A review of the wildlife park in the north of the island appeared recently in the UK press:

I first visited Tenerife way before the island was associated with Lineker’s bar, when timeshares were rife and karaoke a new experience. So when I was invited to check out a wildlife park in the relatively chilled north, I was more than happy to go back and see if an authentic experience is still possible at what is often dismissed as just a sun and sand destination.

Loro Parque in the popular Puerto de la Cruz (a town that still has nothing on touristy Playa des Americas) opened in 1972 with just a small collection of parrots. Today it is a zoo, aquarium, theme park and education facility, rivalling some of the best Florida has to offer. Set in 135,000sqm it is also piped as one of the most exciting wildlife sites in Europe.

However, I am here to see their newest addition, a free-flight aviary that is home to an extremely noisy collection of cockatoos, kookaburras, pheasants, thrushes, fruit doves and parrots – very impressive considering its original and rather humble gathering of feathered species back in the 1970s. The 27m-high structure is set in lush tropical vegetation and the network of treetop walks and hanging bridges allows me to encounter some of the 120 tropical birds in their natural habitat. I’m no bird enthusiast but I do appreciate the Spix’s macaw. Originally from Brazil, they have been extinct in the wild since 2000 and are now the rarest birds in the world. A collaboration with Brazil’s wildlife agency has seen the last wild male protected, with funds of £450,000 donated to help preserve the species.

Although I enjoy hanging out with my new squawking feathered friends, they do hit the same volume levels as the Paris Opera House (the park actually measured it) so it was a relief to spend time with the rare white – and reasonably quiet – Bengal tiger. The seven male gorillas, living a truly bachelor lifestyle with their heated bedroom floors, are also worth a visit.

Loro Parque is one of three natural attractions in Tenerife. Siam Park is one of Europe’s newest and biggest water parks. Don’t be put off by the naffly-named rides – the Tower of Power isn’t as bad as it sounds. You will reach up to 40kph on this 28m freefall kamikaze ride just before you enter a clear flume through a shark pool.

To read the full article click here

For a map of Tenerife visit yourtenerife.net

Tenerife is known for her great beaches and year round weather, but for those who might want to see a bit of the rural part of the island during their holidays in Tenerife The Independent (who seem to have been doing really good travel articles lately) have written about it, saying:

Aren’t the Canaries better known for their beaches?

Certainly, but the islands also have some strikingly beautiful inland scenery – and more and more visitors are cottoning on. For the energetic, it’s all about enjoying the great outdoors; others just love the idea of sampling a simple, peaceful alternative to the bright lights of the resorts.

Is there much to explore?

Think banana plantations, cacti, dunes and volcanoes. Five out of the seven islands (Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, El Hierro and Gran Canaria) are wholly or partly listed as Unesco biosphere reserves in recognition of their remarkable landscapes and unusual flora and fauna.

La Palma, in the thinly populated western Canaries, has such clear skies that it’s one of the best places in the northern hemisphere for stargazing. El Hierro’s unpolluted waters are perfect for scuba diving and La Gomera is topped with glorious, laurel-forested hiking country. Tenerife is dominated by El Teide, the highest mountain on Spanish territory. On both Tenerife and Gran Canaria, plantations share steep slopes with pine forests. On the arid eastern side of the archipelago, the ancient hills and plains of Fuerteventura are scattered with pretty windmills. Its neighbour, Lanzarote, is an artful assemblage of twisted lava dotted with perfect little hamlets.

To read the full aricle click through to The Independent here

For more Tenerife information including hotels, Tenerife villa holidays with companies like  James Villas visit http://www.yourtenerife.net

Could there be any good news among the economic gloom for holidaymakers in 2009? Happily there is - hotel prices in Spain and her islands like Tenerife have come down in price and could fall further.

The British media seem to warn everyday that there’s no money in the economy, that no-one has any money, and if any does have money they certainly aren’t spending it. This is often reported from shopping malls with hundreds of people laden down with shopping bags walking past the journalist. And so it has been with the travel industry - people aren’t booking holidays, and if they are it’s not in the Eurozone areas including Spain, but to Turkey, Egypt and Morocco.

But other reports on the travel industry state that the most popular holiday destination in Europe will be Majorca - again - and inside the Eurozone. So what is the state of play for the holidays market in 2009, and if you book a holiday in Europe for this summer will you be the only one in the hotel and on the beach?

A nice prospect perhaps, but not likely.

For people are still booking holidays in their thousands, indeed in their hundreds of thousands and by the time summer is here in their millions. And there is an upside among the economic gloom for those who are going on holiday in 2009 - prices for hotels in Spain are dropping. Not as much as the pound has dropped against the euro for British tourists, but drop it has.

Hotel room prices across Spain as an average fell by some eight per cent in summer 2008 compared to the previous summer, with some areas doing far worse than others. Ibiza for example dropped a massive thirty six per cent, and on the Costa del Sol just over twenty. Overall hotel rooms averaged a hundred Euro a night, while in the UK for example it stood at 128 Euros, showing Spanish hotels to be pretty well priced.

So for people who still have some money in the bank and fancy a break or holiday in Spain, 2009 could be a good year to do it with prices coming down. And if you can’t wait until the summer, what about a winter holiday? Holidays in Tenerife are popular this time of year, and there are some good holiday deals out there at the moment.

For British holidaymakers Thomas Cook Holidays for example have 7 nights in Tenerife for around GBP 230 a person, including flights and accommodation - and the weather in Tenerife is often in the 70’s during the winter time. So, despite the gloomy economic outlook, there’s still some great holiday bargains to be had for 2009, and prices are as good as they’ve ever been.

Puerto de la Cruz is located on the north coast of the island of Tenerife, and was a major tourist resort long before the 1950s boom in tourism swept the Canaries by storm. During the 19th century physicians in England and the Netherlands recommended their patients seek the warmth of Puerto de la Cruz for the winter to promote good health. Some of the oldest hotels in the area date back to this type of early tourism.

Because of its humble beginnings as a resort and fisherman’s haven, Puerto de la Cruz still holds to its historic values. Much of the town is just as it has been for more than a century. The core of the town still holds its old town appeal, although modernisation has played its part on the outskirts. The older parts of town are a gentle reminder of the past. Many old colonial buildings and homes with distinctive balconies line the cobbled streets.

Happily this historic appeal will not be lost among the 12 million pound overhaul that is to begin this year. Puerto de la Cruz mayor, Padron Rodriguez, said the money was a ‘testament to the significance of the town as a major tourist destination.’ He went on to say that the money would ‘bring the town up to date following general wear and tear over the last 50 years as a booming tourist hub.’

Due to the year-round mild climate, Puerto de la Cruz is a popular Christmas and New Year holidays destination. Tourists who live in a colder climate often travel to Puerto de la Cruz for a nice change in temperature. Like most popular vacation destinations, Puerto de la Cruz is very well travelled during the summer months. Holidaymakers can enjoy a wide array of cultural events nearly any time of the year.

All Tenerife resorts offer something slightly different from each other, making Tenerife the perfect island location with something for everyone. Self-catering apartments and Tenerife villas offer the freedom to come and go as one pleases. They include a fully functional kitchen with all the comforts of home. Fincas are Canarian country homes that offer more privacy than Tenerife hotels and resorts. Fincas are generally further out in the country, which helps maintain a very peaceful atmosphere. Resorts, holiday rentals and hotels are plentiful across the island. Most resorts offer inclusive packages that include golf, biking and a multitude of other activities.

And it needn’t cost a lot of money - many holiday companies include flights to Tenerife, while on-line deals are often available too for seperate bookings for Tenerife flights.

Tenerife’s local businesses offer many excursions, including helicopter, vehicle and garden tours. Tours include prime destinations, such as the island’s capital and other historic architectural areas. Other great attractions include cycling, horse riding, paragliding, off-road four-wheeling and island safaris. Of course since Tenerife is an island, diving is a very big attraction. Water sport enthusiasts will enjoy jet skiing, parascending, sailing, water skiing and wind surfing opportunities.

Many theme parks on Tenerife include animal interaction, water slides, roller coasters and great gift shops. Aqualand has the island’s top water attractions. It offers water slides for the adrenaline junky and slow, soothing raft rides through the park for those who love the slower paced, more relaxing rides. Camel Park offers camel rides in the fields surrounding the farm. Jungle Park is one of the larger animal parks. It includes a spectacular aviary show led by an expert team of trainers. The jungle show allows you to closely observe tigers, lions, caymans and monkeys.

Getting away from it all this winter could be a boost for many in need of a good holiday, and holidays in Tenerife tick all the right boxes for a winter vacation.