Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, officially a part of Spain but located off the coast of Africa this island is the most well known tourist hotspot. Many people know of Tenerife as a popular tourist island but not where it is, that the weather is excellent all year round and that there is an abundance of activities to do. Tenerife holidays does not necessarily mean you have to spend all week on a beautiful sunny beach, you can if you want to, there are also organised tours of local sites of interest, to different part of the island or to local villages. The food, culture and good weather is a good mix which means you are bound to enjoy your holiday, especially when the tourist board has introduced more traditional day activities such as a visit to the local zoo. If you want to be a bit more adventurous and explore the island on your own car hire is possible from the local airport.
Tenerife Airport information
Two airports serve the island. Tenerife North - Los Rodeos Airport (GCXO) is the smaller of the two and is located close to the city of Santa Cruz-La Laguna. From the city of 423,000, the airport caters to local and European flights. Recently, service has been supplied to Venezuela each week. Reina Sofia Airport (GCTS) is the larger airport and ranks 7th in Spain in volume, and it is often referred to as Tenerife South Airport. It is from there that most of the tourist traffic arrives and departs. Most of the flights are from and to Europe. Leaving from the airport, you can get cheap car hire in Tenerife and travel the entire island. Both airports have flights to the capitals of the other Canary Islands and to cities throughout Europe. From the United States, regular flights go to and from Miami. Tenerife's Los Rodeos airport was the site of the deadliest accident in the history of aviation when two 747s crashed together on the runway. There were 583 people killed on that fateful day in 1977. Approximately 13 million passengers use the two airports each year, representing the most tourism of all the Canary Islands. Twenty low cost airlines serve the island.
Places to visit around Tenerife
The Carnival is one of the biggest events on the island and accounts for 20% of the tourist trade. It is second in size only to the Brazilian Rio Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Much of the tourist trade is confined to the southern part of the island because it is drier and warmer than the northern areas, and many tourists prefer to get a car hire in Tenerife so they can explore some of the wonders of nature on the island. The Canarian Parliament passed an act requiring developers on the island to build only five-star quality hotels, which means that visitors can expect excellent accommodations. Costa Adeje is a spot noted for more than just sand and surf, and there you will find most of the modern conveniences and plenty of attractions to entertain. You'll find water parks, animal parks, restaurants, golfing, shopping centers, and a theater offering live performances. Puerto de la Cruz is where most development is centered on the northern part of the island. In the center of the island, Teide National Park is a big attraction for visitors who want to see the island's wildlife, which accounts for the fact that it is the second most visited national park in the world.
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