Tenerife in winter, between volcanoes and guachinches

With winter, the island opens up for more peaceful walks away from the hustle and bustle of summer.History is hidden away from the beaches and seaside resorts of the south.First stop: San Cristóbal de La Laguna. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city was the first colonial city in the archipelago. Its cobbled streets bring Renaissance Spain to life.Conquered by the Spanish in 1496, Tenerife was once inhabited by the Guanches, natives of Berber origin. Are they the builders of the Gyumar pyramids? On the east coast, surrounded by a botanical garden, the stone structures built more than a thousand years ago retain an element of mystery. Proud of its past, Tenerife is also anchored by the avant-garde building TEA (Tenerife Espacio de las Artes), designed by Herzog & de Meuron by (to whom we owe the Tate Gallery in London) perfectly embodies this modernity.Situated in the historic capital of Santa Cruz downtown, this contemporary art center hosts exhibitions as well as an excellent library.

Land of Adventure

An island of a thousand contrasts, Tenerife speaks to souls in love with wide open spaces. Among its natural sites, the island has a national park and two rural parks. Three nature parks offer their own marked trails to hiking enthusiasts. To the northeast, Teno Country Park looks like the end of the world, with its steep cliffs plunging into the Atlantic Ocean. In the center, Teide National Park, a UNESCO heritage site, dominates the island with its namesake volcano rising 3,715m above sea level. Finally, Anaga Country Park, with its dense forest of laurel and ancient dragons, its troglodyte village and mysterious mountains, seems to be enveloped in a mystical aura. On the sea side, Tenerife is one of the most popular places for cetacean watching, with sea currents attracting the species throughout the year and especially during migration periods. Exclusive cruises on private yachts or ecological catamarans depart to meet them along the cliffs of Los Gigantes or off the coast of Costa Adeje.

the true flavors of Guachinches

Open since November Guachincheswhich was originally created by winemakers to sell their products, is an institution in Tenerife that offers immersion in the culinary soul of the island. In these small hidden taverns, simple, home-made dishes that highlight local products; arrugada dads time mojo, mug with chickpeas and pork or queso asado with palm honey. On the outskirts of these traditional places, a new gastronomic scene is emerging, led by talented chefs such as Victor Suarez of Heide, who joined the Michelin-starred MB of Abama and El Rincon by Juan Carlos.The Taste 1973, Nub , San Hô and Abama Kabuki complete the list of prestigious restaurants on the island where the experience goes beyond the impossible is to conclude without mentioning the extraordinary richness of Tenerife wines: grape varieties with a volcanic soul and vermouths with great aromatic power, which embody the strength and uniqueness of this country.