few people can be surprised by such banality. Top bloggers, in search of the island, climb into the most exotic holes of our planet, but I don’t pretend to any glory with my photos, especially since the romantic aura from the word “Canaries” has since subsided, the islands have become much closer than before. And many “Turks” and “Egyptians”, tired of sunbathing and eating, moved to this next level of tourist travel, so, most likely, I will not surprise many who come here.

Yes, I don’t set such a goal. But my post will be viewed by my beloved parents, for whom a trip to Tenerife has become the main trip of their lives, except for the distant, distant 80s, when they escaped from the USSR to Bulgaria.

And knowing how bright that journey became for them in 1996, which, unfortunately, was darkened by the death of my grandmother ( and, of course, they couldn’t get to the funeral - even now planes don’t fly to Moscow every day, and even more so to Barnaul and Rubtsovsk - my father’s parents lived there), knowing that after the trip my father said very pessimistically that “they’ve been there and it won’t work out again,” I had a dream - not only to visit there myself, but moreover, to one day bring my parents there.

And in March-April 2010 it happened. I will use the photographs from that trip to warm myself up on the eve of tomorrow's winter.

By the way, so far I have not visited either Turkey or Africa as a tourist. And indeed, nowhere else except various parts of Spain. Unlike my wife, who visited many more places as a tourist, including Turkey and Egypt :)

Everything is simple with my vacation. Spain - Altai Territory :) And I look at the rest of the world from the windows of the plane, delivering other bloggers to different nooks and crannies.

If you find fault with geography, then the Canary Archipelago belongs to Africa. But politically - to Europe, as part of Spain. True, from time to time the local population recalls the uncivil behavior of the conquistadors, but things do not go further than indignation.

When planning a vacation, we do not use the services of tour operators. We book accommodation ourselves - usually apartments with a kitchen, and without fail - a car for the entire stay. We prefer to buy and cook our own food, so the most we include in the price is breakfast, and not always.

I can’t imagine myself on a vegetable holiday - sleeping, eating and lying in the sun, necessarily getting sunburned three times in two weeks. I like to wake up, throw a breakfast prepared to my taste into my body, map out the next route in the navigator, get into the car and drive the next hundreds of kilometers. My standard “travel” around the islands is 1000 km per week, and a significant part (taking into account the specifics of choosing places to stay) is serpentine.

Unlike my mother, I like to drive through the mountains - it's a free opportunity to see breathtaking landscapes. It was difficult the first time - in March 2009 we vacationed on the southern part of coastal Spain, then moved to Tenerife. And it was difficult not because of the “fear of mountains,” but for a banal reason - I started driving a few months before, and had not yet gained enough experience and confidence.

But after the first time, both experience and confidence grew sharply. Now I know for sure that if you are careful, attentive, look at the signs and predict the navigator’s readings, then a trip around Spain turns into a walk. Good roads, clear markings, signs on the sides of the roads, duplicated with paint on the asphalt. Normal neighbors downstream.

So, if you have doubts, and because of them you are still going on excursions by bus, afraid of falling behind at the next stop - away with fears! Serpentine from the window of your car is much less scary than from a tall bus driven by a fearless native.

The island of Tenerife is unique for its climate. He's different! And the main creator of the weather here is the Teide volcano, the calling card of the island. It is located approximately in the middle, rising 3718 meters above the sea, and 7500 meters above the bottom of the Atlantic, being the highest peak of the Atlantic Ocean. The mountains block the northern winds, forming clouds in the northern part of the island, due to which significant amounts of precipitation fall there. This part of the island is very green.

However, the tourist area is in the south. Here the area is practically bare, but there is very little rainfall throughout the year. In the southeast, winds constantly drive waves, which has made El Médano a favorite destination for wind surfers. And in the southwest it is almost always calm. Therefore, this part of the island is the most touristic.

The island is not very far from the equator, so the sun shines almost vertically here... However, the air temperature is on average +26 degrees, which deceives tourists, and they burn out "once... twice". The thing is that the island is washed by a cold ocean current, which neutralizes the scorching sun, turning the climate on the island into “eternal spring,” as marketers write.

Of course, the temperature changes plus/minus throughout the year. I visited Tenerife at the beginning of March, in April, in September - and you could always wear a T-shirt and swim in the ocean. However, I must say right away - do not expect the temperature of fresh milk from the ocean. It is always cool there (see above about the cold current). Temperature +20..+24 degrees. At the beginning of March it is cooler, at the end of September it is a little warmer. But never warm enough to climb into to warm up.

And I like it even better - you go into the waves, tremble... and get a sharp increase in tone. But then you get used to it, and you don’t want to go out.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the beaches. They may be a disappointment for those who first visited the Maldives or the Dominican Republic. It should be noted that without human intervention there would be practically no beaches there at all. This is a volcanic island! Only one beach with yellow sand in the northeast of the island was created by nature - thanks to winds from the east, sand was blown from the Sahara Desert, and man helped complete what he started - bringing the missing sand.

Most of the beaches (except for the rocky ones) have black volcanic sand, which is a real pleasure, especially for small children. It tends to get clogged in all possible human places, and is quite difficult to wash off. But it will scrub your body, be healthy!

And, of course, it gets very, very hot in the sun - be careful!

The excitement in the ocean is quite decent. Of course, there are a few small beaches that are well protected by breakwaters, however, most beaches allow fairly high waves to reach the shore. It’s even more interesting for me, but I wouldn’t recommend letting small children stay away from you. My eldest son (he turned 9 years old the other day), Artemka, being a very active child at 4 years old, took a moment... and disappeared. Thank God - I found him, sobbing, quite far from us, but close to the shore... Lost, you see. And we were so scared!

By the way, all beaches throughout Spain are free and free for everyone to enter. So, if you can only get to a beach through a hotel, don’t hesitate to get there, even if this hotel is not yours.

There are many different places on the island that are interesting enough to visit. Let me remind you that it is easy to implement any plans - if you always have a car at hand.

What is a hackneyed "must visit" - Loro Park, Siam Park, Monkey Park. The miniature park, Pueblo Chicco, will not leave you indifferent.

For nature lovers, I would recommend the following routes:

1. Drive around the island, no matter clockwise or counterclockwise.

2. Drive from south to north through the Teide valley, pine forests, go down to the northern airport, leave it behind and climb into the northeastern mountains - here you will find entire thickets of relic laurels (careless guides, trying to gather as many tourists as possible, broadcast, that these can only be found on La Gomera - that’s a trip, not for the faint-hearted), you can admire the two sides of the island from the tops, and then go down to Teresitas beach. The one with the yellow sand.

3. From the south, through the village of Maska, drive all the way north, and turn onto the road to the Teno lighthouse - the westernmost point of the island. Yes, you will have to drive along a closed road (there is a sign “No Trespassing” with the inscription: further travel at your own peril and risk”), under the cliffs hanging over the abandoned road, abundantly strewing the asphalt with pebbles of various sizes. But, once you escape, you will be treated to dizzyingly beautiful views on the rocks, sky and sea.

By the way, the road to the village of Maska is called the “road of death.” Marketing, nothing more. Excellent road, with a fence. The only thing that distinguishes it from the rest of the Tenerife serpentine road is that in some places it is quite narrow and in order to pass tourist buses you have to back up. Well, in some places the slope is a little more than usual. By the way, having chosen the route to Cape Teno, we did not pay attention to the fact that it goes through Maska. And, in general, they did not understand where the “road of death” was. Moreover, I will say that all the most beautiful things will be revealed to the tourist who travels further and does not look at the incomprehensible houses of this unremarkable village.

The best way to get to Masca is by water - you can book a trip on a glass-bottomed catamaran. It will be really interesting, unlike visiting the village overland.

In general, you can simply map out routes - the Internet is full of reference books on all kinds of "miradors" - and find them in person. This is interesting in itself, as opposed to stupid wallowing on black sand under the vertical rays of the sun.

And after daytime travel, just when the sun goes down lower, around 4 pm, you finally come to the beach, when the bulk of the “redskins” are already starting to arrive at the exit, afraid of missing out on the evening “all-inclusive”.

And after the beach, return to the apartment, wash off the black sand, set the table on the terrace overlooking the sea, and drink ice-cold sangria while watching the sun set directly on the island of La Gomera.

I love Tenerife, and I will definitely visit there more than once.

It remains to summarize the story with photographs, I hope that they will bring a little sun, sea and south to our first day of winter.

In one of the parks, I don’t remember where exactly.

My nephew, Sergei (now taller than me), and my son Artemka.

In 1996, my parents rented a hotel room in this area and swam in this artificial lake, so we couldn’t help but visit it in 2010.

Eddie Medano. A paradise for windsurfers.

Typical landscape in the green part of the mountains.

Loro Park. Really worth a visit

Gorillas walk there almost within walking distance. Powerful creatures.

A phenomenal penguin colony in which the climate of Antarctica is recreated.

The main population of the park are parrots.

Not long ago, a mega-water park, Siam Park, opened. Recommended for lovers of crazy water slides.
But others will also find entertainment for themselves.

30 meter "slide". Falling from it, you fly through a pipe inside the pool. With sharks, or something.

Water slalom for those who like to race.

The dragon is also an attraction

Father says hi.

A shallow lake on which an artificial ninth shaft is periodically formed.

And this is the heart of the island, the Teide volcano

This area has a very unique landscape, fantastic.

Finger of God.

Lunar landscape

Tenerife pines.

And again the ocean.

Armas sailed to La Gomera.

A piece of typical coastline.

And again Loro Parque. In addition to flowers, trees and animals, it hosts various shows. The fur seals will not leave anyone indifferent - this is the funniest show in the park.