Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, and also has the biggest population amongst all of the islands in the archipelago.  Tenerife is home to around 43% of the entire population of the Canaries; and like many of the neighbouring islands, Tenerife is the product of volcanic activity that was fairly recent – in geological terms.  Many of the beaches are a distinctive mix of golden sand and black volcanic dust, and dramatic mountain ranges break up the island.  Tenerife has two distinct regions: North and South. The North of the island experiences more rainfall, and is on average a little cooler than the south.  This is all relative, however, as average temperatures on the island are warm throughout the year, and the climate is mild even through the winter months with average temperatures usually between 20 – 22 degrees Celsius.  These conditions – with perhaps a little help from the local tourist board – have lent Tenerife the sobriquet ‘Island of Eternal Spring’. 

During the winter months, the altitude of some of the island means that it is possible to experience warm sun on the beach while a few miles away snow is falling.  In summer, the mountains and high ground receive enough rainfall to keep much of the island green all year round, despite the high temperatures. The Trade Winds provide some welcome respite from the heat at the height of the season.  The same winds attract windsurfers and kitesurfers to the island, with the swell of the Atlantic providing more interesting conditions than can usually be found on the coasts and islands of the Mediterranean Sea

Tenerife has benefitted from a strong tradition of conservation that is prevalent throughout the Canary Islands, and many areas of the island are protected national parks.  The central mountain of El Teide is a dormant but active volcano which last erupted in 1909.  The Parque Nacional del Teide (Teide National Park) is geared up for touring, and presents the opportunity of a great vantage point for holiday snaps – El Teide is stands 3718m above sea level, and is the highest point in the territory of Spain. There are many operators like Thomas Cook providing Tenerife holidays, and these packages like the island are split up into those that fly to the North, and the South  There is an airport at each end of the island, a point worth noting if you are organising your holiday in a more DIY fashion, and booking separate flights and accommodation - it’s a fair trek down south if you land at the Los Rodeos airport in the North of Tenerife island.