British Guild of Travel Writers 2010Annual General Meeting 26th to 29th January

Back to Nature

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Tenerife is part of the Macaronesia, one of the four richest biological areas of

the natural world. The island authorities, supported by the EEC are striving to

achieve a balance between tourism and the preservation of the environment.

Thanks to this ecological awareness, half of the island is National Park or Nature

Reserve.

The island government is entirely supportive of this policy of protection of

the natural environment and its natural resources, and the PIOT (Plan for

the Organisation and Safeguard of the Environment) contributes largely

towards setting the guidelines for sustainable development and care of the

environment.

Active Tourism

The variety of landscapes and the superb climate make Tenerife an ideal location

for outdoor activities all year round, from hiking to cycling and climbing to

caving, potholing to paragliding. More unusual activities include stargazing in

the world’s largest volcanic caldera in the Teide National Park and exploring one

of the world’s largest lava tubes on a guided tour at Cueva Del Viento.

Outdoor activities are complemented by excursions to the island’s charming villages

and towns to see traditional Canarian architecture, witness colourful festivals and

enjoy the hospitality of the friendly local people. There are a host of restaurants to

suit all tastes and pockets. Rural accommodation is also an option and an ideal way

to experience the lesser known side of Tenerife – there is a wide choice in charming

country hotels, traditional farmhouses and typical rustic homes.

Tenerife Natural, a brand marketed by the Tenerife Tourism Corporation comprises

58 associated companies dealing with all aspects of rural tourism, from excursions

to outdoor sporting activities complemented by central reservation offices on the

Web for rural accommodation and a growing number of rural houses and hotels

perfect for rest, relaxation and rejuvenation.

Footpaths

Tenerife is a landscape of contrasts and micro-climates; a volcanic island, with

stunning beaches and coastal paths that run alongside mountain tracks, woodland

paths and watercourses that cross the lush terrain.

The island brings together an enormous variety of landscapes and ecosystems and

over 47% of the territory is classified as protected in one way or another. These

protected natural spaces have a rich legacy of history and natural beauty, and

each footpath offers surprising insights into the heritage of the island and each

step, brings visitors closer to discovering the real Tenerife, whether meandering

along ancient watercourses, treading woodland paths, or enjoying a variety of

spectacular views.

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The network of footpaths on the island is growing daily. New routes are

rehabilitated and put back into use, offering an increasing variety of opportunities

to experience the natural world first hand. Many of these footpaths have been

improved to meet the European standards of the ERA (European Ramblers

Association) which guarantees the quality of the signage and levels of safety.

Gardens & parks in Tenerife

Tenerife has many important gardens and parks that are well worth visiting for

those with green fingers. In Puerto de la Cruz, the Jardín Botánico was created by

royal order in August, 1788, due to the need to cultivate species from the tropics

in a good climate and has major collections of tropical and sub-tropical plants.

In Icod de los Vinos visitors can see the ‘thousand-year-old Dragon’ (officially only

800 years!) in Parque Del Drago, one of the most important natural, cultural and

historic symbols of the Canary Islands. The Icod Dragon tree is considered the

oldest specimen on the islands at more than 16 metres tall and some 20 metres

around the base.

The oldest garden in Tenerife is the Orchid Garden Sitio Litre in Puerto del la Cruz

at over 220 years, and featuring a private mansion that dates from 1730. The

owners decided to open this magnificent garden to the public and they have the

largest collection of orchids on the island, the largest and oldest dragon tree in

Puerto de la Cruz and souvenirs from important visitors like the famous German

botanist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt and Agatha Christie.

Interesting Facts

• Tenerife has 42 protected areas which represent 48.6% of the island’s land

surface

• From the mountains to the coast, Tenerife has a remarkable variety of

scenery and micro-climatic conditions from rain forest to coastal desert

• The Teide National Park is an ideal location for studying volcanic features

in the islands. Mount Teide is the highest mountain in Spain, standing at

3,718 metres The National Park was declared a natural heritage site by

UNESCO in 2007

• In the northern part of the island are sub-tropical forests, Laurisilva, that

used to cover a good part of the Mediterranean basin until the end of the

Tertiary age

• Bird watching is increasingly popular – the Blue Chaffinch, the Tenerife

Kinglet, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Tit and Rock Dove are just some

of the species inhabiting the island

• The strait dividing Tenerife from the island of La Gomera is populated

with one of the most important colony of pilot whales (calderon) in the

world together with bottlenose dolphins

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• The Canary is endemic to the Canary Islands and is where these colourful

birds got their name from and it’s common to see and hear them in

fields, pine forests, ravines and in bush and thicket areas

- Ends -

Tenerife Tourism Corporation

For more information visit www.webtenerife.com or contact Raquel Fonseca

Email: raquel@humewhitehead.co.uk Tel: (0) 20 8334 7026