The Canary Islands have always been a popular destination to soak up some of the sun’s rays when the weather at home is proving to be less than pleasant.
Winter holidays to the trendy Canary Islands have long been sought out thanks to their location off the northwest coast of Africa, meaning temperatures of 20 Celsius are more than likely throughout December, January and February. Travellers escape the winter blues in their own cold countries to seek out sunnier and warmer days with Tenerife alone bringing in around five million visitors each year.
2020 has been a strange one, with many of our spring and summer travel plans falling victim to lockdown and travel restrictions imposed by governments, but there’s still time to fix this and fit in a bit of excitement with some fantastic pleasures in Tenerife.
In a recent article published on bbc.co.uk, industry body Airlines UK stated that: “The Canaries are a hugely important market for winter travel – representing over 50% of bookings for some tour operators,” so it goes without saying that after the year we’ve all had, tourism for the archipelago is more important than ever.
So, providing that overseas travel gets back on track this winter, what can visitors expect from a winter break to the Canaries and namely the largest of them – Tenerife? On top of the draw of warm and sunny days to accompany any trip, the island of Tenerife has been a popular choice for all types of traveller for years with a sharp rise in recent years for travellers looking for a luxury stay.
The island is bursting with activities to partake in, delightful local foods to devour and a wide array of accommodation options to reside in, from luxury five-star hotels to private villas, residences, apartments, rural hotels and houses.
As well as being a short flight, with flight times starting at around four hours from the UK, the reasons to visit in winter are plentiful, including finding some much-needed stress-free time in warmer climes aided by the close proximity to water and the warm morning sun to greet you each day. Tenerife is a paradise for adventure travellers too with activities for any type of adventurer, from those with a head for heights to those who enjoy exploring the depths of the ocean, and all in between including hiking, cycling, golf, mountain biking, climbing, water sports and much more.
Those heading to Tenerife during winter should expect to find less crowded restaurants, beaches and historic monuments to discover, hence, there’s a better chance of getting to know the real Tenerife and to have more memorable moments with your fellow travellers. Pick from a range of beautiful golden coastlines or eerily volcanic black sand beaches worthy of many an Instagram shot.
For those who truly want to relax and head home refreshed and rejuvenated then there are a number of top hotels on the island that boast some pretty impressive wellness facilities. The award-winning Oriental Spa Garden at Hotel Botanico is surrounded by 25,000 square metres of sub-tropical gardens to soothe and boasts an array of treatments to indulge in. Bahia Wellness Retreat at the five-star Hotel Bahia del Duque offers a holistic approach to wellbeing with an open-air thalassotherapy circuit, yoga, acupuncture and ortho-molecular nutrition to name a few features.
Food lovers will be pleased with the selection of spectacular Tenerife specialities including papas arrugadas, mojo, almond desserts, gofio, papaya, barraquito, local wines and honey, while a visit to Tenerife’s vineyards and wineries will surely impress. Enjoy a day tour to the two world Heritage sites; sail into the ocean in the company of the pilot whales and dolphins; or enjoy a beautiful sunset and stargazing tour at the Mount Teide National Park. Anything you want, you can be sure that Tenerife has it, so if any of this sounds right up your street, then it’s time you started searching for that perfect five-star accommodation that’s ready and waiting to host you.
All images courtesy of Turismo de Tenerife
