The Plays De Las Americas area attracts gregarious action-seekers. Families and most age groups are provided for, but quiet, thoughtful types should look elsewhere. It is popular with the British, also, sadly, with low-lifers and drug peddlers who tend to ply their trade in the main part of the resort called "Veronica's Complex". Do not be put off but be aware.

There is a distinct weighting towards apartments and self catering. Most of the hotels are good quality and well appointed, particularly in the classier area of Fañabe, which has more upmarket 4-star accommodation.

Plays De Las Americas boasts several sandy beaches, assorted water sports, a water park with a Dolphin Aquarium, countless shops and a vast amount of restaurants.

Particularly worth a visit is Puerto Colón, or Columbus' Port the town's main centre for boat/yacht excursions and fishing trips. As Las Américas has never had a working port, the boating marina at Puerto Colón is a modern, purpose-built harbour. Snuggled among Las Américas' many fine beaches, the marina is an eye-catching place where you can browse around the shops, then have a meal or drink while enjoying the view over the adjoining beach or over the yachts moored in the marina.

Tenerife itself is the largest island in the Archipelago of the Canary Islands (Isla Canarias). The Canaries Archipelago consist of seven large and six smaller islands based in the Atlantic Ocean, lying some 100km off the North West coast off Africa (Morocco and Western Sahara) and about 1100km from the Spanish mainland (Cadiz).

The Canary Islands are split into 2 Spanish provinces; The Westerly Islands of Tenerife, La Palma, Gomera and Hierro from the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (chief town Santa Cruz) while the Eastern Islands of Gran Canaria, FuerteVentura and Lanzarote from the province of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (chief town Las Palmas).

Locality:

The Playa De Las Americas is on the south west coast, (46 mls S of Santa Cruz by coastal motorway. 11 mls W of Reina Sofia airport). It is in the dry, sunny and mostly arid south of the island, set against a backdrop of volcanic mountains. Bisected by a motorway running parallel to the coast, with very steep inland areas on the far side of the motorway and flatter terrain towards the coast; the coastal suburbs of San Eugenio and Torviscas are hilly.