ROUTES OF TENERIFE
Adeje
The island of Tenerife, has surprising beaches, throughout its extension, white sand beaches, of volcanic sand, natural swimming pools next to the sea, nudist beaches, moved away, immersed creeks in the nature. Everything a paradise to enjoy the sea and the sun, all time.
A network of National Parks in the Canary Islands attempts to conserve the most typical ecosystems. The Teide National Park, in the centre of the island of Tenerife, shelters the best example of Canary Island vegetation.
Tenerife is the ideal place for all kinds of water sports, from spear fishing, fishing with a rod or deep-sea fishing to windsurfing – major international competitions are held in the area of El Medano – and the full range of water sports, al of which can be enjoyed all year round: sailing, diving, surfing, water skiing, canoeing, jet skis, etc.
The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2005 will be hold under the motto: The Great Comedy, inspired in the great musical comedies of Broadway offering an important variety of costume elements and atrezzo and, therefore, a wide range of possibilities when making the disguises and carnival fantasies.
In the different towns and municipalities from the island, celebrations throughout the year are made, that count on the participation, as much of local people, like of visitors, since several of them, are declared of cultural interest.
The island of Tenerife has a wide variety of endemic flora and fauna, as well as several different landscape structures; almost 45% of the island is protected in one way or another.
Listado de direcciones y telefonos de los centros de información turistica en distintos puntos de tenerife...
From Puerto de la Cruz – the main road to Icod de los Vinos, a town that is famous for its wines and for its: Thousand-year-old Dragon Tree – the oldest on the island (Parque del Drago). Church of San Marcos – containing a magnificent solid-silver filigree cross made in Havana. The church square and surroundings (Plaza de la Pila) make up the old town centre. Continue along the road to Garachico: Flourishing island port in the 16th and 17th centuries, until it was destroyed by the eruption of the Arenas Negras volcano in 1706, which also destroyed much of the town. Former convent of San Francisco (Now Cultural Centre and museum) Mansion of the Counts of La Gomera Church of Santa Ana (18th century) El Caleton – natural pools formed during the 1706 eruption. Continue on towards Los Silos, Buenavista, El Palmar and Masca. Masca is a small village that still conserves its special charm. It is located at an altitude of 600 m in one of the deepest gorges of the island. Continue along the main road to Santiago del Teide, Tamaimo and Los Gigantes – view over the magnificent, 500 metre high cliffs.
1-Return via Santiago del Teide, Erjos to El Tanque (the chance to take a camel ride).Carry on to the Garachico Lookout spot –Restaurant on the left of the road, with a spectacular panoramic view over Garachico. Return to Puerto de la Cruz by-passing Icod de los Vinos and San Juan de la Rambla.
2- Another option is to continue on from Los Gigantes towards Playa de Las Americas and Los Cristianos – major tourist resorts in the south of the island. Return along the southern motorway to Candelaria: Visit the Basilica of the Virgin of Candelaria, patron saint of the Canary Islands – an important site for pilgrims. Back to Puerto de la Cruz along the motorway.
From Puerto de la Cruz, we take the northern motorway TF-5 as far as La Laguna - San Benito exit. This is the former capital of the island, founded by the Conquistador Alonso Fernandez de Lugo. The most important sites are: Cathedral – work started in the 16th century and was finished in the 19th century. Church of La Concepcion, which was started in the 16th century. Royal Sanctuary of the Santísimo Cristo.(16th century) Casa Lercaro History Museum - c/ San Agustin (Tuesday to Sunday 9.00 to 19.00 h) Museum of Science and the Cosmos – outside of the town centre, (Tuesday to Sunday 9.00 to 19.00 h) Carry on to Santa Cruz, the capital of the island since 1822. A bustling port and the largest city on the island: Plaza de España – Tourist Board in the Island Cabildo. Plaza de la Candelaria and Calle Castillo – shopping area. Garcia Sanabria Park (open air sculptures and Floral Clock). Church of La Concepcion (16th C) Museum of Man and Nature (Tuesday to Sunday 9.00 to 19.00 h) (Museum of Archaeology and Natural Sciences). Carry on to San Andres and Las Teresitas – a beach made from white sand brought from the Sahara. In San Andres, take the turn off for Taganana, a small village in the Anaga massif. Sites of interest: Church of Nuestra Señora de Las Nieves with a famous Flemish School tryptich (16th century). Two beaches on the coast: Playa de Almaciga and Playa de Los Roques. The road comes to an end here. Go back to the Taganana tunnel and turn right at the cross roads, towards Monte de Las Mercedes, an area of spectacular scenery and vegetation. Most interesting look out spots: Pico del Ingles Lookout – view over the Anaga massif in general. Cruz del Carmen Lookout: Visitors´ Centre (everyday from 9.30 to 16.00 h) and the Anaga Rural Park Market. Carry on in the direction of the village of Las Mercedes and turn right at the Las Canteras cross roads, in the direction of Tejina and Tegueste. Follow the main road to Valle de Guerra: Casa de Carta Anthropology Museum (to the right of the road), open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9.00 to 19.00 h. Continue on in the direction of Tacoronte and El Sauzal. Outside the town centre of El Sauzal, next to the northern motorway, you will find the: La Baranda Wine Museum – Museum of local wines and tasting sessions (Tuesday to Sunday, from 11 to 20 h, Sundays from 11 to 18 h). Back to Puerto de la Cruz along the motorway.
From Puerto de la Cruz – northern motorway towards Santa Cruz. Take exit Nº 9 in La Laguna, for El Teide along the TF-24 (Teide National Park). After passing through the town of La Esperanza (El Rosario) you come to Monte de la Esperanza: Lookout Spots: Montaña Grande, Ortuño, Las Cumbres (turn off to the right), La Crucita, Ayosa, La Tarta. From La Crucita (weather permitting), you can see the Valley of Güimar to the left, and the Orotava Valley to the right. The latter can also be seen from Ayosa. Following the same road, you pass close by the Izaña Astrophysics Observatory facilities and you come to El Portillo – access to Las Cañadas del Teide, a giant caldera around Teide, the highest mountain in Spain at 3718 metres. El Portillo Visitors´ Centre (on the right, just after the cross roads), 15 minute audiovisual. Interesting adjacent garden (sign-posted). Cross the National Park- several lookout points, e.g.. Minas de San José and El Tabonal, to the foot of the Cable Car (9.00-16.00 h, info. telf. 922 694 038) that goes up to 3555m. To climb to the summit, you need a special permit: see note nº 1. Continue on as far as the Parador Nacional (National Inn), see the adjacent Visitors´ Centre and the Roques de García Lookout, the most famous lookout in the Park, opposite the Inn. The road takes you around the edge of the Ucanca Flats; to the left, you can see a shoe-shaped rock, known as “The Queen´s Shoe”. You then come to Boca Tauce cross roads. Turn right, travelling through lava flows from 1798 and 1909 (this was the last eruption on the island: Chinyero Volcano), you get to "Narices del Teide" Lookout, with views over the island of La Gomera when the weather is clear. Turn round and go back as far as El Portillo. Take the main road in the direction of La Orotava, TF-21, passing a series of lookouts with views over the Orotava Valley and Teide. Piedra la Rosa Lookout – it looks like a giant stone daisy – and Chasna Lookout. Visit the old town centre of La Orotava: Casa de Los Balcones (17th century c/ San Francisco, 3: Lovely Canary Island balconies. Inside, there is an embroidery and lacework school, courtyard and folk museum. Casa del Turista (16th century): On the terrace, there is a display of the famous earth carpets and wonderful views over the Orotava Valley. Both museums open from: Monday to Friday, from 8.30 to 18.30; Saturday from 8.30 to 17.00 and Sundays from 8.30 to 13.00 h. Tourist Board: c/ Escultor Estévez, 2. Tel. 922 323 041. Church of La Concepcion (18th century): façade with baroque elements. Casa Torrehermosa (Island Crafts Company): c/ Tomás Zerolo, 27. Open from Monday to Friday, from 9.30 to 14.00 and from 15.30 to 18.00, Saturday from 10.00 a 13.00 h. Latin American Craft Museum: open from Monday to Friday, from 9.00 to 18.00, Saturday from 9.00 to 14.00 h; Closed on Sunday. Back to Puerto de la Cruz. NOTES FOR ROUTE Nº 3 1-Permit To climb up from the upper Cable Car station (3555 metres) to the summit of Pico de Teide, you need to personally apply for a written permit in the National Park offices in Santa Cruz: Oficina del Parque Nacional del Teide C/ Emilio Calzadilla, 5 (4th floor)- Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Tel.922 290 129 / 922 290 183; Fax 922 244 788 e-mail pnteide@teleline.es Opening times: Monday to Friday, from 9 to 14 h. (Take a photocopy of your I.D. card). Access to the interior of the crater is not allowed under any circumstances. 2-Guided walks in the National Park The Park´s Interpretation Service offers free guided walking tours, setting out from the Cañada Blanca Visitors’ Centre, or sometimes from the El Portillo Alto park office. You need to book in advance by calling the National Park offices on one of the following numbers:: Telf. 922 290 129 / 922 290 183 (Opening times: Monday to Friday, from 9 to 14 h).
1-Permission To climb from the upper terminal Cable (3555 meters) to the top of Pico de Teide must deal personally written permission from the office of the National Park in Santa Cruz:
Office of the Teide National Park
C / Emilio Calzadilla, 5 (4 th floor) - Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Tel.922 290 129 / 922 290 183, fax 922 244 788
e-mail pnteide@teleline.es
Hours: Monday to Friday from 9 to 14 pm. (Bring photocopy of identity card).
Under no circumstances are allowed access inside the crater.
Routes 2-guided walk in National Park
The Interpretation Service Park offers the possibility of conducting free guided tours on foot, starting at large Visitors Center of the Parador Nacional, or in some cases since the office park in El Portillo Alto.
This requires making a reservation in advance by calling the office of the National Park:
Tel. 922 290 129 / 922 290 183 (Hours: Monday to Friday from 9 to 14 pm)
Departure from Playa de las americas or Christians:
-- Highway South TF-1 until crossing Arafo (Valle de Güímar)--Arafo continue rising until the road link with dorsal C-824-ascendant direction towards the pipes.
-- Mirador de Las Cumbres in Chipeque (1,800 m; Km. 26 detour to the right: lookout South and North viewpoint)
-- Viewpoint Ayosa (2,000 meters) - Mirador de la Crucita (1,980 m) - The Mirador de Tart (2,100 m; volcanic layers of different colors) - Port of Izaña (2,300 meters) Crossing Portillo (2,030 meters)
-- A 100 metres from the crossing "Visitors Center " (office hours from 9 to 16 hours) - Teide National Park
-- Mirador de San Jose Mine in Mountain Rajada-El Mirador Tabonal-station basis of the Cable Car (information Tel. 38 37 11) Parador Nacional de Turismo
-- Los Roques and viewpoint Ucanca (compared to the Parador) - The Tiles Tauce-of-Mouth Rd. C-823 at Chi-Viewpoint noses Teide (eruption years 1798) at Km. 3 - Volcano Chinyero in Km. 15 (years eruption 1909)
Departure from Playa de las americas or Los Cristianos
- Crossing Arona-Arona-the-Escalona Vilaflor (1,400 meters) - Rd. C-821-Mirador de Pino Gordo (against Forest House, Km.67) - Recreational Area-The Las Lajas Retamar (2,200 meters) - Teide National Park
-- Boca Tauce-Tiles-Los Roques and Viewpoint Ucanca (compared to the Parador Nacional de Turismo) - Cable Station (information Tel: 38 37 11) - El Mirador Tabonal and Mina San Jose (Mountain Rajada) - "Visitors Center " (office hours from 9 to 16 hours) Cross Portillo (2,030 meters)
The down-to-Mirador de La Orotava Margaret Stone-Mirador de-Mataznos Aguamansa (Station Forestry and Fish) - town of La Orotava - Puerto de la Cruz-continue on C-820 until Icod de los Vinos (famed Drago + Plaza the church of San Marcos)
- Garachico (historic center) - The Silos-Buenavista-El Palmar-Las Portelas-Chew (600 meters) - Viewpoint Cherfas (1000 meters)-Santiago del Teide-Tamaimo-The Giants (overlooking the Cliff) - Alcala Beach San Juan and return.
