If there is any spot on the globe that enjoys a perfect climate,
Tenerife in the Canary Islands is it. There is markedly little
variation in the average temperatures between summer and winter,
which hover between 15ºC and 24ºC, and there is only very
occasional rain. Throw this in to the mix of verdant forests in the
northern part of the island as well as mountains, deserts,
volcanoes, exotic plant and animal life, and spectacular beaches
(with black volcanic sand) - and you have a holiday paradise.
Tenerife offers the unique experience of swimming and sunbathing
on a beautiful beach while just a few miles away snow sparkles on
the crest of Mount Teide. The island's central mountain stands at
12,200 feet, the highest in Spain, and a cable-car ride to the
summit offers unrivalled views of the lunar-like landscape of the
volcanic slopes.
The island's capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, is an upbeat town
geared for tourism. Its port, where once the first shots of the
Spanish Civil War were fired, is today a morass of ferries,
jetfoils and freighters.
