There's no shortage of wonderful traditional dishes in Tenerife which are capable of sending your taste buds into raptures. There's so much more to cuisine on the island than the favourites so often associated with Spanish fare, such as paella and tapas.

 Puchero Canario is a hearty meat and vegetable stew, featuring pork or beef, cabbage, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, carrots and courgettes, while Ropa vieja is a delicious dish you'll come across in cafes and restaurants, made with meat, onions and chickpeas. Pulpo a la Gallega is a simple but scrumptious light meal in Tenerife tapas bars which consists of boiled octopus, sprinkled with sea salt and paprika, while Adobo de cerdo is shoulder of pork in a rich, piquant sauce.

 Bienmesabe, which translates as 'tastes good to me' is a much-loved dessert prepared with ground almonds, egg yolk, honey, sugar, lemon zest and cinnamon. Ron Miel is a flavoursome honey rum you'll find in bars, clubs and restaurants all across Tenerife and mojito is a popular refreshing alcoholic drink featuring white rum, lime, brown sugar, carbonated water, crushed ice and shredded mint leaves.

Tenerife enjoys warm and pleasant weather all-year-round which makes it a great place to visit in December, January and February in order to escape the cold and wet winter weather in the UK. Temperatures are in the mid-20s in this fabulous destination, even during winter and spring. The weather in the south of the island is sunnier, warmer and drier than the north, but the north is much greener than the south, due to the fact it gets more rainfall. Summer in the south of Tenerife is generally cloudless, with hot and dry conditions which are perfect for sunbathing, swimming and enjoying some thrilling water sports action.
Tenerife experiences Calima at various times throughout the year, a hot wind originating in the Sahara which leaves a fine layer of dust across the island. On average, July is the sunniest month in Tenerife, with 334 hours of sunshine, while December is the month for the lowest amount of sunshine, at 171 hours. December is usually the wettest month, with an average of 52mm of rainfall.      

You’re spoilt for choice in Tenerife when it comes to exciting things to see and do when your ship drops anchor on the island. Take a cable car up Mount Teide, the island’s amazing volcano in Teide National Park which offers stunning panoramic views of Tenerife, or take a trip through Cueva del viento, the largest lava tube system in Europe. You can also consider paying a visit to the Auditorio de Tenerife Adán Martín, a futuristic auditorium in Santa Cruz de Tenerife or go shipwreck diving at Punta de Rasca. Other superb activities include whale and dolphin watching tips, vineyard wine tasting, Anaga mountain biking and watching a traditional Flamenco dancing show.
 Key attractions that ensure a fun time for families include Siam Park, Jungle Park, Aqualand Costa Adeje, Tenerife Zoo Monkey Park, Forestal Park Tenerife and Loro Loro Parque, a magnificent theme park which boasts a huge range of enchanting exotic animals and sea creatures. A day out at the beach is great fun for families, couples and groups of friends craving fun on the sands and some thrilling water sports action. Popular beach and sea activities in Tenerife include volleyball, parasailing, paddle boarding, jet skiing, banana boat rides and waterskiing. Other enjoyable pursuits include hiking, golfing, cycling, diving, sailing, karting, tennis, deep-sea fishing, canyoning, ziplining and buggy safaris. Carnaval de Santa Cruz is a superb pre-Lent festival on the island with exciting street parades, dancing, music and spectacular costumes.