A tapas route (Ruta de la Tapa) involves a number of participating bars, cafes and restaurants offering a tapa and a drink for about 2.50 euros. Many of these routes are organised throughout the year in various towns on Tenerife.

There is normally a booklet issued that can be collected from the participating establishments or local tourist office, containing a map showing the location of the tapas route eateries.

This booklet will also have a photo and description of the tapa on offer at each place, so you can choose the ones you like the look of. Each restaurant will offer a speciality, so they are quite different, some are traditional, and some are very modern and fancy, and some are even deserts.

You can have your booklet stamped when you visit one of the restaurants as a record of your visit, and after collecting ten stamps you can vote for your favourite tapa if you wish. The restaurant with the most votes for the best tapa wins.

These tapas routes are great fun and an excellent way to try the cuisine and alcoholic beverages of Tenerife.

This year is the 28th Pinolere Craft Fair where more than 30 000 people are expected to visit over the weekend of 30th August – 1st September. Pinolere is a village of 700 inhabitants in the hills above La Orotava on Tenerife’s northern flank, 800 meters above sea level, set in the pine forests. Below is the coast and the town of Puerto de la Cruz.

The villagers have for generations made their living from the land and from traditional crafts. The craft fair brings all the local crafts people together to showcase the best of Tenerife’s craft products. The fair also attracts international artisans from across Europe and South America.

This year’s theme is ‘Con la caña a tres trozos-5 Bienal de Cestería’, which is a reference to basket making. On show will be handmade items of glass, wood, leather, metal, and wicker and much more including carpets, clothes, furniture ornaments and art.

There will also be local food on offer including, wine, cakes, cheeses, honey, bread and jams to name but a few. There will also be a barbecue with beer and wine available from the terrace.

The fair is located in the Pinolere Ethnographic Park, just off the road between La Orotava and the Teide National Park. There are expected to be about 30 000 visitors over the weekend, so traffic will be heavy and parking can be difficult. But there are free busses running from La Orotava and the fair between 10am and 8pm.

The fair opens daily between 30th August and 1st September 10am – 9pm.

Entrance fee €2.50