The Green North of Tenerife

For most people, Tenerife is synonimous with beaches, beach promenades, bars, restaurants, plenty of night life and hordes of holiday makers. This just about describes the South of Tenerife with its main resorts of Playa de las Americas, Los Cristianos, Playa Fañabe and Los Gigantes.

But there is another side to this largest of the Canary islands. Once you have passed through the mountain range deviding the north from the south, there is lush vegetation, a cooler, more moderate climate, smaller towns with a predominately local Canary population and even the occasional rainy day. This is the area where the more active holiday makers head for to explore the many walks and hikes, to dip into the ocean in large, developed rock pools in Garachico and Puerto de la Cruz, to go belly surfing in Buenavista or just explore the many smaller towns and villages by car and on foot.

There are several of the typical black beaches in the North: Puerto de la Cruz has two of these, one at each end of the town. El Soccorro in Los Realejos just west of Puerte de la Cruz is the most popular surfing beach in the North. San Marcos beach just south of Icod de los Vinos is a family-friendly beach which is also very popular with the locals.

Then there is Las Teresitas just north along the coast road from Santa Cruz with its golden sand beaches with the sand imported from the Sahara. This beach is very popular with the locals and is packed on weekends. A tip: visit this weach on weekdays.

The climate in the North is very moderate all year round. Even in the height of summer, temperatures rarely reach 30 degrees. More often they hover in the mid 20's. Winter temperatures at sea level average 18 degrees and it gets a bit cooler in the higher reaches. A perfect destination for more active holidays. Selfcatering accommodation is the preferred choice of holidaymakers in the North. This offers more independence as well as opportunities to organise, for example, regular BBQ's in the evenings. Tenerife holiday villas in the north are frequently of a rural character with plenty of outdoor area to enjoy al fresco activities. Some have their own swimming pools, but usually, the sea is never far away anyway.

When you plan your next holiday, why not explore the North of the island. You will experience a totally different Tenerife.

Keywords: norther tenerife, the green north of tenerife, tenerife north

About the Author
Frederick Habbe, Falmouth, Cornwall, UK
frederick@habbe.co.uk
Learn more about tenerife holiday villas
Frederick Habbe is first and foremost a businessman and has been for most of his life. Having bought a house on Tenerife a few years ago and spending considerable time on the island, he has become enchanted with the Tenerife culture, its historical treasures and its people. In his articles, Frederick writes about people and places off the the beaten track, far away from the mass tourism resorts.

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