Playa de las Américas (January 23rd-February 1st, 2024)
While we were in Los Gigantes, if we mentioned that our next destination was Arona, people would wrinkle their nose and say “touristy,” “crowded,” “noisy,” or worse. So, with some trepidation we taxied to the south of the island for our last eight days in Tenerife. We reminded ourselves that the best travel advice we were ever given was simply “embrace it!”
There are reasons that places become tourist attractions in the first place, things like natural beauty and good weather. This area has both with its seemingly endless stretches of sandy beaches and temperatures of 27 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit) pretty much year round. Those temperatures are a bit higher than in past decades, when the Canary Islands were known as the land of “eternal spring.”
We arrived at our lodging early (of course), stowed our luggage and headed for the sea walk. The sun was midday hot and the paseo was crowded with yes, tourists. We walked a bit and then ducked inside a cool restaurant/bar called Friends, where we enjoyed a salad and a beer. Prices were a little higher than in other parts of the island, but not outrageous. It wasn’t long before we were able to check into our nice rental apartment, which was part of the hotel complex Family Gardens Compostela Beach. As soon as we were settled, we headed to the pool for a refreshing swim. The water was heated, at least more so than our last place, and the desk area was very nice, complete with a bar for drinks and light meals.
It was easy to establish a holiday routine here. Every morning we walked for four miles along the Golden Mile. The beach coves are stunning and there are numerous hotels and apartment complexes. This stretch of the paseo is less congested than the Cristianos area, at least in January. The temperatures were perfect for walking in the morning. We passed several groups of surfers ranging from beginner lessons to advanced enthusiasts. We found a favorite café (Metropolis) to enjoy a coffee while watching the surfers.
The west coast of Tenerife is home to over 600 pilot whales. The deep Atlantic waters provide squid, their preferred food. It is easy to book a whale tour along the paseo. The boats leave from the Puerto Colón, about two miles from our apartment. We took a small catamaran tour, eight guests and our captain. The three hour cruise included a light lunch and the option of a swim offshore. Only one young man took advantage, the rest of us were contented with the sun and the breeze. We saw several pods of pilot whales a a couple of schools of dolphins. They came pretty close to the boat, but we mainly could view fins. We also got to view ” hippie beach,” a secluded set of caves above the sand, where people are supposedly living.
Some Scenes From Our Whale Boat Tour
A stroll to the Sunday market in Cristianos provided some great people watching. Young people were playing beach volleyball while the older crowd enjoyed petanque (bocce) tournaments. Street musicians and entertainers of every variety amuse the crowds for tips. An endless string of cafés and restaurants line the shore. The market itself has stalls selling every manner of items, minus produce. The island vacation vibe was in full swing.
There are so many dining options that choosing a place for dinner can be intimidating. We asked our host for recommendations and she gave us a number of good ones. Online reviews are also helpful. Canarian cuisine features good fresh seafood, small canarian potatoes, avocado salads, sweet pepper sauces, and every type of ethnic and international dishes. Prices in this area tended to be higher than in Los Gigantes and Santa Cruz, but still much lower than back home in Chicago. Our most memorable meals were at Mesón Castellano, Restaurante 2020, Indian BBQ, Garibaldi, and Pa’lante. Pa’lante was especially fun for us, as owner Jessica is American, and the only American we met on Tenerife.
The Golden Mile at night is a like a mini-version of the Las Vegas strip, with an Atlantic beach and without the casinos. There are a couple of gaming salons, but I don’t think that is the same thing at all. I can’t say for sure, because we didn’t go in. We enjoyed a cocktail on the rooftop of The Hard Rock Café. Several of the outdoor bars have live music and the fountains are colorfully lit. Unlike Vegas, most places shut down relatively early.
You may have noticed a haziness in many of the outdoor photos. La Calima is to blame. She blew in, literally, from the Sahara bringing sand particles to the skies of the Canary Islands. Many days we could not see the neighboring islands of La Gomera and El Hierro. It caused the air quality to be less than ideal. After a few days, things improved. We experienced La Calima two years ago when it actually went as far north as Madrid and was much thicker. (See my Madrid 2022 post)
We enjoyed our eight days in Playa de las Américas very much, much more than we expected to. Our time on Tenerife was a great experience, one we are grateful to have had. On our last night, we had to set a 3:00 AM alarm to make our 7:00 AM flight back to Madrid. Our Air B@B host drove us to Tenerife South Airport. The flight to Madrid was fine. From there, we took a taxi to Atocha Station where we had a long time to kill before our train to Malaga, then taxi to Estepona. We arrived in Estepona exhausted, but relieved to be there.
Thank you for reading my post. I hope you are inspired to experience Tenerife for yourself. Please know that my articles only reflect my own opinions and experiences. I am not paid to promote any businesses I might mention. Geri
Next: Adventures In The South of Spain Goes Home To Estepona (February 1- April 1, 2024)
Adventures In The South of Spain 