Page 24 - RCI EV Asia October 2015

blue in 1492. The museum features a replica of a cabin from the Niña and relics documenting the relationship between the Canaries and the Americas. Any day trip to Las Palmas should finish with sunset tinto de verano (red wine punch) and the town’s signature papas arrugadas con mojo (cubed potatoes in a spiced sauce) on the waterfront terrace at El Charcón 41 (41 Calle Nicolás Estévanez; 011- 34-928-49- 03-75; tapas for two, $13).
TENERIFE
Trails and Whales
This teardrop-shaped Canary annually receives 5 million travellers, most of whom come for its dramatic landscapes and yearly Carnival celebration, said to be second only to those in Rio de Janeiro. It also has centuries-old footpaths pounded out by native Guanche tribes. The most challenging trail is up Mount Teide (Teide National Park; 011-34-922-92-23-71; magrama.gob.es), Spain’s highest peak and the third tallest volcano on Earth. Climbers can follow
the main path (La Rambleta) to the 3720 metre summit, crossing lava fields en route; it generally takes six hours. But the cable car (telefericoteide.com; one-way tickets, from $21) can whisk you up in just eight minutes. Regardless of how you go, you’ll need a permit first, obtainable at reservasparquesnacionales.es/. Once you’re at the top, it’s nothing but open sky and views across the Atlantic to pint-size La Gomera Island, 120 kilometers offshore.
Mount Teide may be majestic, but so is the island’s exceptional marine life— especially on its west coast. Spy pods of pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins during a four-hour catamaran cruise with Tenerife Dolphin (Playa de las Americas; 011-34 922-75-00-85; tenerifedolphin.com; day trips, from $31), which sails through the strait separating Tenerife from La Gomera. For something more intimate, consider suiting up with Los Gigantes Diving Center (Galeria de la Marina; 011-34-922-86-04 31; divingtenerife. co.uk; dives, from $100) to swim right
up to 270-kilo green turtles and six types of stingrays . After your plunge, visit Los
Gigantes cliffs, which drop nearly 610 meters into the Atlantic. Right in the shadow of the monoliths, brothers Juan Carlos and Jonathan Padrón will cook you a plate of Canarian black pork and grilled local lamb at island favourite El Rincón de Juan Carlos (2 Pasaje deJacaranda; 34-922-86-80-40; elrinconde juancarlos.es; dinner for two, $129).
Back on the west coast, you’ll find the Ritz- Carlton Abama, home to Basque chef Martin Berasategui’s M.B. restaurant (Carr. General TF-47, Guía de Isora; 011-34-922-12-60-00; ritzcarlton.com, dinner for two, $350), the only two-Michelin starred restaurant in
the archipelago. If you fancy something more classic, go on a tapas crawl through the Noria dining district in the capital, Santa Cruz. You can feast on cod croquettes and Spanish tortilla at spots like Bulan (35 Calle Antonio Domínguez Alfonso; 011-34-928- 27-41-16; bulantenerife.com; tapas for two, $13), a great way to refuel after admiring the work of homegrown surrealist painter Óscar Domínguez at TEA gallery (10 Avda. de San Sebastián; 011-34-922-84-90- 57; teatenerife.es; admission, $12). Either way you’re sure to get a delicious taste of the Canary Islands.
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WEATHER
from London, Madrid and other cities, while budget carrier Ryanair (ryanair.com) flies
to all three from more than 30 European locations. Once there you can hop around with regional carrier Binter (bintercanarias. com), which has several 45-minute flights between the islands throughout the day, or cross over by sea with Fred Olsen (fredolsen. es), a fast ferry that connects the Canaries’ major islands. Journeys take up to three hours, and you can drive your rental car onto the ferry.
GETTING AROUND
The Canary Islands enjoy year-round sunshine, with temperatures averaging 27 degrees in summer and 18 degrees in winter in winter. Note that mountains can be significantly cooler than the coasts.
Though all three of these islands are served by public buses that can get you to major sites, car rentals are available at Cicar (011- 34-928-82-29-00; cicar.com; daily rentals, from $46) which has 39 offices throughout the archipelago.
GETTING THERE
Major European airlines, including British Airways (britishairways.com) and Iberia (iberia.com), offer direct flights to Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Tenerife
*Prices have been converted to Singapore dollars. Estimated meal prices do not include drinks, tax or tip.