Reasons to study Spanish in Tenerife
THE CITY:
- Population: 38,500 (Tenerife: 220,000).
- Location: An island in the Atlantic Ocean.
- There are two international airports in Tenerife.
- Tenerife is the largest island of the Canary archipelago.
- Tenerife is dubbed "the island of eternal spring" because its average temperature is 27 degrees Celsius.
- A mountain chain runs through the island’s center. The heart of this chain contains a gigantic crater known as El Teide, and it is the highest peak in Spain. It offers one of the most spectacular landscape views of the world.
CULTURAL/RECREATIONAL:
- Tenerife’s beaches have soft, clean sand whose color is either black (from its volcanic origin) or golden.
- One of the most attractive and popular sites of the whole island is Loro Park with magnificent botanical gardens, the largest penguin aquarium in Europe and exciting attractions.
- The Carnival of Tenerife is a world-famous festivity and takes place all over the island, however it shines with all its splendor in Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz.
- Tenerife is an authentic paradise for Windsurfing and Scuba diving.
More information about Puerto de la Cruz
Puerto de la Cruz is the second largest tourist city on the island with accommodation for around 30,000 tourists. In contrast with the modern resorts of the south, El Puerto has had a great tradition as a place of relaxation since the end of the last century when the spa, which today is the Hotel Casino Tauro, was built. The accommodation offered in Puerto de la Cruz is also different from most of the other places in the islands since hotels predominate over apartments.
Teresitas' Beach
Although Puerto de la Cruz is a small village and does not have all the advantages of a big city it offers various international attractions, excellent restaurants, cafés, and other facilities which contribute to its busy air. Numerous national, international congresses and conventions are held there.
The island has excellent air and sea communications, especially with the Spanish Peninsula. There are flights to Tenerife every day from Madrid and several times a week to Barcelona, Bilbao, Malaga and Seville. There are also many links from this main island to the rest of the Canaries, through several air and ferry services that run every day between Tenerife and neighboring island of Gran Canaria.
The lushness of the gardens and the agreeable atmosphere are very special features of this city, which has lively places to stroll around. In the evening, the streets near the Plaza del Charco and the promenade are pleasant places where one can eat at any of the many open air restaurants enjoying a pleasant climate and the ever present sea. The city houses a number of buildings of great historical and artistic value such as the church of Nuestra Señora de la Peña, la Ermita de San Telmo, el Castillo de San Felipe, la casa de la Aduana and the old quay where small fishing boats are still moored.
One of the greatest attractions of el Puerto is without doubt the Lago Martianez. This series of seawater pools, a project conceived by the Canary artist Cesar Manrique, form an extraordinary spot for bathing and taking in the sun harmonizing architecture with the exotic vegetation of the volcanic coast. Besides the Lago, Puerto de la Cruz has small beaches of volcanic sand, the best ones being Playa Jardin and Playa Martianez.
On the outskirts of the city the botanical gardens and the Loro Park are a must for the nature lover. The botanical gardens, founded in 1788, harbor an enormous number of trees and plants from every corner of the planet, preserved by the benign climate of Tenerife. Loro Park is another tropical garden with the largest collection of parrots in the world, a parrot show and an excellent dolphinarium.
Plaza Europa
The Teide
Fiestas and celebrations in Tenerife
Carnival in Tenerife (February - March), This world-wide famous festivity celebration takes place all over the island, but it shines with all its splendor and magnificence in the towns of Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz. Carnival makes the streets come alive with groups and processions singing, dancing and cheering this Year's 'Queen of the carnival' and her royal retinue. Puerto de la Cruz also celebrates the most relevant parade, the 'Entierro de la Sardina', a giant procession symbolizing the burial of a crowned hand-made sardine.
