Flying direct from Dublin, holidays to Playa de la Arena offer a Blue Flag beach, great hiking territory and spectacular volcanic scenery – all from a small, chilled-out Tenerife resort.

A relaxed resort

Playa de la Arena is a perfect place to relax away from the hubbub. This small, peaceful resort on Tenerife’s west coast walks on the quieter side of life. The black sand beach seldom gets crowded – though you can go water-skiing and paragliding – and the restaurants and bars are casual and low-key. If you enjoy walking, you’ll love the volcanic landscapes and the trails along this Canary Island's coastline.

Walks around the island

Walking is a popular activity here in Playa de la Arena, and the trail along the spectacular cliffs of neighbouring Los Gigantes is a favourite. This translates as 'the giants', and describes the huge vertical stone slabs coming up from the sea very well. If volcanic landscapes are your thing, head to Teide National Park and follow the hiking trails. You’ll walk among pine forests, wildflowers, and dramatic volcanic scenery.

A trip to Tenerife’s towns

If you’re heading to Teide National Park, be sure to stop at Vilaflor. This Alpine-style resort is the highest in all of Spain. It's surrounded by fir trees and pine forests, and you’ll find some great restaurants with spectacular views. For a further-afield excursion, the upper-class town of La Orotava is around 70 minutes’ drive away. Soak up the celebrity-style atmosphere and check out the area’s convents, churches and Renaissance mansions. The capital of Santa Cruz is 30 minutes on from there. While it’s a bit of a trek from Playa de la Arena, it makes for an exciting day-trip, and it's great for shopping.