Tenerife (Canary Islands)

Tenerife, one of Spain’s idyllic Canary Islands is located in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of North Africa.

It’s known for its perfect climate and incredibly diverse natural landscape ranging from jet-black volcanic beaches and formidable cliffs to deserts and lush green rain forests.

Some of the best beaches and most vibrant nightlife can be found in the south of the island. The other Canary Islands include: La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. All are vastly different from each other in terms of landscape and culture.

Background (Canary Islands)

The Canaries are over 600 miles south of Spain yet just 70 miles off the coast of Africa.

The islands are mountainous and mostly volcanic. The archipelago’s highest peak is located on Tenerife. Mount Teide reaches up to a staggering 12,198-feet (3,718-metres).

The mild and healthy climate produces fertile soil and crops that include numerous types of fruit and flowers as well as many grain and vegetables.

The inhabitants of these islands are a mixed of Spanish and Guanche - the mysterious blond-haired race who originally lived here. Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands and has the most pleasant climate. Last year temperatures averaged 21.8C, warmer than any of the other islands.

Tenerife Climate

Often referred to as the “Island of Eternal Springtime”, Tenerife boasts a warm balmy climate all year long with almost non-stop sunshine. The water temperatures remain luke-warm even in the middle of winter. Air temperatures range from a cosy 24C in summer to a refreshing 15C in winter.

The sunniest parts of the islands are generally in the coastal areas. The south is slightly hotter than the north.

Landscape

Tenerife is an island of stark contrasts. The south of the island is dry and desert-like whereas in the north, the landscape is lush green and often quite humid. Driving just a few kilometres, one can see vast differences in Tenerife’s climate and landscape.

Probably its most striking feature is Mount Teide - the highest mountain in Spain. Nowhere on the island can you escape its omnipresent gaze. Often snow-capped in winter and spring, its icy peaks contrast dramatically with the beaches packed full of sunbathers and swimmers just a few kilometres below.

Los Gigantes - “the Giants” are another formidable icon of Tenerife’s unique landscape. These massive cliffs are located on the west coast of the island and draw in thousands of awestruck visitors every year.

As well as the many black volcanic sand beaches, Tenerife has a number of fine white sandy beaches.

Property and Tourism

Owing largely to their climate and proximity to mainland Europe, the Canary Islands are one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. Tenerife is by far one of the best known and popular of the island group.

Not only does it attract massive numbers of tourists every year, it also has a large and growing expat community of English, Irish, German and Dutch, amongst other nationalities. Tenerife is seen as more than a two-week “fun-in-the-sun” holiday location, it’s a genuine place to live, with an excellent quality of life.

Properties on Tenerife are significantly cheaper than similar tourist destinations on mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands. The majority of the estate agents speak English (and other languages) so the language barrier is rarely an issue.

Where Tenerife and the other Canary Islands stand out from the rest of Spain and mainland Europe is through property rental yields. With genuine sunshine and warmth all year long, it’s literally permanent peak season - a dream come true for any buy-to-let investor.