The winter was long, so when the opportunity to go to Tenerife for a week in March came our way, we grabbed it with both hands. The thud on the runway as our Ryanair 737 touched down woke everyone to the pleasant reality of having arrived safely after a four hour flight south to Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands off the North African coast. For Irish people it’s good to get away as we don’t see too much sun in mid-March (or for much of the rest of the year).
Early morning in El Médano Tenerife.
We were headed to El Médano in the south east of the island where many kite-surfers and windsurfers are attracted to because of the strong winds.
Kite surfers in El Médano Tenerife.
Our host has been spending his winters here for the last ten years and we were delighted to be joining him and his mates for a few days. The winds had slacked off before our arrival which proved to be a distinct advantage as we got to see quite a lot of this amazing Island in such a short time.
El Médano is a small Spanish town just a few miles south of the airport. It’s a horseshoe shaped bay with accommodation to the south and two volcanic hills Montana Roja (red Mountain) and Montaña Bocinegro, the smaller hill on the north shore. Both windsurfers and kite-surfers are well catered for here with many kite and wind-surfing schools on the waterfront and the camaraderie of those who take part in these sports is very obvious. The bare volcanic hills attract walkers by day and late evening, as we saw light’s coming down Montana Roja (red Mountain) on at least one evening while we were there.
Sunday’s were busy in El Médano as many locals head there so it was suggested we go for a drive across to the Masca Gorge on the south west of the island, an amazing place.
Masa Gorge Tenerife.
I’ve seen a few twisty roads in my time but nothing prepared me for the decent down to Masca. It was off the charts as regards views. Well know films have been made here, both “Planet of the Apes” in 1968 and “Clash of the Titans” in 2010 were both filmed here as the landscape is so unique.
He’s in there! Lizard…Masca Gorge Las Tenerife.
There is a trek down the gorge, which can take about four hours on foot. Good walking boots are advised, but the day we were there it was closed as boats couldn’t take people off due to storm damage to the pier at the end of the gorge. People sometimes leave their cars in Los Gigantos and get a taxi or bus to Masca, walk the Gorge and get the boat back to Los Gigantos. We’ll be back here again next time to do the trek to the sea, properly equipped of course.
Masa Gorge Tenerife.
The winds rose a bit on Monday so our host headed off kitesurfing and we took ourselves for a stroll across the bay. This was a chance to take a few interesting photos of the vibrant colour displayed across the bay as the kite-surfers and windsurfers took to the water.
In La Laguna Tenerife where it rained.
Another day we travelled north towards the capital of Tenerife, Santa Cruz, but turned inland towards the old majestic town of La Laguna. This was the only time we saw rain during our time in Tenerife. It rains more on the north of the island as the elevation is generally higher, and as a result it’s much greener on the north of Tenerife. La Laguna was once the capital of the island and many of the spectacular buildings go back hundreds of years.
Above the clouds at Teide Tenerife March.
Undoubtedly the highlight of our short visit to this amazing island was the same day as we headed up above the clouds to Teide national park, truly a wonder to behold. I’d never been at this altitude before where you could feel the intensity of the sun yet see nature in all it’s glory firsthand. Volcanic structures are a sight to behold. There is a cable-car to take would be viewers higher but we didn’t avail of it. Seeing the uniqueness of this place was enough on the day.
Dormant creater of Teide Tenerife.
We also paid a visit to the seaside town of Candelaria which has an old very Spanish Catherial,the Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Candelaria.
Candelaria, Tenerife.
This beautiful town has an amazing square in front of the Cathedral with nine amazing bronze statues of the Guanche, a series of statues celebrating some of the early rulers of Tenerife. It’s certainly worth a visit.
Statue of the Guanche, Candelaria Tenerife March.
There are many beautiful restraunts in every town in Tenerife, many specializing in fish. Our last evening we travelled the short distance to San Miguel de Tajao where we dined in the beautiful fish restaurant Agua y Sal. I’d highly recommend this great restaurant where you can select your own fish. Tenerife left lasting memories and I’m looking forward to my next visit to this unique location just four hours south of our own little Island.
Unique landscape in spectacular location…Teide National Park Tenerife.
Eugene Ryan 