Tenerife: A Jewel in the Atlantic

If, when thinking of island paradises, you think of the Pacific Ocean's islands only, believing that the Atlantic Ocean is somehow cold and forbidding, and only has cold lumps of barren rock, except for those islands near the North American coast, then, think again. The seven Canary Islands, situated in the Atlantic off the northwest coast of Africa, are a string of jewels that are sure to captivate the first time visitor, and Tenerife, the largest of the seven, is the centerpiece.

The tourism and economic center of the archipelago, Tenerife has nearly 50% of the population of the Canary Islands, and plays host to some five million tourists a year.

Thought to be part of Ancient Atlantis

A prehistoric people, the Guanches, who dressed in hides and lived in caves on the island, are thought to be the earliest human settlers. Legend has it though that Tenerife and other islands of the Canaries are the highest peaks of the legendary kingdom of Atlantis, and that they are all that's left after Atlantis sank.

Before Tenerife was conquered by Alonso Fernandez de Lugo of Spain in 1493, king of the Guanches governed a menceyato, or unified kingdom, which had been divided into nine smaller entities upon his death when his children rebelled and failed to agree on how to divide the island.

When the Spanish arrived, some of the Guanches sided with the Spanish, while others resisted, but de Lugo, with his more than 2,000 well-armed men and superior technology was able to decisively defeat the resistance, and the final surrender came on December 25, 1494.

After the conquest, many of the native people were enslaved, while a significant percentage of the indigenous population died of imported diseases such as influenza or smallpox, illnesses that, due to their isolation, they had had no resistance against. During the following century, the island was repopulated with immigrants from various places in Europe, where they cultivated such crops as sugar cane, wine grapes and plantains. During the phase of European colonization of the western hemisphere, Tenerife became a stopping place for many of the expeditions on their way to the Americas.

Things to See and Do

Tenerife is a rugged volcanic island which has been shaped by eruptions throughout its history. There have been four recorded volcanic eruptions on the island, none of which caused casualties. Its peaks are the highest in Spain, and with its deep verdant valleys, rugged coastline with sand dunes and beaches, Tenerife is a delight just to tour, on foot or by vehicle, to enjoy the scenery. Sculpted by volcanic eruptions, wind and sea, the island has some of the most amazing rock formations in the world, and it's climate, warm but moderated by constant ocean breezes, encourages the growth of a wide variety of plants, from cacti to exotic flowers.

Unlike many islands, whose beaches are basically one type of sand; Tenerife has both black, white, and golden sand beaches, open expanses and secluded beaches.

The culture that has developed, while it has Spanish roots, is distinctly canarian, as is the Spanish spoken on the island. With its connections to Europe, Africa, and the Americas, though, the cities and towns on the islands also offer the best in shopping, local and international cuisine, and entertainment. Tenerife's annual carnival, second only to Rio's in terms of sensual spirit, attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists and locals alike. As you get away from the capital city, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, it's possible to have the landscape completely to yourself.

In addition to tours of Tenerife itself, it's possible to take ferry excursions to the other islands and to the African coast.

How to Get There and Where to Stay

Santa Cruz has two airports, one in the north of the island and one in the south, both of which are served by flights from Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The south airport - Aeropuerto Tenerife Sur - - Reina Sofia - handles the majority of international flights coming to the island. The island is located less than 200 miles from the African coast, a short boat ride to the Western Sahara, and around 600 miles from Spain.

The island has a large number of nice hotels and resorts, with the best being in Costa Adeje and in the resort area of Playa de las Americas. My favorite is the Gran Hotel Bahia del Duque Resort in Costa Adeje. Situated on a slope overlooking the sea, it is one of the best for service, view, and ambience, with its rooms and suites reflecting Canarian architecture at the end of the 19^th century.

Gran Hotel Bahia del Duque Resort

Avda Bruselas, S/N

Costa Adeje 38660 Adeje

Tel: 0034 922 74 69 00

www.bahia-duque.com

Booking is a snap. You can send an email directly to the reservations office from a link on the Web site, and get an immediate and friendly response.