The Greening of Tenerife

This delightful island has always been one of my favourite places in the world. Yes, for having year-round sun while being just a short-haul flight from home, but mostly for its delightfully verdant landscape, organic food, charming rural hotels and spectacular hiking.

Partly because it is easily accessible from the UK and enjoys winter sun, Tenerife, along with the rest of the Canaries, suffers from being thought of as a fly and flop destination. But forget images of package holidays, high-rise hotels and bucket and spades: Tenerife, the most popular island in the Canaries, has a side that may surprise you.

Tenerife’s lava-formed landscape is swathed by an endemic species of pine that can grow on volcanic ash and the verdant north of the island in particular is full of surprises, such as the delightfully laid-back Garrachico. Half of the island is occupied by national parks, including that of Mount Teide, named after the highest peak in Spain, a 3,718-metre-high volcano and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

At the end of 2011, the Tenerife Tourism Corporation was justly recognised for promoting sustainable travel with the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) Affiliates Green Award. A whole range of eco developments has taken place such as the creation of the accessible Path of Senses trail in the Anaga Rural Park, with a series of volcano-themed hiking routes set to be introduced in 2012. Tenerife is also home to the world's first village of carbon-free homes in the world. The island’s roll call of eco achievements is, frankly, remarkable.

A number of books dedicated to Tenerife highlight its wonderful hiking opportunities. Walk! Tenerife published by Discovery Walking Guides, Tenerife: The 70 finest walks on the coast and in the mountains, published by Rother and Tenerife On Foot, published by the Tenerife Tourism Corporation, are just a few of them.

The hiking may be impressive in Tenerife but there are plenty of other outdoor activities on offer, including whale watching, diving, paragliding and mountain biking. The name of Tenerife’s highest point, Teide (the world’s third highest volcano) means ‘hell’ in the language of the Guanches, the island’s original inhabitants. I have always found a visit there – and the island of Tenerife as a whole –nothing short of heavenly.

Jet2 increased its flights to Tenerife in 2012 by 15.7%. Jet2 flies from Manchester, Blackpool, East Midlands, Newcastle, Leeds Bradford and Glasgow. Monarch currently flies to Tenerife from Birmingham, Gatwick, Luton and Manchester. Thomas Cook offers a range of flights to Tenerife from airports around the UK, as well as package holidays to the island.