It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

scotrock has another question ... "Where do you recommend most highly as a place to stay when visiting Tenerife? Where is that undiscovered gem?" He continues, "Last Xmas, I stayed in La Matanza. That was nice enough but I'd like to try somewhere else if I go there this Xmas. Do places in the Anaga get enough sun during the day in winter?"

There are many undiscovered gems in lots of parts of the island. It's funny, but some of them are right under your nose, in towns or next to something ugly! To find many them, I recommend you to grab a copy of my friends Jack and Andrea Montgomery's book, Real Tenerife Island Drives. Not just because they are friends, but because they surprised me by having found all manner of "hidden" things that most people don't know - and they're in the book.

Since you mention Christmas, however, I do have just one recommendation: Garachico, but make sure you stay until the night of January 5th to see the Three Kings Parade. Nowhere else on earth does this event (for kids of all ages) better, with the combination of real camels, the town's architecture, as well as the friendly atmosphere.

Garachico is close enough to explore the less well known Isla Baja area, with attractions including the village of Teno Alto, Punta de Teno, the El Palmar valley, the Teno Mountains and the Monte del Agua laurisilva forest.

Garachico hotels include the Hotel La Quinta Roja, where a room at the front of the hotel will give you a ringside seat over the seasonal festivities; the nearby Hotel San Roque  or the Hotel El Patio at the Finca Malpaís-El Guincho, just outside the village. All three are historic houses, dating from the 16th to 18th Centuries and, all three were built by the family of Garachico's founder, Cristóbal de Ponte.

Weather in winter can be changeable, but at sea level it's still generally warm enough for sunbathing and skies are often bluer and clearer in winter, making it better for taking sunny photos. Evenings should still be warm enough at Christmas to sit outside in just a cardigan or light jacket, thought it can get chilly - only down to 10C - in the Teno or Anaga mountains, at night.

If you have a question about Tenerife, don't be afraid to ask ...

Permalink | (1) Comments | Post a Comment

 scotrock wrote (on September 12, 2008 11:13 PM)  

Thanks Pamela, for the reply and information.

I should have tried to pick up a copy of "Real Island Drives" when I was there last Xmas but, somehow, finding the Englsih language bookstore wasn't a high priority. Unfortunately I was not able to stay till Jan 5th last year (and won't this year either).

I did drive along the north coast a bit; through the El Palmar valley on the way to Masca, and I poked my nose into the Hotel La Quinta Roja - I even bought a little statue there - that famous little guanche thingy.

The weather was perfect last Xmas - ten days of sun though it did get cool in the evening and a sweater was definitely needed at times.