Something for the weekend: Arona Hillclimb

We often moan that there's not enough notice of events in Tenerife; that the local town halls don't publicise them ... and then they do, but it doesn't exactly help. Sigh!

Both Arona town hall and the tourism authorities published information some time ago (it's probably since been changed, but not been updated) that the Subida Arona - La Escalona (Arona - La Escalona Hillclimb) was taking place last weekend. This was picked up by other sources and, to be fair, it's hard to see why one would doubt them on face value.

But then, you can never take anything at face value when it comes to Tenerife!

However, crucially, the racing team website (event timetable PDF) and the rally federation in Tenerife (2018 rally calendar PDF) both list the event as taking place on Saturday 20 October 2018 and this date was echoed in September by the motor sport press.

Subida Arona 2017

Countdown to Carnival: Ritmo y Armonía Comparsa - Los Cariocas

The comparsas give you the spirit of carnival and while the galas, the opening parade and the main parade are all well known events, one you may have missed out on is the Ritmo y Armonía (Rhythm and Harmony) Comparsas Contest that takes place on the Saturday night of carnival that next year will take place on Saturday, 2 March 2019.

Here is just one of the comparsas from carnival earlier this year.

Most Santa Cruz carnival events are televised via RTVE or RTVC, locally, nationally and internationally or recordings may be found on the CarnavalTVC Youtube channel.

All events are liable to change beyond our control.

Los Cariocas | Ritmo y Armonía | SC de Tenerife 2018

Something for the weekend: Romería de Adeje

In what is the last of this type of traditional fiesta for this year, the town and municipality of Adeje celebrates its annual Romería de Adeje this Sunday, 14 October 2018.

In the pilgrimage of Adeje there are romeros and romeras of all ages dressed in the traditional costumes of each of the towns of Tenerife and the Archipelago; ribbon dancers from El Hierro, shepherds with their dogs, goats and sheep, the traditional carts pulled by oxen, riders and vehicles decorated with rural motives that give this occasion an authentic and individual flavor.

From the early hours of the morning, visitors and participants can enjoy the Cattle Fair. Around 11 o'clock in the morning, participants and the curious come to the Church of Santa Úrsula to attend the traditional Misa Romera.

The procession then leaves from the Plaza del Cerco, along the Calle Grande arriving at the Church of Santa Úrsula, where floral, fruit and vegetable offerings are made and delivered to the most needy families of the municipality. This act will feature musical and artistic performances.

It is a very participative day and one that is always lived with great joy and hospitality.

Romería Adeje 2017

Countdown to Carnival: Candidate for Carnival Queen in 2018, Itahisa

Itahisa García Castedo | Gala de elección de la Reina | SC de Tenerife 2018

As we count down to carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2019, let's take a last look at one of the candidates for carnival queen in 2018 and her magnificent costume.

The gala to elect the Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2019 is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 27 February 2019. The inauguration takes place on 1 February 2019 and carnival takes to the streets on 1 March 2019.

All dates are liable to change beyond our control. 

To ensure you see posts as we count down to Tenerife Carnival 2019, subscribe to our news feed, Subscribe to Secret Tenerife by Email or like and follow our facebook page.

Tenerife's Public Holidays for 2019

The Canarian Government approved the calendar of public holidays for 2019, which amount to 14 days, nine of which are National holidays and are as follows:

– 1 January (Año Nuevo/New Year) 
– 7 January (Epifanía del Señor/Epihany - the Monday in leiu)
– 2 February (Tenerife’s own day to honour patron Virgen de la Candelaria)
– 18 April (Jueves Santo/Easter Thursday)
– 19 April (Viernes Santo/Easter Friday) 
– 1 May (Fiesta del Trabajo/Workers’ Day)
– 30 May (Día de Canarias/Canaries Day)
– 15 August (Asunción de la Virgen/Assumption)
– 12 October (Fiesta Nacional de España/Spain Day)
– 1 November (Todos los Santos/All Saints Day)
– 6 December (Día de la Constitución Española/Constitution Day)
– 25 December (Natividad del Señor/Christmas Day)

Nine of those are "fixed" National Fiestas, two are decided at regional level in the Canary Islands, then each island also has an additional day of it’s own, which in Tenerife’s case is 2 February for Candlemass – for the island’s patron’s day, the Virgen de la Candelaria, bringing the number of public holidays in 2019 to 12. Each municipality will then declare a further 2 local days (details to follow), making the total of 14. 

(The Inmaculada Concepción (Immaculate Conception) on 8 December, isn't a public holiday in 2019 as it already falls on a Sunday.)   

Official version download PDF

Something for the weekend: Tamaimo Hillclimb

Saturday 6 October 2018 and the rally action is back with the annual Subida de Tamaimo (Tamaimo Hillclimb).

Subida de Tamaimo 2017

Tenerife Fiestas in October 2018

12 de Octubre, Fiesta Nacional

On 12 October each year the Fiesta Nacional de España (Spanish National Day), also known as Dia de la Hispanidad (Hispanic Day) is celebrated across Spain and the Canary Islands. The day is also celebrated to commemorate the arrival of Columbus in the Americas. Since 2000, October 12 has also been Spain's Day of the Armed Forces, celebrated each year with a military parade in Madrid. It is a public holiday.

There are the following Municipal Public Holidays in Tenerife in October:

8 Oct 18 - Festival of Santísimo Cristo de la Salud in Arona
15 Oct 18 - Festival of Santa Úrsula in Adeje
22 Oct 18 - Festival of Santísimo Cristo del Calvario in El Tanque
22 Oct 18 - Festival of Santa Úrsula - Santa Úrsula
25 Oct 18 - Festival of Nuestra Señora de Los Remedios in Buenavista del Norte

Image: Cristina Cifuentes Some rights reserved

Countdown to Carnival: Ritmo y Armonía Comparsa - Los Rumberos

The comparsas give you the spirit of carnival and while the galas, the opening parade and the main parade are all well known events, one you may have missed out on is the Ritmo y Armonía (Rhythm and Harmony) Comparsas Contest that takes place on the Saturday night of carnival that next year will take place on Saturday, 2 March 2019.

Here is just one of the comparsas from carnival earlier this year.

Most Santa Cruz carnival events are televised via RTVE or RTVC, locally, nationally and internationally or recordings may be found on the CarnavalTVC Youtube channel.

All events are liable to change beyond our control.

Los Rumberos | Ritmo y Armonía | SC de Tenerife 2018

Puerto for Virgins: 10. Summing Up

The insiders' guide to Puerto de la Cruz

Puerto de la Cruz is the oldest tourist destination in the Canary Islands and was one of the first places in the world to attract the burgeoning international tourist trade from the late 18th Century. The town started out life as a fishing port though and still retains some of the charm in the old quarters of the town and is so much more than just a beach resort.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this series, despite spending 16 years on the island, I don't know Puerto de la Cruz anywhere near as well as my friends, Jack and Andy Montgomery, who lived there for more than a decade. And in the video above we hear from them directly and get their top five recommendations for things in Puerto de la Cruz.

We agree on four of those things, all of which I've already covered in previous instalments of this series. Glad that they put the Botanical Gardens at number one and it's been interesting, while researching, to keep discovering that places we've found and liked best around Puerto de la Cruz are often the same ones they recommend. Great minds, eh?

Town & City Guides:- Puerto de la
Cruz, Tenerife’s Cultured Resort

If you'd like to, you can buy Jack and Andy's Town & City Guides:- Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife’s Cultured Resort, for a measly €3, which gives you much more info on the town with a 1 hour 17 minute tour of the town, plus up to 5 hours of garden strolling.

Of course I've got to mention the one recommendation we don't agree on: the Loro Parque. Loro means parrot, which is what it began as and once had a fantastic reputation for doing wonderful work to save species. However, over the years it has become a massive theme park and zoo with the addition of a dolphin show, sea lions, penguins, a white tiger and countless other things I can't even remember. They also now have orcas (killer whales) and this is where things begin to get controversial, with the recent announcements by Thomas Cook that they would cease to offer Loro Parque tickets while killer whales are captive.

Whatever your opinion on that, it is quite an expensive day out (at time of writing, from £33 per adult), the park covers 33 acres, so it would take some considerable time, energy and effort to do it justice. Personally, if you only have one week in Puerto de la Cruz, it would take up such a huge proportion of your time and you may not think that would be the best use of it - much better, in my opinion, to see something native to Tenerife. (Loro Parque is advertised everywhere in Puerto though, so it would be easy to be tempted.)

We've already covered visits and an excursion that I feel are worth doing, but if you did have more time, then I would recommend visiting the town of La Orotava (it isn't far uphill from Puerto), Garachico, The Teide National Park and the village of Masca.

All of the areas I've mentioned are perfectly safe with normal precautions. Keep handbags in front of you or under your arm, and keep wallets in front, rather than back pockets.

Finally, here are a few more links to useful information about Puerto de la Cruz:

• A Comprehensive Guide to Puerto de la Cruz
• Visitors' Guide to Puerto de la Cruz
• Information on Puerto de la Cruz from the Tourism Council
• Puerto de la Cruz, Spain Weather averages

Puerto de la Cruz Tenerife Canary Islands

Above all, enjoy!

Countdown to Carnival: Candidate for Carnival Queen in 2018, Saida

Saida Prieto Hernández | Gala de elección de la Reina | SC de Tenerife 2018

As we count down to carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2019, let's take a last look at one of the candidates for carnival queen in 2018 and her magnificent costume.

The gala to elect the Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2019 is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 27 February 2019. The inauguration takes place on 1 February 2019 and carnival takes to the streets on 1 March 2019.

All dates are liable to change beyond our control. 

To ensure you see posts as we count down to Tenerife Carnival 2019, subscribe to our news feed, Subscribe to Secret Tenerife by Email or like and follow our facebook page.