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- Destinations
- Europe
- Spain
- Tenerife
- Playa la Arena
Playa la Arena
Once a fishing village on the west coast of Tenerife, Playa la
Arena is today one of three separate holiday resorts (Los Gigantes,
Puerto Santiago and Playa la Arena) that have to all intents and
purposes merged into one. Playa la Arena is the most modern of the
three and has a lovely long stretch of Blue Flag standard black
sand beaches. The sea offers excellent swimming, but waters can
sometimes be rough. A promenade runs along the seafront and is
flanked by a variety of restaurants (some offering excellent
seafood), several bars and shops. There is plenty to do besides
relaxing on the beach or sampling local cuisine and many visitors
opt for a boat trip to neighbouring Los Gigantes, whale watching
tours, day trips to the nearby village of Masca or a cable car ride
up Mount Teide in the Teide National Park. Visitors can also choose
to take a stroll to either Puerto Santiago or Los Gigantes for
something different, or catch a bus to the bustling Playa de las
Americas for a night on the town. In general, Playa la Arena is
peaceful and laid-back, lacking the aggressive touting common in
other resorts, and offers a perfect combination of activity and
relaxation for all types of visitors seeking the perfect holiday
destination.
Information & Facts
Activities
This Tenerife holiday destination offers plenty of activities
for the few days not spent on Playa la Arena's beaches. Visitors
can take a boat trip to the nearby Los Gigantes, and the whale
watching tours are a must for the whole family. With the Teide
National Park a short trip away visitors can take the cable car to
the top of Mount Teide and enjoy the spectacular view. Visitors
staying in Playa la Arena also have the option of enjoying a fun
night out in Playa de las Americas or a sightseeing stroll through
the nearby villages of Los Gigantes and Puerto Santiago.
Language
Spanish is the official language, but English is widely
understood in areas frequented by tourists. Catalan, Galician and
Basque are spoken in the relevant areas.
Money
Spain's official currency is the Euro (EUR). One Euro is divided
into 100 cents. Money can be exchanged at bureaux de change and
major hotels, but banks give the best rates. All major credit cards
and travellers cheques are widely accepted at most hotels,
restaurants, and shops. ATMs are widespread and are generally the
cheapest and most convenient method of obtaining money.
Negatives
This area is very hilly and therefore challenging for people
with walking difficulties or parents with prams. The sea can have
strong undercurrents so take red flag lifeguard warnings.
Night Life
Although there are many bars and cafes, proper nightclubs are
few and far between.
Restaurants
Many international restaurants and tapas bars line the
well-developed promenade. English style pub food is widely
available. It is worth sampling some of the delicious Canarian
dishes, such as salty new potatoes boiled in sea water, baked with
a spicy mojo sauce.
Shopping
Duty-free shopping is a big attraction of a visit to Tenerife.
The best mall for consumer goods is in the nearby town of Los
Gigantes, although the Commercial Centre in town has a decent range
of shops as well.
Time
Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the last Sunday in March
and the Saturday before the last Sunday in October). The Canary
Islands: GMT (GMT +1 in summer).