Things to Do
There are numerous things to do in Tenerife and here are a few ideas if you are new to the Island:
Theme Parks
The top two theme parks are Siam Park (a water park) and Loro Parque (a zoo at Puerto de la Cruz). You can get a twin ticket for these attractions which include complementary transfers. The weather at Puerto de la Cruz can be changeable and so you might want to take a warm top and check the forecast before you set off.
There is also another water park (Aqualand) which is twinned with Jungle Park.
The stop for the free buses for these trips and also the free shuttle bus to Siam Mall is opposite the Pasarella Centre (about 200 yards up the hill).
Most trips can be booked through Victoria Services. There are also numerous booking agents along the front and it may be worth shopping around.
Day or Half Day Trips
A very popular day out is to Masca in the far south west. Another popular and free trip is the ‘blanket tour’ to an enterprise where mattresses are made. Less common now are day trips for less than €15: they are still available but the target audience are now the Scandinavians rather than the British: you will see leaflets for these at May places.
Los Gigantes and its neighbouring resorts is worth a visit but the bus trip will typically take 1½ hours each way. A shorter trip is on the 467 bus to the fishing village of Las Galletas and its neighbour Costa del Silencio. If you catch the 467 the other way (towards La Caleta) you can get off at various points and walk down to the sea front and then back along to Los Cristianos.
If you decide to go further afield such as Puerto de la Cruz or Santa Cruz then, again, check the weather first as it can be colder and wetter in the north of the Island. The same is true if you go to La Gomera, which is a nice boat trip on the ferry followed by quite some time on a coach with some fabulous scenery.
Fashion and Other Shopping
You will find a range of local shops in Los Cristianos. The bigger chains can found at the Safari Centre (just off the front after the first McDonalds you will see if you walk along the front); Siam Mall (free bus from the Pasarella Centrs); San Eugenio (take the 467 bus towards La Caleta) and Parque Santiago 6 (behind the mountain adjacent to Los Cristianos).
There is also a small outlet centre in Adeje town and numerous shops in the capital Santa Cruz de las Tenerife. A 110 bus will get you there or it may pay to go on a trip or even hire a car. Whilst you are there make time to catch a tram up to the old capital La Laguna. If you do go that way take a jumper as it can often be a few degrees cooler.
Golf and other sports
Green fees can be expensive and quite often over €100. Rounds can also last a very long time!
One way to get lower cost golf is via a society (who often get tee times which are less busy). Many pubs have societies that are quite happy to accept visiting golfers: nearby the Queen Vic, the Penny Farthing and Legends are bars/pubs that have societies to name but a few.
Bikes can be hired from a number of places. You can also hire racing bikes for long climbs through the mountains and also go on organised (long) downhill mountain bike trips.
Pétanque is played by lots of people on the sea front. There is a racquet Centre at the top of the hill (a long way up), and both tennis and bowls can be played at Happy Days at Costa del Silencio (again catch the 467).
Fishing and diving trips can be booked at the harbour.
The nearest (and often big) surf break can be found at Playa de Honda – about 2 miles or so along the front. This is not a beach break and looks quite difficult. It’s usually very busy at week ends when the locals are out in force. There are quite a few surf hire centres around that area (near the second McDonalds you will come across along the front).
Eating and drinking
There is a massive choice available in the immediate vicinity and obviously even more so further afield. Here are a few ideas but definitely not recommendations.
Apart from the on-site Cruise Inn, the main eating/drinking areas locally are the El Mirador strip (up the road and includes the well known Taylor’s Lounge); the Tenerife Sur strip (small bars mostly selling cheap beer (head towards the bus station and turn right) and what the Big Ben strip (turn left just before the bottom and which at the end includes the restaurant La Buene Paella - which serves huge portions at low prices). A visit to Charlie’s (the first restaurant you will come to when you walk down the hill) offers good quality food at good prices and the Chinese Restaurant Mr Chen offers an all you can eat ‘a la carte’ (i.e. not a buffet) menu for less than €15.
Beyond this there are literally hundreds (if not thousands) of places to eat and sup. It’s clearly a matter of personal but choice but watching the sun go down from one of the bars just up from the promenade about 200 yards after you have gone through the tunnel (you’ll know this when you find it), takes some beating.
You will literally be able to find anything you might possibly want to eat here and with tremendous value and cheap booze too. Just be careful of happy hour and the sun!
Some bars have entertainment in the day time (Sunday afternoons at Leos near the bus station and every weekday afternoon over at Playa Fanabe. Locally the pubs tend to wind down around midnight: the all night and generally heavier action can usually be found at Veronica’s which is right in the middle of Playa de las Americas. Here is it not unusual to find people still ‘on it’ at 7 or 8 in the morning.
Nearly all of the pubs show live sport and some of the larger ones will usually find you a particular match that you alone may want to watch!
