Tenerife’s capital city hosts the popular Carnival every February, with a different main theme picked year-on-year. Recent themes have included horror movies, pirates, Hollywood musicals, and magic. The variety of themes ensures a new and unique experience at every visit, with the planning period for the weekend’s main festivities far-reaching.

Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain by Prefeitura de Olinda / License: Creative Commons

Floats and dance routines are planned months in advance; this is by no means an improvised mess – Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is a celebration which would more accurately be described as organised chaos and genuine excitement for the exotic exuberance such a celebration brings. The official Carnival contains meticulously planned flair and routine, while the street Carnival is based around the everyday revelers joining in with their own celebrations and costumes. The streets are awash with colour as homemade costumes come out to join the festivities in whichever way they seem fit.

While the Carnival is widely viewed as a weekend event, there are in fact many events on the days building up to the weekend as well as in the days after. The party in fact continues up to the beginning of Lent – with Shrove Tuesday marking the official end of the Carnival, with a sardine-themed day following on Ash Wednesday – an experience which has to be seen to be believed!

The party atmosphere explodes onto the streets in a flash of colour and music, drawing visitors from the world over. Inhibitions are let go as revelers celebrate over many days. Whether you want to visit the officially organised events or go wild at the street carnival, the party continues long into every night and resumes the next morning with renewed enthusiasm.

The Carnival Queen is the undisputed star of the entire event, with the prestigious honour handed out to the most beautiful of the year’s contestants on the Wednesday before Carnival weekend. She becomes the icon of the year’s festival, representing the island and all Carnival related activities. Voting and campaigning for the position of Carnival Queen begins well in advance of the festivities, with the contestants usually acquiring sponsorship from large corporations in order to promote their candidacy. Dresses can weigh on average up to 200lb and stand at over 20ft tall, making them extremely difficult to wear and expensive to make. The coronation is broadcast for the entire country to enjoy live, with a panel of judges and a text vote determining the winner.

For those who want to experience the Carnival atmosphere but do not wish to make the arduous journey to Brazil, the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife provides the perfect alternative. Once you experience the non-stop partying the locals of Santa Cruz provide with open arms for tourists, you might just find yourself a regular visitor.

Fernando Navas is a native to the Canary Islands and always returns home for Carnival.  He recommends experiencing the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife at least once and searching for cheap holidays to Tenerife to provides the perfect party opportunity.

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Los Cristianos, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain by Mrs Logic

Relaxing Time

Even the most avid of partygoers needs some relaxation time during their holiday and with a cheap Tenerife holiday, you will find plenty of ways to relax and soak up the sunshine. Los Cristianos is an ideal resort for those who are looking for a quieter holiday and you can always travel into the noisier Playa De Las Americas for some partying at night. There are lots of golden beaches in Tenerife, where you can unwind and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Santa Cruz is an ideal destination if you want to enjoy some of the culture of Tenerife. If you want to get the most out of your holiday, you can also go walking or dolphin watching.

Adventure Holiday

If you want to indulge your more adventurous side on your cheap Tenerife holiday, there are plenty of activities to choose from. There are plenty of water and theme parks, which are ideal for families and groups who are looking for something fun and interesting to enjoy during the day. Destinations such as Playa De Las Americas offer a range of water sports such as wind surfing, so you can try out something different on your holiday. You could also try out some rock climbing if you want to embrace your adventurous side.

Nightlife

Tenerife is buzzing with nightlife, so if this is what you are looking for from your holiday, you can’t go wrong with this destination. Playa De Las Americas is the main place for nightlife, with plenty of pubs and clubs to choose from. If you are looking for a relaxing place during the day but want to party hard at night, you may want to consider staying at Los Cristianos, as it is just a short taxi ride to Playa De Las Americas.  There are pubs and clubs to suit all tastes and you can pick up drinks at some really cheap prices, depending on where you go. There are lots of PR people around Playa De Las Americas, looking for new customers, so you can find free passes to clubs and offers on drinks.

Scenic Views

Tenerife is a holiday destination which offers some stunning scenic views. The good weather of Tenerife means you can really get the most out of the views and soak up the sunshine as you do it. There are plenty of gorgeous beaches and blue skies to embrace and you can also enjoy the architecture of some of the nearby buildings. If you are interested in learning about the history and culture of Tenerife, there are many ways to do it. Tenerife really has something for everyone to enjoy and can offer a real mix of activities if you want to embrace all aspects of the island.

No matter what your interests are, a cheap Tenerife holiday will be sure to cater for all your needs.

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