Aerial view of colourful houses on a headland in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Spain
Aerial view of colourful houses on a headland in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Spain (© Marco Bottigelli/Getty Images)
Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Spain
What is happening between these colorful streets? Imagine a place where the Atlantic caresses colorful shores and Mount Teide watches over from its 3,715 meters in height. That paradise is Tenerife, a haven of natural beauty and perpetually spring-like weather in the Canary Islands, Spain. But when February arrives, the island transforms: it's Carnival time in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, a visual and festive spectacle that rivals the famous Carnival of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, making it the second most famous carnival in the world.
During these days, the city is filled with music, dances, and costumes that are true works of art in motion. Locals and visitors come together in a dance of brotherhood and joy where each troupe, each mask tells a unique story. The Carnival of Tenerife was declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest in 1980. Additionally, it is full of curiosities, such as its traditional "Burial of the Sardine," which symbolizes the farewell to excesses and the beginning of Lent. A celebration that exalts island culture and leaves every attendee with the promise to dance again under the Canary sun.
But if parties are not your thing, Tenerife has even more to offer. Its Teide National Park, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most visited in the world, and the island boasts rich architecture, cultural offerings, expansive beaches, cliffs, and, of course, natural pools that will leave you speechless.
© Marco Bottigelli/Getty Images