Tenerife

OVERVIEW

As the largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife is also the most visited with over three million tourists flocking there each year. Its close proximity to North Africa and the Sahara provide consistent temperatures and wall-to-wall sunshine year round.

Looking to lie on a beach and wash away your troubles, Tenerife has a vast array of blue flag beaches for you to choose from. No beach is the same, forget white sands, and enjoy a rainbow of colours, from gold to jet-black, owing to the islands volcanic properties.

But, there’s more to see and do than just lying on a beach, Tenerife can brag about being home to Spain’s tallest mountain, Pico del Tiede and the second-largest carnival in the world, after Rio, the famous Puerto de la Cruz, which takes place in February each year.

Whilst its rich culture, bursting with, art galleries, museums, historic UNESCO churches, quant colonial villages and towns allow you to step back in time.

The variety of daytrips on offer is excellent, with numerous boat charters offering cruises for whale watching trips, day scuba dives, and fishing trips. Or indulge in a little shopping for local crafts in the cultured capital city of Santa Cruz.

July, August and late December are the busiest times in Tenerife for tourism so if you want to avoid the crowds, it's best to plan your singles trip during other times of the year.

WEATHER

Consistent temperatures, consistent sunshine and little rainfall make Tenerife a perfect year round holiday destination, owing to its close proximity to North Africa and the Sahara.

Tenerife is divided into three regions – the northern region, the southern region and the central region.

The north coast is great for those looking to explore hiking routes or Tee-off golfing, as the higher rainfall makes the landscape much lusher and greener. Holidaymakers tend to visit the south coast owing to its drier weather and it experiencing warmth and higher temperatures year round.

The central region is renown for its mountainous peaks - home to the snow-topped Pico del Tiede - owing to the regions altitude, the weather can be much cooler, making it a great place to discover the wildlife and fauna. The area is much loved by cyclists, walkers and hikers who explore the many trails and tracks the region has to offer.

MUST SEE & DO

When the sun’s out, its hard not to lie back and soak up the rays, however Tenerife has so much more to offer than just wall-to-wall sunshine. Here are GoSingles must see attractions.

Mount Teide

No trip to Tenerife is complete without taking the cable car to the summit of Mount Teide, Spain's highest mountain and the third largest volcano in the world. At the top you’ll be welcomed with panoramic views of the island. 

Garachico 

Visit Garachico a charming settlement and favourite of GoSingles, this idyllic former fishing village is situated in the northwest of the island and is full of traditional Canarian flair. Order a drink in its pretty plaza or swim in the rock pools carved from lava.

Whale watching 

Tenerife is a hotspot for whales and bottlenose dolphins, which can be found here year-round. Take a boat trip on the south coast to do some whale watching and catch sight of a pod of short-finned pilot whales.

Puerto de la Cruz harbour  

Visit Puerto de la Cruz’s harbour with its abundance of cafes, restaurants and bars and a nice collection of boutiques for you to indulge in.

Jardin Botanico 

Have a break from the sun and while away a few hours exploring Jardin Botanico in Puerto de la Cruz. Peaceful, tropical and interesting gardens with an amazing selection of plants, trees and cactus’ from all over the world, as well as being an important exhibit centre of exotic tropical and sub-tropical flora.

ROUGH GUIDE

CULTURE

Don’t let the holiday brochures cloud your judgement of Tenerife. Warm and hospitable, the people of Tenerife will go out of their way to welcome you to experience their culture and traditions.

The Spanish way of life clearly takes precedence and can be seen in the islands quaint villages, architecture, enjoyment for food and festivities.

ETIQUETTE

Tipping: As with the majority of countries in Europe tipping is expected, but only if the service you receive has been good. As with the UK, for good service, 10% of the bill is an ample amount to tip. Some restaurants many include a service charge on the bill so be sure to check.   

GREETINGS & LANGUAGE

Tenerife’s main language is Spanish, however English is widely spoken, if you want to flex a spot of Spanish or socialise try these handy phrases to help you get by.

• Hello is ‘hola’
• Good morning is ‘Buenos días’ 
• Good night is ‘Buenos tardes’
• Thank you is ‘gracias’
• Please is ‘Por Favor’
• Please may I order a white wine? is ‘Por favor puedo pedir una vino blanco?’