| For Tenerife, holidays are an important business, | | | | nearby town, it is a great place to take part in a wide |
| making up a significant part of the island's economy, | | | | selection of water sports - or just to chill out. |
| with some 5 million tourists visiting every year. As the | | | | Lying a little further to the north can be found the small, |
| largest of the Canary Islands, relatively close to the | | | | shingle beach at La Caleta, which attracts snorkelers |
| coast of Africa, Tenerife benefits all the year round | | | | and divers. The high concentration of fish nearby in the |
| from warm weather and low levels of rainfall. | | | | ocean means that visitors with more culinary |
| It enjoys a combination of natural beaches, composed | | | | inclinations can enjoy some delicious meals at one of |
| of black, volcanic sand and newer, artificial beaches | | | | the nearby seafood restaurants. |
| made from imported golden sand from the Sahara | | | | A Tenerife holidays has more to offer than just |
| desert, as well as from sand pumped up from the sea | | | | wonderful beaches though. One of the largest |
| bed. This gives the island an incredible variety of | | | | carnivals in the world takes place every year in the |
| places to relax in the sun, such as the popular seaside | | | | island's capital - the Carnival of Santa Cruz - which is in |
| resorts of Playas de Troya and Los Cristianos - | | | | the running to be declared a World Heritage Site. |
| featuring two beaches which have proven a firm | | | | Every February in the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, |
| favourite among tourists, alongside many smaller ones. | | | | over a million people take part in the festivities, which |
| Playa de Los Cristianos is the central beach, with grey | | | | include a stunning opening parade through the Friday |
| volcanic sand. For people who want a more traditional | | | | night, modelled on the processions at the more famous |
| look, the nearby Playa de las Vistas features golden | | | | carnival in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. Santa |
| sand from the sea floor. Both beaches are pleasantly | | | | Cruz de Tenerife is twinned with Rio because of this. |
| sheltered from the elements, and both are right next to | | | | After the fancy dress extravaganza, the carnival |
| a varied collection of bars and restaurants for those | | | | continues until Ash Wednesday - with days dedicated |
| moments when sunbathing turns to hunger. At the | | | | to dance and live music - before culminating in a |
| Playa de Los Cristianos, children are well catered for | | | | bizarre ritual known as "The Burial of the Sardine". |
| too, with playgrounds and other activities. | | | | Even then, the fun is not over. The next weekend, the |
| Tenerife holidays often feature a day out on the | | | | partying begins all over again, with the weekend |
| island's most well-known beach - the Playas de Troya. | | | | known as "piñata". |
| With shallow waters, shelter and easy access to the | | | | |