Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
Known as the Island of Eternal Spring — with mild winters and pleasantly hot summers — Tenerife is an isle of contrasts. To the southwest of the island, visitors can delight in fun, sun, and all manner of entertainment at the resort towns of Playa de las Américas and Costa Adeje, while to the cooler north of the island, charming mountain villages, wild beaches, and majestic mountains await exploration — and can provide a bit of solitude and serenity.
Must-Do: Head to the giant cliffs of Los Gigantes on western Tenerife and view the 1,970-foot-tall (600 meters) rock formations from the black sand beach. The basalt wall extends north from Puerto de los Gigantes to Punta de Teno. The native Guanches considered this to be the end of the world.
Eat: Look for the huge lamb topiary plant sculptures at Restaurante El Cordero’s entrance on southern Tenerife. Open daily for lunch and dinner, the guachinche serves classic Canarian cuisine.
Day-Trip: Take a one-hour ferry (and likely glimpse whales and dolphins) from Tenerife’s Los Cristianos port west to San Sebastián de La Gomera. Once there, it’s about a half-hour drive to hike through the ancient, misty lush laurel forest at Garajonay National Park.
