Cosmopolitan Spain Traveler - Winter 2019

Cosmopolitan Spain Traveler A s the largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife is a fabulous world of contrasts. The idyllic combination of sun and sand, nature and leisure, has made it one of the most popular vacation destinations in Europe. Its diverse coast offers a wide variety of places to enjoy sunshine and sea. In the north, where the countryside is steep with cliffs, you will find secluded bays, whereas in the south, you will find numerous beaches, most of which are volcanic in origin. You can swim and sunbathe all year round thanks to the abundance of sunny days and moderate temperatures which range between 65 degrees in winter and 78 degrees in summer.

The Roque Cinchado (foreground) is an emblematic 88-foot high rock formation. It appeared on the one-thousand peseta bank note, with Teide in the background.

Image by Thomas Astleitner from Pixabay

hang gliding are just a few activities you can enjoy here. Together with the famous Carnival in early spring, there are many festivals where you will be able to experience popular and tradi- tional customs of the islanders, and the cuisine, such as Orotava Valley wines, seafood dishes, “wrinkled potatoes,” mojo sauces and distinct cheeses. This is, without doubt, the icon of Tenerife. Teide National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. First, it boasts the broad- est sample of supra-Mediterranean vegetation on Earth. Second, it cov- ers one of the world’s most stunning Teide National Park

volcanic landscapes. The park lies right in the middle of Tenerife, at an altitude of 6,500 ft. above sea level, topped by Spain’s highest peak at 12,198 ft. These record-breaking figures add to the fact that it is the most visited na- tional park in Europe, welcoming some three million visitors every year. One of the most exciting experiences in this National Park is a ride on the cable car. The base station stands at an altitude of 7,729 ft. and climbs up to the top station at 11,663 ft. The journey between the two takes roughly 8 minutes and the thrill is electrifying. Once at the top, you will be treated to stunning views from the lookout point. But even if you take the cable car to

Besides hiking in the Teide National Park, diving, cycling, golf, surfing and

Canarian Wrinkled Potatoes

Boiled in copious amounts of sea salt and typically served with legendary red or green mojo sauce. Image by Tom Milanovic

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