Everyone likes a party, but few put as much enthusiasm into it as the Canarians. Fiestas, concerts and set piece events are all celebrated in style in Tenerife, but the pride of them all is Carnaval.

The capital Santa Cruz, in the north, kicks it all off in February before the fever spreads from town to town, complete with loud music, equally loud clothes, and lots of dancing. You don’t need an invite, the more the merrier, just bring your enthusiasm, and if possible a colourful outfit – well you wouldn’t want to look silly.

Los Cristianos is the biggest of the Carnaval celebrations in the southern tourism hot spots, this year it starts on Friday 4 March with live music late into the night. Saturday sees the Carnaval Queen elected amid much pomp and colour, and then Sunday afternoon is the big parade through the streets of Los Cristianos, from the beach near Guaza mountain up to the Cultural Centre in the heart of the town.

Monday night it all draws to a close with the sardine funeral, don’t be sad it’s a riotous affair with a giant papier mache sardine carried through the streets to meet its end in a blaze of flames and fireworks at the beach. Mourners dressed in black weep and wail, only to leap up and dance as the procession continues. A definite highlight of the social calendar.