Tenerife holidays
One area not to be missed is Parque Nacional Del Teide. It's home to Spain's largest peak, the 2,718-metre volcano, Pico del Teide. Very few visitors stray from the main trails, so if you're prepared to explore, pick a more challenging course from one of the 21 walking tracks that weave their way through the park. As well as providing a good day out, El Teide splits the island in two from a climate point of view. The more exposed south is hot and barren, the north humid and green. It's in this northern region you'll find the island's vineyards, including the ones at Tacoronte and Icod de los Vinos.
Elsewhere, make sure you leave time for Santa Cruz de Tenerife. This former fishing village is now a friendly port that's refreshingly short on crowds. You'll find some lovely shaded plazas, excellent shops and a superb bus route that'll link you to the rest of the northeast.
Of the towns that are easily reached from Santa Cruz, set aside a day for La Laguna. A lively university town, it's got one of the island's best social scenes, while its architecture is a real highlight. Brightly-coloured Canarian mansions, with their balconies and shuttered windows are commonplace, while churches and convents are also in no short supply. On the western edge of town, for example, is the island's first church, Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion, dating back to 1502.