Tenerife has long been known, for sun, sand and parties, but as DAN KEEL discovers there is a new wave of high quality rustic eateries and five-star hotels which make it a must-visit destination for hip and trendy travelers.

The rare beauty of Tenerife - the largest of the Canary Islands - lies in its vast array of landscapes.

The lush green north of the island is divided from the dry and sunny south by the 3,718 metre tall Mount Teide.

This meant I was conveniently shielded from the wind, rain and humidity during my three-day stay in the southerly resort of Costa Adeje.

It also means avid explorers can hike through the lush laurel forests from the Tertiary Age merely an hour before trekking through the incredible lunar landscapes surrounding Mount Teide and its UNESCO-protected slopes.

As far as accommodation is concerned, I found the subtlety opulent comfort of the five-star Jardines de Nivaria Hotel in Fanabe to be the perfect base to explore the south-coast as well as the island’s jewel in the crown, Mount Teide.

Despite its size and stature, the hotel is nestled discreetly among the slopes leading to the beaches of Fanabe, boasting two beautiful swimming pools and stunning sea views.

The hotel features an enormous gym, a buffet restaurant, two a la carte restaurants, three bars, 24-hour room service and a putting green.

Meanwhile many of its 271 rooms and suites feature jacuzzis along with enormous balconies overlooking the Atlantic.

Staff and service are impeccable while the facility is surrounded by a myriad of bars and restaurants serving a mixture of fresh fish accompanied by foods infused with the island’s unique tastes.

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These include hot pepper cheese as well as the star product of Tenerife’s cuisine, Paps arrugadas con mojo “wrinkly potatoes with mojo sauce” made from garlic cumin, salt, olive oil, vinegar, coriander and hot peppers.

A trip to the nearby town of La Caletta and its renowned La Vieja restaurant is well worth the five euro taxi journey.

Not only does it boast an incredible range of fresh sea food but a late evening booking provides stunning views of the sun-setting gently behind the rocky silhouette of the neighbouring island, La Gomera .

A starter of carpaccio fillet steak with roquette and parmesan cheese (14Euro) should be followed by the grilled stone bass complete with steamed vegetables and the mandatory wrinkly potatoes (19.50 Euros).

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Wash this down with a bottle of Canarian Frombs Classico and some freshly baked bread with Mojo sauce and you have yourself a mystically romantic evening.

After all that food, a trip to Mount Teide, the world’s third largest volcanic cone, is definitely in order.

Tenerife Excursions runs half-day and full-day bus trips to the Teide National Park with regular stop-offs for photographs and commentary from a local guide who explains how to tell the difference between an Egyptian vulture and a red kite – as well as why it is “unlikely” the volcano will erupt again during our lifetimes.

You are also given plenty of time to hike among the park’s moon-like lava outcrops interspersed with giant cacti and Tenerife lizards which hop from rock to rock.

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After four stops in two hours the bus drops you near the mountain’s peak at a base called La Rambleta.

From here you are already well above the clouds, and can scale the remaining slopes by cable cars which run daily from 9am to 5pm - unless closed due to high winds, as it sadly was when I made the journey.

The more adventurous can ascend by foot if a permit is a purchased, with the walk lasting between four and six hours.

WHERE TO STAY:

Jardines de Nivaria Hotel is situated 17km away from Tenerife South Airport and 52 km from Mount Teide.

Comfort Double room (B&B) – from 213€ Superior Suite (B&B) – 416€ Visit www.adrianhoteles.com for a full list of rooms and prices.

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Temperatures in this area of Tenerife rarely exceed 27 degrees centigrade and rarely drop below 20.

GETTING THERE:

Monarch, the scheduled leisure airline, operates flights to Tenerife from London Gatwick, London Luton, Manchester, Birmingham, East Midlands and Leeds Bradford airports.

Fares for the four-and-a-half hour flight, including taxes, start from £59.99 one way.

For further information to book Monarch flights, Monarch Holidays or Monarch Hotels, please visit www.monarch.co.uk

Book a return transfer from Tenerife South Airport to Jardines de Nivaria Hotel (70 Euros) through Official Taxi Tenerife at www.officialtaxitenerife.com or email info@officialtaxitenerife.com

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Tenerife Excursions offers half-day trips to Mount Teide and the surrounding Teide National Park from 25 Euros including travel and a tour guide.

Visit www.viajesteide.es or email info@viajesteide.es