Tenerife's Amarilla Bay sights to see on land or sea

A low stonewall shows where the conservation area begins and there are several well-worn pathways for you to take. Besides naturalists the area also is popular with naturists and there's a beach where nude sunbathers congregate just at the foot of the cliffs.

If you climb right to the top of Yellow Mountain there is an amazing volcanic crater and excellent views around the area and out to sea. Usually I find my feet taking me walking along the coastal path to Amarilla Golf or on the desert area that surrounds it.

The contrast of the dry and stony desert right next to the Atlantic Ocean fascinates me and there are patches of ground that sparkle white with the salt that has been left by the briny sea spray.

Just out of reach of the waves and wind there are plenty of Prickly Pears, clumps of the cactus-like Cardón and some other really interesting plants to be found like the strange succulent Cardoncillo, which grows in places on the side of the mountain.

With its distinctive fleshy grey-green stems and clusters of reddish-brown flowers followed by 2 long seed pods it really stands out from the crowd amongst the scrubland vegetation. It is in the Milkweed family, the plants that are the food of the caterpillar of the wonderful Monarch butterfly, although I don't think it eats this species.

Its cousin the Cornical can be seen twisting and rambling over clumps of other plants that grow there, especially the Cardón, and like the Cardoncillo it has unusual long seedpods, which point in opposite directions.

There are usually plenty of Red-winged Grasshoppers too and the first time I saw one of these was exciting because before I came to live here I had only seen them as pictures in a book. I never manage to get a decent photo of this type of grasshopper and to capture one on the wing is a near impossibility but I'm optimistic that one day I will.

The area is very popular with those who like snorkelling and diving and there's a whole wealth of underwater marine life too. Even the seabed near Montaña Amarilla has been used for the filming of some scenes for a TV documentary.

After you have had enough exploring Amarilla Bay area it is handy having Flicks so close where a cold pint of Dorada is enough temptation for me. If you fail to spot any actual Dolphins as you gaze out over the ocean you can always admire the fountain instead, which has these amazing sea mammals sculpted into it.

Footnote: Originally published in the Western Sun, November 17, 2005.

Copyright © 2012 Steve Andrews. All Rights Reserved.