Holidays in Tenerife have been provided by the major tour operators for decades, and the island has understandably been well developed for beach holidays.  A major part of the popularity of Tenerife has to be the climate and weather, and with just about year round sunshine the island is a popular destination in both peak and off season. With 2 airports serving the Island, it is easy to get to your destination using car hire in Tenerife which is widely available and competitively prices.

 As the largest of the Canary Islands, in terms of both land area and population, Tenerife offers quite a mix of possible activities.  The large and vibrant resorts of Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas well geared up for the younger party crowd, while it is also possible to find many more quiet locations for those wishing to stay away from the crowds.

Tenerife is volcanic in origin, and the mountainous landscape produced by this genesis has resulted in an island of huge climactic differences.  In general, the contrast is between the sunny lowlands of the south, and the high country of the rainy north.

Playa de las Americas is in the sunny south of Tenerife.  As well as being a party hotspot, Playa de las Americas features a fine golden sand beach and calm waters that are perfect for swimming.  This should come as no surprise, as pretty much any golden sand beach on Tenerife has been man-made; the natural colour of beach sands on the island is volcanic black.  Well served with facilities, as you would expect of an established beach holiday resort, Playa de las Americas is popular with all kinds of holiday maker, and offers the chance to try out the usual selection of water sports, including surfing and jet skiing.

 Los Cristianos is slightly more family orientated, particularly along the two golden sand beaches.  Again, the sand here has been imported from nearby Africa, and the waters are especially calm, hence the popularity for those with small children.  Unlike the purpose built Playa de las Americas, the natural bay of Los Cristianos has been the home of a fishing village for hundreds of years, and so there are still some examples of genuine old school Canarian architecture to be seen, particularly around the harbour area.   

For those wishing to find a more secluded beach, El Bollullo in the north of the island is something of a secluded secret.  Near to the popular resort of Puerto de la Cruz, the bay surrounding El Bollullo is surrounded by large scenic cliffs.  El Bollullo is accessed through a minor road that winds through a banana plantation, and perhaps because of the additional effort required to reach the beach you are pretty much guaranteed peace and quiet.  As a note of caution, the water here is not calmed by any off shore reefs, and so the water can get quite choppy.