Nightlife in Playa de las Americas is described in many brochures as being "lively" or "extrovert", which we all recognise as being "tour operator speak", and in recognition of the huge numbers of British tourist that come to here every year, a large number of English style pubs have now opened to target this market, along with clubs and discos which rarely close before dawn.

In all fairness most of these clubs are actually centred around a relatively small area of the resort known collectively as The Veronicas, Starco and The Patch. Move a few hundred yards away from this area and you will be totally oblivious their nocturnal activities, and almost guaranteed a good nights sleep.

Of the three areas, it's usually Starco that gets busier first, with one of the most popular bars being "Linekers", which is owned by the ex-footballer Gary Lineker, and then managed by his brother. Try to avoid the clubs in the Veronicas until around midnight as they are rarely busy before then.

Although The Patch is still very lively, it is however, slightly more geared towards a family audience, and has a number of cabaret bars featuring sound-a-likes of many internationally recognised stars, including Elvis, Elton John and even Roy "Chubby" Brown. Although why you'd wish to fly 2,500 miles to see a Chubby Brown sound-a-like, when you can see the real thing in summer season at Blackpool every year, is really beyond me.

Always assuming that you are awake after a night out at the Veronicas, one of the easiest ways to quickly see a large proportion of the Playa de las Americas is by the mini train that operates from in front of the Colon II Apartments. The round trip takes around 45 minutes and passes through most of the resort before returning via the residential area of Los Cristianos.

The adjacent resort of Costa Adeje is home many of Tenerife premier tourist attractions, and the harbour of Puerto Colon is also the mooring and departure point for many of the tour operators day trips that offer visitors the opportunity to see the whale and dolphins colonies that live in the deep Atlantic waters between Tenerife and La Gomera.

Of these, and with a price tag in excess of 3 million Euros, Freebird One is without doubt the largest and most impressive boats in the marina and was custom built in France for the sole purpose of carrying passengers onto the Atlantic Ocean.

The catamaran, measuring some 30 metres long and 14 metres wide, is licenced to carry a maximum of 196 passengers, including both an upper and lower decks as well as a Fly bridge where is it possible to observe the whales, dolphins, as well as being able to watch the captain at work.

Accompanied by English speaking guides, the excursion follows the coastline north, sailing past the resorts of Playa Paraiso, and Callao Salvaje, where it anchors under the cliffs and a buffet lunch is served along with free drinks. After lunch guests can then swim off the back of the boat. Contact details are:
Freebird One
Local 227B Puerto Colon
Adeje
Tenerife
Telephone: +34 922 716 864
Fax: +34 922 724 052
Web site: www.freebirdone.com

Also based at the Puerto Colon marina, Poker Chip is a Medline III rigid inflatable boat. Cruising at speeds up to 20 knots, Poker Chip is an exclusive crowd free 3 hour sea life safari and cruise where you get to enjoy a bit of everything. A typical 3 hour trip or charter will take you out 3 - 4 miles before cruising parallel to the coast until level with Playa Paraiso.

From here it's back towards the coast and on to El Puertito to eat, relax and swim (here you have your chance of snorkeling with turtles). Contact details for more information and booking are:
Poker Chip Charter
Puerto Colon
Adeje
Tenerife
Telephone: +34 616 971 613
Web site: www.pokerchipcharter.com

Certified by the Tenerife Island Council, the Royal Delfin/Tropical Delfin are the only glass bottom catamarans based in Puerto Colon. Accompanied by English speaking guides, the 4.1/2 hour excursion follows the coastline north, sailing past the resorts of Playa Paraiso, Callao Salvaje, Playa de la Arena, Puerto Santiago and Los Gigantes, where it anchors under the cliffs in the Bay of Masca and a buffet lunch is served along with free drinks.

After lunch guests can then swim off the back of the boat amidst the multitude of colourful fish. The fantastic advantage of this boat is that passengers can walk around the spacious sun decks undisturbed or alternatively view the dolphins and whales from large underwater areas where one can imagine being in a giant aquarium under and around the boat.

Underwater cameras also keep track of everything for those who prefer to observe the show from the upper deck. Contact details for more information and advance booking is:
Royal Delfin and Tropical Delfin
Nostramo sa
CC Ocean Center 15
38660
Playa de las Americas
Tenerife
Telephone: +34 922 750 085
Web site: www.tenerifedolphin.com

The Aqualand Costa Adeje waterpark and dolphinarium is also situated in the Costa Adeje. The park is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00 and features all the expected slides including "kamakaze", "foam", and slower lazy river type slides. A free shuttle bus services from Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas operates everyday, and although buses do operate for the return journey, please remember that everyone else in the park will be leaving at the same time as you, and not all nationalities observe the queuing ethos as the British do.

Local taxis are fully aware of the business opportunity that exists when the water park closes, so this may be another option home worth considering.

For the independent traveler, the aqua park is situated on exit 29 on the main TF1 motorway. During high season the queues for the slides can become long, and height restrictions do apply on some of the faster slides. During busy days perhaps the best time to get on the more popular slides is during the daily dolphin shows.

The park has extensive catering facilities and you are not encouraged to bring your own food into the attraction. A word of caution, whatever skin type you are the probability is that you will get burnt by the sun. Cover up with high protection sun cream on a regular basis. The water used in the park is salt water and this will strip all sun cream from your body with relative ease on ever slide you go on. The park has extensive sun terraces and sun beds, but the cost of these is NOT included in your entrance fee. Contact details are:
Aspro Ocio Canarias SL
Avda de Austria,15
San Eugenio Alto
Costa Adeje
Tenerife
Telephone: +34 922 715 266
Fax: +34 922 714 803
Web site: www.aqualand.es

Bob diving is a type of underwater scooter. Whilst they claim "everybody can do it", you will need to be over 5ft tall, aged 12+, be able to swim and put you head underwater to get into the scooter. The trip runs out of Puerto Colon harbour and lasts around 2 hours in total, during this time you will be underwater for about 30 minutes. The cost per person is 44 Euro, which works out at a little over £40. Contact details are:
Puerto Colon, Pier no. 4
Costa Adeje
Tenerife
Telephone: +34 670 839 516
Web site: www.bob-diving.com

Surrounded by sub-tropical vegetation and basking in the sunshine of the south of the island, the Siam Park Water Kingdom is the newest and most exciting water park in Europe, offering visitors to Tenerife a choice of 14 major water attractions and 5 bars and restaurants, which are suitable for the whole family.

On entering the park, visitors are met by the friendly sea-lions who have relocated from the Loro Parque in the north of the island, and nearby the Koi Carp swim peacefully in the crystal clear waters below the Thai floating market.

For the more adventurous visitor, the park is also filled with adrenaline pumping attractions, such as the jaw-dropping "Tower of Power", which features a near vertical 28 metre free fall drop, before passing through a mysterious aquarium, along with a lagoon producing artificial waves up to 3 metres in height.

The Siam Park opens each day at 10am, and free buses run every 30 minutes from Costa Adeje, Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos. For more information and admission prices contact details are:
The Siam Park
Costa Adeje
Tenerife
Telephone: +34 902 060 000
Web site: www.siampark.net