Teneriffa - Entertainment

Right after the entrance, visitors are big enough to conquer the Teide mountain and the moon landscape.... This is when they are looking down at the Guanches, how they lived, hunted, plowed and celebrated wrestling. The most noticeable sights of the western islands, to which the Canaries belong, are displayed in a miniature format: the auditorium of Santa Cruz, the San Miguel fortress in Garachico, the counts' tower on La Gomera, the La Concepción church of La Laguna, even the highway, the harbors, the airport, etc. The paths are also suitable for buggies, making it an ideal excursion destination for families with children, who feel like the "big kids", eye to eye with the sights in the miniature village. A nice restaurant with a big terrace draws you in to relax. more

Sporty, family-run company with 65 boards and 154 riggs that are rented out. Here you can learn or practice... surfing at one of the best surf spots worldwide, while the pros prepare for championships. You can also lend or buy used material. A special feature: collected wind records dating back to January 1987! more

Star architect Santiago Calatrava designed the symbol of Santa Cruz, which opened in 2003. A 50 m structure... sways like a sail in the wind above the dome of the concert hall. Audiences enjoy operas, jazz or dance performances from the 400 seats. The symphony orchestra of Tenerife is based there and gives regular performances. more

The water kingdom offers wet excitement for all ages. The little ones do not want to leave the pools,... slides and playgrounds of the "Lost City" ever again, while the older siblings constantly visit the huge water castle, being showered by an Indian-head-shaped barrel full of water. Older fans choose the ultimate adrenalin rush slide, plunging down 92 ft (28 m) in free fall, while the glass slide passes a shark aquarium, others enjoy a threesome on a rubber tire, sliding into the mouth of a dragon, experiencing weightlessness inside the funnel. The Mai-Thai-river is a little more relaxing. You slide on a rubber tire, passing waterfalls and exotic landscapes. But the highlight is the Siam-beach with white sand and the wave palace that produces artificial waves up to 10 ft (3 m) high. After the loud bell has been rung, everybody leaves the beach, awaiting the powerful water masses. more

Necks proudly raised up high, the nostrils puffed out, the caravan awaits you at the camel park of Arona.... While the group is still preparing for the trip, the kids can play with the white donkey, between all the chickens and goats. Then comes decision-making time: only a short trip (20 minutes) to the rural surroundings or the longer trip on the camel, followed by an Arabic-Canarian lunch in an atmospheric restaurant. Some hotels offer free buses. more

El Laguillo, little lake, is the name of this pretty, winding sea water pool, in which you could spend... an entire day. A fanciful pool complex with rocks and a well-tended garden - a miniature version of the famous bathing area of Puerto de la Cruz, the Costa Martiánez. more

Costa Martinez, designed by César Manrique (1920-1992) and extended in 1977 on his terms, is without... a doubt the prettiest beach of Tenerife and the Canaries alike. Now there are seven pools, in all kinds of shapes, not rectangular, but many pretty, hidden corners, every single one above the lava-black coast or built into it. Great sanitation facilities, bars and restaurants top off the offer that one will definitely visit more than once during a vacation to Puerto. more

The small black virgin sculpture from Candelaria is the patroness of the Canaries, which is why she is... carried around the big plaza several times in the middle of August with a richly adorned baldachin and is presented to the people during an impressive procession. The Canarian people come from far away on this day to celebrate on the plaza with nine bronze statues of the most important Guanche leaders and enjoy especially crispy fish at one of the countless restaurants. As a foreigner, you will be happy if you get your hands on a side table. more

The resort Bajamar in the northeastern part of the island was called the vacation place for pensioners... for a long time. This has suddenly changed, and now the city is beeing overrun by families, kids enjoy the sea water pool. The two, big olympic-size pools are still supplied with the waves of the Atlantic, but, ever since its renovation in 2009, there is no more threat of being washed away from the walls. A pool, far away form the wave, was built for the kids. The architects, wittily, even included a stretch of beach, separated from the waves by a high wall. All sanitation facilities are available, and the bathing area is free of charge. more

Only in 2009 did the Tinerfeños come up with the idea of setting up their own wine route, which can... be toured single-handedly. More interesting, at least for starters, is the organized bus tour, offered weekly and starting at Santa Cruz or La Laguna. The tour takes you to the wine-growing region of Tacoronte-Acentejo, 6,200 acres (2,500 ha) large, the biggest, and densest growing area of the Canaries. You will also get to visit wine cellars that you would otherwise not be able to enter. Different routes are offered, thus enabling people to take several wine trips. The most popular route goes from Santa Cruz, or La Laguna, to El Sauzal, Tacoronte and Tegueste, which, by the way, is the prettiest, most primitive and at the same time most heavily used agricultural landscape in northern Tenerife. more

You might just get lucky and win big money during your holidays, so why not try your luck in a casino?... Remember to dress appropriately and take your passport along. more

The water park right behind the highway (some hotels offer free of charge shuttles) has all kinds of... slides and is suitable for the kids. A trip of the Congo River by dinghy boat is very relaxing. The big dolphin show can be enjoyed for an extra fee. Many parents do not want to spend the entire day with their kids at the water park, this should be reconsidered keeping the pretty high entrance fee in mind: if you come back the next day, you will pay less (pay attention to the schedule). Buying tickets online is cheaper. more

Connoisseurs say that the Tenerife Carnival is not inferior to the Brazilian one in Río, and if you... have been to the Tenerife Carnival, you will agree. Santa Cruz is really on fire (as are the other cities of the island as well!) The hot phase kicks off two weeks before Ash Wednesday, when the candidates for the queen are presented; one of them will be crowned two weeks later. First, there are events in the evening, on all big plazas of the town and in the theaters and halls, before the parade with the colorful and very fancy, but in any case expensive costumes - the children's parade is no less exciting - takes place. The last part is the Entierra de la Sardina, "the funeral of the sardine", with a cortège, during which a huge sardine is burned and its ashes thrown into the ocean. more

The Parque Marítimo is an outdoor pool wih slides and pools as well as a direct access to the Atlantic... beaches. The artist César Manrique (1920-1992) designed the wonderful, modern bathing landscape, in which he integrated the Castillo de San Juan. The ocean park has lots of restaurants, a sand beach and a palm tree garden. more

The municipal theater was built from 1848-51, according to plans by Manuel de Oràa, and expanded in... 1991. It is named after the famous Catalonian playwright Angel Guimerá, who was born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Next to theater plays you can also visit concerts. more

The multiplex movie theater, inside the Meridiano mall, has eleven movie theaters, and mainly shows Hollywood... movies, also in digital 3D. more