Ask any resident who has relocated to Tenerife; if they have any regrets and the usual reply is of course yes. They wish they had made the decision to move here sooner. The climate makes you happier, you smile more, you feel healthier, you are more active and in general, you get more out of life.
Largest of the Canary Islands, the island of Tenerife is situated 200 miles off the west coast of North West Africa. The island has a total land mass of 2,036 kilometres and is triangular in shape. Mount Teide (pronounced tay-dee) dominates the centre of the island standing at over 12,000 feet above sea level and is the highest point in Spain. A crown of forests surrounds its rugged slopes, which forms a scene of breathtaking beauty. Its majestic peak can be seen from all of the other Canary Islands.
The island is full of natural contrasts. Tenerife can be called an island of two sides; the north side and the south side. The north side coast being 'rougher,' with much more highly pronounced variations in altitude, refreshed and watered by the 'trade winds' hence the abundance of greenery and flowers. A mountain range 'The Dorsal Cordillera' runs practically the length of the island, from one end to the other-east to west. This acts as a natural barrier from the winds of the northeast giving the south side an arid rugged landscape, its mountain ridges descending gently from Las Cañadas del Teide to the sea. The south side basks in the sun's rays all year round. The island is a kaleidoscope of colours and ever-changing scenery, from lush banana plantations, almond trees, bougainvilleas, cacti and the beautiful stretlitsias-(the orange and blue Bird of Paradise flowers that grow all over Tenerife). There are mimosa, palm trees, pine covered hillsides and cool dark forests.
The contrasts of the islands are a myriad of attractive beach coves of exotic black volcanic sand to long stretches of golden beaches, from shady woodlands full of exuberant plant and wildlife to the solitude of a lunar landscape of Mount Teide's crater which gives it's name to the most visited national park in Spain and reveals why this area was chosen for scenes in the famous films such as Star Wars, Planet of the Apes and the Ten Commandments. The high altitude of Mount Teide can mean it can have a snow covering for up to three months, yet it is still possible to enjoy a swim or sun bathe at a beach within an hour's drive away. The best weather with more sunshine and higher temperatures are experienced by the coastal areas.