Tenerife

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Overview

Did you know that vitamin D is one immunity-boosting resource you cannot get solely from your dietary intake?  Sunshine is what’s needed, and at Low Season Traveller we know just the place to get it in spades.  With 3000 annual sunny hours, 250 miles of coastline, 1000 miles of trails, beautiful beaches, and year-round alfresco dining, the island of Tenerife is an adventure playground with plenty of the good stuff to go around.

The largest of the Canary Islands sees arrivals throughout the year, attracted to the well-established resorts, laid-back Spanish lifestyle, Michelin-starred dining and top water sports. An enviable position off the Moroccan coast means a perfect average temp of 23º C, mild winters, and, thanks to the trade winds, no searing heat of summer that scorches mainland Spain. To hit the low season then, and get the best value for your hard-earned cash, we recommend visiting May to July or September to mid-October. That way you’ll avoid both the over-wintering sun-seekers and the school holidaying families. As if avoiding the crowds and snagging the bargains isn’t enough, you’ll be visiting at a time when the landscape is in bloom, Canarians have more time to welcome you and you’ll enjoy island life at its most authentic. This is especially true if you get away from the main tourist centres and explore Tenerife’s charming villages with their African and Spanish influence, quieter beaches and stunning national parks.

The Great Outdoors

Nearly half of the island’s territory is under protection with exactly 43 recognised natural areas. Challenge yourself with kayaking, kite-surfing, or scuba diving or take a more relaxed approach with a day’s excursion to see the whales and dolphins that frequent the warm waters. Hikers and cyclists are spoilt for choice with plenty of short picturesque routes or the more serious Blue Trail which crosses the whole island including the national park of Teide and its towering volcanic peak. If that sounds a bit hardcore, activate your senses with the Japanese art of forest-bathing among thousand-year-old Canarian pines before ending your day with a cocktail watching one of the island’s spectacular sunsets.

 

Glorious Gastronomy

Dress to the nines and indulge yourself at one of five, yes five, Michelin-starred eateries featuring creative menus, the finest local produce and award winning wines. Or you might prefer a bar on the beaching serving fresh seafood while you dig your toes in the sand. Or how about a place dug into the cliffs with amazing sunset views. One favourite option is a visit to one of the typical rustic guachinches. These are a uniquely Canarian concept where a farm or smallholding gains a demarcation for producing their own wine, and are legally allowed to open for only a few months of the year. The family prepares mouth-watering home-cooked dishes but please note that the most authentic have no English menu and don’t take credit cards.

Let’s Celebrate

While Tenerife’s two-week February carnival is the best known, any visitor from May to September would be hard-pressed to miss a party as there seems to be something happening every week. The decorating of the crosses and the fireworks of Los Realejos in May is a big deal with hundreds of crosses to be decorated with floral displays. The traditions of these events are steeped in history with the 18th-century origins seeing the escalating rivalry between manual and professional workers as they completed to show the best displays. Check out the typical Romerias or pilgrimages of the small villages, combining Christian and pagan elements.  You’re sure to find some fascinating folkloric outfits, a great atmosphere and loads of delicious food.

We are featuring Tenerife throughout May as we believe that it is one of the finest and safest low season destinations you can enjoy right now.
Please follow us on our Facebook Page and Sign Up to our Updates for full details of our amazing Tenerife offers, competition to win a luxury break in Tenerife, and we even come “live” from Tenerife all week on the 24-28 May so that you learn exactly what the experience is like right now.  Do join us!

Low Season Months

Jan
20°C
43mm
6hrs
Feb Mar Apr
22°C
19mm
8hrs
May
23°C
8mm
8hrs
Jun Jul Aug Sep
27°C
9mm
7hrs
Oct Nov
23°C
47mm
7hrs
Dec

Featured Hotels

Top Experiences

Mount Teide

Spain’s highest mountain and the third largest volcanic cone in the world, UNESCO recognised Mount Teide lies bang in the centre of Tenerife and stands as the its very symbol. Explore the incredible lunar landscape on foot, or take the cable car but do be aware it’s cold at the top.

La Laguna

Another UNESCO site, the beautiful town of La Laguna is the perfect place to learn about the island’s history through its typical colonial architectural style. The well-preserved old centre is filled with a lively pedestrian zone, fab boutiques and good restaurants among the historic buildings.

Biosphere Reserve of Anaga

This incredible protected natural area covers the top north eastern tip of Tenerife. Many of the islands 800 endemic species are concentrated into this vital corner which also features wonderful trails and a laurel forest of vegetation that has survived only in the islands around the Canaries.

Insider Tips

  • Don’t miss the beautiful carpets of flowers laid out for Corpus Christi in June in the town of La Orotava. Not only is the scent amazing, but the designs of the floral displays as well as the incredible art work produced from soil and sand from Mount Teide have to be seen to be believed.
  • All that sun and fresh air is great for your health and wellbeing, but for those wanting more, try a spa treatment using the natural resources of the island. Hot volcanic stone massage, black sand body wraps, thermal bathing and aloe vera facials are just some of the offerings.
  • Tenerife is one of the very best places to gaze up at the stars due to its unpolluted clear nocturnal skies. The area around Teide has been awarded certification as a prime location to view the heavens. There’s a series of viewpoints to try or visit the excellent Teide Observatory.

Good To Know

  • Leave the kids behind and enjoy a wine tasting with a difference at Bodegas Monje’s ‘Wine & Sex’ event. On this fun excursion you’re invited through art, music and eroticism to use all your senses in experiencing the flavours and sensations of the beverage guided by a professional sommelier.
  • Mount Teide is usually so rocky and barren that it’s used a test site for the Mars rover. But all that changes come May and June, when the landscape is covered with the flowering tajiniste. The soaring red blooms are endemic to the Canaries and are well worth an instagrammable pose.
  • If you’re unsure how to find an authentic guanchinche, download the Guachapp app to your mobile. You’ll find a list of venues near you or in the area of interest the map, find out what their signature dish is and discover how other users have rated their fare.

Food & Drink

Barraquito-Sabroso Coffee

Possibly the world’s tastiest coffee. It’s specific to the Canaries and to Tenerife in particular. Condensed milk is put into the bottom of a glass, followed by coffee, licor 43, frothy milk, lemon and cinnamon. A delicious way to pep up your morning.

Papas Arrugadas with Mojo

A Canarian take on patatas bravas, this traditional dish is literally ‘wrinkly potatoes’. The best bit is it’s served with the typical spicy mojo sauce. Made from oil, vinegar, garlic and spices, you can choose a red mojo with paprika and bell pepper, or the delicious green variety from coriander.

Local Cheeses

Cured and smoked cheeses are popular but the variety most commonly consumed is goats cheese. Unlike some it has a mild and pleasant taste and is usually just a few days old. Visit a cheese factory like the one in Arico, or order in any restaurant. It’s often served with mojo sauce or local honey.

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