There’s a greener side to Tenerife

     If you’re by a window seat on your flight to Tenerife on a clear day, the island’s iconic Mount Teide is a picturesque sight as you come to land.

     Most visitors to this sun-drenched island head directly to one of the beach resorts in the arid south. Here, two weeks of indulgence basking on the wide sandy beaches, along with uninterrupted views of the Atlantic Ocean guarantees a tan.

     Let’s see what it offers the sun seeker first and foremost. Don’t expect to be beachcombing for miles on wide golden sandy shores. Here it is volcanic rock and black sand. There are several small sunbathing beaches that are free for all to enjoy. The eastern coast is also a popular spot for surfers.

Lido Martianez

     However, its pride of place goes to the man-made seaside pools of Lido Martianez. This oasis is a visually pleasing complex designed with pools and landscaped with colourful flora, palm trees and volcanic rocks. It’s a sunbathers’ haven and attracts visitors to spend an entire day there. Queues can be long, and early arrival is advised. There is a fee to get in, to hire deck chairs, towels etc, and have rather overpriced eating venues. Nevertheless, it’s ideal for couples and families who simply wish to relax and enjoy the landscaped scenery. There are even views of Mount Teide in the distance.

Lido Martianez

Nature lovers...take a stroll uphill

Botanical Gardens

     Botanical Gardens
     About 20 minutes walk uphill from the town centre, this compact, rectangular-shaped garden is essential viewing. Founded back in 1788, it has a formal landscaped design. Apart from a collection of native plants, it also has a vast selection of tropical and subtropical flora and trees.
     A huge Coussapoa Dealbata tree from South America with its long intertwining roots reaching from the high branches to the ground below, is an interesting sight. A Jak Fruit tree bearing fruit is not easy to spot as its hidden among much of the other trees and foliage. It’s a cool peaceful place to wander around and enjoy the verdure.

Botanical Gardens

Sitio Litre garden

     The garden was visited by Agatha Christie in 1927, which inspired her to write the short story ‘The Mysterious Mr Quin’ basing the plot in Puerto de la Cruz.

Sitio Litre, ancient Dragon Tree

     Mirador de la Paz Lookout
     Agatha Christie’s fame is further evident in a walk up to this lookout point. A long flight of steps is painted with titles of her books, and at the small square at the top is a bust of Christie on display. However, what draws visitors here mostly is the sunsets and dramatic views of the coastline below, and beyond towards Lido Martianez.

Christie’s book titles on stairway

Taoro Park flora

Exploring the old town of Puerto De La Cruz

    The seafront promenade stretches to almost the entire town and is teeming with shops and restaurants. A part of it around the Lido Martianez area is also beautifully landscaped, and bougainvillea, hibiscus flowers and palm trees add the colourful touch. It’s a lovely area to stroll, sit down and enjoy the views.

Attractive seaside promenade

Old town, Calle Mequinz (street)

     Traditional architecture
The old town area also has some of the classic buildings and houses with its wooden balconies. The Canary Island’s centuries-old tradition of wood carvings from Canarian Pine is reflected here in its architecture. Many of the pastel-coloured houses and buildings with their pretty balconies are also a lovely photo opportunity.

     Churches
There are several historic churches in the town, that are worth visiting. They may not be as grand and huge as one would expect to see in a big city. However, they are well worth a look especially to admire its interiors that have notable statues, elaborate altars and paintings.

     The 17th-century Church of Our Lady of the Rock of France is the most important of them all. Its bell tower is visible from many parts of the town and prominently stands out amidst the town when seen from any hillside.
     Ermita de San Telmo chapel is a tiny white building that is perched on the cliff by the seafront and is a prominent feature along the promenade. The 18th-century church’s interior is dominated by the altar figure of the Dominican father San Pero Gonzales Telmo - patron saint of sailors.
     San Francisco Church built in 1599, is considered one of the oldest buildings in Puerto. Though not large, the interior has an elaborate altarpiece and beautiful paintings.

San Francisco Church

San Felipe Fort

Sightseeing beyond Puerto De La Cruz

     No holiday is complete without a visit to other towns, mountain villages and the famous Teide National Park. Car hire is recommended, although the ziz-zag roads with numerous hairpin bends can be precarious, and will stretch your driving skills to the limit. Alternatively taking a small group minibus tour is a more relaxing way to see some of the sights. There are several options to choose - from coach tours to private car tours that you can make your itinerary to suit you.

     Masca mountain village
Further west and higher up into the mountains is the picture-perfect little village perched by one of the peaks. Less than a hundred people live here. It’s a popular tourist attraction, where visitors arrive here in coach loads just to take photos, a quick walk around the village, have a coffee and leave, as it cannot cope with too much of a tourist influx. Driving around from here, you get to see several tiny mountainside villages making a picturesque sight and inviting one to stop (in a safe place) and enjoy the vista.

Masca village

Dramatic scenery when driving up to Masca

The amazing Mount Teide National Park

     No visitor is likely to return without a trip to Tenerife’s geological treasure. It’s a landscape of petrified lava rivers, inactive craters and rock formations that resembles a hostile lunar-like environment. It’s an impressive spectrum of shapes and colours too - from jet black to rusty red and ochre. And in between what seems like an impenetrable parched terrain, birdlife, lizards, wild flowers and desert plants thrive. The park dates back three million years and is one of the great wonders of our planet.

Teide National Park scenery

     Most tours head towards Roques de Garcia first, to view its dramatic rock formations, with Mt Teide in the background. Drive there early, and you could easily spend a whole day, taking a walking trail or two. Come on a tour, and you get to spend an hour or so. And no one leaves without photos of the famous Roque Cinchado a unique stand-alone craggy outcrop referred to as the ‘finger of god’.

Roques de Garcia

Roque Cinchado

     Mount Teide itself which rises to 12,200 feet (3718 metres) commands island-wide views. Its near peak can be reached by cable car. Nevertheless, most tourists arrive at the mountain base to capture the jaw-dropping scenery, with the imposing peak that’s sometimes covered in snow.

     Tenerife certainly adds an extra dimension to a sunseekers holiday. And if you’re heading for a coastal retreat for a couple of weeks, don’t miss out on some of the many attractions the island has to offer.

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