Tenerife South

Friday, midday

Check into the Ritz Carlton Abama (doubles from £245, www.ritzcarlton.com), arguably the best hotel in Tenerife. This sprawling resort boasts its own private beach and a selection of pools and restaurants.

1pm

Slip into laidback Tenerife time with lunch by the pool at the Abama’s Los Chozos. A glass of dry local wine is the perfect foil for octopus salad or freshly seared tuna. The almagrote paste is a winner too from the neighbouring island of La Gomera.

2pm

Tenerife is one of the best places in the world to see pilot whales. You will probably come across dolphins too on your private yacht cruise with Lina Yacht (www.linayacht.com).

8pm

Tenerife is a proper foodie destination these days. Experience the bright new face of island cuisine at Restaurante Lucas Maes (www. restaurantelucasmaes.com).

Saturday, 9am

Hire a car and venture up into the spectacular Teide National Park, where the eponymous peak vaults 3,718m metres into the heavens. A cable car whisks you up to a viewing platform.

1pm

Relax in the national park’s only restaurant in its only hotel – the Parador de Las Cañadas del Teide (www.parador.es). Local fish and meats are on the menu, as are epic views.

3pm

Head back to the coast to enjoy a stroll along the long boulevard that now connects the spruced up trio of southern resorts – Los Cristianos, Playa de las Americas and Costa Adeje. Costa Adeje is the classiest of the trio.

8pm

Kabuki at the Abama offers Canario/ Japanese fusion cuisine so impressive it has won a coveted Michelin star. The tasting menus are a tastebud tingling delight as Pacific and Atlantic flavours fuse.

Sunday, 10am

Spend your last day enjoying the aquatic charms of Siam Park (www. siampark.net), voted Europe’s best water park. Their private cabanas offer a quieter retreat from the myriad rides and massive white sand beach. The VIP Villa even has its own hot tub. ■

Easyjet (www.easyjet.com) flies to Tenerife from Edinburgh from £150 return. For more information check out the Tenerife Tourist office, www. webtenerife.co.uk