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Thursday, 03 February 2022 11:48

Tenerife All Inclusive Family Holidays

All Inclusive Tenerife holidays for families. Everything’s taken care of in these all-inclusive family holidays to Tenerife. All-inclusive family holidays in Tenerife are great value for money, with three meals a day, and snacks and drinks are all part of the package.

All Inclusive Family Holidays In Tenerife

all inclusive available
Iberostar Selection Anthelia, Costa Adeje, Tenerife

Iberostar Selection Anthelia

holiday all inclusive Tenerife for families

All inclusive family holiday, rooms designed for children, adult and children’s pools with slides, 100m to Fañabe Beach, kids club, seaviews, air conditioned, TV, Spa, buffet breakfast, 5 restaurants, 3 bars.

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all inclusive available
Hotel Bahia del Duque, Costa Adeje, Tenerife

Hotel Bahia del Duque

all inclusive holiday in Tenerife for families

On Playa del Duque beach, luxury hotel, subtropical gardens, 5 outdoor pools, childrens pool, spa, fitness centre, 8 restaurants, 7 bars, kids club, icecream palour, entertainment, mini-disco, teens lounge, beach bar.

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all inclusive available
Barceló Santiago, Puerto de Santiago, Tenerife

Hotel Barceló Santiago

All inclusive holiday for families Tenerife

All inclusive family holiday, views of La Gomera Island, 3 outdoor pools, kids pool, entertainment staff, kids and Teens club, playground, evening entertainment, kids meals, air conditioning, plasma TV.

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all inclusive available
Iberostar Bouganville Playa, Costa Adeje, Tenerife

Iberostar Bouganville Playa

All inclusive Tenerife holiday for families

Seafront family holiday, 200m from Playa del Bobo Beach, sea views, WiFi, 3 pools, children's Pool, kids club, children's playground, babysitter service, entertainment, 2 restaurants, 3 bars, pool bar.

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all inclusive available
Fantasia Bahia Principe, Golf del Sur, Tenerife

Fantasia Bahia Principe Tenerife

Tenerife all inclusive holiday for families

Brand new fantasy themed, water park, 7 pools, pool bar, evening entertainment, kids club, teens club, night club, spa, fitness centre, 6 bars, 5 restaurants:- Poolside, Buffet, Steak House, Asian, Italian.

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all inclusive available
Bahia Principe Tenerife, Costa Adeje, Tenerife

Bahia Principe Sunlight Tenerife

All inclusive Tenerife family holiday

100 meters from Playa Las Salinas, lagoon-style pool, Kids pool, sun terraces, 3 restaurants, 2 bars, gym, tennis courts, spa, children’s playground, kids club, entertainment, mini golf.

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all inclusive available
Hotel Barceló Tenerife, Golf del Sur, Tenerife

Hotel Barceló Tenerife

family all inclusive tenerife holiday

Seafront hotel, sea views, 5 salt water pools, 3 kids pools, 2 restaurants, 4 bars, 2 pool bars, lounge disco bar, evening entertainment, night club, kids club, activities, Spa, fitness centre, WiFi.

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all inclusive available
Hoteles Roca Nivaria, Costa Adeje, Tenerife

Hotel Roca Nivaria

holiday all inclusive Tenerife for families

Seafront hotel, spa, 2 infinity pools, childrens pool, stunning views, modern rooms, air conditioning, satellite TV, water park, kids club & playground, evening entertainment, 3 restaurants, 2 bars, poolside bar.

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all inclusive available
Sol Tenerife, Costa Adeje, Tenerife

Hotel Sol Tenerife

all inclusive holiday in Tenerife for families

200 meters from Troya Beach, 2 adult pools, childrens pool, tennis court, sea views, air-conditioned, satellite TV, WiFi, kids' club, supermarket, buffet restuarant, 2 bars, poolside bar, entertainment.

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all inclusive available
Hotel La Siesta, Playa de las Americas, Tenerife

Hotel La Siesta

all inclusive holiday in Tenerife for families

Located in the resort of Playa De Las Americas, 350m to beach, adult and children’s pools, gardens, air conditioning, satellite TV, buffet restaurant, snack bar, live piano music, evening entertainmen, gym, spa.

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An award for the best hotel in Spain has been awarded to a hotel in Tenerife. The winning hotel is the Royal River & Spa Luxury Hotel located in Costa Adeje in the south of Tenerife.

The hotel is located in Tenerife's most exclusive area, in front of the Costa Adeje Golf Course. It has a spectacular collection of 50 villas: The Lagoon Villas, inspired by Africa; the River Villas, connected by a river among lush vegetation, and the Pool Villas, all with a private pool, a unique concept in Spain. In addition, it has four restaurants, five outdoor swimming pools, a fitness centre and three bars, boasting suites and villas, each with a private pool or plunge pool.

José Fernando Cabrera, president of Grupo Golf Resort, will receive the award from the Spanish Association of Tourism Journalists and Writers next week at Fitur (International Tourism Trade Fair) in Madrid.

The Spanish Association of Tourism Journalists and Writers chose the Royal River & Spa Luxury Hotel located in Tenerife as the best hotel in Spain.

Have a look at 12 More Fabulous 5 Star Hotels In Costa Adeje Tenerife and the Royal River & Spa Luxury Hotel.

Royal River & Spa Luxury Hotel, Costa Adeje, Tenerife
Royal River & Spa Luxury Hotel

The Association Fijet Spain 2022 Awards recognise and honour entities, organisations, projects and destinations in tourism and value excellence in management, promotion, and destinations. This year there were 107 nominees for Best Destination Country, Best Spanish City, Best Transport Company operating in Spain, Best Hotel and Best Wine Route.

The Fijet 2022 Awards ceremony takes place this week at the International Tourism Fair (Fitur), bringing together travel agents, institutions and companies to launch one of the most important industries in the country. Fijet España is a professional body in which journalists and writers are represented, whose primary purpose is to promote tourism. Its president, Miguel Ángel González, emphasises that "this award serves as an example of total tourist excellence", in times needing optimism and unity to make recovery possible.

The president of the Golf Resort Group, José Fernando Cabrera, points out that "this award is a great pleasure for our managers and employees and for Tenerife. The Royal River is a hotel that represents the elements of a fantastic holiday island such as Tenerife: independent villas, quality decoration, large gardens, water, vegetation and exceptional food".

Read our Costa Adeje Review about Tenerife's most exclusive resort.

Royal River & Spa Luxury Hotel, Costa Adeje, Tenerife
Royal River & Spa Luxury Hotel
adults only
Royal River & Spa, Luxury 5 Star Hotel, Costa Adeje, Tenerife

Royal River & Spa - Luxury Hotel

5 star hotel

Luxury Hotel, suites and villas with private pool, 4 restaurants, 5 swimming pools, spa and wellness centre, 3 bars, air conditioning, flat-screen TV with satellite channels

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More hotels in Costa Adeje

Published in Tenerife News
Monday, 10 January 2022 10:59

Playa Del Bollullo Closed Due To Rock Falls

Playa Bollullo is still closed after more landslides from the cliffs above the beach, affecting the access path to the beach itself. For this reason, the mayor of La Villa, Francisco Linares, reports that the respective technical checks have been carried out. After the assessment, he announced, "from December 30, and access to this beach is closed," stressing that "the safety of users is a priority". The beach is secluded and about 2km east of Puerto de la Cruz and is not widely known to tourists.

Playa del Bollullo, Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife
Playa del Bollullo

Large rocks have fallen in an area recently and have fallen onto the footpath. Last July, there was a significant landslide in the area that forced the closure of the beach for a few months. A mesh and reinforcing were placed on the affected area. However, this did not fix the problem rockfall problem.

"So now, it will be necessary to place the protection along the entire slope," said Linares. In January, budgets will be requested to carry out these works and to be able to prepare the entire slope and open the access when safety can be guaranteed. Next week, the municipal engineers will study the cliff's condition in greater detail and work out the actions required.

Published in Tenerife News

The restaurants of Tenerife will have to close their doors at midnight with Tenerife's move to covid to level 4. However, their capacities will remain as they have been so far: 33% indoors and 75% outdoors. This way, the Government plans to limit "the movement of citizens" as the virus spreads unchecked on the island while hoping to avoid "effects on economic activity".

In general, the capacities related to hospitality and activities in the Canary Islands are set at 33% indoors and 50% outdoors. However, there will be some sectors that will enjoy improvements regarding this limit. This is the case of the cultural industry, which will continue operating at 55% indoors and 75% outdoors. The hotel and catering industry will maintain its terraces at 75%. The limit of six people meeting together remains. There is no restriction on entering or leaving the island.

The Minister of Health, Blas Trujillo, explained the easing of level 4 restrictions is because the current situation is not as bad as experienced in summer, essentially because 80% of the population is vaccinated. Trujillo also highlighted that many activities and premises must request a covid certificate as an entry requirement; this measure is compulsory for levels 3 and 4, while voluntary for levels 1 and 2.

The changes will come into effect at midnight on Monday 10th January 2022.

El Dia
Published in Tenerife News
Monday, 27 December 2021 17:07

Things To See In La Orotava Tenerife

Casa Benitez de Lugo Vina

Records of this building were already in place in 1588 when it was part of the estate assets founded by Francisco Benítez de Lugo y Cabrera. The house is part of an extensive plot stretching from Calle de la Carrera to Calle de Los Alfombristas. Early in the nineteenth century, engineer José de Betancourt y Castro was commissioned to carry out a renovation project to completely change the house's internal structure. Further internal reconstruction was carried out in the twentieth century when the house was owned by Ana Massieu de las Casas. The appearance of the façade indicates the importance of neoclassicism which is widely used in the surrounding architecture.

Casa Benitez de Lugo Vina, La Orotava, Tenerife
Casa Benitez de Lugo Vina

Casa Mendez Fonseca

The house, also known as 'Casa de los Balcones', was built on a plot given as an endowment by Diego González Nieto to his niece Juana Nieto after her marriage to Captain Juan de Castro Bazo y Merino in 1657. They built one of the most important buildings in La Orotava in the 17th century, based on the neighbouring Jiménez Franchy house. It is decorated with a unique sgraffito solution. The house is built on a large irregular plot, and its structure originates from a courtyard. The façade is split into three floors, with sash windows on the ground floor, wrought-iron balconies on the middle floor and an elegant wooden balcony on the top floor. The carpentry work on the galleries, windows, doors and balconies has been praised over the centuries for the quality of the craftsmen.

Casa Mendez Fonseca, La Orotava, Tenerife
Casa Mendez Fonseca

Casa Jemenez de Franchy

This house was commissioned by Marina Jimenez Fonte del Castillo and was built about 1642 and extended a century later. The house has three windows rather than four, so the front door is not in the facade's centre. The carvings on the ground floor windows and the four animals above the first-floor windows show the skill of the local artisans. The balcony is similar to the next-door building creating a unique layout.

Casa Jemenez de Franchy, La Orotava, Tenerife
Casa Jemenez de Franchy

Casa Diaz Flores

Since the early eighteenth century, the plot occupied by this house had been the site of the College of San Luis Gonzaga, run by the Jesuits. After confiscation, the premises were put to other uses, most notably the Town Hall. However, in 1841 the house was destroyed by a fire and then rebuilt with the current design overseen by Antonio Díaz Flores y Vera. This is another example of the romantic classicism so well received in La Orotava. From 1862 until the beginning of the twentieth century, the house was a hotel whose guests included Richard Francis Burton and the British watercolourist Elizabeth Murray. Interesting carved stone elements from the original Jesuit buildings are preserved in the garden.

Casa Ponte Fonte - Casa Lercaro

In 1654 Jerónimo Ponte Fonte y Pagés ordered this house to be built after his marrage to Catalina Grimaldi Rizzo de Lugo. The large plot allowed new sections to be built and now has a unique J shaped footprint. The size of the house means it has had many uses over the years, including a family residence, warehouse and a drying facility for locally grown tobacco. The façade is designed in the symmetry characteristic of the time. It is adapted to the steep incline of the road, which determines the arrangement of the façade's windows and doors, with openings of varying sizes on the ground floor. Highlights include the sgraffito and the originality of its four balconies, made of wood and iron.

Casa Ponte Fonte - Casa Lercaro, La Orotava, Tenerife
Casa Ponte Fonte - Casa Lercaro

Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción

Historical records date back to 1503 and are connected to the town's origins and later trajectory. The current Church is the third to occupy the site since 1515 and was built between 1768 and 1788 under stonemason Patricio José García and carpenter Miguel García de Chaves. Financed with alms from American trade sanctioned by King Carlos III, the Church received significant financial support from many emigrants, especially those residing in Cuba, known as Indianos. The outside bears finely wrought eighteenth-century detail. The inside is a classical basilica shape structure with three naves, barrel vaults and a dome supported by pendentives. It also features a collection of artefacts of different styles and historical periods. The Church was declared a National Historic-Artistic Monument on 18th June 1948.

Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, La Orotava, Tenerife
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción

Biblioteca Municipal Fernando del Hoyo y Laura Salazar

In the eighteenth century, this was the residence of Martin Bucaille, the beneficiary of the nearby Church of La Concepción, and his brother Antonio Bucaille, a lawyer for the Royal Councils. It was later passed on to the Conde del Valle de Salazar. It became the Casino headquarters in the twentieth century and is now the Municipal Library. Despite these different uses, the building preserves the wood flooring, staircase and layout around a central courtyard. Of equal interest is its façade, marked by the road's steepness onto which a door opens in its north side, intended for the servants. The second section has a fascinating balcony covered with woodwork demonstrating the predominant architectural types in eighteenth-century La Orotava.

Biblioteca Municipal Fernando del Hoyo y Laura Salazar, La Orotava, Tenerife
Biblioteca Municipal Fernando del Hoyo y Laura Salazar

Hijuela del Jardín Botánico

This area was built over the old orchard of the convent of San José after seizure laws were allied when the convent was demolished. It remained an urban plot without any function until the end of the nineteenth century. The plot was then developed as a nursery for plant species to increase the collection at the Botanical Garden of La Orotava located in La Paz plains, once acclimated to the island's conditions. However, most of the species planted have remained here. Most of the plants are of tropical origin, both African and American. You'll also find one of the most impressive dragon trees in La Orotava today. The garden is also home to numerous birds species. On 21st June 2007, by Decree of the Government of the Canary Islands, the Hijuela del Jardín Botánico de Aclimatación de La Orotava was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest.

Hijuela del Jardín Botánico, La Orotava, Tenerife
Hijuela del Jardín Botánico

Victoria Gardens - Masonic Mausoleum - Quinta Roja Pantheon

Originaly part of the Quinta Roja Marquisate mansion until the beginning of the twentieth century, these gardens were initially commissioned to be an orchard by the Marchioness of la Quinta Roja. However, when her son died in April 1880, the Bishopric would not permit him to be buried in the family vault because he was a Freemason, leaving him to be interred in the non-Catholic section of the cemetery. This humiliation led the Marchioness to build the garden with a mausoleum to lay her son's body to rest. She was eventually granted permission to bury their son in the family vault, so the mausoleum was never used. However, it still stands today as a monument against religious intolerance.

Jardines Victoria - Mausoleo Masónico - Panteón de la Quinta Roja, La Orotava, Tenerife
Jardines Victoria - Mausoleo Masónico - Panteón de la Quinta Roja

Liceo de Taoro - Casa Ascanio

This mansion was built in 1928 and was the home of the Ascanio family. The building is striking for its imposing scale of unprecedented dimensions at the time, standing on a hilltop overlooking the valley and coastal area of Puerto de la Cruz. The interior reveals its owners' extravagance to invest both the décor and the finishing materials. In addition to its architectural features, the house is surrounded by flower beds and gardens teeming with plants. Since 1975 it has been the Liceo de Taoro Cultural Society headquarters.

Liceo de Taoro - Casa Ascanio, La Orotava, Tenerife
Liceo de Taoro - Casa Ascanio

Ayuntamiento - Palacio Municipal

This neoclassical building dates back to the mid-nineteenth century when the old Clarisse convent of San Jose was seized under the Mendizabal law in 1836 and demolished in 1868. The result was the development of four new spaces, including the town hall building, fronted by a large plaza, and the Hijuela del Jardín Botánico (botanic garden) at the rear on the site of the old convent gardens. The area as it is today was inaugurated in April 1912. The town hall is the best example of neoclassical architecture in La Orotava, owing to its layout designed by Pedro Maffiotte and Manuel de Oraá. In 2001, a complete refurbishment was begun, and completed in early 2005.

Ayuntamiento - Palacio Municipal, La Orotava, Tenerife
Ayuntamiento - Palacio Municipal
Published in Places to Visit
Sunday, 19 December 2021 10:39

La Orotava Hotels Tenerife

Hotels in La Orotava Tenerife. Low rates, no booking fees, 24/7 customer support, free cancellation.

La Orotava Hotels

Hotel Rural Orotava, 3 Star Hotel, La Orotava, Tenerife

Hotel Rural Orotava

3 star hotel

Charming hotel with beautiful original décor, centrally located, oldest villa in Orotava, comfortable rooms with original furniture, home-made Canarian cuisine, patio, local wines, relaxation room.

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Hotel Rural Victoria, 3 Star Hotel, La Orotava, Tenerife

Hotel Rural Victoria - La Orotava Hotel

3 star hotel

The Hotel Rural Victoria, 16th Century building, original architecture, fully restored, 13 beautiful double rooms and a suite, garden, sun terrace, lounge, bar, snack bar.

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Hotel Alhambra, 2 Star Hotel, La Orotava, Tenerife

Hotel Alhambra - La Orotava Hotel

2 Star hotel

Mansion hotel located in La Orotava, outdoor pool, sauna, large rooms, satellite TV, parquet floors, classic-style décor, ornate bathroom, games room, free tea and coffee throughout the day.

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Read our La Orotava resort review

Sunday, 05 December 2021 10:22

El Médano Beach

El Médano beach is one of the best in south Tenerife if. It is perfect for water sports lovers and families looking to spend a fabulous day on the beach. This beach is awarded a Blue Flag, guaranteeing top quality services and excellent swimming conditions.

El Medano beach area closer to the town is more suitable for families as the sea is calmer here with gentler waves and shallow water. Further along the promenade, you will find seafront restaurants, buzzing cafés and surf shops. The beach furthest from the town is the best place for windsurfing and kitesurfing, hosting several international competitions, such as the World Windsurfing and Kitesurfing Championships.

El Médano is located in Granadilla de Abona, close to Golf del Sur and Tenerife south airport, famous for its fine sand and views of Montaña Roja.

Read our resort review of El Medano

Playa El Medano Beach, El Medano, Tenerife
Playa El Medano Beach
Places to Stay in El Médano

Frequently Asked Questions About El Medano Beach

Where is El Medano Beach?

El Médano is located in the Munincipality of Granadilla de Abona south Tenerife.

How long is El Medano Beach?

El Médano beach is 750 meters long.

Is El Medano Beach Sandy?

El Médano beach is a natural sandy beach.

Is El Medano Beach Safe For Families?

Yes, El Medano Beach is safe for families.

Places to Stay in El Médano

Published in Tenerife Beaches
Friday, 05 November 2021 19:27

Tenerife South Airport Buses

Tenerife's bus service is excellent and economical for getting to your hotel from Tenerife south airport. Various buses go directly from the airport to Costa Adeje, Puerto de la Cruz, Costa del Silencio, Golf del Sur, and the capital city of Santa Cruz. There is also a night bus running between Costa Adeje and Santa Cruz.

The following bus lines service Tenerife south airport to popular resort areas, shown with the final destination.

  • Bus Line 40 - Costa Adeje - Tenerife South Airport
  • Bus Line 111 - Costa Adeje - Los Cristianos - Tenerife South Airport - Las Caletillas - Santa Cruz
  • Bus Line 343 - Costa Adeje - Los Cristianos - Tenerife South Airport - Tenerife North Airport - Puerto de la Cruz
  • Bus Line 425 - El Fraile - Costa del Silencio - Golf del Sur - Tenerife South Airport - San Isidro
  • Bus Line 711 - (Night Bus) Costa Adeje - Los Cristianos - Tenerife South Airport - Santa Cruz
More info about airport buses on TITSA website
Published in Tenerife Buses
Wednesday, 03 November 2021 19:43

Playa del Bollullo

Located at the foot of a cliff in the region of El Rincón (La Orotava), this beach boasts an expanse of black sand combined with volcanic formations rising out of the sea. The beach is isolated and only accessible via many steps.

Playa el Bollullo, Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife
Playa del Bollullo

Access to the beach is somewhat limited. However, you can walk from Puerto de la Cruz to Playa el Bollullo, the walk is an enjoyable one through banana plantations and will take about 40 minutes. or from the El Bolullo restaurant (in the region of El Rincón) along a stepped path that takes just a few minutes.

It is possible to buy snacks and drinks on the beach, and there are sun loungers and parasols for hire.

You can reach El Bollullo beach either by car or by walking the coastal path from Puerto de la Cruz. There is a small beach shack, the Chiringuito Bollullo Beach bar, selling drinks and tapas, and above the beach is a good restaurant serving Canarian food, seafood and steaks with fabulous views over the ocean.

There is a lifeguard and sun loungers and parasols for hire during the summer.

Playa del Bollullo, Tenerife
Playa del Bollullo
Monday, 25 October 2021 16:26

Jardin de Orquideas de Sitio Litre

The Orchid Gardens of Sitio Litre

The garden of Sitio Litre hosts a collection of almost 200 Orchids, always fresh and in flower, and is the most extensive collection on the island. The garden is a charming combination of English formal garden design and a host of colourful, beautiful tropical and sub-tropical plants. As well as its orchid collection, Sitio Litre is also famous for its Dragon tree, which is believed to be up to 600 years old. However, this specimen is not the oldest dragon tree on the island. That honour belongs to a tree in Icod de los Vinos. The Sitio Litre dragon tree is believed to have existed before the Spanish conquest in 1494. The original croquet lawn also survives.

History Of Sitio Litre

The mansion of Sitio Litre was built in the 1730s and bought by John Paisley, a Scottish wine merchant from Dumfries, in 1756. John Paisley was a successful businessman living in Lisbon exporting wine from Portugal, but when Lisbon was totally destroyed by the 'Great Lisbon Earthquake' of 1755, he decided to leave and moved to Tenerife. He worked exporting wines from Tenerife for many years.

In 1774 John Paisley's two nephews, Archibald and James Little, came to Tenerife to help with the wine export business and moved into the house. The house then passed to Archibald Little, where the name of the place comes from. The locals had problems pronouncing 'Little'; it was a bit of a tongue twister, so they changed it to 'litre'. Sitio Litre, Little's Place. The Little family held on to the house throughout the French revolutionary wars when England and Spain were at war. Archibald and James returned to Dumfries in Scotland in 1820.

Orchid Garden, Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife

The house was sold to Charles Smith in 1856; the Little family first planned the English garden and was added to by the Smith family, who owned the house for the next 140 years until 1996.

Famous Visitors To Sitio Litre

Many famous people stayed in Sitio Litre as guests in the house or at the many garden parties, including Oscar Wilde's father, William Wild, Marianne North, the botanical painter and Agatha Christie. The first British envoy to China, Lord Macartney, spent a few days at the home in 1792 along with HMS Lion and HMS Hindostan officers on the first British diplomatic mission to China. In those days, there was no Suez Canal, so the ships had to sail around the Cape of Good Hope and stopped at Santa Cruz de Tenerife to take on supplies.

Alexander von Humboldt, the famous German geologist, scientist and adventurer, visited Sitio Litre on the 23rd of June 1799 as the guest of honour to a garden party held for him. He stopped at Tenerife for a week on his way to South America on a commission for the Spanish government to document unknown animal and plant species in the new world and spent a week on the island.

Orchid Garden, Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife

Alexander von Humboldt, the famous German geologist, scientist and adventurer, visited Sitio Litre on the 23rd of June 1799 as the guest of honour to a garden party held for him. He stopped at Tenerife for a week on his way to South America on a commission for the Spanish government to document unknown animal and plant species in the new world and spent a week on the island.

The next visitor of note is Dr William Wild, nose, throat and ear specialist to Queen Victoria and the father of the author Oscar Wild. He came to Tenerife in 1837 and spent about three months living in Sitio Litre.

In 1856 the astronomer Charles Piazzi Smyth and his wife Jessica came to Tenerife and were invited to Sitio Litre, where he stayed for about 10 days. Piazzi Smyth was Astronomer Royal for Scotland and pioneered placing telescopes at high altitudes to enjoy the best observing conditions. He climbed up Mount Teide and set up camp to test telescopes at high altitudes. Jessica Smyth brought with her the first-ever photographic camera to come to Tenerife. Some of the earliest photos ever taken on Tenerife were taken in the garden of Sitio Litre. It is due to the pioneering work of Piazzi Smyth that the Tiede Observatory in Izaña at 2390 meters is used today to study the sun.

Sir Richard Burton, a famous explorer, visited Tenerife in 1860 and 1863. He 'discovered' Lake Tanganyika and translated three erotic books of the east into English and wrote of his Tenerife visit in his book 'To The Gold Coast For Gold Vol 1'.

Marianne North, the famous botanical painter, stayed in the house for two months in 1875. She painted 27 pictures of Tenerife, 7 of which were painted in the garden of Sitio Litre. Some of the trees she painted in the garden still survive, including the 600 years old Dragon tree reputed to be the oldest in Puerto de la Cruz. Marianne painted over 800 pictures worldwide, all of which are on display at Kew Gardens in London.

Agatha Cristie visited the garden with her daughter whilst on holiday in Puerto de la Cruz in 1927. In her book, 'The Misterious Mr Quin' of ten short stories, one of the short stories 'The Man From The Sea', the plot is based in Puerto de la Cruz.

The house is still privately owned. In 1996 the current owner, John Lucas, bought the house opening the garden to the public the same year. After someone researched his family tree, John discovered his great, great, great, great grandmother, Jane Little, was the niece of Archibald Little. It was a great surprise, as he had bought the house without realising he was directly related to the original owners, the Little family.

The orchid garden of Puerto de la Cruz is the oldest surviving garden in Tenerife at over 240 years old and has been owned by British families continuously since 1730.

Also onsite is a café and a shop specialising in local products, serving brunch, afternoon teas and tapas.

The Orchid Gardens of Sitio Litre
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