It is mainly an agricultural town, traditionally dedicated to banana and tomato harvests. Its coast has been embellished by different tourist resorts such as Callao Salvaje, San Eugenio and Marazul. Playa de Las Americas is within its municipal boundaries. Approximately 13,000 registered inhabitants live in it - tourists often increase this number to 100,000. Adeje is home of Barranco del Infierno, an impressive gorge with greatly steep walls, decorated by amazing vegetation which rarely lets sun-light through. Several burial caves used by the Guanches have been found. Adejes parish church displays a fine wooden Mudejar style ceiling and an important Goblins collection.

Arona with a population of 28,000 is essentially tourist oriented. Arona town itself is situated about 10 km about Los Cristianos. Arona is one of the municipalities in charge of Playa Las Americas and Los Cristianos. These towns count high quantity tourist resorts.

This is predominately a residential area of detached villas but is increasing its tourist and holiday home facilities all the time. Situated about 7 km from Playa de Las Americas.

Candelaria is a tourist municipality with around 13,000 inhabitants. Candelaria one finds the Basilica where the Islands Virgin Patron is worshipped. The church of the "Black Madonna" is situated on a beautiful square on the beach front, which is also the home of statues of the islands previous "Guanche Kings"

Wind surfing paradise, with fine golden sand, has a quiet beauty and one of the best places on the planet to practise wind surfing. The town is mostly residential but its holiday home structures are expanding with demand. Agriculturally rich, Granadilla produces vegetables, potatoes, legumes, cereals and grapes an of course, excellent quality wines. Visit the Monte del Agua (Water Height) which is characterised by its lunar-like landscape. In El Medano, visitors have hotels and other tourist facilities such as boats to let.

Town Garachico has around 6,000 inhabitants - along with Buenavista and Los Silos forms the Low Island. It is a quiet historical.town which was in fact the islands principal port until it was destroyed in 1706 by a volcanic eruption. There are several historical monuments - the Saint Michael Castle, the Churches of Santa Ana, Santo Domingo and Our Lady of the Angels. The whole village is practically a living museum. The popular romeria (country feast) of San Roque has been declared of national tourist interest. Garachico is also well know as a craft centre and Craft Fairs are always around.

Granadilla (19,000 inhabitants) is a picturesque town, of winding roads. The agricultural richness of Granadilla produces all types of vegetables, potatoes, legumes, cereals and grapes - and produces wine of excellent quality. One should visit the Monte del Agua (Water Height) which has amazing, lunar-like landscape.

Güimar has 16,000 inhabitants and like La Oratava, bears the name of its beautiful valley. Although basically arid valley, it has been transformed by local inhabitants into a rich green area producing bananas, potatoes, vegetables and fruits

Guía de Isora with 12,841 inhabitants is a prominent agricultural production centre for tomatoes and bananas. The San Juan and Alcalá beaches offer nautical and other sports including underwater fishing. Travelling to Las Cañadas del Teide via Guía de Isora, one can enjoy some of the most beautiful landscapes of the Southern part of the Island.

Home of the reputedly 3000 year old Dragon Tree. The tree is now protected from the tourist damage that was unfortunately being caused by people wanting a piece of the tree. Several major alterations and roadworks have been implemented to improve the flow of traffic through this busy and interesting town.

The well-known place like Caserío (Village) of Icor, it presents a singular interest as sample of a rural architecture that has been conserved with enough purity until the present time. Icor began to be formed toward the XVIII century, being converted in a reduced nucleus of houses, whose inhabitants were devoted mainly to the agriculture and cattle raising. The housing, like characteristic element of the village, it is accustomed to be of rectangular plant with distribution around a central patio; lime and stone walls, sometimes with the stones to the overdraft, wooden carpentry in the holes and covered with tile to two slopes. Some houses present a second floor, which is accesseded for an external wooden stairway, that is accustomed to contain the granary.

La Laguna is Tenerife's second most important city. It is the old Capital of the Island (until 1723) and situated just inland from Santa Cruz in the Aguere Valley amid a beautiful countryside. It is also the cultural and religious Capital, due to the fact that it lodges the San Fernando University and the Bishop's Palace. The whole city is full of outstanding architectural monuments, palaces and traditional houses of the XVII and XVIII centuries. Among its religious buildings the most outstanding are the Cathedral, the Santo Domingo Church and the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción - this latter one has a fine Mudejár carved wooden ceiling and an exceptional Baroque wooden pulpit from the 18th century.One can also find the Church of the Holy Christ and the San Miguel Chapel. History and art in La Laguna are to be found in the Casa Ossuna Museum, the Friends of the Country Economic Society Museum, the Concepción Church's Museum and the Cathedral's Museum. La Laguna's Municipal boundaries extend to the towns of Tejina and Valle Guerra - very rich agricultural areas - as well as Bajamar and Punta del Hidalgo, which have become tourist resorts with first class hotels, natural swimming pools and extraordinary landscapes. Areas such as La Cuesta and Taco, where part of the industries of the Island have been situated in the last few years, are also part of La Laguna.

The Villa de la Orotava lies on the banana plantations of the Valley which bears its same name. This old town distinguishes itself by its magnificent and monumental architectonic structures, by its characteristic well-shaded Canarian patios, squares and ancestral mellow houses. The old historic centre - declared monument of artistic national interest - should certainly be visited. The Concepción Parish Church is also a national monument. The Casa de los Balcones ('balconies' house) is a jewel of the Island's traditional architecture. In La Orotava one can also find the Documentation Research Centre of Spanish and American crafts. In the Orotava mountains there are many tourist paths where one can enjoy tracking excursions - some of which reach the great Cañadas del Teide, a protected National Park area. The town also has a botanical garden - "La Hijuela del Botánico" - with more than 3,000 different tropical and subtropical plant species mainly of South and Central American, African and Australian origin. In the city centre one can also find the Jardín Victoria (Victorian Garden) - a recreational green area with many walking paths amid trees and flowers with its famous Carrara Marble Mausoleum designed by the French architect Adolph Coquet in 1882. La Orotava offers three beautiful dark-sand beaches - El Bullulllo, Martín Alonso and El Rincón - all of which are rarely crowded.

It was a traditional fishing village but has a small harbour and is another popular destination for Spanish tourists.

Mainly a fishing village, it has a small harbour and is almost completely full of Fish Restaurants. A popular destination for Spanish tourists. This is the place for a fish meal, with and almost unlimited choice of seafood.

Los Cristianos, a small fishing town, preserves its own flavour and is the ideal vacation or visiting place for those tourists who spend their holidays in the south of Tenerife. It has large traffic-free areas and an extremely cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Situated on the tip of the west coast this town gets its name from the giant cliffs that tower the town. Geared toward the tourist its construction is mainly hotels and apartments. It boasts many bars and restaurants and also a tennis and sports centre.

With a population of around 33,000, lies on the lower slopes of the Las Cañadas del Teide mountain range. Mainly agricultural, it is surrounded by banana plantations - although it is now a tourist extension of Puerto de la Cruz. Garachico is also home to the oldest Islands Church - the Santiago Parish - constructed in 1498. There is a beautiful black-sand beach at El Socorro.

Situated above the cliffs of Los Gigantes this is a very small village where people lived without access to other parts of Tenerife. Populated by people that have lived there for centuries, this has now been opened to visitors. It commands incredible views and an insight into old Canarian way of life.

Spanish town with port, where fishermen repair their boats and nets.

This is the main tourist area of Tenerife. With a very busy and cosmopolitan town packed with, Restaurants, Bars, Discos, Casino and Beaches. It is situated 22 km from the airport and the town itself is constructed of mostly hotels and apartments providing the required tourist accommodation for the extremely popular resort.

Situated on West coast this small town has a growing tourist market but still retains its Spanish roots. Black sand beach and good swimming.

Puerto de la Cruz is one of the top resorts in the Canary Islands. It is also the longest established most complete of all resorts on Tenerife. The Old Town is very pretty in parts and it is one of the few resorts where the locals still work, eat and drink. Much of the area around the old fishing port is full of narrow cobbled streets packed with colonial architecture. Tourism was born here over a century ago by the British and today 'Puerto' has a wide span of magnificent hotels to suit all tastes and budgets. In addition to its old world charms it offers some of the best visitor attractions in the islands. Here are just a few: Lago Martianez (Lido/Pool Martianez) Loro Parque (Parrot Park) Playa Jardín (Sand Beach) Bananera El Guanche (Banana Plantation and Gardens) Parque Taoro (Park and Gardens) Jardin Botánico (Botanical gardens)

Construction of hotel and apartments geared to tourists this has many facilities. Rocky area good for snorkelling. Recommend car for visiting other parts of island.

San Isidro is a Spanish residents working town, close to the airport (7km). There are many Car showrooms and repair shops here along with normal shops geared to the local residents.

Santa Cruz is both the administrative centre of the western Canary Islands and the capital of Tenerife. Located on the northeast cost it is a bustling city and shipping port (one of the busiest in Spain and deepest in the world). The enormous harbour holds many container ships, cruise liners and inter island jet foils and ferries. Situated in a large natural bay, it has a stunning backdrop of mountains (Anaga mountains) that are over 1000 metres high. The city does not offer very much for the sightseeing tourist but is an excellent base for exploring the northeast of the island. Shopping is excellent and most visitors begin at the Plaza de España on the seafront and work their way up Plaza de Candelaria, which offers excellent international brands at 'tax free' prices. The Island Tourist Board is located in the city and here you can collect maps, street plans and other information.

Santiago del Teide with a population of 6,565. Santiago Port is below it on the coast and has beaches at Playa de la Arena and del Argel as well as one of the most interesting tourist places of the Island - El Acantilado de los Gigantes - (the Giants Cliffs) complete with high quality hotels and apartments, a nautical port, swimming pools, etc. Picturesque places for excursions, are Acantilado, Masca, Tamaimo and the high Cherfe - a tourist vantage point with magnificent sights. Sports, fishing and hunting are popular here.

With a populations of 1,599 it is the highest point in Spain, situated at 1,400 metres from sea-level. It is a quiet town set amid pine, almond trees and unique traditional architecture. An outstanding example is the Parish Church and the old Palace of the Lords, in the Abona region. The ruins of the convent were built in honour of Brother Pedro, founding-father of the Bethlemite Order and beatified by the Vatican. Other places to visit are - Madre del Agua, El Sombrero, Lomo Gordo, Las Lajas recreational area, the San Roque mountain and Agua Agria. The cheeses and wines factorys in the area are also famous. Hunting is very popular, and besides rabbits, close to Las Cañadas, one may see the shy and elusive Iberian goats.

The Anaga Mountains constitute an extensive protected area of high ecological value. These beautiful mountains boast a wide botanical wealth, with one of the most representative samples within the entire archipelago. Along the mountains you will find places of natural and scenic interest, such as Roques de Anaga, reshaped by erosion and where you can see lots of archaeological remains. A spectacular trip leads up the 'Barranco de Las Huertas' to cross the Anaga range, where you will have the chance to enjoy breathtaking views over the craggy north coast. Despite its great beauty, the panoramic Anaga Mountains region is still relatively unexplored and small villages, cut off from the main roads provide for a genuinely "Hidden Tenerife". In these villages it’s still possible for you to find people living in adapted caves.

In spite of its fearsome name "Hells Gorge", this lush green ravine is an oasis in the harsh and arid south Tenerife landscape. It is the only location you will find natural running water. It has become a walker's paradise and is popular as a morning track as the entire stretch (there and back) takes only two and a half hours and can be enjoyed before the midday sun reaches its peak. Also many parts of the walk are within the deep ravine that sometimes grows quite dark and cool. The walks end at a waterfall that is not particularly exciting in it but it's quite unexpected in such a dry landscape.

The Botanical Garden of Tenerife is a cultural and scientific institution that, from the XVIII century until the present time have succeeded in acclimatizing plants from everywhere. It is born after the Government's from Spain Real Order (1788) that solves the creation of one or several plantations where sought that flourish the plants whose seeds had been made bring from Asia and America. In order to start this project it occurred commission to D. Alonso of Nava Grimón and Benítez of Lugo, VI Marquis of Villanueva del Prado, that chose the Orotava, by being the most temperate place and more appropriate. In 1791 the works of the Garden begin, finishing two years later. Their enthusiastic zeal succeeds in making progress a garden, that gathers a great amount of botanical species characteristic of the islands at the present time and of other countries of the world.

The Natural Monument of the Rook of Garachico consists 5 hectares, with the singularity of being completely isolated of the earth due to the setback of the coast caused by the marine erosion. The vegetation is made up of "tabaibas", "cardones" and communities characteristic of saline atmospheres, with species threatened like the "siempreviva". The birds find a good refuge here. It is observed the presence of "limícolas" and "migradoras" in general, such like herons, "pardelas", etc. Also highlights species threatened like the small "pardela", the "petrel" of bulwer and the "paiño" of Madeira.

The Cliffs of the Giants (Acantilados de los Gigantes) are remarkably sheer rock walls that plunge into the ocean a quarter of the way down the west coast of Tenerife. Massive cliffs drop almost sheer into the sea from a height of 500m and 800m in some places. Across the small bay lies the little port and resort town of Los Gigantes and, virtually linked to it, Puerto de Santiago. The only way for you to get closer to these amazing cliffs is by boat. Once there, you will get the real notion of the greatness within those walls and maybe understand why ancestors considered them sacred. See, they thought the world ended here and who can blame them?

Tenerife is indeed a continent in miniature... and more. Bizarre natural rock formations have created a lunar landscape that will really make you feel as though you are walking on the moon. Not a trip for the easily winded, but certainly worthwhile for any walking enthusiast. To get there, head towards mount Teide from Los Cristianos. Halfway to Teide you will encounter Spain's highest town 'Vilaflor'. At over 1400 metres above sea level, is a quiet town surrounded by pine trees and almond trees, with an outstanding typical architecture: the parish church and the old Palace of the Lords of this area of Tenerife. About two kilometres beyond the town you turn right at an easily missed sign 'Lomo Blanco'. After a steady half hour drive along this dirt track you will encounter a sign 'Paisaje Lunar' (Lunar Landscape). Park your car and walk the rest of the way (40 minutes). Take a snack and drinks with you and enjoy the surreal landscape. (Bear in mind that some car rental companies do not allow you to off-road)

Masca is one of the most picturesque parts of the island and is the tip of the northwest that is covered by the Teno Mountains. Deep ravines interlaced with lush green flora accompany the winding roads. The road leading from Buenavista del Norte passes along narrow hairpin bends towards the village of Masca. It was until recently virtually unknown, but has now become a centre of attraction for those touring the island. The setting of the village is magical and its houses perch precariously on the narrow ridges of dramatic rock formations. Reputed to have been a Pirate hideaway, the small Bay of Masca on the coast is a three-hour walk from the village through stunning scenery.

A museum whose objective is stimulate the curiosity and the interest of the public for the Science. Daily it is carried out activities like astronomical observations, demonstrations of laboratory, sessions of planetarium and projection of movies, between another. This museum belongs to the Autonomous Organism of Museums and Centers of the town council of Tenerife, and its content has been carried out in collaboration with the Institute of Astrophysics of Canarias. It has more than sixty experiments for the public distributed in five sections.

The Casa de Carta (House of Letter) is an old lot residence belonging to the canarian high class of the XVIII century. Besides constituting a notable architectural sample, it has fourteen rooms of exhibition, galleries and other spaces enabled in order to show the sections that recreate the rural world and the domestic traditional life. It has ceramic samples of all the islands, farm tools of farm, textiles, looms and the kitchen of oven or vents. The Casa de Carta counts, also, with a wide zone landscaped for the use and enjoy of everyone visit it.

The Northwestern area of Tenerife is fascinating to explore. The Teno Hills are stunningly beautiful and there exist charming towns such as Garachico and Icod de los Vinos. Garachico is a small fishing port that was almost totally destroyed by lava flowing down to the sea in 1706. The lava solidified and formed a small peninsula upon which parts of Garachico were rebuilt. The most well known survivor of this volcanic outburst is the beautifully preserved Castle of St. Michael (Castillo de San Miguel). Among the many wonderful places to explore along Tenerife's north coast is the quaint town of Icod de Los Viños. This is one of the Tenerife's oldest towns, with a famous dragon tree (Drago Milenario) as the main attraction. This tree is known to be over 1000 years old, although its real age remains a mystery. No matter what, the important thing about this tree is really its beauty. Besides several attractions such as the convent of San Augustin, the church of San Marcos and the Mariposario del Drago (tropical garden with butterflies), as you would expect, just a few kilometres outside the town you will find a wonderful little beach - San Marcos.

Observatory of the Teide. The astrophysics in Canarias began in this Observatory, in the zone of Izaña (Tenerife), to 2,400 m. of altitude, till more than 30 years. Its geographical situation (between the solar observatories of the East and of the West, what permits a continuous pursuit of the Sun), as well as the excellent astronomical quality of its sky, they have contributed to that this Observatory is reserved mainly to the study of the Sun.

Located to 2,000 meters altitude, it is the natural access to the narrow canyon of the Teide from the north of the island. The group is one of the old volcanic craters of the world and surrounds to the Pick of the Teide (3.715 m), the highest point of the Spanish territory.

In their origins, the building was conceived Santa Cecilia like headquarters for the Society of Recess; it is built in the decade of the eighty of last century, being its architect Manuel de Oraá. Years later, due to the economic crash of the Society, the building passes to carry out diverse functions, until it becomes headquarters of the Parliament of Canarias. Consequently, its structure has varied: the architect Antonio Pintor carried out substantial reformations at the beginning of this century, while the exterior decorated the sculptor Francisco Granados. The facade has aspect of temple "hexástilo", with staired base, atrium, tabled and triangular frontispiece of classical character, that it is mingled with its composition of baroque aftertastes. Their plant in form of U with two lateral early bodies, it facilitates the development of a patio that closes to the exterior with a grate.

Archaeologists and authorities scoffed when a local newspaper published an article claiming to have discovered mysterious step-pyramids on the island of Tenerife. Just more agricultural stone terraces they said, such as are common throughout the Canaries. But Thor Heyerdahl thought differently. Dr. Heyerdahl, who has done extensive research on the pyramids of Tucume in Peru, was intrigued by photos of the site, and on visiting the valley of Güímar to see for himself, he was no longer in any doubt. These were neither terraces nor random piles of stone cleared by the Spaniards, as some had tried to explain them away. They were painstakingly built step-pyramids, constructed according to similar principles as those of Mexico, Peru, and ancient Mesopotamia. The Ethnographic Park 'Pirámides de Güímar' offers you the possibility to visit these rare and interesting structures, and will provide you with theories regarding the possible diffusion of ancient civilisations. Besides the 6 step pyramids, the ethnographic park also offers you the museum Casa Chacona, a life-size replica of the reed ship RA II, Auditorium/Cinema, cafeteria and an ecological souvenir shop.

Declared a national park in 1954, the Parque Nacional de las Cañadas del Teide includes an enormous volcanic crater 48 km in circumference, out of which rises Mount Teide (pronounced the same as Lady) at a staggering 3.718 metres, making it the highest mountain in the whole of Spain. The park itself lies at around 2000 metres above sea level and in winter snow falls, gale winds blow and the roads are sometimes closed off. During the summer months this arid landscape which gives the impression of having walked into a cowboy movie, can reach temperatures above 40C. Access to the now extinct volcano is either by foot or by cable car that will carry you almost to the very summit. From the peak, on a clear day, you are in heaven and have breathtaking views of Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. This is the Canary Islands most visited tourist attraction and must not be missed. The National Park of the Teide offers one of the most spectacular landscapes of the world. The extreme conditions of altitude, strong heatstroke and shortage of humidity condition the presence of a rich and singular flora adapted to the hardness of the enviroment, with exclusive specimens like the violet of the Teide, the "tajinastes", the grass "pajonera" or the "retama". On the other hand, the spineless fauna highlights for the abundance of exclusive insects of the high mountain. Between the vertebrates could mention the presence of the lizard smut and of numerous birds like the "cernícalo", shrike or blue chaffinch.

The Rural Park of Teno is composed of 8,063.6 hectares and constitutes one of the denominated paleo-islands ( "old islands") of given Tenerife their condition of solid old, strongly modeling for the erosion with deep ravines. Between their natural values stands out the "laurisilva" of the Montaña del Agua (Mount of the Water), one of the main havens of this community in the island. In this space converges such multitude of uses that sample like a mosaic where they mix natural areas in good state of conservation with another of rural character and the typically urban.