With a surface of  2,034.38 square kilometres (785.33 square miles) it is the largest and one of the most densely populated islands in the Canary Isles Archipelago. 

The isle, with its exceptional climate, has ideal beaches for bathing scattered along both the northern and southern coasts.

In addition, it is easy to find countless routes through nature in pinewoods and laurisilva –a tertiary “fossil rain forest”, now extinct in the Mediterranean– or visit such enchanting towns as Garachico or La Orotava, on the north side of the island.  A further attraction is a visit to Las Cañadas del Teide National Park, which hosts the impressive volcano after which it is named, and which is the highest mountain in all of Spain. Of course one can also take advantage of the stay to visit other of the Canary Isles.

The offer of accommodation is quite varied, with good value for Money, both in the metropolitan area (Santa Cruz de Tenerife and San Cristóbal de La Laguna), and in the more touristy areas of the island.

In Tenerife, international cuisine can be widely found. Nonetheless, in order to get acquainted with the local cuisine, we recommend participants visiting the so-called “casas de comida” [meal houses] as well as the popular “guachinches”: typical restaurants of the island, where tasty local food may be enjoyed at a reasonable price.

HOW TO GET THERE

Tenerife is served by two international airports,  “Tenerife Sur – Reina Sofía [TFS]”, in the town of  Arona, some 60 km (37 miles) off Santa Cruz de Tenerife (the capital of the island), and  “Tenerife Norte – Los Rodeos [TFN]”, in the town of La Laguna, the former capital city of the island, some 12 km (7.5 miles) from Santa Cruz.

Although TFN airport might be more convenient than TFS, it will also depend on whether our first choice was either a charter or a regular flight. TFS is the preferred destination for charter flight companies, whilst TFN is the first choice for regular flights. Once in Tenerife, conference participantes may either take the bus (locally known as “guagua” [‘gwagwə] ) and then a taki to their hotels, or just a taxi.

Our airports are not served by tams or trains, yet. Tram lines operate only between Santa Cruz and La Laguna. Buse lines operate all over the island. For further information, please check the TITSA and Metropolitano de Tenerife home pages.

• WHAT TO SEE

• Municipal Museum of Arsts
• Museum of Nature and Man
• Regional Military Museum of the Canary Isles
• Museum of Science and Space
• Museum of Tenerife History and Anthropology

Among the leisure areas,  theme park   "Loro Parque" in Puerto de la Cruz and Pueblo Chico in La Orotava stand out. In the south of the island Águilas del Teide-Jungle Park in Arona, Aqualand and Siam Park in Costa Adeje are worth visiting.

• MONEY

• SHOPPING

Supermarkets are usually open, Monday to Saturday, from 09.00 to 21.00 h. Some supermarkets and selected shops are open 24 hours. Some of these special shops may be found near the recommended hotels. Bis Shopping Centres are open Monday to SAturday from 10.00 to 22.00 h. Any other shops, are usually open, Monday to Friday, from 09.00 to 13.30 and from  17.00 to 20.30 h, Saturdays from 09.00 to 13.00.

• EMERGENCIES

Chemist's / Drugsotores are usually open Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 13.00 and from 17.00 to 20.00 (some are even open, non-stop,  from 09.00 to 20.00). On Saturdays they open from 09.00 to 13.00. From Monday to Sunday there is always a 24-hour emergency chemist's open. However, some drugs may need from a prescription to be sold.

In the Santa Cruz – La Laguna area, there are two university hospitals, and several policlinic centres. Due to their proximity and convenience, you are recommended:

• Clínica Parque
• Clínica Santa Cruz
• Clínica La Colina
• Hospital Universitario de Canarias
• Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria
• Hospitén Rambla

You are kind reminded of the convenience to take a private medical inssurance before your arrival in Tenerife.

• LANGUAGES

Although Spanish is the official language, at hotels and selected shops Enlgish may be spoken with various degrees of fluency. To a lesser extent, other languages may be used, such as French or German. Big department stores and shopping centres may have a customer's service run in English, and maybe other languages, mainly but not only, French and German, just ask! In the more touristy areas, such as Costa Adeje in the south, or  Puerto de la Cruz in the north, English and German are widely used everywhere (sometimes in addition to Scandinavian and Slavic languages). However, some words in Spanish, such as a greeting  (“Hola” [‘ola] -hello-, “Buenos días” [‘bwenos ‘dias] -good morning-, “Buenas tardes” [‘bwenas ‘tardes] -good evening-) or some thank words -“Gracias” [‘graθjas]-, are always appreciated.

• INTERNET

• DRESS CODE

By early September, weather is usually warm. However, you are advised to bring a light jacket just in case you may decide to climb up to mount Teide (3,718 metres / 12,200 ft), where temperature could be a much colder. In addition, swimming suits and trunks are also a must in your luggage.

ACCOMMODATION

Participants are expected to make their own booking arrangements.

Bookings: please, address your requests to Ms Violeta Pérez stating clearly the “G-AELFE" reference.

Hotel Taburiente ***

Bookings tel: + 34 902 120 329

Those participants choosing to stay at La Laguna will get to the Conference venue on their own. You are advised to take the Line 1 Tramway from the first stop at  La Laguna (“Avenida Trinidad”) to the Conference venue by the "Escuela de Empresariales" (“Gracia”, about 50 metres away).

b) Other hotels in La Laguna

TRANSPORTS

Para llegar a la sede congresual desde el hotel, puede tomar una de las guaguas que se pondrán a disposición de todos los participantes una vez al día (solo desde los hoteles recomendados), o tomar el tranvía en dirección Intercambiador o La Trinidad, según parta usted desde La Laguna o Santa Cruz, y bajarse en la parada “Gracia” próxima a “Campus Guajara”. Desde allí, la sede congresual queda a unos escasos 100 metros. Las paradas del tranvía quedan a unos escassos 5 minutos desde los hoteles recomendados. 

Bus tickets may be bought straight from the bus.driver, or as 12-euro season tickets ("bono-bus"/"bono-vía"), at news-agents, tram stations vending machines (only "bono-vía" 12-euro tickets) and transport offices. Tram tickets must be bought PRIOR TO your getting on the tram. Look for the vending machine available on every platform (single tickets, return tickets and 12-euro tickets). Once aboard the tram, tickets have to be validated on the scanners placed near everydoor. Bus season-tickets are also valid on trams, BUT ONLY, if the remaining credit is equivalent to or higher than the ride fee (trams: 1,35 euros per ride). If you get on a bus with a season-ticket, do not forget to validate it on the scanner by the driver. If the remaining credit is lower than the fee due, you may still pay the difference to the driver. 

For further information, please browse the  TITSA and Metropolitano de Tenerife sites.

If yu would like to visit another island, you may ask at the Reception of you Hotel, or contact a travel agent. There are one-day trips to Gran Canaria and La Gomera, and over night stay trips to the other islands. 

For further information about transports between islands, please check the following sites:

• Binter Canarias 
• Islas Airways
• Fred. Olsen Express
• Naviera Armas

• CAR RENTAL

  • AUTOREISEN
  • AUTOS MOLINA
  • AVIS
  • CICAR
  • EUROPCAR
  • HERTZ
  • ORCAR
  • PEPECAR

• TOURIST INFORMATION

  • Tenerife Virtual Tourist Office
  • La ruta del buen yantar (Spanish Guide to local restaurants)
  • Tenerife Restaurants Guide
  • Comer en Tenerife: restaurantes y guachinches (Spanish Guide to restaurants)
  • Discover Tenerife
  • Weather in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
  • Tenerife Tourist Information: Puntoinfo
  • Tenerife Tourism

• TAXI COMPANIES IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA

  • Radio Taxi Isla de Tenerife (+34 922 621 313)
  • Radio Taxi San Marcos (+34 922 641 112)
  • Radio Taxi San Pedro (+34 922 310 000)
  • Radio Taxi Santa Cruz (+34 922 311 012 )

• EMERGENCY TELEPHONES

  • Emergency Telephone Number: 112
  • Fire Brigade: 080
  • Guardia Civil (Police / Traffic): 062
  • Local Police: 092