TENERIFE is the largest island in the Canaries archipelago, and probably the one with the most varied of landscapes. At its centre it is dominated by the extinct volcano of Mt Teide, and the natural park that surrounds it is a paradise for walkers, birdwatchers and lovers of nature. The purity or the air on the mountain slopes is astounding.

Around the coastline, there are many broad sandy beaches as well as steep rocky cliffs with commanding views. While some of the beaches have been turned into the well-known lively resorts like Los Cristianos, there are a multitude of quieter places offering more low-key facilities or even total solitude.

The fertile valleys are important regions for growing bananas and these offer verdant green vistas for those who venture into the countryside. Elsewhere there are areas of semi-desert and monumental rock formations created by the wind.