Tenerife, the first taste of a nomadic life.
South Tenerife, Canary Islands - 10.04.2021
The pandemic brought us many horrible things. There is absolutely no doubt about it.
But as they say, in every situation we should always try to find a bright side. And so I did.
Covid-19 and consequently the forced human isolation revolutionized completely the traditional concept of office-based working, introducing new concepts like smart working, remote working, and flexible working.
Once the pandemic ended, a huge amount of people realized that they no longer wanted (and needed) to spend +40 hrs of their weekly time confined in an office, but instead, be equally (or even more) productive within the comfort of their homes, replying to emails instantly from their toilet seat, or attending meetings while their feet were on a sandy beach.
Of course not all professions allowed you to do all the above things - but I was blessed enough that my profession was one of those listed in the jobs list that can be done remotely.
So I took a leap, returned to my home country with over a decade of London-based design experience in my luggage, and started to work remotely.
Once travel restrictions started to ease, back in the spring of 2021, I set sail to the Canary Islands, intending to get a first bite of what was called nomadic life.
My partner had some friends in Tenerife and we realized that life was pretty cheap. So we booked the flight tickets and decided to stay there for a whole month.
But why South of Tenerife? We simply wanted a relaxed place where we could focus on working remotely, with a strong Wi-Fi connection and discover the island at our own pace. South Tenerife is renowned for the wonderful sandy beaches lining much of its coastline. Its permanently pleasant weather and sunshine all year round keep the waters warm, so it is a great place for water sports and for the variety of leisure activities that you will find in the region.
Some of the many options you can choose from in the south of Tenerife include going on a trip to explore its landscapes, or eating out at a restaurant on a terrace by the sea. Sadly, we couldn't try any of the many theme parks that used to be great attractions in the island because they were all closed during our stay. Cheers Covid!
We stayed in a pretty home in a residential complex near a beautiful beach known as Playa de las Américas, which lies between Arona and Adeje. It has a huge array of bars, restaurants, cafés and nightclubs on the sea front. In the daytime, the best idea is to chill out listening to the soothing sound of the ocean or take a surfing or diving lesson with the family. The area of Costa del Silencio has lovely hidden bays set in between amazing cliffs, bathed in the clear, warm waters of Tenerife's southern coast. The sunsets were absolutely breathtaking...
The beach of Las Vistas in Los Cristianos is the perfect place for sunbathing, tasting some traditional Tenerife recipes, and swimming in the sea at any time of year. Peace and relaxation are what define a holiday in Los Cristianos, nestled in the protected landscapes of La Montaña de Chayofita and La Montaña de Guaza in the municipality of Arona. Other hugely popular beaches include Playa de Los Cristianos and Los Tarajales. The port of Los Cristianos is positioned right by the beach and is a great place to catch a boat to visit the other islands in the archipelago during your stay in Tenerife.
The impressive cliffs of Los Gigantes stand next to the tourist town that is named after them and which is renowned for its peace and quiet, sunshine, lovely beaches, and stunning scenery. Near the Reina Sofía Airport there is the fishing town of El Médano, which is the ultimate destination for windsurfers and kitesurfers and has a laid-back family atmosphere.
The bus trip to Santa Cruz de Tenerife. From south Tenerife we hop onto a bus to discover Tenerife North, and in particular its capital. We immediately noticed the difference between the calm & chill vibe of the south, with the bustle & hustle of the north side.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife was founded in 1494. The British naval hero Capt. Horatio Nelson (later Viscount Nelson) lost his right arm in an unsuccessful assault on Santa Cruz in 1797. After Nelson’s attack, Santa Cruz was designated an incorporated town with its own coat of arms to represent the bravery of its inhabitants. Santa Cruz became the capital of the Canary Islands shortly thereafter, a title it held until 1927, when it became the co-capital along with Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Santa Cruz is the permanent seat of the islands’ parliament. Gen. Francisco Franco organized in Santa Cruz the national uprising that led to the Spanish Civil War in 1936.
Its harbour is one of Spain's busiest: it is important for commercial and passenger traffic as well as for being a major stopover for cruisers en route from Europe to the Caribbean. The city also has one of the world's largest carnivals: the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife now aspires to become a World Heritage Site, and is the second largest in the world.
The varied architecture of the city stands out, highlighting the Auditorio de Tenerife (Auditorium of Tenerife), which is considered one of the greatest exponents of contemporary architecture. In the panoramic view of the city, the Torres de Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz Towers) also stand out, which with 120 meters tallest twin towers in Spain. Other outstanding places are the Plaza de España, which is the nerve center of the city, and the Parque García Sanabria, a large urban park located in the center of the city.
Outside the city but in its municipal district, Playa de Las Teresitas and a large part of the Macizo de Anagastand out, declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2015. Renting a car and on a fun road trip to visit Cañadas del Teide. If you are visiting the island of Tenerife, the ascent to the highest peak in Spain, in Cañadas del Teide, is an excursion not to be missed.
If you are thinking of visiting Mount Teide by car, bear in mind that you will only be able to drive up to the foothill of the volcano situated at 2,356 meters. At this point, you can leave the car behind and take a ride in the cable car up to the height of 3,555 meters, but you still haven’t reached the peak. You have to climb a little further on foot to reach Teide’s summit which stands at an impressive 3,718 meters above sea level.
The route through Chío from Los Gigantes: the easiest and quickest way if you are in the southern part of the island.
This route by car to Mount Teide is known as the Chío route, ideal for those staying in the area of Los Gigantes, Costa Adeje, or other nearby areas. This option is the best road to drive to Teide from the South of Tenerife.
The approximate distance of the route is 52 km (32.31 miles). You will drive up along the TF-38, a road with hardly any bends and well-paved. As if that were not enough, this road gives you the chance to stop at the “Mirador de las Narices del Teide” a viewpoint from where you can enjoy impressive views of the two volcanic craters located just below “Pico Viejo” (Old Peak), which formed as a result of a volcanic eruption in 1798.
The ascent to the Pico Viejo volcano is also worthwhile. To reach the peak of this volcano, from Boca Tauce you take the TF-38 road on foot in the direction of Chío. After about 600 meters you turn right, moving off the road and onto the hiking path number 28, also called Chafarí. Upon entering the path you can clearly see the lava in front of the Chahorra Volcano (also known as Pico Viejo).
Food and beverages in Tenerife.
As digital nomads, we were conscious of our daily expenses, so we were prioritizing homemade meals, and treating ourselves now and then with weekend meals out or drinks by the beach on a Friday night. Beers are light and super refreshing, cocktails are fabulous and of course, you can find great wines and traditional sangria.
The cuisine of the Canary Islands hardly differs from the cuisine of continental Spain. Garlic, olive oil and many herbs are used. When you spend your holidays on the Canary Islands, you have to try fish dishes. A delicacy are the 'Papas Arrugadas', small potatoes cooked in salt water (with peel). Besides, you serve red or green sauces which are called 'Mojos' and are made of vinegar, oil and different herbs. The potatoes are eaten with peel and served as a side dish or snack. A perfect tapas with a refreshing glass of sangria.
Other popular snacks are tapas. Hot or cold dishes, such as ham, meatballs in tomato sauce, sardines in oil, Ensaladilla (Spanish potato salad), tuna, olives, sea food salads and much more, belong to its traditional cuisine.
Please see below a list of places which were absolutely amazing for dining out or for drinks: La Terrazza del Mare El Jardin De La Abuela
Tenerife was everything we could have been asked for as a first experience of our nomadic life. From plenty of outdoors activities, superb quality of food, a perfect life-working balance routine, adventurous weekend trips immersed in the nature and an outstanding beauty characterized by great biodiversity. Tenerife is definitely a rich island that can satisfy any traveler, nomadic life seeker or not.
And do not forget to watch our Tenerife Vlog on Youtube and subcribe!
