Tenerife, the Land of Eternal Spring

Posted on 19. Jun, 2011 by Dan Collins in Spain

This is a guest post from Expedia.co.uk

Imagine a place where sunshine is always dawning upon green meadows and where sparkling blue waters caress the shores. This is Tenerife – the largest of the seven Canary Islands of Spain. My amazement only grew after learning that this pristine location was not always a premier family vacation spot as it is known now. Earlier in its history this place was associated with hedonism and debauchery and was called Tene-grief. Now, this world-class beach destination has been undergone a massive transformation.

Tenerife has a plethora of things to enjoy including vibrant nightlife, relaxing spa and massage centres, hiking, golfing and wonderful beaches. In short, it is a pumping nest of lively activities. For me, the primary appeal of Tenerife are the water activities, especially snorkelling, an activity my whole family can enjoy. Tenerife provides an ideal location for underwater exploration, offering a unique volcanic topography, abundant sea life, and relatively warm water temperatures throughout the year.

We have decided that El Puertito on the southwestern side of Tenerife is the spot for us, since we have young children who are just getting their feet wet when it comes to ocean exploration. Here you can see a wide range of marine life, including turtles, eels, sting rays, and many different types of fish. My eldest son is both excited and terrified that he’ll see a shark!

We have also picked out a couple of water parks on our list of places to visit, both on the southwestern coast of Tenerife. The first of these is the Aqualand Water Park, an action-packed place perfect for families. The park has a lot of perks, including wild water slides, waterfalls and sun bathing terraces. They also offer the Aqualand Dolphin Show, the feature highlight of the establishment. There are a number of restaurants and eateries in Aqualand, so there is no reason to pack your own lunches or go hungry.

The second water park in Tenerife we are eyeing is the Siam Park. What is unique about Siam Park is that it is styled after an exotic Thai theme from clear round the other side of the world. It has several prominent features, including the longest lazy river, largest man made waves in the world, and largest Thai village outside Thailand. The highlights of Siam Park are the numerous water slides, including a death-defying 28 metre drop down the Tower of Power. Siam Park does a great job of manning their rides with enough certified lifeguards to ensure your safety, even if it feels like you’re about to meet your maker. Siam Park also hosts 5 restaurants and bars with a floating market and tea house, so you have plenty of choices after working up an appetite from all the excitement.

With its year-round warm climate, Tenerife offers an ideal vacation spot, especially for families and children. I’ve listed just a few of the family-friendly water activities, and there are many more things to do on the island. Do a little searching, and I’m sure you’ll be able to find cheap flights to Tenerife that will set you on your island adventure.

Tags: Spain