The Canary Islands archipelago is made up of seven major islands: El Hierro, La Gomera, La Palma, Tenerife (province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife) and Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura (province of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria) and a series of islets (La Graciosa, Montaña Clara, Alegranza and Lobos) immersed in the Atlantic Ocean about 100 km from the African coast. This geographical location places the islands in the time zone of Greenwich (increased by one hour during the summer), one hour less than in the mainland Spain. 

Tenerife, with a surface area of 2,034 Km ², is the largest of the archipelago and, together with Gran Canaria, boasts the political capital of the autonomous community. It hosts the highest altitude of the country, with the 3,718 meters of the peak of Teide. Its relief is marked by the layout in ramp tilted towards the sea and by the great development of the network of ravines in a radial manner. The great length of its coast hosts both sandy beaches and areas of cliffs of great height.

The island has two international airports: one in the North and another in the South, with very good national and international connections. Both the port of Los Cristianos and the one in Santa Cruz de Tenerife operate with other capitals of the remaining islands and, in the case of the port of the capital, with ports of other provinces and countries, thus being mandatory the visit of tourist cruises.

Shopping hours, in general, are from Monday to Saturday from 9:30 to 1:30 p.m. and from 4:30 to 8 p.m., although in the numerous shopping malls of the island the timetable is continuous from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The opening hours of banks tend to be from 8 to 2 p.m., being reduced in the summer. The official currency is the Euro and, in addition to the banks, you can exchange currency in hotels and in numerous currency exchange offices of the tourist centres.

The timetables of eateries and restaurants tend to be consistent with the local customs, in such a way that the kitchen usually closes at around 4 p.m. in the afternoon and 11 p.m. at night.

he visitor who only has one day to visit the national park has the advantage of having a network of roads that go through its territory. Specifically the TF 21 covers a large part of the viewpoints that help to get to know the natural wealth of the area. It is also very interesting the visit to the Visitors Centre of El Portillo, along with its rich botanical garden. A small walking tour through the surroundings of Los Roques de Garcia will complement the general visit with the appealing close-up views of the strange shapes of the pahoehoe lava and the flora of the area. Finally, there are several catering facilities where you can replenish forces while contemplating the breathtaking scenery of the park.

There is no doubt that, for a better knowledge of the territory of the national park, the best way is to do some of the signposted routes that traverse the more representative landscapes of the park. After the mandatory visit to the Visitors Centre of El Portillo, both for the information on the route and for a first approximation to the gaia, flora and fauna of the territory, you can do one of the short trails, such as the Arenas Negras or the Roques de Garcia. In the following days, the visitor may do any of the routes of greater range and more extensive panoramic views, such as La Fortaleza or Siete Cañadas. Anyway, all trails of the network are designed to enjoy an experiential walk (with different degrees of difficulty) through the varied landscapes of the territory. At the end of the day, it is advisable to stop in any of the catering businesses, inside or outside the park, and taste the rich canary gastronomy.