Hola!
I’m delighted to be back here to introduce you to a new trip my boyfriend and I took.
I would have preferred to tell you about the 1st project we had in mind: going to Guinea for 15 days to meet our friend Mohamed, who lives there. Unfortunately, our flight was cancelled because we had to pass through Morocco, which has closed its borders.
So we changed our plans at the last minute. As we were too in need of sun and disconnection, we wanted to leave France. So we looked at destinations departing from Nantes, without too strict health restrictions, and in the end it was Tenerife that appealed to us (we’d already stayed on another Canary island, Gran Canaria, last year at the same time). Of course, we already knew the island, but that was in 2015.
The Canaries, islands of eternal spring
Many friends who viewed my vacation photos were astonished to see that I was in a bathing suit in 26°C weather on an island 3 hours from the French border.
And yet it is!
The Canaries are made up of seven main islands: Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma. Located in the Atlantic Ocean off northern Africa, these volcanic islands enjoy mild year-round temperatures (between 20 and 26 degrees Celsius on average), plenty of sunshine and very little rainfall. Less than 150 km from the African coast, the Western Sahara and Morocco, this autonomous community of Spain is part of the European Union, and the cost of living is particularly attractive because of the different tax status (VAT is a maximum of 7%). No wonder these islands have become a paradise for retirees… and teleworkers!
Tenerife, the largest island with many faces
Dominated by the peak of its volcano, Le Teide (3700 m), Tenerife is a multi-faceted island.
Are you more interested in hiking, local culture and colonial architecture? The north and center of the island are perfect for you. The greener north, with its forests teeming with a wide variety of plants and animals. From San Cristobal de La Laguna to Santa Cruz, you’ll be immersed in local history.
In the center, you can hike in the much wilder Teide National Park. From the Teide peak, black lava flows transport you to another world. You can visit one of the world’s largest lava tunnels, the Cueva del viento. In some places, the impression of a lunar setting is insane.
The south, on the other hand, is more arid, with its many white and black sand beaches. For relaxation and partying, the south is more to your liking, with its large seaside resorts offering fine sand, seaside promenades and nightlife clubs.
As a fan of the sports I love, such as skateboarding, roller dancing and surfing, the island is the place where I dream of settling down for good!
Practical pre-departure information
For flights, we found very reasonable rates with Volotea from Nantes, at 130 euros per person, including 20 kg of luggage for two. Here again, the idea that going abroad is necessarily expensive is a preconceived notion that should be discarded.
Good to know We landed at the airport in the south of the island, but there are 2 airports:
- One is located in the north of the island, Tenerife Norte (aeropuerto Norte Los Rodeos), some ten kilometers from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital, near San Cristóbal de la Laguna.
- The other, more important airport is Tenerife Sur (aeropuerto Reina Sofia). It is located in the south of the island, some ten kilometers from the island’s biggest tourist and hotel areas, namely Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas and Costa Adeje.
When it came to accommodation, we had a few scares. Indeed, as all Europeans got the word out to go there, rates skyrocketed. So we decided to wait until the last minute, i.e. a week before leaving, to send messages on Airbnb to owners of available apartments asking them to lower their rates. Out of around fifteen messages sent, we received two positive responses, at the rate we had proposed, i.e. 500 euros for 10 days.
Of the two apartments, one was located in the middle of Las Americas, one of the island’s most dynamic and touristy towns, in the very south, while the other was in Alcala (further west), a much more authentic town, with natural swimming pools. natural pools. We chose this second apartment. It’s ideally located, just a minute from the coast, close to a path that runs alongside the sea, ideal for jogging, sports, walking, cycling or skateboarding.
Like the accommodation, the car rental was unaffordable for this vacation. So we decided to go without. It didn’t really matter, though, as the local bus network, also known as “les guaguas“, is perfectly deployed on the island and very practical. It gets you everywhere for very reasonable fares. There are 162 bus lines in Tenerife with 3800 stops!
It was also a good way for us to start traveling the same way we will around the world… and to learn to be patient, which is far from my strong point 😉
Good to know Using a bus card is much cheaper if you want to make several trips. The price is very reasonable. You credit the amount you choose. You can top it up if you need to, and it gives you discounts on fares. It can be purchased at bus stations or tobacconists. Present it to the driver and tell him where you’re getting off. When you get off the bus, you have to rebadge it to find out how much money is left on your card. If the balance is insufficient, you can always top it up in cash with the driver.
My tips for a sporting holiday in Tenerife from Alcala
As we were already familiar with the island, we especially wanted to take some time for ourselves. So, to recharge our batteries and prepare for the New Year, we adopted a series of wellness routines.
I loved the idea, as it enabled me to test a good resolution that I’d like to implement in 2022: the miracle morning. In addition to the vitamin D cure provided by the sun, we started each day with a half-hour sports session before breakfast. Jogging or swimming for my darling, thigh and buttock workouts for me.
In fact, testing this way of life gave me some ideas (I already had a lot of them!) for my future career in the wellness sector. Admittedly, thisroutine is much easier to carry out there when you don’t have to worry about the weather or the temperature.
Starting the day with it gives you an incredible feeling of lightness and well-being. Breakfast is even more enjoyable afterwards, because you really feel hungry and thirsty!
After a good shower, you’re ready to explore the island on foot 😉
Two pedestrian walks around Alcala of up to 10 km.
Alcala, our municipality of residence, is part of the Guía de Isora region in the southwest of the island. Like other coastal villages, Alcala has become more touristy over the years. But it still retains its local atmosphere, with its small port.
North from Alcala to Los Gigantes along the coastal path. It was an opportunity for us to admire the landscape and the surfers while walking and soaking up the sun. We made a few pleasant stops, such as La Jaquita beach or Playa de la Arena for lunch. These black-sand beaches are fully equipped with sunbeds, toilets and lifeguards. Just before this second beach, I recommend a detour to visit “Charco El Diablo”, a very pretty spot with a natural swimming pool.
On the other side of Alcala, to the south, we also walked to San Juan, again along the coast. The tourist resort of Playa San Juan has a seafront promenade about two kilometers long, with cafeterias and restaurants adjoining the promenade. A perfect place to recharge your batteries.
A little further on, if you hop into a “guagua”, you can stretch out on Abama beach: a great spot for lazing around with its fine sand, where guests of the nearby Ritz Carlton hotel come to sip cocktails on their deckchairs 🙂
Take the less touristy hiking trails to discover Teide
On our first visit to the island a few years ago, we had a vehicle. This made it easier for us to get around and see the sights, such as the town of Masca or the part of Teide where the cable car to the summit is located.
By bus, more difficult for us. But not impossible and more authentic 😉 We chose to go to Santiago del Teide on a hiking trail, PR-TF 43.3. This branch of the path starts from the Plaza de Santiago del Teide. A few metres from the junction with Calle Juan Cabeza, the path leaves the asphalt and continues along old tracks towards El Calvario and Montaña de Bilma. It then climbs until it crosses the Vergara runway and canal, and skirts the Los Poleos mountain on the left, before finally meeting PR-TF 43.
We bought some sandwiches in a small village supermarket before setting off. Afterwards, we let ourselves be guided by our desires and marveled at the scenery. All in all, we walked over 15 kms, but what a joy! Everything’s pretty well signposted, so don’t worry. You’ll find your way, even without a guide 🙂
Not to be missed for its architecture and street art: Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz.
To continue with the less sporty but more cultural walks, I recommend that you visit Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz, in particular the small adjoining village of San Cristobal de la Laguna.
All located in the north of the island, these towns are full of charm.
Puerto de la Cruz: when street art magnifies the old
Puerto de la Cruz was the Canary Islands’ first tourist center, before the development of the south of the island. With its protected old town and wide seafront promenade, ideal for long, peaceful strolls, it’s hard not to fall in love with the sea, the fresh air and the peace and quiet.
Famous visitors to the city (including Agatha Christie, Michael Jackson and the Beatles) have added to its renown.
I was particularly impressed by the street art section (I’ve already told you about my passion for this art form during my stays in Berlin and Barcelona…). Indeed, the traditional fishermen’s district of La Ranilla, has been offering an initiative since 2014: the Puerto Street Art, an open-air museum where 13 internationally renowned artists have covered large walls with their works.
Beyond its narrow streets, Puerto de la Cruz has everything a family could wish for.
Young and old alike can marvel at Loro Parque, a zoological park that will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2022. Its international renown is due to its impressive family of exotic birds, with over 300 species of parrots.
They can also find a bit of freshness in the Botanical Garden. For a very reasonable price, the garden offers an incredible number of plants from all over the world. We spend the visit with our noses in the air: looking for the tops of trees over 200 years old.
The sea also offers a multitude of sporting activities, from bodyboarding to diving. The spectacular underwater lava tunnel known as La Rapadura attracts many expert divers every year. To add to the city’s appeal, natural swimming pools are also available for tourists who want to avoid the swirling waves.
Last but not least, Puerto de la Cruz hosts a number of cultural events throughout the year, including Carnival, declared to be of international tourist interest!
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the island’s capital
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is also well worth a visit, especially the small adjoining village of San Cristobal de la Laguna.
It has been the island’s capital since 1833, a status it shares with Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, also capital of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands. Its port plays a major role in maritime communications between Europe, Africa and America, as well as to the eastern Canary Islands. It welcomes both commercial and cruise ships.
Santa Cruz is a bright and cheerful city, and like Puerto de la Cruz, celebrating Carnival is a must!
The city center has many lively pedestrian streets for shopping. What I also find rather attractive is the cohabitation of historic buildings alongside more contemporary works of architecture, such as the auditorium above. On the cultural side, there are a number of museums, as well as permanent outdoor exhibitions in some of the city’s avenues and parks.
For those of you who follow me, you know that I’m a fan of skateboarding too. Good to know,for skateboarders, Santa Cruz de Tenerife has an indoor skate park that’s just too much fun, the AJ Project Indoor, and outdoors, the La Granja skatepark.
As forSan Cristobal de la Laguna , it‘s impossible to remain indifferent as you stroll through its streets of colorful facades, patios lined with wooden galleries, boutiques and inviting restaurants. The atmosphere is incredibly pleasant, and you really want to sit back and enjoy the moment.
No wonder it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Tourists have the impression of stepping back in time to when the city was created, inspired by navigational charts. In fact, its architecture served as a model for the construction of cities such as Havana and Lima, and you can still really feel the colonial atmosphere even today.
If you’re in a hurry, then head straight for the beautiful Calle San Agustín, where you’ll find Casa Salazar, the former San Agustín convent and the Lercaro palace. Also worth a visit is the Plaza del Adelantado and the cathedral (the only one in Tenerife) and the Concepción church.
That’s it, folks. I hope you enjoyed this article. It’s funny because between the girl I was 5 years ago, who was just starting to travel, and the girl I am today, I’ve realized that I’ve evolved!
I didn’t feel at ease when we strolled through the mass-tourism-ridden towns in the south, and this confirmed my choice of accommodation! Being surrounded by foreigners spending their time consuming made me nauseous! Finding the peace and quiet of a village with no souvenir stores suddenly seemed like such a refreshing change of scenery!
In fact, if you still want to see this part of the island, I’d advise you to head for Las Americas and Costa Adeje. If you want to do some shopping, go opposite the Hard Rock Café or SIAM Mall, you’ll find what you’re looking for 😉
I’ll be happy to answer any practical questions you may have about your stay, or about gastronomy, or what you can bring back from the islands. I haven’t developed this in the article, but I’d be delighted to talk to you about it, in comments, if you’d like.
See you soon
