Tenerife as a destination has options for a variety of holidays in an enviable climate. Its 22°C mean annual temperature, which virtually blurs the borderline between summer and winter, is one of its major assets, but not its only one. Another is its scenery and natural surroundings, ranging from dense laurel forest (similar to the vegetation that covered Europe in the Tertiary Age, some 20 million years ago) to beaches, coves, charcos (natural pools) and – why not? – the Teide National Park.

Tenerife No Limits – Land Sports

Healthy lifestyles have caught on in recent times and Tenerife has acquired added value as a holiday resort also offering outdoor sport and activities. Indeed, Tenerife is practically one huge outdoor gym, open 365 days a year. Its climate, landscapes and natural setting makes it a veritable paradise for both professional and amateur sportspeople. In hardly half an hour you can go from working out at sea level to doing so at an altitude of 2,000 metres. Following is a rundown of some of the many possibilities for doing land sports and other activities in natural surroundings, apart from those in the sea or air:

Hiking. The island boasts some 1,500 kilometres of walking trails, both official ones and those pending approval. They traverse Tenerife’s 43 protected natural spaces, accounting for almost half (48%) the island’s surface area. Each trail is unique, distinct from the next. One of the most striking is the Gran Recorrido 131 (part of the E-7 long-distance footpath), which comes from the European continent and crosses the island from north to south, a route stretching 83 kilometres that runs through all kinds of landscape, including Mt Teide.

Caving. The island features Europe’s largest volcanic pipe, known as the Wind Cave. It is 27,000 years old and 17 kilometres long, if we add up the tunnels at all levels. The tour lasts about two hours and immerses the visitor in a fascinating, dark and mysterious realm.

Climbing. Tenerife is also a paradise for rock climbers, with its myriad volcanic rock faces to be scaled. There are options for everyone, from beginners to experts.

Mountain biking. Lovers of this sport can enjoy some 200 kilometres of bike trails crossing the island. Most of these paths run across the heights of Tenerife, but set primarily in the Corona Forestal Nature Park. This is a comprehensive network of trails, many of which have parking areas, transport and services at their start and finish.

Cycling. The island is covered by a broad road network in very good condition. Many of the roads go though areas with little traffic, well suited to cycling. You can cycle at altitudes of up to 2,000 metres, at the foot of Mt Teide, or at sea level. Hundreds of world-class cyclists come to Tenerife to train for such races as the Tour de France, the world championships and even the Olympic Games.

Tennis and paddle tennis. Over eleven sports complexes are available to enthusiasts of the racket and paddle on all types of surface – clay court, Plexicushion and synthetic. There are also ample facilities for playing pelota and squash.

Golf. Eight top-notch golf courses, designed by golfers of the calibre of Severiano Ballesteros and Dave Thomas, make this island one of the destinations to seriously consider for playing this sport.

Accessible sport. Here, too, there are facilities for playing accessible sport. The island is one of the training centres for local, national and international Paralympics, featuring such complexes as Tenerife Top Training.

If you’d like further information on all these sports and activities, or on accommodation and specialised schools and companies, check out the offerings at Tenerife No Limits.

And, to discover the island first-hand, you have to see it for yourself. Check out our flights here.

Text and images by Turismo de Tenerife

The María Pita festivities are a summer’s essential. It is when A Coruña dresses in their best clothes and offers a full program of free outdoor music, food, craft and book fairs,

Throughout the month of August, the city comes alive with activities all day and night spread throughout the city in a celebration that honours the figure of María Pita, the heroine who captained the defense of the city against the British Navy, led by the pirate Francis Drake in 1589.

The day 1 proclamation will mark the starting point of the holidays and this year Luz Casal will be responsible for putting the first chord in an open-air free concert.

The first Saturday of August takes place the traditional Pyrotechnics Naval Battle, a firework show illuminating the sky color of A Coruña that each year attracts thousands of people.
 
And for the young, the third of August there is an entire program of Maria Pitiña at the Explanada del Parrote with activities designed for them. A day that will turn around the circus, with shows, music, games and workshops.

And coinciding with the celebrations of María Pita, the Northwest Pop Rock festival is organized on the beach of Riazor. It is on Friday the 8^th and Saturday 9^th August, with a varied program.

Friday 8^th of August
21:00 h La Senda de Afra | 22:00 h Misterioso Viaje Holanda, Facto Delafé y las Flores Azules and Love of Lesbian.

Saturday 9^thof August
21:00 h Anima | 22:00 h Bourbon Queen Eskizo and Madness.

Picture by Carlos Fernández San Millán

Perfect plan to go with friends! Check our flights and sign up!

For Winter Fest in Ibi, better known as Santa Llúcia or ‘Nadal’ (Christmas), taking place between December and January, there is an odd tradition. On December 28th "els Enfarinats" (The floured) take the town in a funny flour battle to take the government of the city.

Everything starts with a gathering early in the morning where ‘Enfarinats’, the great protagonists of this celebration, meet in front of the church. To be part of this team you must be a married man. From the church, they start a race whose winner gets the title of ‘Alcalde dels Enfarinats’ (Enfarinats’ major), and all the powers of the city are given to this burlesque major. He is the judge, secretary and banker of this absurd government only for one day.

Now the battle starts. A group of neighbours, named ‘Opositors’ (opposition), arrive dressed with black top hats, and the flour battle starts. There’s not only flour on this battle, also thousands of rockets, eggs, vegetables and more flour, anything they need to take down the new absurd government.

After the war, the center of the town ends up covered in flour, but this is not a cruel ward and it will have a happy ending: around 2am, ‘Enfarinats’ and ‘Oposició’ sign the peace and get a great meal together in the streets of Ibi. There is food you will always find in this meal, like a large pot of beans, a typical dish from the region based on pork and white beans.

The meal is a little break until they are surrounded by the ‘Tapats’ (the hidden), who arrive fancy dressed in the most bizarre ways and their faced hidden so no one can recognize them, now is when Opositors and Enfarinats fiancés take their revenge.

Once the stomach is full, they all go to Asil de Sant Joaquim, where they will deposit the money collected over the day, from fines and sanctions, used to assist the elders residence of the town.

Go to Ibi to enjoy this funny celebration from Alicante. However, be aware that lawas in the city change that day and everyone can get a fine for whatever reason and end up showered with flour head over feet.

Pictures by diania.tv

Perfect plan to go with friends! Check our flights and sign up!

Eddy Lara Brito
DestinosActuales.com

The district of Eixample offers a variety of options. As seen from the above the latticework of streets seems to be infinite and here you will find hidden corners that reveal the most outgoing and multi-cultural side of the city.

The Small Food Corners of Barcelona could be counted in their thousands and their nationalities in the dozens. One of them is Kuks, a tiny corner located – for lack of a better term -some way off the Barcelona’s mainstream, beaten track. The place offers its patrons a more traditional taste of far off Argentina: pasties.

The success and secret of this place lies in the laid back way in which it was set up. Flor, originally from Buenos Aires but who has lived in Barcelona for several years, decided to make her pasties for the famous Bar Absenta. They were accompanied by a tango show. In very little time, the tango dancing was outshone by the pasties as they gained legendary status.

An improvised success meant that Flor became a clandestine star of gastronomy in just a few months. She made her pasties at home and even sub-let the basement of a hot-dog joint to make them. Eventually, she found the right place for her business – a place at 167 Calle Roger de Flor – and decorated it in a simple, yet cosy, style of her own.

Her pasties, pizzas and quiches complete the décor. Anyone who walks through the doors might think there is a little old lady out back making the pasties but in reality the creative genius behind these tasty delights is nobody else but the young and radiant Flor. With her accent and Buenos Aires smile, she’ll definitely make sure you succumb to her Argentinean temptations.

Feel like going now? Do it! Check out our prices here!