Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands is nicknamed the Island of Eternal Spring – with good reason as the temperature rarely drops below 20 degrees C. even now in early spring. The winters too are wonderfully warm and it is rarely unbearably hot even in the summer months.
This island, the largest and most populous of the seven Canary Islands, couldn’t be a better choice for my spring break.
My hotel, Iberostar Torviscas was situated on the clean and tidy beach in the new shiny-faced area of Adeje on the southern side of the island. Here is a coastline swathe of smart hotels and chic boutiques and upscale restaurants all with excellent access for those with limited mobility.
Despite its high-rise coastal development and tourist areas, the island offers postcard-perfect scenery. It boasts 350km of coastline and 67km white, gold and black sand beaches.
We mature holidaymakers can find plenty of delightful distractions, from golf, leisurely bike rides along the coast to challenging hikes through the moonscape of Mount Teide National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This area is rich in flora and fauna and I enjoyed exploring the multitude of walking trails. There is was also the option to take a cable car up to the summit a 12,198-foot snow capped volcano and Spain’s highest peak – a great alternative for those who want the spectacular views without the effort.
Drive to the other side of the mountain and you will find a dramatic drop down to the green and fertile Ototava Valley. Here in contrast to the south, is a wonderful site with flowing carpets of banana plantations and vineyards. No wonder the food and wine offering in the area is exceptional.
Over two hundred years ago, during the battle of Santa Cruz, Horatio Nelson lost his right arm trying to snatch the beautiful island from the Spanish. Visit the capital and you can still see the cannon, ‘le Tigre’ which caused the damage to his fleet.
Tenerife is easy to reach by air being only 4 hours away and still offers good value for money. There are some excellent offers at this time of the year – a treat to escape from our cool and rainy spring weather.
A visit there may have cost our most famous Admiral his arm, but it won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
by Rowena Cooper, Mature Times travel writer
Rowena was a guest of Monster.travel and stayed at the Iberostar Torviscas Playa Hotel
