Let's Go to Guia de Isora in Tenerife

Guia de Isora [image courtesy of Ritz-Carlton Abama]

You may be doing some research on which resort you would like to stay in on your Tenerife holiday and come across the small resort, or market town, of Guia de Isora.

Located in the western part of Tenerife, between Buenavista del Norte in the north and Playa de las Americas in the south, Guia de Isora is inland. When you visit you will adore the tiny streets, squares and houses. There is also evidence of this town's past in the old ovens dotted around the town in which bread and tiles were made.

Adults Only Holidays in the Canary Islands

If your idea of holiday-hell is to spend your well-earned break in a hotel full of other people's children making constant noise, then Corona Holidays have it covered!

We understand that some adults like to relax in peace and quiet without children running around, and have put together a selection of ADULTS ONLY hotels in the Canary Islands. So, take it easy with a quiet swim in the pool, pick up a book, enjoy a cocktail or two, or simply relax in a spa - the choice is yours.  Of course we have lots more to choose from, but just show a small selection below.

Garachico in Tenerife : Ideas for your Holiday

 

Garachico is located on the north coast of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, and is well known for its historic buildings and traditional-style houses with ornate wooden balconies.

For a  relatively small town, you will still find lots of things to see and do on your holiday in Garachico, and we have set out below what you could do in a typical day in this traditional Tenerife location.

Some Things to do on your Tenerife Holiday

Bored of lounging on the beach, or swimming in the hotel pool?  We have some unusual things for you to do whilst on your holiday in Tenerife including hiking in Masca, seeing the oldest and largest Dragon Tree, visiting Tenerife's Auditorio and even walking around some pyramids!

Go Hiking in Masca

Head to the eastern part of the island to what is known as the prettiest village in Tenerife - Masca.  Located approximately 8km north of Los Gigantes, check with your hotel reception to find out where you need to catch the bus in order to get here.   Expect some steep and winding roads on your way, but you will be rewarded by old stone houses, palm trees and steep ravines down to the sea below.  With a population of around 100 people, this is a quiet village [when all the tourists have gone] and lots of the houses have been converted into tiny shops and restaurants. 

Tenerife Holidays - Leaving the Beaches Behind

The island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands is just as well known for its pretty towns and rural villages as it is for its beach resorts.   Join us as we take you on a brief tour of our top 10 inland towns and villages; often overlooked by the first-time visitor to Tenerife.

Christopher Columbus and The Canary Islands

 

Who was Christopher Columbus?

Christopher Columbus [Cristobal Colon in Spanish], explorer and navigator, was born in 1451 in Genoa, Italy and by the age of 25 made his first voyage into the Atlantic when his fleet was attacked by the French, his vessel set alight, and he had to swim to the nearby Portuguese shore to save his life.

Here he settled, married and had a son. But following the death of his wife, he moved to Spain and took part in several other expeditions to Africa and learned about the currents around the Canary Islands.

Hotels in Tenerife - A Touch of Tradition

Emblematico San Agustin Hotel - Icod de los Vinos

Think of a typical hotel in Tenerife, and you will probably conjure up a vision of a large, modern building with lots of marble and clean lines, located in a busy resort within a short distance of the sea.  

However, we are finding that more and more people are turning to the more traditional style Tenerife hotel, normally housed in an old building with lots of wood, intricately carved balconies, cosy bedrooms and patios adorned with palms.

With this in mind, join us while we take you around 5 individual hotels - all located in different resorts, to see if we can tempt you.

Visit Teide National Park in Tenerife

Mount Teide in Tenerife

When travelling around the island of Tenerife, you will not fail to notice Mount Teide and decide that you would like to find out more about it.   Head to Parque Nacional del Teide [Teide National Park] and you will not be disappointed.  A great day out for all the family there is plenty to do on this popular tour.

Covering 189sq km, the whole park lies above 2,000m and is strictly prohibited from development.  You can visit by car, coach, by bike and even by foot on one of the numerous smaller tracks. If you have a head for heights, take the cable car [teleferico] up to 163m below the summit.

Rural Hotels, Houses and Villas



Rural Finca Salamanca in Guimar

 The average high street travel agency will normally be able to offer you the popular resort hotels and apartments, with a few specialising in more specific markets such a cruises, tours and long-haul luxury holidays ... to name but a few.  

Corona Holidays are not only specialising in holidays to the Canary Island and Balearic Islands, but also in rural hotels, houses and villas.  More and more customers are wanting the escape the hustle and bustle of the touristic resorts and head for the more tranquil regions where rest and relaxation are a top priority for a good holiday.  An example of a rural hotel would be the Rural Finca Salamanca in Guimar, Tenerife [about which we have received some excellent comments] 

Hotel inTenerife is Awarded 6th Best Hotel in Spain

With the recent announcement of the Top 25 Hotels in Spain by TripAdvisor, one of Tenerife's 5 star hotels has been placed at number 6.  This is the Hotel Botanico and The Oriental Spa Garden in Puerto de la Cruz, and is ranked as the top hotel in the resort out of 81 by the review site.

Hotel Botanico and The Oriental Spa Garden

 

Customers have made the following comments about the hotel :

• The perfect getaway
• Lovely spacious hotel
• The hotel with everything
• My favourite hotel
• Great hotel with good spa

What can you expect if you book to stay in this 5 star prestigious hotel?  First of all, you know that you will be experiencing a touch of luxury as this was not only the first hotel in the Canary Islands to become a member of the luxury hotel group "The Leading Hotels of the World".  You will also be holidaying at a hotel where VIPs have stayed over the years including Julio Inglesias, Gloria Estefan, The King and Queen of Spain, Bill Clinton and Michael Jackson.

The Hotel Botanico and The Oriental Spa Garden is located in the resort of Puerto de la Cruz in the north of Tenerife and is in the quiet area of La Paz which is close to the Botanical Gardens. The centre of the resort and the beach are only 1.5km from the hotel and you can utilise the hotel's shuttle bus service to gain access to the centre with its selection of bars, restaurants and shops.

We currently have early booking discounts available for you for stays up to the end of October.   All you need to do is book 90 days in advance for a 15% discount, or 60 days in advance for a 10% discount.  So, if you would like to experience a stay at the hotel which won 6th place in the Top Hotels in Spain then give us a call on Freephone 0800 5 677688 [or it will be 01582 421117 from a mobile] and we will be delighted to talk through prices with you. 

Visit the New Forestal Park on your Tenerife Holiday

Great news for people on their holiday in Tenerife - there is a new outdoor adventure park called Forestal Park which is the first of its kind to be found on this lovely island in The Canaries.

What is Forestal Park?
If you like the idea of tree climbing, then this is the place for you and will make a great day out for the whole family whilst on holiday in Tenerife.  The Park has 2 circuits, one of which has been purpose built for families and the other for the more adventurous visitor.  The circuits reach the dizzy heights of 80m and features 30m high wooden platforms from where your can admire the views, grab the opportunity for a breather, or take one of the many ziplines that stretch for 200m.  If you are eager for more, then there are over 90 games that can be played - all above the ground.

Forestal Adventure Park in Tenerife

 

Where is Forestal Park?

The Park is located in La Esperanza nature reserve - known as Bosque de la Esperanza - which can be found in the northern part of Tenerife just south of the quiet resort of La Laguna, and west of Santa Cruz de Tenerife [the capital of Tenerife].  The forest does offer wonderful walking trails and is a favourite place for the local people to come an enjoy a picnic or take a walk.  In fact, the forest spreads for a distance of approximately 12km, and is Tenerife's largest pine forest.

Did you know?

Bosque de la Esperanza is famous for the fact that it was here that General Franco met fellow army officers in 1936 in the build up to the Spanish Civil War.  Look for an obelisk on your walks which marks the site of this fateful meeting, known as Las Raices.

So if you are interested in visiting Forestal Park, the prices start from 22 euros for adults [from 13 years old] and from 13 euros for children [6-12 years old - with minimum height of 1.10m].  For ideas on where to stay in a resort close to the adventure park, just give us a call on
Freephone 0800 5 677688 or its 01582 421117 from a mobile.

Which adventure parks have you visited in the Canary Islands? Leave a comment to let everyone know about it.

Paradores in The Canary Islands

For a complete change, why not consider staying at a one of the Canary Islands' Paradores for a chance to experience another side of Spain other than sun, sand and sangria.

With more than 90 hotels across Spain and the Canary Islands, many of the Paradores [sometimes seen as Paradors] are restored castles, palaces and country houses, or even converted monasteries and convents. Others are more modern and can be found in remote areas of coastline or in national parks.   The Paradores are government owned and due to the current economic crisis being experienced by Spain, this may mean that some or all of the hotels might be sold.

Carnival Time in Tenerife

We are fast approaching carnival season - a popular time for people to go to Tenerife, and in particular on a Santa Cruz de Tenerife holiday.  2013 sees Carnival taking place from the 6-17 February and this year's theme is Bollywood.

The main carnival take place in the capital - Santa Cruz de Tenerife and is often compared to similar extravaganzas in Rio de Janeiro and New Orleans.

Top 10 Canary Island Hotels for August

Each month, we publish our Top 10 Hotels for each of the Canary Islands so that you can see at a glance what other customers have been asking for.

Below is a list of the top requested hotels and apartments during the month of August 2012.

Discover Canary Islands Spirits at the Abama Golf & Spa Resort

If you are on your holiday in Tenerife and are staying at the Abama Golf and Spa Resort in Guia de Isora, then  head to the Wine Bar to learn everything there is to know about the best spirits and brandies of the Canary Islands.

Each Thursday, guests will be able to to learn about the production process, all under the guidance of the Gomera Distillery.

If you would like to stay at the Abama Golf & Spa Resort, then Corona Holidays have some excellent offers available throughout the month of October which includes:

• FREE half board
• 7 nights for the price of 6
• 14 nights for the price of 12

Take a look at the hotel or give us a call on freephone number 0800 5 677688 [from a mobile the phone number is 01582 421117]. 

Go Golfing on your Tenerife Holiday

Although Tenerife is only around 2057 square kilometers, the island boast some magnificent golf courses located in both the north and south.

Here are just some of the courses available to you whilst on your holiday in Tenerife:

Buenavista Golf
Number of Holes : 18 or 9
Designed by Seve Ballesteros is within close proximity to the coast and is located on cliffs.  There is a large central lake in front of the Club House which offers panoramic views of the course, and a waterfall which lends a fresh feel to this course in the north of Tenerife. The majority of the holes can be played in different ways with rounds that are suitable for players of all levels.

Medano Hotel in El Medano, Tenerife

The 3 star Medano Hotel in El Medano, Tenerife is one of our most popular hotels where customer return, time and time again.  The first hotel to be built in the south of the island, there is a lot of history behind the hotel.

The site where the hotel is now established was used for packing tomatoes - the most important agricultural produce in Granadilla de Abona [the municipality where El Medano is located].  Once the tomatoes were harvested, they were taken by lorry to El Medano, sorted, packed into wooden crates and then the trucks undertook the 70km precarious journey to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, to the docks.  If you ever got stuck behind one of these lorries, you knew you were in for a long journey as places to overtake were few and definitely far between. 

The owner of the packing plant - Don Francisco Garcia Feo - had the foresight to recognize that tourism was becoming a growth industry in the north of Tenerife and believed that the south of Tenerife would follow.  He therefore extended and transformed his tomato packing plant into a hotel and the first 3 star hotel opened, offering silver-service to its guests.

The Medano Hotel then became a training hotel, where member of staff received on-the-job training and soon, any staff who had received training here became highly desirable to other hotels over the island. 

The Medano Hotel today is a popular 3 star hotel which still retains its original facade of an older-style Tenerife hotel and offers simple accommodation.  It is the only hotel in the resort of El Medano that is located on the beach with the sundeck actually overhanging the sea by some 500 square meters.  Swimmers have direct access to the sea from the sundeck, or those just wishing to relax can hear the water below.

If you would like to visit this unique hotel, just give us a call on freephone 0800 5677 688 [or 01582 421117 from mobile] or send an enquiry and we will be delighted to help.  

There's Gold in the Mountains of Tenerife

You may just think of Tenerife as being a lovely island on which to take a holiday at any time of the year.  However, recently you may have heard more and more about Tenerife being a destination where world class athletes decide to carry out their sports training.

One of Great Britain's "golden" boys of the Tour de France and 2012 Olympics - Bradley Wiggins - used Teide National Park for part of his training programme.

The Director of Tenerife Tourism Corporation - Miguel Angel Santos - was reported as saying that the physically demanding conditions on Mount Teide enables athletes to get acquainted with extreme physical conditions and is used as an effective destination for runners, climbers and cyclists and has helped develop world class athletes.

The Donkeys of Guimar

If you are on your holiday in Tenerife on the 24 February, 2012 and are near the resort of Guimar, then this is the place to be for the annual Donkeys of Guimar [Las Burras de Guimar] street performance which marks the end of Carnival time in Tenerife.  This eerie street theatre show is held in the Plaza de San Pedrom Arriba and portrays the common believe that on this night, all witches change into donkeys - everything is very light-hearted and admission is free.

During the day, why not take a look at the Piramides de Guimar [Guimar Pyramids] - Built by the native Guanches, they were long dismissed as piles of stones heaped by farmers clearing the land. However, closer inspection by archeologists revealed three pyramidal constructions, each at least 100 metres long and made of carefully squared stones.

An ideal hotel in Guimar would be the Rural Finca Salamanca Hotel.

Top 3 Water Parks for Family Days Out

One of the most popular days out in the summer for families is a visit to a water park.   Here's our top 3 places to go for a proper dunking:

SIAM PARK IN TENERIFE
Siam Park is located in the resort of Costa Adeje, Tenerife, which is just a 10 minute drive from Playa de las Americas.  It is one of the largest water park in Europe and has the general appearance of the ancient kingdom of Siam in Thailand with slides set amidst tropical vegetation.   Ride highlights include:
Tower of Power - a 28 metre almost vertical drop.
The Dragon - spins riders in a 4-man raft
The Volcano - a whirling crater
It also has a great man-made beach, a wave pool which features 3 metre high artificial waves together with a selection of bars and restaurants to keep the whole family amused. 

WESTERN WORLD IN MALLORCA
Located in the popular resort of Magalluf in Mallorca, this water park has been inspired by the wild west and has an excellent range of rides, pools and rivers.  Ride hightlights include:
The Beast - a kamikaze slide with a vertical drop
Wild River Rapids
Kids' WaterlandWestern World is centrally located just minutes from the main hotels in Magalluf.  A complimentary bus service runs from Magaluf, Santa Ponsa and Paguera.

WATERWORLD IN CYPRUS
Located in the popular resort of Ayia Napa, Cyprus, the park has an ancient Greek theme this is an award winning park and the largest on the island of Cyprus.  Ride highlights include:
Drop Atlantis - the only water ride in the world which features light, sound and visual effects
Fall of Icarus - a boomerang ride
Mount Olympus - a 75 metre vertical drop
Thunderbold - new for 2012 with sharp twists and a steep drop