Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands
West of southern Morocco in the Atlantic Ocean sits a cluster of volcanic islands called The Canaries. The Canary Islands feature a rugged volcanic landscape known for the black and white sand beaches. Tenerife, the largest island, is dominated by an active volcano Mt. Teide, which has its own astronomical observatory and is part of Teide National Park. Tenerife hosts a huge pre-Lent Carnival each year in the capital of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Where Your Ship Docks
Most cruise ships will dock at the piers in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. There are no cruise terminals or readily available public facilities at the pier. While docked in the city it is still a fair walk to reach the central business district. At times there are free shuttles available to get out of the port area.
Wheelchair Accessibility
Disembarking – This port has a developed cruise ship pier but the ease of disembarking varies by the individual ships gangway designs. For passengers using wheelchairs there can be a moderate ramp incline to deal with but the distance from the dock into town can be significant.
Port City Characteristics – This port has an average wheelchair infrastructure typical of large cities. The port area has moderate inclines in sidewalks but it is some distance to the CBD. Some intersection crosswalks may have curbs or other wheelchair obstacles.
Transportation
The island does have a good bus system (CLICK HERE) that uses a pass card, the Ten+ Travel Card. It can be used on most all bus routes. The plastic card itself can be purchased at various outlets around the island for €2 plus a €5 minimum charge amount. The island of Tenerife is a large island covering almost 100 square miles with a trip from one end to the other being about fifty miles.
Because of the distances that you need to cover to see the island on a short visit it’s recommended that you rent a car or take a tour
Currency
The Canary Islands belong to Spain and are part of the EU making the local currency the Euro. Credit cards are widely accepted but you will need to use the Euro for cash transactions.
Attractions
Don’t miss an opportunity to just stroll the streets of Santa Cruz just a up from the cruise docks. There are a number of good cafes and restaurants, cafes and shopping with a city market called the African Market featuring its own restaurants, cafes, along with stalls of produce and crafts.
The Canary Islands are a favorite holiday destination for Europeans, particularly the British. It features a good selection of fine restaurants along with a thriving wine industry with a number of vineyards of note.
Because of the volcanic nature of the island there are a number of interesting sights focused on the geology. Visit the Cueva De Los Verdes, lava-formed tunnel which features guided tours. Also the Jameos del Agua, a volcanic cave system with dining & music that opens each day at 10 am.
Blessed with a near perfect climate, Tenerife has a number of good beaches like Playa de Amadores, a busy beach for swimming and sunbathing. There is also Palmitos Park, a botanic park with an aviary & dolphinarium or Siam Park a Thai-themed adventure water park.
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