In the south of Tenerife, which once shone only by bed castles and beautiful weather, much has changed. The "island of eternal spring", geographically located at the level of southern Morocco and Western Sahara, offers an oceanic-tropical climate throughout the year without extreme swings. Due to the constant blowing trade winds, the north of the island is greener, but also rainier.
Adeje - The view of the sea is balm for the soul, the fresh sea air good for health. Tenerife's southwest coast is an enticing place to soak up the sun in the dark season. It is not for nothing that the largest of the Canary Islands is one of the most popular vacation destinations for Germans.
First take a deep breath and enjoy the sound of the waves: This is how I dreamed of the perfect vacation. The black lava sand crunches softly under my shoes on the beach as I walk toward La Caleta to work off the calories from the delicious meal. On a rock platform, a yoga group practices breathing techniques and serenity. Couples sit on the beach taking selfies, and some anglers don't give up hope of catching something for dinner after all. Really good dance music from a live band is blaring from a beach bar. La Caleta, the former fishing village, has changed a lot due to tourism, but still retains a certain charm. Even today there are some excellent fish restaurants there.
Excellent red wines entice on vacation in Tenerife
While the red sun sinks into the sea behind the neighboring island of La Gomera and the greenest of the seven Canary Islands is slowly enveloped by twilight, I enjoy the sunset and one of the excellent red wines grown in the north of the island on the large roof terrace of the RIU Palace Tenerife. Rarely has a Spanish wine tasted so good to me.
The hotel, which reopened as a five-star property after extensive renovation work, has a 21,000-square-meter garden area with a sandy beach and three pools, one of which overlooks the sea, where the sometimes stormy surf is slowed by artificial reefs. Diagonally behind it is the four-star sister hotel RIU Arecas, which has also been completely renovated.
Colorful promenade
Green and colorful is the promenade with its palm trees, agaves and bougainvilleas, which meanders from Playa de la Enramada to Playa del Duque (beach of the prince) between the beach and hotel buildings. Life pulsates there. The village behind leaves nothing to be desired in terms of shopping and localities. If you are fit enough to walk, you will finally reach the Puerto Colon marina with its catamarans and sailboats, which depart from there for dolphin and whale watching. This is also a vacation in Tenerife.
Moby Dick's home
For decades, Tenerife's southwest has been an Eldorado for this tourism industry. More than 20 different whale species cavort in the Atlantic not far from the coast. So it is no coincidence that the film "Moby Dick" (1956) about Captain Ahab's obsessive hunt for the "white whale" was filmed in Canary waters. Today, there are no whalers there, but the animals are threatened by other dangers, such as fast ferries and submarine tracking, which strike the animals like an acoustic lightning strike. The government is trying to limit the criticism from environmentalists of the unrestrained excursion tourism by imposing rules and a limit on whale trips.
Tenerife vacation offers unique starry sky
If you visit Tenerife, you can't avoid the Pico del Teide, because all roads lead there. The mountain got its name from the indigenous people, the Guanches, who called the mountain "Echeyde", which means "Hell's mouth". In the course of time it became "El Teide" in Spanish. The volcanic "Teide National Park" with its spectacular landscapes, formed more than 300,000 years ago, is very popular with hikers and attracts over three million visitors a year.
"At 3,718 meters, the Teide is not only the highest mountain in Spain, but also the third-highest island volcano in the world," tells guide Jose Sanchez Garcia, who leads us along a path from the upper cable car station (3,555 meters high) to the viewpoint "Fortaleza" to experience the sunset on Tenerife. Pico del Teide has another superlative to offer that can be a balm for the soul: a night sky that, provided there are no clouds, has been designated a "Starlight Destination" by Unesco because of its optimal conditions. Astronomers offer night excursions with mobile telescopes, but you should dress winter-warm to enjoy it at 2356 meters.
Various airlines fly to Tenerife South Airport. Transfer time to the RIU Hotel is about 20 minutes. Dolphin and whale watching: Boats for whale watching tours depart from Puerto Colon , Los Gigantos and Los Christianos. The tours last two to three hours. https://www.maritimaacantilados.com/
The cable car "Teleférico de Teide" goes up to the top of the mountain and down in eight minutes every day from 9 am to 4 pm. It starts at 2,356 meters on the TF-21 road and goes to a mountain station at 3,555 meters. The peaks of Tenerife are home to some of the most important observatories in the world. "Volcano Life Experience" offers special events for sunset and stargazing. www.telefericoteide.com
Good tips are given in the travel guide "Tenerife", Dieter Schulz, Dumont, 296 p., 17.99 euros.
Note on our own behalf: This article was partly supported by tour operators, restaurants, hotels, airlines and/or tourism agencies. We attach great importance to independent and neutral reporting; therefore, the opinions, impressions and experiences of the respective authors correspond to their personal views.
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