Spain: Tenerife

Overview

Tenerife is the largest and best known of the Canaries (2,053km2/793mi2) with a population of around 812,000 (the islanders are called Tinerfeños), including a large number of foreign residents. There’s intense rivalry between Tenerife and Gran Canaria, who have fought over the leadership of the islands for centuries. The capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, is a smaller, quieter and altogether nicer town than Las Palmas (Gran Canaria), although it isn’t much favoured by foreign homeowners. The island is home to the Canaries’ university at La Laguna, the island’s former capital. Tenerife is split in two by the mountains; the south is arid with sandy beaches, while the north is lush with banana trees and a dramatic, rugged coastline, ancient woodland and black sandy beaches in Taganana in the far north-east. Tenerife is noted for its wealth of natural beauty, rich sub-tropical vegetation, and an extraordinary range of flora and landscape. The Orotava Valley and Las Cañadas National Park are national treasures and include Spain’s highest mountain, the snow-capped Pico del Teide (3,718m/12,198ft).

The island is highly developed with many hotels and apartment complexes. The most popular resorts are along the west coast and include Playa de Las Américas, Puerto de la Cruz, Los Gigantes and Los Cristianos, while El Beril, Ouerto Santiago and Playa Paraiso are quieter. The beautiful Oratava valley was the centre of early tourism and remains popular with foreign residents. Tenerife offers a vast range of facilities and everything you could wish for from a popular holiday destination. New roads have vastly improved communications and the island has two airports. There are frequent year-round flights from the UK. The island is popular with holiday homeowners and also has numerous time-share developments. The property market is good, although the 9 per cent rise in prices in 2004 was one of the lowest in the country. Two-bedroom apartments start at €120,000 and three-bedroom at €150,000.

© Survival Books Limited 2005

“Buying a Home in Spain 2006” 5th Edition, David Hampshire.

Reproduced with the permission of Survival Books Limited.

Further information on this topic can be found in “Buying a Home in Spain 2006” 5th edition, by David Hampshire.

For extensive, annually updated information about buying a property in Spain, you can purchase this book at www.survivalbooks.net