The Canary Islands, an autonomous province within the Spanish Kingdom, lies on the Atlantic Ocean about 400-500 km from the African coast and over 1300km from the Iberian Peninsula. The volcanic archipelago spreads over 7200 square kilometers and consists of seven big and six small islands, each one with its own unique atmosphere, culture and distinctive landscape.

Tenerife roughly triangular in shape and covering over 2000 square kilometers of land, is the biggest of the Canary Islands and is also known as “the island of eternal spring” due to its location and the influence of the ocean that moderates the temperatures.

The island is divided into two climatic zones by the dormant volcano El Teide, the third highest in the world with a diameter of 20 kilometers and an altitude of 3718 meters above the sea level.

In Tenerife the bizarre terrain astonishes with its diversity of scenery. This island boasts everything from wide golden beaches of fine sand to steep cliffs, and from lovely bays to rugged volcanic lava fields. The climatic extremes between the northern half- humid with lush green vegetation, and the southern half of the island- hot and arid, create an extraordinary contrast.

An ecstatic ambience prevails during the yearly celebration of carnival. The celebration, with parades, fancy-dress balls and dances, especially in the capital of Tenerife, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, is so boisterous that sometimes it is compared to the carnival in Rio de Janeiro.