Weather Forecast for Tenerife from 29 February to 6 March

Mainly sun and some cloud.

We’re into the period where the seasons start to change which can bring mixed weather conditions. However, the outlook for the coming week is pretty good with mainly sunshine forecast, although there will be varying levels of cloudy spells in all areas throughout the week. Best for sunshine should be the south west. Temperatures are typical for this time of year, feeling cool in the shade but warm in the sun. Sunday could be a gloomy day most places with rain looking likely everywhere although the north looks best for some sunshine during the day.

Weather Forecast for Tenerife from 29 February to 6 March

Legends Live in Arona

Legends Live en Arona

Dates and line up for the first in a series of extrordinary Legends Live TF concerts at Pirámide de Arona, with UB 40 on Friday, 18th March (already SOLD OUT); Alan Parsons Live Project on Friday, 22nd April and Jethro Tull on Friday, 20th May.

Support acts for each of the concerts will be Canarian artists of the same musical style. UB40 are being supported by local reggae band, Ruts & La Isla Music from La Laguna.

There will be a total of seven concerts in 2016, with the final four in July, September, October and November, according to the Legends Live website where you can get more details, book tickets, etc. As the report points out, "The location of the shows, in the south of Tenerife, makes them especially attractive for visitors and foreign residents, who usually have no opportunity to enjoy Anglo-Saxon artists of this level."

Legends Live en Arona

Craft Fairs in Tenerife 2016

Traditional Tenerife crafts: hand-made baskets from the El Palmar valley.

Locals (and no doubt many visitors too) often spend summers following the various romeria's and traditional fiestas around Tenerife; rally fans will follow those events around the island, etc. Craft Fairs - many of which are linked to local fiestas and are also annual events (especially the annual Los Reyes Craft Fair) - seem to be very popular, if the number of people visiting the posts about them is anything to go by. Clearly missed the one in Los Silos that was part of the Fiestas of San Antonio Abad in January (unless you went, of course), but here are the places and dates of all the craft fairs in Tenerife in 2016 (including Los Reyes Crafts Fair 2017), so you can follow these too!

WHERE	WHEN
Los Silos	17th January
Arafo	12th – 13th March
Icod de los Vinos	9th April
Santa Cruz de Tenerife	May*
Alcalá	30th May
Santa Úrsula	30th May
Granadilla de Abona	4th – 5th June
Arguayo (Santiago del Teide)	July*
Garachico	2nd – 3rd July
El Tanque	7th August
Vilaflor	August*
Buenavista del Norte	21st August
Pinolere	2nd – 4th September
Guía de Isora	11th September
Arico	17th September
Tacoronte	25th September
La Matanza	October*
Santa Úrsula	12th October
Adeje	14th – 15th October
La Victoria	November*
Santa Cruz (Xmas & Los Reyes)	2nd – 5th January 2017

* Dates to be confirmed. (We'll post details as or if we get them.)

Listado de Ferias Municipales de Tenerife 2016
Via: Arts and crafts fairs in Tenerife in 2016

New Dates for Los Gigantes Carnival 2016

Work being carried out on the scenery for Los Gigantes Carnival 2016

Owing to the bad weather last weekend, the events of Los Gigantes Carnival had to be postponed, but the town hall in Santiago del Teide have now announced that the carnival will take place on the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th of March, with events following the same schedule as before. Therefore, the new programme will be as follows:

Friday, 4th March: Gala for the Election of the Carnival Queen from 9 pm in the Plaza Buganvilla, afterwards, dancing to the Orquesta The Boys Machine.

Saturday, 5th March: Kid's activities (bouncy castles, workshops and performances) from 11 am in the Plaza Buganvilla. Performance by local group, Tío Franklin, from 8:30 pm and dancing to the Orquestas Arguayo Band and Maracaibo from 11 pm.

Sunday, 6th March: from 11:30 am until 1:30 pm in the Plaza Bouganvilla, the first edition of CarnaCan - the dog's carnival! Yep, dress up your mutt! There will be a procession and prizes for finalists of the best costumes. The Gran Coso Apoteósico (Carnival Main Parade) takes place from 5 pm, with dancing to the Orquesta Maquinaria Band from 8:30 pm.

Monday, 7th March: Entierro de La Sardina (Burial of the Sardine) from 9 pm, with it's usual funeral procession, followed by the customary fireworks display and dancing to Arguayo Band.

UPDATED: Programa del Carnaval de Los Gigantes 2016
Photo: Carnaval Acantilados de Los Gigantes

Something for the weekend: Totally Crustaceous Surf Tour

Bajamar with Punta del Hidalgo in the distance.

Something for surf dudes and the kids this weekend with Volcom’s Totally Crustaceous Tour (TCT) at Punta Hidalgo on Tenerife's north east coast.

The TCT surf events are free to enter and have 5 divisions to choose from: Squids (10 and under), Groms (13 and under), Juniors (16 and under), men’s Pro-Am (20 and under), and Girls (20 and under), age is based off August 1st 2015.

On top of the good times, there will be free food, tons of prizes to win from VOLCOM, JAM TRACTION, ELECTRIC, MATTA SHAPES, BUBBLEGUM WAX and a cash prize for the Pro-Am winner and Junior winner at selected events. An Air division (all ages) will be run at some locations depending on the conditions.

As the past season, European surfers will qualify and win tickets to compete to the 2016 Volcom TCT Global Championships at the world-class wave of Lower Trestles, California, in June 14-17, 2016 (prize purse and live webcast TBC).

All dates are subject to change; go to volcom.com for details and updates, past events videos, photos and results. Even if you don't take part, it could be great fun to watch.

Via: Lavafish Surf Series Tenerife 27 y 28 de febrero



Photo: See page for author [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Other events in Tenerife this weekend include:

Meanwhile, in Candelaria their carnival should reach it's climax this weekend with the Main Parade from 7:30pm this evening, Friday, 26th February. And on Sunday, 28th February, they have their Carnaval de Día starting at 11 am and Entierro de la Sardina (Burial of the Sardine) from 7 pm from the Plaza de la Patrona de Canarias.

Whilst in Buenavista del Norte on Saturday, 27th February they're holding their first Carrera Nocturna Parkinson Tenerife (Nocturnal Race in aid of Parkinson's Disease), starting from the Plaza de los Remedios. Inscription has already ended, but I'm sure both the worthy cause and the runners themselves would be grateful for any support.

Granadilla de Abona's Pirate-themed carnival has its main parade on Saturday, 27th February, from 5 pm, with the parade in El Médano on Sunday, 28th February, also from 5 pm. Programa del Carnaval Pirata en Granadilla de Abona

All events subject to change and to the whims of the weather. Various carnival events have already been postponed to next weekend. More details if we get them.

Snow needed and other stories in Tenerife this week

El Medano Sea View

It’s been roasting!
The highest temperature in Spain was recorded here in Tenerife at an amazing 30º – only the second time this Millennium that January has hit that mark – on 15th January at Tenerife South airport. Thus, it comes as no surprise to locals that January 2016 was the warmest opening month of the year ever in Tenerife.

Snow needed to help ease the water crisis
OUR dry winter is starting to cause some real problems. And the big concern is that it will not be a one-off event. This week, the Canary Islands Government began a testing phase for new desalination plants in Guia de Isora and Granadilla, which has been welcomed widely, especially by the agricultural and livestock sector.

(I think their prayers were probably answered in full and some!)

First Canarian underwater photo competition
Are you a photographer? An underwater photographer? If so, this very first Canary Islands Dive Photo Challenge run by the tourism authorities of photos taken in Canarian waters could be for you! The competition, with prizes of up to €6,000, is for professionals and amateurs, and will be open to online entries until 19 May. 

Happy ending to Tenerife holiday theft saga thanks to kindness of strangers from Finland
One of our favourite places to visit is Masca, where the road into the village is a series of hairpin bends. On our way out, we stopped at a viewing area while my wife went to take some photos. During the few minutes we were there my wife’s purse was stolen from inside her handbag which was in the locked car, while I was never more than 10 yards from the car.

Arona Builds For The Future With Lego
Back in the age of Stickle Bricks and jigsaws, Lego was king, kids could knock up an impressive house complete with a vaulted roof before you could say planning permission. My efforts would have been a source of amusement to the little pig that thought straw was a sturdy basis for a construction project. The First Lego League, now an annual fixture in Arona makes me feel like a dinosaur but the enthusiasm, imagination, and skill of the budding builders augers well for the future of the Canary Islands.

Improved EHIC service for British pensioner expats
The Healthcare in Spain team have announced an improved service for British pensioner expats, who are entitled to a UK EHIC. They can now call 0044 191 279 0575 to renew their EHIC, whether it has just expired, or if stolen or lost. It is also the number to call to get an application forms for the first EHIC.

Third Maratón Internacional Santa Cruz de Tenerife 6 November
It has been a resounding success on its first two runs, and this year’s Maratón Internacional Santa Cruz de Tenerife has now been announced for Sunday, 6 November. As in previous years, the race will be divided into three different length courses, of 8, 21 and 42 km, all passing through or by the city’s main squares and monuments.

Tasteful Tapas, Review of El Ayanto in La Orotava
El Ayanto is one of the new breed of Canarian restaurants; the décor is modern and sleek with stylishly tasteful calming colour schemes. There’s also enough traditional tasca ingredients and personal touches so as to not feel cool and over stylised. It’s chic and contemporary but still has that particularly friendly casual Canarian vibe we love in restaurants in traditional areas of Tenerife.

Traditional Fiestas in El Rosario

Casa Forestal (Forestry House) de La Esperanza

El Rosario is a municipality in the northeastern part of the island of Tenerife in the Santa Cruz de Tenerife province, on the Canary Islands, Spain. The seat of the municipality is the town La Esperanza, in the mountainous interior of the island.

Fiesta in honour of San Amaro, Santa Lucía y San Sebastián: On the Sunday after 15th January in Machado.
Fiesta in honour of San Isidro Labrador and Santa María de la Cabeza: in El Chorillo on the Sunday nearest to 15th May. (This fiesta dates back to 1916, so celebrates it's centenary in 2016.)
Fiesta de San Juan: with the traditional bonfires on the night of 23rd June in Tabaiba and on the Playa de La Nea.
Exaltación de la Santa Cruz and romería del Santo Hermano Pedro: in Llano del Moro on the 1st Sunday of July.
Romería de Nuestra Señora de La Esperanza: 1st Sunday in August 
Nuestra Señora del Carmen: 16th July in Boca Cangrejo, Radazul and Varadero 
Nuestra Señora del Rosario: 7th October
Nuestra Señora de los Dolores: 2nd Sunday of October in Las Rosas, Lomo Pelado and Las Barreras

Fiestas populares en el municipio de El Rosario

Photo by Martely|Noemi M. M. - Trabajo propio, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Find and book a hotel in El Rosario

The Weather in El Rosario, Tenerife

Big Snows on Mount Teide Tenerife

With the big snows of the last week, there were reports of the Guardia Civil skiing in the Teide National Park and here is the proof. It was their Equipo de Rescate en Intervención en Montaña (EREIM) (Mountain Rescue and Intervention Team) having fun making their rounds to evaluate the situation last Friday. Definately think they've done this before.

Via: Isla de Tenerife Vívela

And here are some spectacular images of the snow at the El Teide Parador, Roques de García and Llano Ucanca.

Provisional 2016 Tenerife Rally Calendar

From the Palma Canaria Norte Rally in the El Palmar Valley

Rallies in Tenerife may not be strictly traditional, but they've certainly become an important tradition and Tenerife definately does them differently than anywhere else. One of these days, no doubt, they'll spoil it by invoking the safety elf, but for now, they offer a wonderful opportunity to watch some thrilling, live motor-sport, free of charge, right by the side of the road, completely unhindered by barriers or anything silly like that.

As previously reported, the dates for the 26th Adeje Rally, on the 18th, 19th & 20th March, are confirmed, but here is the rest of the (currently draft) rally programme for 2016:

Date	Rallies	Hill Climbs
19th March	Adeje
5th March 2nd April [1]		El Tanque
9th April CANCELLED		Las Mercedes
30th April CANCELLED		Valle Tabares
14th May	Orvecame Norte
11th June		Güímar
25th June	Granadilla
30th July		Guía de Isora
10th September	Sprint Atogo
17th September [2]		La Guancha
1st October		Tamaimo
8th October		Arona
15th October	Isla Tenerife
26th November		Arico

[1] The El Tanque Hillclimb, which was to have started the season on March 5th, has already been rescheduled for April 2nd, according to this report, which also suggests that [2] the La Guancha Hillclimb could be postponed to November and that there are likely to be route changes to the Orvecame Norte Rally taking place in May.

Source: FIASCT - Federación Interinsular de Automovilismo de Tenerife (PDF)

Fans may also like to download the phone app (iOS/Android) A Todo Motor.

Weather Forecast for Tenerife from 22 to 28 February

Library image of Teide with snow, taken from the north

It should be a much better week on Tenerife with everywhere experiencing weather patterns which are more or less the same. It should be mainly sunny during the first half of the week although Friday could be cloudy in a few places. The sun will be back for the weekend but there will also be a good chance of rain everywhere. Temperatures start the week on the warm side but drop a couple of degrees to for the seconmd half of the week when it should be nice and warm in the sun but a bit on the cool side in the shade.

Weather Forecast for Tenerife from 22 to 28 February

(With so much snow last week and reports of the Guardia Civil skiing in Teide National Park, maybe this spoof site Teide Ski Resort isn't so far fetched after all.)

Photo By Jens Steckert (Own work) [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY-SA 2.5], via Wikimedia Commons

LATE DEAL: Laguna Park 2

Laguna Park 2

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Click here for more details and to book

Something for the weekend: Los Gigantes Carnaval 2016

We've previously shared the programme of events for Los Gigantes Carnaval 2016, which takes place this weekend starting with the election of the carnival queens tonight. The main carnival parade through the town will be on Sunday, 21st February 2016, from around 5 pm. Here's a short video of last year's carnival parade in Los Gigantes.

UPDATED: New Dates for Los Gigantes Carnival 2016

Tenerife Carnival Dates for 2017

Tenerife's biggest party in 2017 starts here

With the big carnivals in 2016 in the north now over, some of the smaller ones, like Los Gigantes, happening this coming weekend and only Los Cristianos International Carnival still to come in March 2016, for those of you who missed it this year, or want to come again next and like to plan ahead (especially if you need to book flights and accomodation), here are the predicted dates of the main events of carnivals in Tenerife in 2017.

Santa Cruz

• Wednesday, February 22nd, 2017 - Election of the Carnaval Queen
• Friday, February 24th, 2017 - Carnaval Opening Parade
• Tuesday, February 28th, 2017 - Main Parade
• Wednesday, March 1st, 2017 - Burial of the Sardine
• Saturday, March 4th, 2017 - Daytime Carnaval
• Sunday, March 5th, 2017 - Parade of Vintage Cars

Puerto de la Cruz

• Thursday, February 23rd, 2017 - Election of the Carnival Queen
• Saturday, February 25th, 2017 - Proclamatory Parade
• Wednesday, March 1st, 2017 - Burial of the Sardine
• Friday, March 3rd, 2017 - Men´s Marathon in High Heels
• Saturday, March 4th, 2017 - Main Parade

Los Gigantes

We calculate that the 4 main days of the Los Gigantes Carnaval 2017 should run from Friday, 10th March 2017 to Monday, 13th March 2017, thus: 

• Friday, March 10th, 2017: Election of the Queen, Infant and/or Adult. 
• Saturday, March 11th, 2017: Kid’s activities
• Sunday, March 12th, 2017: Main parade from 5pm.
• Monday, March 13th, 2017: Burial of the Sardine from 9pm.

Dates of Los Gigantes Carnival 2017 are as follows (info from Tourist Office) (Via)

This year it will be held over 2 weekends

1st weekend
Fri March 10th - Election of the Queen
Sat March 11th - Childrens events
Sunday March 12th - Grand Parade

2nd weekend
Fri March 17th - Sardine parade/Fireworks
Sat March 18th - Family events

(Really just the Burial of the Sardine transferring from the Monday night to the Friday, which makes a lot of sense really, with some more family events thrown in.)

Güímar 

• Friday, March 10th, 2017 - Las Burras de Güímar 

Carnaval being pretty sacrosanct, it’s fairly unlikely that this pattern will ever be significantly changed (weather excepting), but I do have to add that any changes will be outside of my control. Thus, use this information as a guide, but where it is crucial (affects flight bookings, etc.), it is your own responsibility to double check nearer the time.

Los Cristianos (Arona)

As we said last year, there's absolutely no way of predicting (save crystal ball maybe) the dates of Los Cristianos carnival. We are very lucky that we had some notice this year and even a full programme of this year's events, but that's by no means guaranteed in future.

All I can say is that when I know, I will post the dates and details here.

UPDATE: Los Cristianos carnival, it is reported, will be held between 17 and 27 March 2017, although I have yet to see the original source of this information. Will post more details, when they're available.

If you wish to be informed when information about Los Cristianos Carnival 2017 becomes available, may I suggest that you subscribe to our email updates, or our news feed, follow our Facebook page, or our Twitter tweets, or all of them, or whichever is your preference, as whatever I post here will also be posted to all of those social media.

Traditional Fiestas in Candelaria

The Basillica and coast of Candelaria

Virgen de Candelaria: 2nd February (Public Holiday). Feast of Our Lady of Candelaria. In 1497, Alonso Fernández de Lugo first celebrated the Feast of Las Candelas (Candlemas), coinciding with the Purification of the Virgin. The night of the 1st to the 2nd February is celebrated with the "Procession of the Candles" during which the lights are extinguished in the town. During the procession, the faithful pray the Rosary carrying lighted candles, which symbolize Jesus as the light of all people.
San Blas: 3rd February
Carnaval: Around the time of Shrove Tuesday each year.
Virgen del Carmen: 16th July
Santa Ana: 26th July
Virgen de la Candelaria: 14th and 15th August (the latter is a Public Holiday). Celebration in honor of the patron of the Canary Islands. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the archipelago come to the village to celebrate the feast of the patron in the Pligrimage to Candelaria as well as the Ceremony of the discovery of the Virgin of Candelaria.

Find and book a hotel in Candelaria

The Weather in Candelaria, Tenerife

Teide is not errupting and other stories on Tenerife

Teide errupting with the vibrant red of the tajinaste rojo (Tenerife bugloss or Mount Teide bugloss)

Teide is NOT on red alert for eruption – reports saying it is are hoaxes
I haven’t seen the reports myself but it seems that they’re now starting to do the rounds … so to be clear, there is NO red alert for imminent eruption of Teide, not even a small one: there is absolutely no official source nor any basis for any such stories, which are hoaxes.

Ballet de Moscú brings Giselle to Los Cristianos auditorium
The Moscow Ballet RFB returns for its annual visit to Tenerife, and this year presents one of the most famous romantic ballets ever: Adolphe Adam’s Giselle. The performance staged at 8.30pm on Friday, 1 April, at the Auditorio Infanta Leonor in Los Cristianos.

Walking With Water on Tenerife
We’ve become water geeks since moving to Tenerife. The sight of fresh water in natural form gets us all excited because it’s so uncommon on the islands (except for La Palma). Where the La Gomera hiker saw an obstacle, we’d have seen rare beauty and would have crouched by its banks absorbing the turbulent beauty in awed silence.

(Yes, of course I read that headline and thought it said "Walking ON Water on Tenerife". Maybe that's an article for next week?)

Top Ten Places to Unwrap the Sandwiches on a Tenerife Walk
No matter where you base yourself on Tenerife, the chances are you’re going to have to do at least a modicum of travelling to get to the start of a walk and unless you’re just going for a coastal stroll, you’ll still be on the trail at lunchtime. With that in mind, here are our top 10 spots for unwrapping the sandwiches.

Sanidad puts out public call for blood donors in Tenerife BUT British cannot donate
Local press of all types is running the story that the local health authorities have put out a call for blood donations because supplies are running low and more than one operation has had to be cancelled. Social media has carried the call for blood far and wide … but British donors cannot heed that call because due to fears about CJD (fears that many think unfounded) Spain, as part of regulations also imposed by other EU countries,  has rules forbidding British people to donate blood if they were in the UK for more than three months between January 1980 and December 1996.

Los Cristianos International Carnival Programme 2016

For Los Cristianos (Arona) Carnaval 2016, between the 4th and the 14th March, Los Cristianos will be converted into La Vieja Habana (Old Havana) for a Cuban-style carnival.

Here's the full programme of events:

Friday, 4th March at 9 pm, presentation of the candidates for Carnival Queen and Junior Queen at the Carnival Enclosure in front of the Valdés Center.

Saturday, 5th March at midday, inauguration of the exhibition "Un Sueño de Carnaval, Homenaje a Víctor Gámez" (A Carnival Dream, Homage to Víctor Gámez) at the Cultural Centre in Los Cristianos.

- At 7 pm Cabalgata Anunciadora del Carnaval (Carnival Opening Parade) in Playa de Las Américas from the Commercial Centre Gala en la Avda. Rafael Puig Lluvina through to the Commercial Centre Oasis en la Avda. Las Américas.

- From 10 pm Wig Party (Fiesta del Pelucón) in the Carnival Enclosure in front of the Valdés Center.

Sunday, 6th March at midday Carnival Concert with the Banda de Música de Arona in the Plaza de la Pescadora, Los Cristianos.

- At 5 pm Parade with all the musical groups of the carnival, from the Plaza del Pescador (Cultural Centre) to the Playa de Los Cristianos beach.

- At 6 pm Meeting of the Murgas of Tenerife in the Carnival Enclosure in front of the Valdés Center.

Tuesday, 8th March at 7 pm Festival of dance groups in the Carnival Enclosure in front of the Valdés Center.

Wednesday, 9th March at 6:30 pm Dance for the elderly in the patio of the Cultural Centre.

- At 8 pm Gala for the selection of the Junior Carnival Queen at the Carnival Enclosure in front of the Valdés Center.

Thursday, 10th March at 9 pm Grand Gala for the selection of the Carnival Queen at the Carnival Enclosure in front of the Valdés Center.

Friday, 11th March at 9 pm Drag Queen Gala after which there will be dancing to the Orquesta Deliciosa at the Carnival Enclosure in front of the Valdés Center.

- From midnight Zona DJ with local DJs in the Plaza de Pescador (outside the Cultural Centre).

Saturday, 12th March from midday Carnaval de Día (Daytime Carnival) with 40 Principales with national and international artists at the Carnival Enclosure in front of the Valdés Center and with various activities and workshops occurring simultaneously at the Plaza de la Pescadora.

- At 5 pm Carnival Costumes Contest at the Plaza de la Pescadora.

- At 8 pm Dancing with the orchestras Armonía Show y Tropin at the Carnival Enclosure in front of the Valdés Center.

- At 10 pm Carnival procession along the beach from the Avenida de Suecia to the Plaza del Pescador (Cultural Centre).

- From midnight Zona DJ with local DJs in the Plaza de Pescador (outside the Cultural Centre).

Sunday, 13th March from 11 am to 2 pm Exhibition of Vintage and Classic Cars (event to be confirmed) in the Carnival Enclosure in front of the Valdés Center.

- At 11:30 am Contest of Pets' Costumes at the Carnival Enclosure in front of the Valdés Center or the Plaza de la Pescadora.

- 4 pm Gran Coso Apoteósico del Carnaval (Carnival Main Parade) from the Paloma Beach apartments in the Avda. Juan Carlos I to the Centro Cultural de Los Cristianos, at the end of which will be dancing to the orchestras Combo Dominicano and Pasion Gomera in the exterior of the Cultural Center.

Monday, 14th March at 8:30 pm Entierro de la Sardina (Burial of the Sardine) with the procession from the Plaza del Pescador (Cultural Centre), to the Playa de Los Cristianos beach at the end of which will be the end of carnival party with local DJs in the Plaza de Pescador (outside the Cultural Centre).

Carnaval Internacional de Los Cristianos, Arona 2016 Via: Tenerinfo

Oh and there's even an official carnival song for Los Cristianos Carnival, Carnaval en la Bahía by Sira Mayo & David González, which you can download from Soundcloud.

Weather Forecast for Tenerife from 15 to 21 February

The week that winter finally arrives on Tenerife, which is a shame as it’s also the half term holidays in Britain. The sun should shine every day in most places but there will be a lot of cloud and next weekend looks like a rainy one. There’s a weather alert for high winds, especially in the south, east and west. But they shouldn’t be as severe at coastal level. Mount Teide could be out of bounds for part of this week with very high winds, snow and unbelievably cold weather forecast.

Weather Forecast for Tenerife from 15 to 21 February

Something for the weekend: End of Carnival in Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Puerto de la Cruz Carnival Procession in 2008

Both of the biggest of Tenerife's carnivals reach their climax this weekend.

In Puerto de la Cruz, the Coso Apoteosico (Main Parade) takes place on Saturday, February 13th, from 4 pm. The parade route takes in Colón, Plaza de los Reyes Católicos, Obispo Pérez Cáceres, Familia Betancourt y Molina, Zamora, Santo Domingo, La Marina, Plaza del Charco, San Felipe and José Campo Llarena.

Coso Apoteosico de Puerto de la Cruz 2015
Carnaval Puerto de la Cruz 2015
Carnaval 2016 in Puerto de la Cruz

Carnaval de Día de Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2016

Meanwhile, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, on Saturday, February 13th, from 1 pm to 6:30 pm, is the second of the Carnaval de Día (Daytime Carnival) events. Radio Club Tenerife and M80 Radio will be hosting events in the Plaza de La Candelaria and 40 Principales in the Avenida Anaga, with a massive line up of acts, artists, orchestras and DJs.

Carnaval de Día de Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2016
Carnaval de día S/C Tenerife 2015

Both towns will be holding their end of carnival parties on Sunday, 14th February, with the addition, in Santa Cruz, of the Classic and Vintage Car Exhibitions.

Tenerife Products Fair in Santiago del Teide

This Sunday, 14th February, from 9 am to 4 pm in the plaza in Santiago del Teide, the I Feria de Productos de Tenerife (First Tenerife Products Fair) will be taking place, having been organised around the campain for the almond blossoms.

Items on sale will include local wines, cheeses, honey, artisan bread and the most representative of the islands cakes.

Also, the nearby Hotel La Casona del Patio are holding a Día de la Trilla (Threshing Day), also on Sunday, from 11 am.

Three Tenerife Carnival Capers for Friday Night Frolics

Coso Infantil - Children's Parade

You're literally spoilt for choice on Friday, February 12th, with three very diverse, but equally fun carnival events to choose from in Santa Cruz, Güímar and in Puerto de la Cruz. If you could get to them all, then I think it would be well worth the effort.

Kid's Parade Santa Cruz de Tenerife

First up is the Coso Infantil (Kid's Parade) in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. This starts off from the Parque García Sanabria at 6 pm, parading around the streets of Pilar, Villalba Hervás and La Marina, notionally for a couple of hours. This parade is for all the smallest and youngest participants, their murgas, dance troupes, etc. And, of course, it will include the junior carnival queen, Tania Martín, and her court, who were chosen at the Gala Reina Infantil Carnaval S/C Tenerife 2016 (Junior Carnival Queen Gala) on January 24th.

Last year the participants asked for the suspension of the parade, which always used to take place on the Saturday, so they could enjoy the events of the Carnaval de Día (Daytime Carnival) with their families. Hence, this has been moved to Friday.

Las Burras de Güímar

There seem to have been some difficulties between volunteer groups and the town hall of Güímar over the organisation of this year's event (it couldn't possibly be political, could it?), so I only hope it will be taking place as usual. In this piece of unique carnaval street theatre, Las Burras de Güímar (The Donkeys of Güímar), witches turn into donkeys and back again, until the Inquisition turns up and barbeques them along with a sardine. Hopefully taking place in the Plaza de San Pedro in Güímar, starting at 9 p.m.

Witches transform into donkeys and other Friday night fun
Something for the weekend: Las Burras de Güímar

Mascarita ponte tacón in Puerto de la Cruz

The night's finale must be the Mascarita ponte tacón - Men's High Heels Marathon - in Puerto de la Cruz. A couple of hundred fools in unconvincing drag will attempt to get their leg over obstacles in high heels that must not measure less than 15 cm. Registration takes place in the Plaza del Charco from around 7:30 pm, but that could take hours, with the obstacle race to follow and music and dancing (for those who haven't sprained ankles) after that. Here are some images from last year's XXI Mascarita ponte tacón.

The Best of Puerto de la Cruz

In Puerto de la Cruz' Botanico Gardens

All good things come in threes, so it's said, and here is a trio of articles on what to do and see, Puerto's lovely gardens and the town's restaurants, all of which will prove invaluable to those of us planning to spend some time in Puerto de la Cruz this year ...

The Best of What to See and Do in Puerto de la Cruz
For many people, it’s enough simply to stroll its charismatic streets and gorgeous gardens, to linger over lunch in its picturesque plazas and dine by candlelight in its lovely restaurants but Puerto has a lot more strings to its bow…

The Gardens of Puerto de la Cruz
Since tourism began here in 1866, Puerto de la Cruz, on the North West coast of Tenerife, has offered unrivalled displays of flora and foliage to the wealthy and the famous; wandering those gardens today, the ghosts of an earlier era can still be seen in the shadows cast by the trees and the reflections in the water.

Restaurants in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife
Because of its Canarian character in which eating out is such an important part of the culture, when it comes to dining, Puerto de la Cruz punches way above its weight and has somewhere in the region of 300 restaurants from which to choose. In our biased opinion, it’s the best resort on Tenerife for eating out.

And do pick up a copy of Jack and Andrea's Tenerife Town & City Guide to Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife’s Cultured Resort (already bought my copy, thank you). Link at the bottom of either of the first two articles above, or through this page: Buy Town & City Walks

Seven Romantic Restaurants on Tenerife and other stories

Romantic Restaurant on the Rocks: El Burgado restaurant at Playa de la Arenas, Buenavista del Norte.

Oh Oh Seven Romantic Restaurants on Tenerife
It’s a special occasion, you want somewhere intimate on Tenerife to share a memorable meal with the person you love; somewhere that’s just a little bit different – somewhere with a magical ambience.

Wearing Fancy Dress Costumes at Carnival on Tenerife
Over the years any visiting friends who started out being a wee bit shy of slipping into a silly costume soon change their mind after being in the midst of a crowd of Snow Whites, Minnie Mouses, vampires, clowns, Cleopatras and pirates etc. It doesn’t take long for the penny to drop that in their everyday clothes they’re the ones who stand out as being out of place.

Anything Goes When Santa Cruz Carnaval Meets CD Tenerife
... homage to the hundreds who plastered on the make up, hitched up their skirts, and slipped into their dancing shoes. There were quite a few fans looking part tired, part dazed, and part sozzled but it’s all good fun.

First “hosepipe ban” in the Canaries in 2016 introduced in La Gomera
It hasn’t rained, properly, for a long time, and if the situation continues, there could be trouble ahaead. And with this in mind, Vallehermoso Ayuntamiento in La Gomera has become the first to introduce a “hosepipe ban”. The public in the municipality are now banned from using domestic supplies for agricultural irrigation or gardening purposes, or for washing their vehicles.

The Lions Club International finds a home in Adeje
Adeje Ayuntamiento has announced that the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Lions Club International, which provides humanitarian aid and promotes world peace and understanding, has found a home in Adeje. Mayor Fraga recently received a delegation from the Lions International organisation earlier this month, a meeting intended to strengthen the relationship between the organization and the council.

2nd Noche de tapas y vino in Playa San Juan on 5 March
The first Tapas and Wine Night was crowded out a year ago in the harbour area in Playa San Juan, and organizers hope the second Noche de Tapas y Vino on Saturday, 5 March, will be just as popular. The event starts at 7.30pm and will be going on until midnight, and once again the public will be able to enjoy tapas and wine from just €1, and there’ll be live music to bring the night alive as well.

Murgas Final Carnaval Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2016

Headquarters in Santa Cruz of the Murga Group Los Diablos Locos

One aspect of carnival that I tend not to cover here much are the murga groups. For two reasons; their "music" (using the term advisedly) played on party horns or kazoos tends to be a tad irritating after the second bar and, as the lyrics are highly political (not to mention politically incorrect) and satirical, they're up the harder end of Spanish to understand. Unless you live on the island and immerse yourself in the culture, you probably won't appreciate them beyond their clown-like appearance.

The first murga appeared in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1917, giving life, the following year, to these satirical groups of the carnival. Afilarmónica NiFú-NiFá (Tenerife) is the oldest, and is considered the mother of the Canarian murgas. See: Murga en Canarias

However, they are one of the most popular elements of the carnivals and contests where prizes are awarded to the most outstanding costumes, lyrics and interpretation. If you're really, really interested and happen to have six hours to spare, here's a recording of this year's final of the adult murgas in Santa Cruz. Yes, six whole hours. That popular!



Final Murgas adultas Carnaval S/C de Tenerife 2016

(The high spot of the "bitter" Carnival Queen Gala of 2007 was when murga group Los Diablos Locos refused to participate and walked off the stage during the live event. Los Diablos Locos walk off and the crowd goes wild.)

Traditional Fiestas in Buenavista del Norte

During the Fiestas Patronales Nuestra Señora de los Remedios in 2006

San Antonio Abad: 3rd and 4th Sunday of January
Baile de Piñata: At carnival time in Teno Alto  
San Juan: Last week of June in Los Carrizales
Santa Lucía: Last weekend in July in La Cuesta
San Bartolomé: 24th August
Virgen del Carmen: Last weekend of August and first weekend of September in Las Portelas
San Jerónimo: Second weekend in September in Teno Alto
Virgen de la Consolación: Second half of September, featuring the Baile de las Libreas, in El Palmar
Nuestra Señora de la Concepción: First weekend in October in Masca 
Nuestra Señora de Los Remedios: 25th October

Agriculture is the reason behind many of the popular celebrations in Buenavista, among them the Día de la Siembra de la Papa (Day of potato planting) in Las Portelas, which is repeated every summer to coincide with the festival of Ntra. Sra. Del Carmen. Local residents and onlookers gather to enjoy a day of sowing and the subsequent lunch.

The wheat harvest, staggered over the summer, begins in July. The subsequent threshing forms the origins of one of the most complete rural celebrations in the area: the Día de la Trilla (Threshing Day), this time in the neighborhood of El Palmar. The events on the last Sunday in September combine the making of a carbonera (an ancestral procedure for obtaining charcoal by slow burning firewood) with traditional threshing, where the skillful use of beasts enable the separation of the wheat from the straw. These are followed by lunch and an afternoon of music and dancing.

Find a hotel in Buenavista del Norte

The Weather in Buenavista del Norte

Burial of the Sardine, Ash Wednesday, February 10th

Ash Wednesday in Santa Cruz and in Puerto de la Cruz, you can join in with the ceremonies of the Burial of the Sardine (even though it's cremated), where wailing widows (who are mostly men) mourn the end of carnival, even though it still carries on for days.

It's a huge vicars and tarts party, with much more blasphemy and lots more dildos!

In Santa Cruz, the the funeral procession leaves from the Calle Juan Pablo II at around 9 pm, taking a route through Méndez Núñez, Pilar, Villalba Hervás, La Marina and ending up in the Plaza de España, with the burning of the sardine in the Avenida Marítima.

Entierro de la Sardina · Carnaval 2014 · Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Weather Forecast for Tenerife from 8 to 14 February

Jose Manuel Lis as Miss Piggy at Carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

It’s carnival week on Tenerife which surely means rain? Technically, yes it might. The very last day of carnival, Sunday 14, looks almost certain for rain in the north and north east. But as it’s really carnival chill out day when all the main events are over, it looks as though the bad weather for carnival trend might be bucked this year. Valentine’s Day might be a damp squib in some places though. It’s not the greatest of weeks weather wise with most days seeing more cloud than sunshine across the island with the south west looking brightest followed by the north.

Weather Forecast for Tenerife from 8 to 14 February

(Image: Jose Manuel Lis, who died in 2014, had played the romantic figure of of Miss Piggy at Carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife for 37 years.)

Carnival Main Parade in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tuesday, February 9th

On Martes de Carnaval (Carnival Tuesday/Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday), which you'll probably know better as Shrove Tuesday - which this year falls on Tuesday, February 9th - carnival's main parade, known as the Coso Apoteosis takes place along the Avenidas de Francisco La Roche and Marítima on the seafront in Santa Cruz. The parade starts at around 4 pm and rolls on into dancing to the biggest orchestras in the Plaza de la Candelaria from 8 pm, undoubtedly with some fireworks thrown in there somewhere for good measure.

Last year 7,500 seats were provided along the length of the route, available for those who wish to use them, at a nominal charge of €2.50 each. (Well, if you're early enough, as the carnival parade draws tens of thousands of spectators.) There is also an area provided for those with reduced mobility located at the Alameda del Duque de Santa Elena, by the Plaza de España. No doubt there will be similar arrangements in place this year.

To get you in the mood, here are 3.5 hours from last year's parade: Coso Apoteosis Carnaval S/C Tenerife 2015



By Enrique Castrillo Núñez [CC BY-SA 2.5 es], via Wikimedia Commons

Coronation of the Carnival Queen 2016

Here's a short video of the Coronación Reina del Carnaval 2016 (Coronation of the Carnival Queen 2016), Cecilia Navarro Arteaga, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

If you'd like to watch or re-watch the entire gala, which took place last Wednesday night, you'll find it here: Gala de la Reina de S/C de Tenerife 2016

Santa Cruz Carnival Posters 1962-2016

Here's an interesting video showing all the carnival posters from the last 54 years. The earlier ones, while carnival was still prohibited under the dictatorshios, you will see refer to the Fiestas de Invierno (Winter Festivities/Winter Holiday). Read more in the History of the carnival. The first time it was called carnaval again was in 1977.

Carteles Carnavales SC Tenerife 1962-2016

Los Indianos in Santa Cruz de La Palma

The biggest event of Carnival Monday in the Canary Islands - this year on Monday, February 8th - takes place on the neighbouring island of La Palma with the Los Indianos parade, in Santa Cruz de La Palma. Cuban rhythms, dressing in white and tons (literally) of talcum powder are the order of the day, as you'll see in this video of the television coverage of the event last year: Los Indianos 2015.

And if you want to know why and what this is all about, read Los Indianos.

Carnaval de Día - Daytime Carnival Events in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

As we've already mentioned, this Sunday, February 7th, sees the first of this year's Carnaval de Día (Daytime Carnival) events in Santa Cruz. All the fun elements of carnival, but at a time of day (from 1 pm to 6:30 pm) when it can be enjoyed by all the family.

Carnaval de día S/C Tenerife 2015 will give you an idea of what to expect.

Something for the weekend: Concurso de Comparsas Ritmo y Armonía

It's all about celebrating the biggest event of the year in Tenerife this weekend - Carnival in Santa Cruz - with various performances taking place all over the city - in the Plazas del Príncipe and La Candelaria, Parque García Sanabria and Avenida Francisco La Roche - from 5:30 pm on Saturday, February 6th. Later, from 9pm on Saturday night, is the Concurso de Comparsas Ritmo y Armonía (Rhythm and Harmony Comparsas) a gathering and procession of all of the comparsa groups - a comparsa is a group of singers, musicians and dancers that take part in carnivals and other festivities in Spain and Latin America - along the Avenida Francisco La Roche. This is being televised from 10 pm.

Here's a video from last year Ritmo y Armonía S/C Tenerife 2015, from which you'll see that the parade also includes the carnival queen and her court, so it'll be a great Saturday night out and opportunity to see all the most colourful elements of carnival.

Of course, there will also be loads of street food and the fun fair, as well as music and dancing in the streets and squares, with the biggest orchestras in the Plazas del Príncipe and La Candelaria and the Avenida Francisco La Roche.



On Sunday, February 7th, is the first of the days of Carnaval de Día (Daytime Carnival,or Carnival Alldayer, perhaps) with all sorts of activities and music going on, again in the main streets and squares in the city, from 1 pm until 6:30 pm.

If you're going to carnival, it's worth knowing that the Tenerife bus company, TITSA, have increased their services by 600% for the nights of carnival. The special carnival services are running between today, Friday, February 5th and Sunday, February 14th. At the following page, you can download timetables with the additional night services and also the additional daytime services running during the Carnaval de Día and on Carnival Tuesday, February 9th; the day of Carnival's main parade. (Spanish only.)

And while we're on celebrations, I thought I'd mention that today is Secret Tenerife's blogiversary our first post having been 12 years ago today, on February 5th, 2004. Coincidentally, although probably not surprisingly, the second item we covered was when the then Carnaval Takes To The Streets ...

Carnival Opening Parade in Santa Cruz, Friday, 5th February

Now that the carnival queen for this year has been chosen (see more images here), tomorrow night, Friday, February 5th, carnaval takes to the streets with the Cabalgata Anunciadora (Opening Parade). Get your legwarmers on and get down there. The procession starts from 8pm from the Plaza de la República Dominicana and passes through the Avenida de la Asunción, Ramón y Cajal, Galcerán, Plaza de Weyler, Méndez Núñez, Pilar, Villalba Hervás, La Marina and ends on the Avenida Francisco La Roche.

Here's a quick look at last year's to set the scene.

Strikes threatening to disrupt our carnivals and other stories this week in Tenerife

Carnaval Clowns

Strikes threatening to disrupt our carnivals
Iberia workers in Tenerife, as well as the staff of Aviapartner, have voted for strike action in a few weeks. As it stands, they will walk out on the 12th, 13th and 14th February, coinciding with the second weekend of the Santa Cruz Carnival.

In Awe Of The Almond Blossom In Santiago Del Teide
Mother Nature is a right tease and a bit of a flirt, she threw the whole charm offensive at me on the Almendro En Flor, each step brought new delights. This was the fifth year I had strode out on the almond blossom trail from Santiago del Teide to Arguayo but there are subtle differences each time depending on the Tenerife weather.

20th Las Galletas Half Marathon 3 April 2016
It’s an annual event of considerable fame these days, and this year marks the 20th anniversary of the Las Galletas half marathon and 10.8 km races, with organizers saying that they’d like to mark the occasion by reaching 1,500 runners. Inscription opens today and lasts until 28 March.

Today is World Podenco Day and the police ask the public to help by denouncing cases of maltreatment
Police say that today is World Podenco day, and since this kind, fun, highly opinionated, beautiful and extraordinarily intelligent breed is one of the most badly treated, they ask that the public denounces any cases of maltreatment and abandonment.

Tenerife Walking Routes that Don’t Make the Grade
Recently we enjoyed a walk in the viñatigo (a relation of the avocado) forest above Tacoronte. There is a maze of paths in the area and we pieced together a few to make a circular route that took us up through the forest, skirting fig and citrus orchards, passing one of the neatest zona recreativas (picnic zone) we’ve seen on Tenerife before we followed a wide forest past east to pass a small ermita where we descended back towards our starting point.

Arona Summer Festival 2016
Since it began in 2011 it has become a major summer event, and this year’s Arona Summer Festival is likely to be just as popular as previous years. This year’s will be held in Le Palos Golf Club on 22 and 23 July, and there will be associated cultural events in Los Cristianos Cultural Centre and auditorium on 19, 20 and 21 July.

Keep Walking Downhill And You Cant Go Wrong !
I wasn’t lost, I just wasn’t too sure about where I was or where I was heading. You would have thought that after nearly five hours and 9 kms on the almond blossom walk I would have been keen to peel my socks off and soak my toes in some water but it didn’t quite work out that way. Arguayo is only a few miles from Santiago del Teide so there were several easy options to get from the finish to the start, trust me to do it the hard way.

Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2016

It's showtime folks. Cecila Navarro was crowned Santa Cruz Carnival Queen 2016 last night. Her costume was titled 'Arena...

Posted by The Real Tenerife on Thursday, 4 February 2016

Cecila Navarro was crowned Santa Cruz Carnival Queen 2016

Senior Carnaval Queen Gala in Santa Cruz 2016

Tonight sees the big gala for the selection of this year's carnaval queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which will be the finale of the contests to choose the running order of participants of carnaval, however, tonight's winner isn't the only queen elected at each year's carnaval as there are the junior and senior carnaval queens chosen too. Here is a recording of the gala that selected this year's senior carnaval queen, which took place last Wednesday, January 27th, also at the International Fairs and Congress Centre.

This also gives you a preview of this year's staging and scenery for the 1980's theme.

Gala Reina Mayores Carnaval S/C Tenerife 2016