Playa de la Arena Holidays - Travel Guide

The resort of Playa de la Arena lies on the west coast of the Spanish Canary Island of Tenerife.

Playa de la Arena holidays present a quiet resort on Tenerife's west coast that has built up a reputation as a relaxing sunshine getaway. Situated close to two of the other west coast resorts, Los Gigantes and Puerto de Santiago, the smaller Playa de la Arena is a haven for families and couples that want a tranquil coastal holiday in Tenerife away from the noisier south coast resorts. Playa de la Arena holidays offer range of accommodation, which is perched on the hilltop overlooking the sea and the black volcanic sand beach. Despite its darker hue the beach is extremely well maintained and holds the European Blue Flag award status.

Backing the beach a row of palm trees and landscaped gardens provide a startling and colourful contrast to the volcanic sand. The pace of life on holiday in Playa de la Arena is slow and steady so there is plenty of time to enjoy the surroundings and soak up the sun. It is said that the west of Tenerife has the best weather in the Canaries, which is quite a claim, but generally speaking there is plenty of sunshine with temperatures hottest in July and August, although September is only a little cooler and typically a little quieter.

The main attraction of Playa de la Arena holidays is the opportunity for relaxation and spending time by the beach. During the peak months there are water sports available and with a short trip up the coast to Los Gigantes you can take a dolphin and whale watching trip.

Just a few miles inland by car the ashen landscape of Chio perfectly demonstrates the volcanic past of the island, from the last eruption of Mount Teide in 1798. Playa de la Arena holidays can offerplenty of pleasant walks around small coves and through the hills and valleys, a good opportunity for those that like to explore. For children the Caesar's Palace arcade has a selection of electronic games and rides.

Seafood is the predominant speciality of the Playa de la Arena area but an assortment of other restaurants offer up a good variety of cuisine. You may like to try a traditional Canarian stew or a casserole made up of vegetables, maize and meat or fish.

Tapas is another typically Spanish dish but there is plenty of choice for the less adventurous. Take a trip to Santiago del Teide to sample some classic Canarian wines and cheeses.

As with most of the resorts on Tenerife holidays in Playa de la Arena are served by local and island wide bus services. The landscape of the Playa de la Arena area tends to be quite hilly so strolling around should be considered not only in terms of the distance, but also with regard to the temperature and the slope of the hills.

The typical transfer times to Playa de la Arena from the Reina Sofia International Airport can take between 1 - 1.5 hours by Airport taxi. Coach transfers are likely to take a little longer.