9 images that will inspire you to visit North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii
When staying around Waimea Bay, it is so easy to just rent a bike and cruise around the wonderful beaches in the area. An absolute recommendation! Remember that the North Shore is worldwide famous for its huge winter waves, some of the biggest in the World in fact. Due to this, Oahu is the legendary mecca of surf, with its crystal waters that welcome, every year, the best surfers of the Planet! There are so many peculiar handmade street signs in the area. It is not strange to find them made out of old surfboards, indicating the way to a touristic attraction, for private houses, or to warn for the famous «neighbor watch», where inhabitants collaborate with the police to «catch the bad guys». Walk around, wander and move. Admire your surroundings and take in the beauty that encircles you. The turquoise crystalline waters of Hawaii embrace you with warm temperatures, usually above 23-24 degrees Celsius, and generally around 26-27 degrees. It may be shocking at first to the ones used to colder waters, but even with high temperatures, diving in is still refreshing! Due to their location, precipitations on the islands are quite frequent. As a result, the land shows off its green and lush. Oahu gets about 250 days of rain per year, being it also quite abundant. Tunnels between the city – in the South – and the North Shore, do not stop Nature’s thirst to manifest. Ready for its international fame, the North Shore welcomes surfers, backpackers and travellers from all over the world. Hostels -or backpackers– are well known in the area, and staying there you will have the chance to meet wonderful and interesting people. From young and determined fighters of public and governmental affairs to ex-marines with impressive survival, orienteering and accuracy skills. One of the best activities to share with the small new family you will build once there, is setting up a bonfire on the beach… singing under the stars, observing the fire, having good conversations, and coming-and-going in the water to freshen up by the shoreline. Greetings to the Sun, or checking your balance skills. Sunsets in the North Shore are warm, even smooth, and absolutely peaceful. A little bit of Paradise for those who enjoy yoga, some moments of meditation, of simply watching the Sun going down to hide behind the horizon for the night. A lesson of humbleness coming from the Pacific. When biking around, wandering around the Shore, finding these gems comes as a very pleasant surprise – far from the concrete jungle landscape, administration buildings and city life. It is highly recommendable to walk or ride around enjoying the views, appreciating the difference, and the simplicity that we often forget in our daily routine. Those turquoise crystalline waters though… There’s not much more than can be said, as a picture is worth a thousand words. #takemeback. How can you NOT fall in love with #Oahu? After all of these images, and seeing this breathtaking Hawaiian sunset, do you still need more reasons to start daydreaming and planning your journey to the North Shore? #AlohaOahu
TOP activities to do in Tenerife
There are SO many activities to do on the island of Tenerife. I love number 9, so here, I introduce you to my top 9 must-do activities on the island. 1. Walk – hiking Walking can be done in many places throughout the island, with a vast variety of scenery and difficulty. I’d say go on the registered trails, as some can be dangerous to do by oneself without guidance. Also, please do not go alone, bring enough water, and follow the local recommendations. And, of course – enjoy!! 🙂 This is me a few years back, on the peak of Spain, on the island of Tenerife. Such an incredible, recommended hike – one of my most favorite ever. You get to an altitude of almost four thousand meters! It is also a super accessible hike, both getting to the trail, and moving between the mountain and the ocean shore. Imagine this: the same morning I was at the top of El Teide wearing my snow gear, I was sailing in my swimwear on the South coast. 2. Go underwater – diving/ freediving/ snorkeling I know, I know… this is not one but a group of activities… Whichever you choose, you need to explore the underwater life, the bottom of the Tenerife waters and its unique and endemic species. Please, do respect the fauna and flora around you – remember that you are the visitor; and apply the basic safety on all underwater activities, always going with a buddy and with the proper certification. Enjoy, being safe! I am a lover of the underwater world, and am passionate about these three sport disciplines. Are you in Tenerife and want to learn how to dive? Leave your comment below! I’ll teach you!* [click here to dive with me!] If you dive, please bring your diver ID, diver insurance, and make sure you have a dive buddy! (Also, if you need to know where to rent your material or book a nice dive, drop me a comment below!*). If you freedive, Tenerife will also be your paradise. International freediving championships are held each year on this Atlantic island, home of Apnea Academy West Europe, which welcomes Umberto Pelizzari each year. If you are keen to explore without getting too extreme, you can enjoy snorkeling! We have plenty of safe beaches and crystal clear spots to catch sight of the world below the surface. Check out this video of one of my most favorite organized adventures on the island! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlgcA4niGOg 3. Get under land – speleology Tenerife is home to some of the most amazing volcanic tubes in the World, and specifically to the longest one in Europe. Globally, it is only outstripped by some in the Hawaii islands. Visiting Cueva del Viento is a great approach to vulcanology, a magnificent way to get to know the island to its core. 🙂 4. Navigate the skies – paragliding In Tenerife, there are several spots to jump from and go paragliding. To the one who has never tried, I must say, it is an experience like no other. The nervousness one gets before jumping absolutely disappears once the feet are off the ground and you let yourself go. Suddenly, a feeling of tranquility and peace surrounds your body as you see the skies before you and the land under your feet. Tenerife is definitely a place to navigate the skies, be it for the first time, or one more to add to the check-list. (More adventure in the heights: Forestal Park Tenerife, at night!) 5. Taste – gastronomy Canarian food is something Canarians are very proud of, and we have strong reasons to be!! 🙂 Well, if you like eating and appreciate trying new flavors, that is! There are many dishes that are worth trying. Please, do so with the locals, in a Canarian restaurant, or in an authentic guachinche (a place where food is served, with a homey environment and similar to, although not-so-much, a restaurant). 6. Observe the stars – astronomy Being home to some of the best skies in the world*, the amazing firmament can be clearly viewed from many spots on the island. My favorite best is the National Park of El Teide. From up there, the Milky Way and wonderful constellations can be easily spotted throughout most of the year. Many tinerfeños (demonym for people from Tenerife) enjoy the Perseids Meteor Shower roughly every month of August, when el Llano de Ucanca becomes the playground for the night: Night photography at its best! *The Canary Islands are recognized as some of the best sky friendly and sky accessible locations in the world. They are one of the three best spots in the world to observe the sky, together with the Hawaii Islands and Chile. Also in these three locations, observatories are found, as well as the world giant telescopes. The island of La Palma holds the world’s largest single-aperture optical telescope, famous GranTeCan, Gran Telescopio de Canarias or GTC, of which Canarians also take pride. 7. Capture the beauty that surrounds you – photography When you’re a photography lover, you seek opportunities to embrace the beauty that surrounds you, be it landscape, be it people, be it Nature. In Tenerife you have the chance to practice your skills and to be involved with the environment that will undoubtedly welcome you and make you want to stay for longer. 8. Slide on the water – kayaking/ surfing Tenerife is home for international championships of many sports, amongst them, surfing. Apart from this, it is not only perfect for surfing and bodyboarding, but also for kayaking when/ where the Ocean waves are calmer. From Puerto de la Cruz or El Socorro in the North of the island, to Las Américas or El Médano in the South, waves show their sensual moves to excited surfers. And in places like Los Gigantes, the ocean remains peaceful to attract sliders to enjoy the coastline and even crystal clear waters. If you like the ocean, this is