Here is a brief outline of some of the principal areas on the island.
The South
It has to be said that most people do migrate to the south of the island, mainly due to the fact that on average, it does receive more sunshine hours than the north.
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Los Cristianos: Thriving town, smaller and more compact than Playa de las Américas. Good shops and restaurants with good transport links. Also home to the main port in the south with connections to neighbouring islands. Important touristic area with predominantly apartments for sale in Los Cristianos.
Palm Mar: Big developments in recent years have converted this into a popular residential area, just around the corner from Los Cristianos. - Golf del Sur: As its name implies, this area lies around the Golf del Sur golf course with a good choice of villas, townhouses and apartments close to local bars and restaurants.
- El Médano: A beautiful natural beach gives this town a relaxed atmosphere, home to some of the best surfing and windsurfing conditions.
- Playa de las Américas: This is the tourism nucleus of the island and over the years has now spread out and created some very nice suburbia areas, such as Fañabé and La Caleta with some luxury apartment complexes being built together with the prestigious Costa Adeje Golf area where luxury private villas abound!
- Callao Salvaje: This is a self-contained town about 10 minutes drive from Playa de las Américas along the south-west coast. Lots of apartments and villa properties with a large ex-pat community. After 20 years in the making, the local beach eventually opened last year!
- Los Gigantes: Beautiful town on the far south-west coast overlooking the local port and the amazing cliffs. Mainly apartment complexes but with some very nice villas in the residential area of Crab Island. The town lies about 45 – 50 minutes away from the south airport.
The North
Quite a contrast to the south with a much greener landscape and a more Spanish way of life.
- Puerto de la Cruz: This is the main touristic area on the north coast and has a lovely cosmopolitan feel to it. Beautiful seafront promenade and home to the seafront lido of Lago Martiánez. Twenty minutes from the north airport and 1½ hr to the south airport.
- La Orotava & Los Realejos: These settle neatly behind Puerto de la Cruz amidst lush banana plantations with great views down to the coast. Predominantly Spanish residential areas.
- Santa Úrsula, La Matanza & La Victoria: Halfway along the north coast between Santa Cruz and Puerto de la Cruz, these Spanish residential towns have an elevated position with fantastic views over the north coast.
One thing is for sure, Tenerife is as diverse as it is beautiful – where else can you find golden sandy beaches, extensive pine forests, lunar landscapes and snowcapped mountains all wrapped up in a modern and sophisticated island whose average annual temperature rarely drops below 20º!