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by Thomas Parnell
As the dark nights draw in and you wouldn’t dare leave the house without the protection of a long scarf and heavy winter coat memories of your summer beach vacation may feel like a million years ago.
But why wait six months to see the sun again? Sure it’s cold and dark at home, but pack your bags and head to the Canary Islands and soon you could be enjoying sun, sea and sand as you unwrap your Christmas presents.
If you want to go from snow to woah then it’s as easy as grabbing a couple of cheap flights to Tenerife and not forgetting to pack a swimming costume.
This sandy Canary Isle has an average winter temperature of 21˚C and about six hours of sunshine every day in which to enjoy it. A fantastic destination to take the whole family, Tenerife has something for everybody.
Where you may have to get up at 6am during the summer to get a decent spot on the beach the advantage of a winter holiday is that you miss the crowds and you will only be surrounded by others who are in the know.
If you like to get off the sun lounger once in a while and do something a bit more energetic then why not try some of the more adrenaline-fuelled activities which the island has to offer?
Hire a mountain bike to explore the incredible inland scenery, including the national park dominated by the impressive Teide Volcano. Alternatively, explore the waves at high pace on a pair of water skiis, or step inside a giant inflatable ball to take a more leisurely stroll across the surf.
Or even take the plunge and strap on some scuba gear to explore the rock pools of Puerto de Santiago, Playa San Juan or La Caletta. You can even hang out in an octopus’s garden by taking the submarine from Los Galletas’ harbour.
If you’re really looking for a challenge why not sign yourself up for a spot of Lucha Canaria (Canarian wrestling)? This energetic sport, often played on Tenerife’s volcanic sand beaches, involves the very simple premise of trying to make your opponent touch the floor with any part of their body except their feet, in other words it’s a legitimate method of trying to trip somebody up.
Should all this activity leaves you tuckered out you may want to head to the Hotel Bearitz Atlantis, which has all manner of pampering treatments, from a sauna and Turkish baths to an ice fountain and complimentary kids club, affording parents a couple of hours of well deserved peace.
When the out-of-season sun leaves you in need of a cool drink then the island’s Tacao Brewery has a wide variety of beers including a fruity banana brew and even one specially designed for parties. It even has an on-site bar where you can enjoy vibrant bands playing blues and jazz while you work your way through the drink selection.
Nothing can beat those winter blues quite like standing on a beach in shorts and shades in the middle of December, so why not give it a try?
Picture by palestrina55.
I’m going to Tenerife in a month, and good that I found this post, so that I will maybe going to be happy to see some winter sun….