Euros Selected

At the south-west end of the island, set against a backdrop of volcanic peaks, lie the resorts of Costa Adeje and Playa de las Américas. A coastal road runs through both and the terrain is steeper inland and flatter towards the sea (it’s important to know this so you’ll be prepared for the longer walk up to some of the hotels set further back from the beaches.)

The Barranco del Rey riverbed divides the two resorts: more reserved, family-orientated Costa Adeje to the north and younger, more vibrant Playa de las Américas to the south. From a distance, however, it’s difficult to tell the two apart. The whole stretch of coast is taken up with concrete high-rises and sprawling complexes, softened by palm groves and cascading flowering shrubs. It also has a pleasant promenade and some stretches of golden sands, which have been imported from the Sahara Desert. The warm, clear seas are perfect for swimming and water sports.

An uninterrupted stream of hotels, apartment complexes, pubs, bars, discos and kitsch souvenir shops, Playa de las Américas is a modern playground with an international party atmosphere that suits young couples and groups of friends. The centre of the action is the famous Las Veronicas strip, where there are so many entertainment venues and bars serving British food and booze that the only problem is choosing which one! Amongst the fun on offer there’s themed music nights, guest DJs, pyjama parties and foam parties.

There’s still plenty to do in both resorts during daytime as well and lots to keep children happy, especially in Costa Adeje. Indeed the range of activities in both resorts is amongst the most varied and abundant in Tenerife. It includes assorted water sports, the Octopus Aquapark, bungee jumping, parasailing, golf and tennis.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing family holiday or a fun break with friends, Costa Adeje and Playa de las Américas will ensure that you’re kept occupied and entertained day and night, while all the time enjoying the delights of Tenerife’s perpetual summer.

Golf

Costa Adeje Golf

Both Playa de las Américas and Costa Adeje have their own golf courses. The Las Americas Golf Course is situated in a gently sloping natural amphitheatre, protected from the wind by the range of hills which form its immediate surroundings. It offers an ideal climate in winter and summer, with average temperatures rarely straying outside the range of 21°C – 25°C. A par 72, it also features a series of lakes, streams and waterfalls that create a pleasant environment. At the clubhouse there are a wide range of services, including bar-cafeteria, pro-shop, bag and club custody service, buggy and caddie cart hire, golf school.

Just 5 kilometres from Playa de las Americas, Costa Adeje Golf Course opened in 1998 and has rapidly become one the most popular courses in Tenerife. Designed by the internationally renowned architect Pepe Gancedo, the long, undulating fairways are built around a series of terraces and divided by the restored stone walls of an old banana plantation. The greens are generally large and the course has an equal number of par 3’s, 4’s and 5’s, beginning with a long par-5 of 510 metres. The views from the course across the sea to the island of La Gomera are stunning. Additional features include a 45,000 square metre practice course, which set above a natural ravine and offers three teeing-off levels at different heights.

Eating and Drinking

Costa Adeje Bar

There are plenty of restaurants in Playa de las Américas, offering a wide range of food that may best be described as ‘resort international’ and includes Italian, Indian and Chinese, as well as some pretty good fresh seafood. There are also plenty of English-style pubs advertising full cooked breakfasts, Yorkshire pudding and Sky TV. Some of the best restaurants overlook the marina in Puerto Colon.

If you’re searching for something more authentically Spanish, try the cluster of small restaurants within the Residencia el Camisón building in the no-man’s land between Playa de las Américas and Los Christianos. Each serves authentic Spanish cuisine – including tapas and paella – to a very much Spanish clientele. Local specialities include papas arragudas (literally ‘wrinkled potatoes’ – small spuds boiled in their jackets with salt) served with mojo picante (spicy green or red herb sauce.) The pubs serve lots of German lagers and fine British bitters.

Text written by David Cunningham, author of CloudWorld and CloudWorld At War