The Loro Parque is opening a new centre in their amazing park. The attraction is called Katandra Treetops. and will open on the 24th of September.
The attraction is a high walkway through the forest. It is enclosed within an aviary. The bridge is over 27 metres high and within the trees there are over 100 species of birds form different species. The birds come from Australia and Asia. The sights and sounds of the Australian outback can be felt with the smell of the eucalyptus trees and the great expanse of vegetation which has been grown so you can feel you are in the jungle.
The park was designed by Greman architects and experts who brought their wide range of knowledge to Tenerife to built this amazing spectacle.
In the lower area there are pheasants and small wild birds will run around for you to see. There will be bridges towers and stairways to climb to view the whole area of the Katandra Treetops attraction.
To make this construction over 21 tonnes of stainless steel has been used and over 3000 square metres of netting. to give a 17,000 cubic metre area this is the same size as the Paris Opera house. Katandra Treetops was conceived as an addition to the great park.
The Loro Park has been open since 1972, they have a great parrot breeding programme with over 735 parrots born in the first 6 months of 2009. They have a wonderful conservation project helping to save endangered species.
Posted in: Excursions, Puerto de la Cruz, interest.
I could really like this exploring to tell you about exciting things in Tenerife This is especially true if I get to eat on 
the way.
We started out last Thursday with our little map wandering around Los Cristianos looking which food we fancied and where the restaurants were. The first we tried was a little out of the way place called Oops. 
These were great tapas. Definitely the best pincho (kebab) we saw. There were several scrummy prawns and squid lightly grilled
and a pancake with shellfish and a cream sauce.
After that we wandered up a street to the Restaurant Mama Mia where the tapas were smaller and instead of a drink we were given a bottle glass of water. What was offered to drink seemed to vary form place to place. There was always a glass of wine or a draft beer but for non drinkers the offer was usually a bottle of water. No problem but a small glass of water seemed a little mean.
These were the smallest tapas we were offered and the pastry was a little greasy. The one on the left is a crusty pastry filled with scallop and prawn with a La palma pepper sauce. The one on the right is kebab with eel and sweet potato.
Further down the same street we stopped at the restaurant Little Roma. The waiters here were really friendly and this was the best place we stopped. The tapas here were great we had prawns in a white wine, tomato and chilli pepper sauce and little peppers stuffed with prawns and cream of salmon.
After this we finished the evening in the Tasca Andaluza with deep fried Mussels and Octopus in oil and vinegar.
We went back on Saturday and started in the Tasca Casa Paco where the food was glorious and we ate it before we had a chance to take a photo (ok I forgot.) We then wandered back to the centre of town but a lot of the places were busy so we decided to eat in the restaurant Don Antonio who as well as having the tapas offer also have a special offer for 8 tapas for 16 euros.
I am not sure why the town hall ran this promotion but for us it certainly took us out of our comfort zone. We tried places we haven’t tried before and would go back to a few of them, also as we wandered we talked to other people who gave recommendations for new places. This was for us a great offer and I will be looking out next year to spend more time on the tapas trail.
Posted in: Arona, interest.
I love talking to people as you always learn new things.
It was brought to my attention last week that the island is being used as a centre for Dentist tourists. I was in the airport waiting for my other half to return from a trip and there waiting was my dentists assistant with a sign with someones name. I didn’t think anything of it but as we waited we got talking and she explained to me that they have lots of clients who come to Tenerife not only to have a holiday but to visit the dentist for work that needs doing as prices here are so much better than in mainland Europe.
My interest have been piqued I then searched the internet for this phenomena. It seems that this is now an important part of the dentist industry. Companies like Ouch my Tooth are offering this service all over Europe in countries from Spain (including Tenerife)in the west to Sweden in the north and Turkey in the east. Manuela who had work done in Tenerife said “I discovered the Smile Partner clinic in Tenerife, and I was very surprised and happy because I had already spent a fantastic holiday there. Smile Partner were thoroughly professional and exceeded my expectations. Not only did I get high class dental work done, but also the staff were excellent and kind, and put me at my ease. And all this for less than half the price it would have cost in the UK. Even with the cost of the flights and accommodation, you are still saving lots of money.”
Without doubt people should be careful before entering into this but it is an interesting interpretaion of the open borders in Europe. It is a great addition to Tenerife’s client base as these are clients who will come back year after year just to make their dental appointments
Posted in: interest.
Tagged: dentistry · Tenerife
For the second year running Arona town council are having a gastronomic trail of tapas through Los Cristianos. For three Euros you can try a tasty tapa and a drink in 20 different bars and restaurants.
Check the link for the brochure here
We will be out trying as many as possible.
This promotion runs from the 1st of September to the 14th of September every night from 6pm to 11pm.
Posted in: Arona.
Tagged: Los Cristianos · september · tapas
It has been announced that this year Adeje has been given 3 blue flag beaches. The Beaches are: Fañabe, Troya 1 and Troya 2
Other beaches on the Island which have been granted this flag include: In the north, Playa Jardin in Puerto de la Cruz, el Soccorro in Los Realejos. In the south El Medano, Las Vistas in Los Cristianos and Playa de Las Arenas Negras in Puerto Santiago. Spain has in total493 beaches with blue flags and 78 marinas.
The criteria for Blue Flag Beaches include:
1) Environmental Education and Information
2) Water Quality
3) Environmental Management
4) Safety and Services
Some criteria are imperative (I), some are guideline (G) and some are non-applicable (NA) for certain regions. All imperative requirements have to be fulfilled, and in addition a maximum number of guideline criteria.
All Blue Flags are only awarded for one season at a time.
If some of the imperative criteria are not fulfilled during the season or the conditions change, the Blue Flag will be withdrawn.
Posted in: Adeje, Arona, Beaches and sea.
Tagged: Adeje · blue flag beach · Los Cristianos · Medano
Santiago Del Teide have a sea clean up day on the 29th of August. This is the fifth year running they have held this event. The town hall will be assisted by staff from IDECO a Government run company and by as many volunteers as possible.
The activity begins at 10 am in Los Gigantes harbour. The project will then visit all the small bays along the Acantilados up to Teno. The aim of the project is to clean away all solid rubbish that is found on the coast and in the edge of the shore along the edges of the western side of the Island.This will be done by collectors and divers to clear under the seas.
It needs to be kept in mind that last year there was almost a ton of rubbish collected. This sort of project not only keeps the beaches and seas cleared but the act in itself reminds people not to throw things into the seas.
Helping with the project will be several groups including the firemen from Santiago del Teide, who themselves are volunteers, members of the Punta Blanca Surf club and the AEA. Anyone who want to help can find out more information phoning the Tourist office on 922860 348 between 8am and 2pm.
When you think how long some of the items found in the sea take to degrade it is a worthwhile project. Some examples are:
- Plastic rings: 400 years
- Cardboard boxes: 2 months
- Kitchen towel: 2 to 4 weeks
- Plastic bottles: 450 years
Posted in: Beaches and sea.
Tagged: clean up project · Los Gigantes · sea
The town hall in Adeje have announced that they will be investing 946,859 Euros in improving the sea front area from Pueblo Canario where the hotel Gran Tinerfe is to Puerto Colon the pleasure harbour. The work will be carried out by the company Dragados y Construcciones and will start any day and should take 8 months to complete. The money was put up by the Coastal government who actually own all the coastline in Spain.
The mayor stated that Adeje is insistent on improving the location so that the whole area can become the best tourist centre. The this is a time to make investment in the local infrastructure to improve the area and consequently Costa Adeje as a holiday destination. That improvements such as this walk way will without doubt add value to the area as a whole. In any case in present times he feels the tourist industry is holding up and even producing better results than other industries. ( Certainly better than the construction and car industry but that isn’t hard. – Sorry that was me speaking)
The Tourist minister commented that tour operators and tavel agents have requested that the resort be renovated. That when there are works it is difficult as it creates complaints but that the work was being carried out by a very serious and efficient company. He asked at the same time that everyone was patient during the time that the work takes place.
They also commented that several other areas need renovating not just the streets but the buildings as well. (Arona has done a great job forcing the owners of units in the Veronicas and Starko to renovate and update their facilities)
The work will be carried out in sections as each section will need to be completely closed during the project as the path is not wide enough to keep a section open.
The tourism minister commented that the closing of the area will allow time for the bars, restaurants and shops along there to refurbish and meet required aesthetic standards. That can’t be a bad thing as some of those units look really grotty. Part of the work will remove the stairs at either end and replace them with ramps. The whole thing should look very attractive when it is finished and I look forward to seeing it.
Posted in: Adeje, Beaches and sea.
Tagged: adeje playa de las americas · geranimum walk · improvements · walkway
The Original Tenerife water park , Aqualand has a new dolphin. The dolphin was born last week, it weighed 15 kilos and is 150cm long. It was born on the 12th of August after a 52 week gestation. The birth took 3 hours and both mother and baby are well. Yemaya the mother has given birth before and this is her second baby.
The park Aqualand Costa Adeje has recently been recognised by the European association of Aquatic mammals as the premier centre for dolphin reproduction. The park has 100% record in dolphin births and has the highest number of births. The reproductive cycle in dolphins is 3 to 5 years. Aqualand has had 11 births in thirteen years.
Aqualand Costa Adeje has been participating in the reproduction programme for Aquatic mammals and is considered on of the most equipt dolphin centres in Spain. The dolphins have a vet at their disposition in case they need on and a team of trainers and specialists to attend their needs 24 hours a day.
Last year in September one of the local tour boats Flipper Uno actually managed to photograph a dolphin giving birth on the high seas. This is regarded as the first time this has been recorded and was a rare event. You can read about it here
Posted in: Beaches and sea, Excursions.
I can remember the Hotel Gran Tinerfe even as a small child oh so many years ago. We always stopped there and the Hotel Princess Dacil on the bus from the North airport when we travelled with Freddie Laker (now I have shown my age). This was on our way to Los Gigantes and the whole trip too about 4 hours so you can imagine the roads. The motorway stopped after the tunnel in Guimar.
The hotel is part of the history of tourism in the south of the Island and was a great example to other hotels built later in the area. It is 40 year old building that represents everything that is good about Tenerife. Named for the last king in Tenerife before the Island was conquered by the Spanish, Tinerfe el Grande. The land was purchased in 1969 by Cándido Ruiz García San Juan and he invested 20 million old pesetas, the pool area was designed by Cesar Manrique the architect. The chain has been managed by the H10 group since 1994 and they have constantly upgraded the place but this is the most important upgrade in the history of the hotel.
The changes in the holiday market have meant that its managers H10 a big chain with several hotels in Tenerife have decided that a refurbishment was in order. Rafael Dolada the hotels Manager have been in charge of the refurb and has made sure that all the work has been to the hotels high standard. The hotel has a high percentage of repeat clients and they are demanding in their requirements which the work will fulfil. It was shut between the 20th of April to the end of July which has permitted them to almost create a new hotel. Many areas have been reformed and a new Chill Out Terrace has been built. The result Dolado claims “will be positive, we have built a product which ill make clients want to return year after year. Many of our staff have been with the hotel more than 25 years and they are appreciated by the management which makes for a great future.
As well as the new Chill Out Terrace the reception area has been enlarged and updated. The hotel retains its old charm but has an updated look about itself
All the restaurant furniture has been replaced and the new furniture is a style fitting the new themes of the hotel.
Posted in: Uncategorized.
The Canarian government have announced that they will be spending 2 million Euros to renew and regenerate the Beach front area of Costa Silencio. The work which will be centred on the 2 kilometer area between Avenida José Antonio Tavío and Calle Diana, the whole area is going to be made into a pedestrian area. The pavements will be enlarged and there will be single traffic lanes which will reduce traffic and even better reduce the speed the traffic circulates. They will also set up automatic watering systems and improved drains to improve the areas water supply. This will not only improve the areas visual impression but will make the lives of the people who live there better too.
Rita Martín speaking for Consejería de Turismo stated that the work in Costa Silencio will allow the Island to recover one of the Islands oldest and most important centres. She underlined the importance of working together. That the Island government, the town halls and local businesses need to work together to meet their common aims. To improve the images of the Islands as centres of excellence for holidays. She also stated that the money invested will not only improve the quality of the tourists stay but will also improve the quality of life for the people who live here.
Posted in: Arona, Beaches and sea.
The Loro Parque is opening a new centre in their amazing park. The attraction is called Katandra Treetops. and will open on the 24th of September.
