Category Archives: The islands

Visiting Palma de Majorca, Balearic Islands (Palma de Mallorca, Islas Baleares)

The coastal city of Palma  (Palma de Mallorca) is situated on the Majorca Island (Islas Baleares) in the Mediterranean Sea and with a population of about 400,000 inhabitants is the capital of the autonomous region of the Balearic Islands and also the capital of the Majorca Island. Its beautiful bay and its outstanding old neighborhood among others interesting things along with its Mediterranean climate makes Palma a perfect tourist destination all year round.

Palma city was founded by the Roman about the year 123 BC, after Roman Empire were the Byzantines, afterwards in the early 10th century arrived the Mulims, who called it Medina Mayurqa, James I king of Aragón, also known as James El Conquistador (The Conqueror), conquered Majorca island and entered in Medina Mayurca (Palma) in 1229, founding the kingdom of Majorca which was annexed to the Crown of Aragón in 1230.

Palma, which is renowned for its beautiful bay and its magnificent beaches, is situated in the southwest of the island, on the Mediterranean Sea coast. The tourism business is the main source revenue for the island. Palma has a great atmosphere with shops, bars, cafés full of stylish people and a reputation as a vibrant and lively city, almost as famous for its lively nightlife as for its history.

In the mid 20th century Palma became a perfect tourist destination for people who came to enjoy its lovely beaches and its mild climate, currently Palma is also noteworthy for the quality of its architecture.

Nowadays, Palma not only has one of the most beautiful bays and magnificent beaches but also, gastronomy, sport, festivals, events, nightlife, architecture, nature, culture, parks among other many more things. In fact, Palma is a holiday destination where tourists from all over the world choose to visit the island order to spend their holiday doing outdoor activities, enjoying its beaches, tasting its traditional cuisine (olives and almonds are typical of the Majorcan diet), many area are plenty of restaurants, cafés, terraces, glamorous shops and luxury hotels.

What to visit in Palma (Palma de Mallorca)

One of the most beautiful places to visit is the Cathedral de Palma (Sa Seu), which was built on the site of the old Mayurqa Mosque, it is an imposing building from the 14th century in Gothic style. Among the more interesting buildings are the Almudaina Palace, which was a Muslim palace and its Chapel of Santa Ana in Gothic style nearby the Cathedral, La Lonja (Sa Llotja) one of the civil buildings most beautiful on the island in Gothic style, Arab Public Baths since the 10th century, Santa Eulalia Church since the 13th century, San Francisco Convent dating from the 13th century and the Pueblo Español in the mid 20th century. All they are must-see places.

If you enjoy the castles make sure you include a trip to Bellver Castle which was built by James II in the 14th century, it is 3 km away from center city of Palma, but if tourists are interested in visiting museums these are probably worth mentioning Modern Art (Es Baluard) with works by Cezanne, Gauguin, Picasso, Miró, Magritte and Santiago Rusiñol among other artists, Majorca Museum (prehistoric, Roman, Muslim and medieval) and Pilar i Joan Miró Foundation all are worth visiting.

Sports and Beaches

Although there are a lot of facilities for football, swimming, surfing, windsurfing, the natural surrounding with their beaches and sailing are really of main attractions. In fact, Palma hosted the King’s Cup of Sailing which has become a date of reference on the international calendar.

Palma also has some famous beaches all of them of the highest quality, with fine golden sand, clear waters and excellent facilities. Besides, the beauty of the landscape around the beaches has the additional advantage of being within walking distance of the city center as Platja Palma, Cala Major, Can Pere Antoni, Ciutat Jordi and Can Pastilla. In addition, there are a lot of sport and cultural events on the beaches an ideal tourist destination of the highest quality.

To sum up, the official languages are Catalan and Spanish, however English is also spoken. We suggest enjoying the beaches, the food, the nightlife and do water sport. Visitors can arrive in Palma, by sea and by air. The airport of Palma is one of the busiest in Spain and is used by millions of passengers every year.

More islands and interesting places to visit in the Mediterranean Sea

Balearic Islands (Islas Baleares): Check all our posts about the Balearic Islands: Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca and Formentera.

Barcelona and Valencia: Two of the main cities witch have beaches in the Mediterranean Sea.

Canary Islands (Islas Canarias): A touristic group of Spanish islands located in the west coast of Africa, at the south of the Iberian Peninsula. They are composed by these seven islands: Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, La Palma, Lanzarote, El Hierro and La Gomera.

What to visit in Ibiza City (Balearic Islands)

nightlife party festivals ibiza island

The lively city of Ibiza (or Eivissa) is the capital city of Ibiza island, which is one of the Spanish Balearic Islands (Islas Baleares) in the Mediterranean Sea. Situated on the south-east coast of the island, Ibiza is really a multicultural city with a population of about 50,000 inhabitants. Moreover, Ibiza lies fewer than 90 km off the Iberian peninsula, and its favorable geographical location with an excellent climate all year around certainly make Ibiza one of the best tourist destinations in Spain. Evidently, tourists love the city which has a great atmosphere, with shops, bars, restaurants, terraces and cafés full of stylish young and middle aged people. It is said that Eivissa is the capital city of fun.

map ibiza spainIbiza has a lot of to offer visitors in the way of gastronomy, architecture, culture, nature, parks, comfortable lifestyle, excellent sandy beaches, water sports, leisure facilities, nightlife, festivals, a wide range of fun and entertaining activities, as well as magnificent buildings and archaeological remains that let them know and enjoy the interesting history of the island. In fact, the Phoenician Ruins of the Sa Caleta, the Phoenician-Punic cemetery of Puig des Molins, the Salines (Nature Park), the Upper Town of Ibiza, called Dalt Vila and the 16th century fortifications were declared World Heritage Sites in 1999 by UNESCO.

Dalt Vila (Upper Town) is the oldest area of the city of Ibiza and an excellent example of a fortified town, its architecture and physiognomy have remained intact since the 16th century. Dalt Vila preserves in its walls and urban areas successive unmistakable cultural imprints of the earliest Phoenician settlements, Roman, Muslim and Corona de Aragón periods through the seven Renaissance bastions. Therefore, no visit to Ibiza will be complete without spending some time in the Dalt Vila.

What to visit in Ibiza town

Firstly, we suggest taking a walk around the vibrant cobbled streets of La Marina neighbourhood, the perfect place to try to experience the local culture, meet the local people, visit shops, eat in a local café, buy some arts and crafts and just sit with a coffee and watch the city go by.

ibiza cityThe following days visitors will probably enjoy visiting the Upper Town which has five entrance gates, one at the Reina Sofia Park, but the main one is located in front of La Marina neighborhood near The Old Market (Mercado Viejo) from where visitors can go up to Portal de Ses Taules to arrive at the walled town. Once inside Dalt Vila, visitors can enjoy the spectacular views from the fortified ramparts and the Cathedral square before going sightseeing and shopping. The Gothic Ibiza Cathedral, which was built on the top of the town and on the site of a previous building ( it might have been the Yebisah Mosque), was begun its construction in the 13th century, although its interior was rebuilt in Baroque style in the 18th century. The Cathedral is the most remarkable building in Ibiza dominating the whole city with its Gothic bell tower. Santo Domingo’s church built in the 16th century; the Town Hall building was built between 16th and 17th centuries; La Almudaina –the castle of Ibiza– is dated between 16th and 18th centuries and the Archaeological Museum in Dalt Vila are all worth a visit.

The Phoenician-Punic necropolis of Puig des Molins, which lies to south-west of Dalt Vila, was used until the end of Roman period. This Phoenician-Punic cemetery is considered to be the best preserved Phoenician-Punic cemetery in the world with more than 3,500 tombs, statues and other interesting objects. In this area there is another Archaeological Museum in Puig des Molins. It is a must-see place.

Tourists interested in visiting the Phoenician Ruins de Sa Caleta will go back to 8th century BC. Besides, they will be able to see evidence of urbanization and social life in the Phoenician colonies. It is situated on the southern coast of the island where visitors can also enjoy the beautiful Sa Caleta cove, Sa Canal port, Salines beach, Es Cavallet, a nudist beach to 9 km away from Ibiza city, and Sant Jordi de Ses Salines village, as well as Ses Salines Nature Park.

Ibiza Beaches

ibiza island beach mediterranean seaIbiza has a lot of white sandy beaches and beautiful coves which attract thousands of tourists every year. Almost as famous for its lively nightlife as for its beaches, the island has more than 200 km of spectacular coastline, offering superb diving opportunities and other water sports in its clear water.

– Ses Figueretes, with white sand, is an urban beach very popular amongst the citizens and is within walking distance of Ibiza city. This beach is one of the places from where visitors have the most wonderful views of the Upper Town of Ibiza. There is also easy access to the beach by car and by public transport.

– Platja d’en Bossa is one of the longer and more famous beaches in Ibiza, there are water sports, as well as cheap and luxury hotels nearby. Located about 2 km away from Ibiza city, the Bossa beach is easily accessible by car, by public transport, by bicycle and on foot from Ibiza city. However, this beautiful beach is usually crowded in summer during the day and at night with parties of tourists, because tourists just want to have fun and relax. This beach offers a unique ambiance which is not found in other beaches.

– Talamanca is a quiet beach for sunbathing and swimming, it is about 2 km away from Ibiza city. This pleasure beach is special for children and families being accessible by public transport and on foot.

ibiza beaches map

It is easy to arrive in Ibiza either by plane or by ship. Ibiza also provides easy access to the main tourist places.

Other Spanish islands and interesting places to visit in the Mediterranean Sea

Balearic Islands (Islas Baleares): Check all our posts about the Balearic Islands: Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca and Formentera.

Canary Islands (Islas Canarias): A touristic group of Spanish islands located in the west coast of Africa, at the south of the Iberian Peninsula. They are composed by these seven islands: Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, La Palma, Lanzarote, El Hierro and La Gomera.

Barcelona and Valencia: Two of the main cities witch have beaches in the Mediterranean Sea.

Andalucia Region: In the south of Spain, you will find warmth weather, beaches, and a lot more.

Garachico, Tenerife (Canary Islands)

garachico vista superior

People visiting Tenerife island (Canary Islands) should not miss out on Garachico which is situated in the northwest of Tenerife Island between the steep mountain slopes and the volcanic rock cliffs on the Atlantic Ocean coast. Obviously, it is a scenery of indescribable natural beauty.

Garachico was founded in the late15th century and its seaport was possibly the most important port in the island during 16th and 17th centuries. However, in 1706 there was a volcanic eruption and the lava flowed from the Trevejo Volcano towards the sea destroying a part of the town and burying its commercial port. In fact, the beautiful bay disappeared under the volcanic lava while the natural rock pools were being formed on the coast, currently known as El Caletón.

garachico vista supierior 1Nowadays, this historical town with one population of about 5,000, and a pleasant mild climate all the year round, has a lot of to offer visitors in the way of traditional Canary architecture, extraordinary natural landscape, typical food, delicious wine, traditional dance, nature, culture, beaches, and above all, El Caletón of Garachico a natural swimming pools of black volcanic rocks, and the breathtaking views of its surroundings among other things.

What to visit in Garachico Town and Port (Tenerife)

Starting in the lively Plaza de la Libertad (Freedom Square) which is the main meeting point of the town and Glorieta de San Francisco next to Plaza de la Libertad visitors will be able to find the most important buildings of Garachico.

Santa Ana Church is one of the most beautiful and remarkable buildings of Garachico, dating in the mid 16th century was partly destroyed by the volcanic eruption in 1607 and rebuilt afterwards. Its square bell tower stand out from all the houses of Garachico. Inside the church there are an impressive altarpiece and other artworks which are worth visiting.

Convent of San Francisco of Asis, a two-storey building dating from 1524, there are exhibitions of Canary, volcanoes, photos and the Public Libray among other things; Our Lady of the Angels Church (Iglesia de Nuestra señora de los Angeles) dating from 1524, both buildings the Convent and Church form a magnificent architectural ensemble in traditional Canary style.

garachio jardinCasa del Marqués de la Quintana Roja in traditional Canary style was rebuilt after the volcanic eruption like the original building; La Casa de Piedra is an Art Space was also rebuilt; and City Hall building all of them are in Plaza de la Libertad.

Castle-Fortress of San Miguel dating from 16th century is situated on Atlantic Ocean Coast, next to El Caletón but fortunately the castle was not destroyed by the volcano in 1706. It takes 3 minutes on foot from Plaza de la Libertad to San Miguel Castle.

Puerta de Tierra is a picturesque park inside the town with exotic plants and remains of old port that remind us of the volcanic eruption. It is located next to the beautiful Plaza la Pila which has a spectacular view of Puerta de Tierra and surroundings. It takes 2 minutes on foot from Plaza de la Libertad.

garachico iglesiaCasa del Marques de Villafuerte, in traditional Canary style, was built in the late 17th century its geographical location avoided being destroyed by the volcanic eruption; and Concepcionistas Franciscanas Convent are also worth visiting.

Taking a leisurely walk along the promenade visitors will come across interesting sculptures, historical buildings and Casa el Molino an interesting old flour mills, after they will arrive at San Roque Chapel dating in the early 17th century which is near the New Marina.

The Garachico Rock, which is a islet to 300 meters far away from Garachico coast and rounded by Atlantic Ocean, has a surface area of 50,000 square meters with a wealth of native wildlife. Anyway, it is certainly a Natural Area and the visits are forbidden.

Beaches in Garachico

garachico lavaDue to its tropical trade winds, its annual average temperatures between 18 degrees and 24 degrees and its geographical location near the Teide National Park, the beaches and sport activities are of the main tourist attraction of Garachico.

El Caletón is situated on the site of the old port coast with natural swimming pools that were made during the volcanic eruption. It is often crowded of tourists with adequate facilities for all the family. Visitors should not leave Garachico without enjoying the beautiful pools.

The Muelle Beach, located in the old bay of Garachico is a lovely and excellent beach with black sand and clear blue water. It is highly popular with tourists and local people. It is near El Caletón.

Las Aguas Beach, situated next to New Marina is larger, quieter and more secluded than the Muelle Beach with black sand, clear blue water, plenty of free space and a beautiful landscape.

Other beaches of Garachico: Gomero, La Caleta, Guincho and La Madalena.

parque  del teideBy the way, Mount Teide (El Teide) is one of the tallest volcano in the world and the highest peak in Spain at 3,718 meters above sea level it occupies a majestic location in the center of the Canary Island known as Teide National Park was declared a World Heritage site in 2007 by UNESCO.

 

More places to visit in Canary Islands (Spain)

– Read here all ours places in the Canary Islands (Las Islas Canarias – España).

Tenerife: Dont dofget visiting  Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and Icod de Vinos.

Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife (Canary Islands)

Lago Martianez puerto de la cruz beach canary islands

Situated in the beautiful Orotava Valley, on the Atlantic Ocean coast in the north of Tenerife Island (Canary Islands), 37 km. away from Santa Cruz de Tenerife city, Puerto de la Cruz is a lively town with lovely gardens and a population of about 30,000. To add, the town is at the bottom of foothill of the Teide Mountain (3,718 meters high).

playa jardinThe annual average temperature between 15 degrees in winter and 27 degrees in summer, its mild climate and its nature beauty of its surroundings have really played an important role in the quality of life in Puerto de la Cruz, which is regarded as one of the main towns in tourist attraction in Canary Islands. Moreover, the volcanic sand beaches and the fresh mountain air make Puerto de la Cruz one of the best towns to have a lifestyle healthy, spend an enjoyable holiday or do all sort of sport. In fact, in this town visitors can stroll, play, rest, eat, drink, dance, have fun and enjoy its nightlife in a friendly, relaxed and pleasant atmosphere among other many things.

the port and martianez beach tenerifeIn the heart of the historical neighborhood in the north of the town visitors can find the Plaza de la Iglesia (Church Square) and Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia (Our Lady of the Rock of France Church), the square is a quiet and clean area to rest and enjoy its traditional buildings . It will take two minutes on foot from Church Square to get the remarkable Charco Square the main meeting point for citizens and tourists where people can find shops, cafés, restaurants, open air terraces. This square is immensely popular with the local people and the perfect place to spend the free time. Moreover, the old pier is nearby too. Tourists should not miss on out this area.

The Castle of San Felipe was built in the middle of the 17th century in order to keep safe the place. However, if you like music you will listen concerts in this Castle currently.

 

Puerto de la Cruz: Visiting the beaches of the Port

san telmo beachPuerto de la Cruz has four black sand beaches:

– Martianez Beach, is an ideal beach to go surfing, swimming, walking and enjoy water sports.

– San Telmo Beach is near the Iglesia Square in the heart of the historical Town remaining as a typical beach for bathing. This beach is especially popular among the citizens.

– The Jardin Beach, which is near the San Felipe Castle, is the largest beach in Puerto de la Cruz covering more than 16,000 square metres. It has plenty of gardens with paths to stroll, play or rest and a range of facilities. This beach – garden was designed by the world renowned artist and sculptor Cesar Manrique Cabrera ( 1919-1992) who expressed through his designs a love of nature.

l martianez 4– Lago Martianez Complex, (Complex Martianez Lake) which is the most emblematic place in Puerto de la Cruz, has several seawater lakes or swimming spools, gardens, terraces, bars, excellent facilities. Its surface area is about 50,000 square meters and was designed by the artist canary Cesar Manrique Cabrera (1919-1992) who built the Complex like a natural environment space. By the way, the Complex becomes a bustling and lively place during the evening and the night. This beach is between San Telmo and Martianez beaches.

 

 

The Botanic Garden, Taoro Park and Loro Park (Tenerife)

playa jardin floresThe Botanic Garden (Jardin de Aclimatacion de la Orotava) dates from 18th century creating with astonishing variety of plants is a beautiful landscaped garden. It might have more than 4,000 different plants.

It will take about 25 minutes on foot from Church Square to arrive at Botanic Garden. Its nature beauty makes it a must-see place

The Taoro Park is also worthy of mention, it takes about 18 minutes on foot from Church Square to get this park, covering an area of about 100,000 square meters.

Loro Park is one of the most interesting zoo in the world where people can see plenty of animals and spend all day strolling and enjoy the zoo. It will be a unique and unforgettable experience for children if they can see the intelligent dolphins acting as if the dolphins were in the sea.

san felipe castle tenerifeIf you want to know more about Puerto de la Cruz , it goes back to the 16th century like Orotava’s seaport until the first years of the 19th century that it was renamed like Puerto de la Cruz. In fact, the seaport probably had quite importance between the 16th and 18th centuries when the pier was used for international trade of sugar and wine. Besides, Puerto de la Cruz was a fishing village and parts of the old seaport are still visible. By the way, the town has followed with its fishing seaport for several centuries.

Strolling around the streets of this town tourists will come across of architecturally interesting buildings, museums, and so on.

 

More about Tenerife and The Canary Islands

Canary Islands: Read here all about the Canary Islands, Spain (Islas Canarias, España).

Tenerife island: The beaches and places to go when visiting Tenerife.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife: The main city of Tenerife Island.

 

Icod de los Vinos, the Drago town in Tenerife (Canary Islands)

drago icod vinos

Icod de los Vinos also called the Town of the Drago tree is not only famous for its Drago Milenario tree (millennial tree) which grows in this town, but also its nature, its forest, its vineyards, its plataneras (banana trees), and the Cave of the Wind (Cueva del Viento).

Situated in the north-west of Tenerife Island, in the Canary Islands, on the hillside of Teide (the highest mountain in Spain 3,718 meters in height), Icod de los Vinos has a population of about 25,000.

 

The Drago tree

tenerife arbol flores rojasIt is said that the exotic millennial Drago tree, which is the oldest drago tree known in the world, can be more than one thousand years old. In fact, it measures more than 17 meters in height and 20 meters the perimeter trunk. Moreover, the drago trees were regarded as sacred by the Guanches ( people who were living in Tenerife Island when the island was conquered by Spaniards in 1495. Considering that drago tree is a healing herb it was used in medicine.

Nowadays, the ornamental drago trees are considered to be together with the palm trees the plant symbols of Tenerife island and can be seen in parks, gardens and streets frequently in the Canary Islands. However, in the past, the prized red sap of the drago trees called the drago’s blood, was extracted massively from their trucks and used to make several products by the traders and plenty of drago trees were cut down for their exploitation. Fortunately, drago tree is being protected from exploitation in the Canary Islands.

Tourists should not miss out on the Milenario Drago tree, the longest living drago tree.

 

The Wind Cave

The underground Cueva del Viento Sobrado (the Wind Cave) is one of the largest volcanic caves in Europe, it can really measure more than 15 kilometers in length and might have been made about 20,000 years ago when the volcanic lava flew from the active Teide volcano. Situated on the foothill of the Teide Mountain which is the highest mountain in Spain with 3,718 meters over sea level, the cave is three kilometers away from Icod de los Vinos. It is well worth a visit.

Visitors had better wear comfortable shoes and clothes to enter the cave, the visit takes about two hours. The ticket to visit the cave can be booked in advance, it costs from 5 to 16 euros. By the way, the white wine of this town is delicious.

 

Other interesting places nearby Icod de los Vinos

Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Read here everything abut the capital city of Tenerife island.

The Canary Islands (Islas Canarias): The best places to visit in the Canary Islands.

Visiting Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands)

santa cruz de tenerife

The coastal cosmopolitan Santa Cruz de Tenerife city is the capital and the largest city in Tenerife Island, which is one of the seven Spanish Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. Located in the north-east of Tenerife Island, Santa Cruz de Tenerife just has one of the most important ports of Spanish that has become a favourite and traditional port of call for luxury cruises and modern ships from North and South America, Asia and Europe. In fact, Santa Cruz de Tenerife really attracts more than 4,000.000 visitors a year, although the city only has a population of about 250,000.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is not only popular with the tourists because its sunny beaches, exceptional climate, good gastronomy but also its culture, nature, architecture, shops, entertainment, renowned festivals, cheap and upmarket hotels, nightlife, and so on. Anyway, people can just have a lot of fun at Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s festivals or parties and come across enjoyable things.

 

What to visit in Santa Cruz de Tenerife city

Strolling leisurely along the streets and squares of Santa Cruz de Tenerife city is the best way to enjoy the city. So we suggest starting in the large Plaza de España (Spain Square), one of the main meeting points of Santa Cruz de Tenerife next to the port. The Spain Square has an artificial shallow seawater lake in the middle of the square with a geyser, many ever-trees, benches, important buildings and open-air terraces.

tenerife 2After having a good look around the impressive Spain Square, it will take about 15 minutes on foot to arrive at imposing Auditorium of Tenerife Adán Martín one of the most remarkable buildings in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The Auditorium was built between 1997 and 2003 and designed by the world-renowned architect Santiago Calatrava Valls (who was born in 1951 in Valencia). Located on the Atlantic Ocean coast in the south of the city, the Auditorium is used for performances, opera, dance, concerts, from rock, classical, pop, jazz to flamenco among other events. Moreover, the Tenerife Auditorium has an innovative organ which is considered to be unique in the world. Therefore, tourists should not miss out on this building which can be visited on Monday to Saturday at half past twelve in the afternoon in guided visit.

The Castillo de San Juan Bautista (Saint John Castle) popularly known as the Black Castle was built in 1644. Situated on the Atlantic Ocean coast next to the Auditorium, the castle is worth a visit.

The Parque Marítimo César Manrique (César Manrique Martime Park) with more than 20,000 square meters has a few seawater swimming pools and a good range of first-class facilities for all family, it is among the Saint John Castle, the Palmetum and the Atlantic Ocean. It takes 22 minutes on foot from the Spain Square or 7 minutes from the Auditorium. By the way, the Palmetum is a botanical garden park with a lot of palm trees on the Atlantic Ocean coast. It is a must-see place).

It will only take 5 minutes on foot from Spain Square to the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción (the Conception Church) dating from 17th century with a beautiful tower in Canary Colonial style that is one of the symbols of the city. The church is located in the historic neighborhood of the Concepción, famous for its excellent restaurants and cafés, which server delicious traditional cuisine and good local wine. Moreover, in February the neighborhood has a lot of fun during the Carnival Festival. Besides, the fascinating Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre (Nature and Humankind Museum) is opposite the Concepción Church, crossing the Barranco de Santos bridge. It is worth a visit.

la recovaThe Teatro de Güimerá (Güimerá Theatre) dating from 19th century in classical style is one of the most emblematic buildings in Tenerife Island. It is located in the Madeira Square near other interesting buildings. It takes 5 minutes on foot from Spain Square or from Concepción Church.

Next to Spain Square at its west is the lively Plaza la Candelaria (Candelaria Square) where the Carnival Festivals are celebrated by citizens and tourists dancing or listening to live music. If visitors go through the Candelaria Square they will get the Castillo Street one of the main shopping streets of the city.

The Parque García Sanabria (García Sanabria Park), which covers an area of more than 60,000 square metres, is just a beautiful botanical garden where people can relax and enjoy its plants, flowers, trees, fountains and modern sculptures. It is the perfect place to spend the day with the family. It takes about 15 minutes on foot from the Spain Square. Tourists should not leave the city without visiting this park, they will come across of enjoyable things.

 

Other interesting places near Santa Cruz de Tenerife city

Beaches and gastronomy in Tenerife: Find here where to go and what to eat in Tenerife Island.

– San Cristobal de la Laguna city (commonly known as La Laguna): A historic city that was founded in 1497 by Alonso Fernández de Lugo (1456 -1525). Situated in the north of Tenerife Island (one of the seven Spanish Canary Islands), La Laguna has a population of about 170,000 and is twelve kilometres away from Santa Cruz de Tenerife city. Moreover, La Laguna was declared a World Heritage site in 1999 by UNESCO.

The Canary islands: All our posts about the Canary Islands (Spain).

Tenerife Island: Beaches and gastronomy in Tenerife (Canary Islands)

tenerife canary islands

Situated in the Atlantic Ocean, Tenerife Island is the largest island of the seven Spanish Canary Islands (known as Islas Canarias) off northwest coast of Africa. Tenerife covers a surface area of about 2,030 square kilometers and being Santa Cruz of Tenerife its Capital city.

Its favorable geographical location, its pleasant mild climate, its tropical trade winds (vientos Alisios), its annual average temperatures between 17 degrees in winter and 25 degrees in summer, its sunny beaches, and leisure activity make Tenerife Island an ideal holiday destination. Moreover, Tenerife also has a lot of offer in the way of culture, nature, gastronomy, sport, festivals, and so on.

 

The beaches of Tenerife

beachThe exceptional warm climate makes the beaches of Tenerife its main attraction for visitors who can enjoy bathing, windsurfing or swimming in the clear water of the Atlantic Ocean during all the year round, sunbathing, relaxing on the Médano, the Cabezo, the Cristianos, The Gigantes, San Juan or some of the many sandy beaches which surround on the coast of Tenerife island.

If tourists want to enjoy a different beach every day, they can take the public bus or tram which run very frequently from wherever village or city of Tenerife to all the most famous beaches of the island. It might take about an hour or less to arrive at the farthest beaches. Although the best way to reach the beaches is to hire a car and enjoy the incomparable beauty of the island.

We suggest joying the fine golden sand of Teresitas beach in the north of the island, it takes about 12 minutes (9 km. away) from Santa Cruz de Tenerife city. The volcanic black sand of Arena beach in the south of the island which will take about an hour (100 km. away) from Santa Cruz de Tenerife city, or the exotic black sand Socorro beach near the Orotava Valley it takes about 30 minutes by car (42 km away).

By the way, the beaches have excellent facilities for people of all ages.

tenefire beach

 

The gastronomy in Tenerife

Visitors can enjoy delicious food and excellent wine in Tenerife if they ask for traditional dishes at the cafés, taverns, or restaurants which offer Canary Islands’ cuisine such as montaditos de batata (sweet potato canapé), bacalao con mojo rojo (cod with red mojo sauce), queso asado con miel (fried or roasted cheese with honey), puchero canario (Canary Islands’ stew), grilled pork, chicken or fresh fish with the famous papas arrugadas (wrinkled potatoes boiled dry in sea salt) served with mojo picon ( a spicy of garlic sauce), Besides, the sweet and famous plátanos (bananas), aromatic goat’s cheese and the excellent honey are massively popular with tourists and local people.

Anyway, all the villages on the coast have restaurants and cafés where tourists can try tasty fresh fish in Canary Islands’ style. Do not forget that many restaurants in Tenerife have terraces overlooking the sea and modern open-air terraces to have lunch, dinner or tapas with good red, rose or white Canary Islands’ wine.  Read more here about the Gastronomy of the Canary Islands.

 

The Wine of the island

tenerife landscapeAlthough international cuisine is served in all the restaurants and cafés of Tenerife, visitors should not forget the great quality of its wines which have just been chosen by world renowned chefs. Moreover, tourists must not lose the opportunity to see the vineyards, which grow on volcanic soil giving a delicate flavor to its vintages, such as in the beautiful landscape of the Orotava Valley, Gúimar Valley or Taracote among others. As for wine, people interested in knowing more about wines can also make the wine route which offers leisure activities, visits wineries, savors fine local wines and superb traditional cuisine, among other things.

By the way, there are several guided winery tours of half a day, full day, nature and wine and so on. However, a few tourists make it on their own because the distances are short in Tenerife what let people combine several activities the same day taking the efficient and cheap public transport service. The Orotava Valley takes about 25 minutes by car ( 35 km away) from Santa Cruz of Tenerife city.

 

More places to visit in the Canary Islands

Santa Cruz de Tenerife city: A guide to visit Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

– Towns, Ports and beaches in Tenerife: Garachico and Icod de Vinos.

– Gran Canaria:  Find here our posts about the best beaches of Gran Canaria, and Towns and Mountains of Gran Canaria.

The Gastronomy of the Canary Islands: In this post you’ll learn more about the traditional food and drinks of the islands.

Monuments and nature in Gran Canaria: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Roque Nublo and other inland towns (Canary Islands)

camino roque nublo

As we have already talked about the best beaches of Gran Canaria, its coast and its seaside towns, today we are going to focus on the rest of the island:  Gran Canaria has not only beaches, but also a lot of nature and interesting cities, towns and remarkable sites to visit.

In this article we are going to talk about the following places:

arucasLas Palmas de Gran Canaria: In the north of the island is located this city, than with almost 400,000 inhabitants is currently the capital of the Canary Islands.

– Other touristic cities and towns inside the island: If during your stay at Gran Canaria you have car and you want to visit the whole island, here you will find some interesting suggestions about what to visit.

Mountains and routes through the nature:  Almost all of these routes are in the center of Gran Canaria, where are located many touristic places as Roque Nublo or Cruz de Tejeda.

 

Gran Canaria, the second biggest island in the Canary Islands

señales roque nublo3As we have already said in our last article, The Canary Islands are a group of Spanish islands located in the west coast of Africa. They are mainly composed by these seven islands: Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, La Palma, Lanzarote, El Hierro and La Gomera.

The geography of Gran Canaria island and its proximity to Africa creates a strange climate where, while in the north of the island the climate varies between 30 ºC in summer and 15 ºC in winter, in the south  the climate is always around 20º and 30º, the perfect temperature to enjoy the beach all the year.

Finally, the center of the island has a mountain area whose peaks almost reach 2000 metres in height (Roque Nublo 1813m., Pozo de las Nieves 1949m.).

 

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria city

plaza santa ana obispadoWith 380,000 inhabitants, this is the biggest city of Canary Islands (Islas Canarias), and therefore the capital city of them.

The main touristic places of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria are its center (Vegueta neighborhood) where is Las Palmas Cathedral (in the photo) built between the 15th and 18th centuries, the Literary Cabinet and many more historic buildings.

The city has a lot of activity, nightlife and during the Carnivals this is one of the main touristic destinations of Spain. You also can visit its Comertial Centers (remember that the taxes in the Canary Islands are lower than in the rest of the country, so the prices are lower).

Don’t miss to visit its main beach and its promenade in Playa de las Canteras.

 

Touristic towns in the north of Gran Canaria: Arucas, Terol and other

catedral arucasIn the north of the island, not far away from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria you can visit some towns as Arucas, Terol, Firgas, Valleseco, Santa Brígida, Moya, Santa María de Guía, Agaete or Galdar. Among all of them, the most touristic ones are Arucas and Teror.

– The Arucas cathedral: In Arucas can be seen its “cathedral” San Juan Bautista Curch (which is not officially a cathedral yet). This church was built between 1909 and 1979 over the ruins of and old temple. The architecture of the current building and its neogothic style makes it one of the most emblematic buildings of the island.

– Teror: The main touristic places in Teror are The basilica of Teror (Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pino), The main square and the Museum (Museo de los Patronos de la Virgen).

 

Touristic towns in the centre and east of Gran Canaria:  Santa Lucia, Tejeda, Ingenio…

iglesia Santa Lucia 2In the centre of the island can be found the best nature routes of the island and some nice mountain villages as Tejeda, San Bartolomé de Tirajana and Santa Lucia.

In the east, you can find Ingenio, among others less touristic towns (Argüimes, Telde, Vecindario or the airport).

 

Nature and mountains: Roque Nublo, Cruz de Tejeda, Pozo de las nieves…

roque nubloFinally, Gran Canaria has some interesting routes through the mountains. The two most famous places to visit are Cruz de Tejeda (close to Tejeda Town) and Roque Nublo.

Roque nublo (in the photo) is an 1813 meters peak at where excursionists can arrive on foot. From its top, it can be seen an impressive landscape of the peaks nearby and the rest of the island.

You also can visit Pico de las Nieves, the highest peak of the island (1900m.) which has a route that connects it with Roque Nublo on foot (it can take 30 minutes walking aprox).

panoramica roque nublo

 

More touristic places to visit in the Canary Islands

The best beaches of Gran Canaria: A list with the best beaches to enjoy in this island.

The Canary islands (Islas Canarias): Check here all our posts about the Canary Islands (Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, La Palma, Lanzarote…).