Despite glorious weather and a variety of landscapes that attract four million tourists every year, Tenerife has an image problem. Thanks to package tourism, the entire island is assumed to be a playground for rowdy holiday-makers, content to spend lazy days on the beach and drink-fuelled nights in the bars and if this is what you’re after, you won’t be disappointed. But get off the beaten track and you’ll discover spectacular volcanic scenery, elegant resorts and peaceful Spanish towns. And with the island measuring just 86km long and 56km wide, everywhere is a possible day-trip.
Some of the most memorable sights are natural ones – the most impressive being around the island’s pre-eminent landmark, the volcano Mount Teide. The turbulent history of the islands has left a host of sights that deserve a look too. Traces of the original inhabitants, the Guanche, can be found at various sites around the islands, while the impact of the Spanish conquest is best seen in their colonial towns which offer a complete contrast to the brash, more recently developed resorts. Though Tenerife has many peaceful areas, those wanting to get even further away from the crowds should head to the strikingly precipitous island of La Gomera. A 28km ferry-ride from Tenerife, it was the first of the Canary Islands to be conquered by the Spanish (Tenerife was the last) and is also the greenest and least populated of the archipelago, bisected by deep ravines that radiate out from its centre. The absence of major beaches – and, consequently, resorts – means laid-back rural tranquillity is still intact here, making it a relaxing place for a break.