Now, you have a chance to discover a mystic place, which is situated closer to you than you could ever think.

“The Forgotten Village” of Masca on the Isle of Tenerife is set in the north western part of Tenerife, just in the heart of the Teno Mountains. Its extraordinary character is stressed by the fact that until 1991 there were absolutely no roads to get there. Masca is an idyllic place, where the time has simply stopped.

It is a must especially for walkers and hikers or those who seek for traditional atmosphere of little tapas bars, tiny churches and cosy huts.

You may choose from the wide range boat tours from Masca to Los Gigantes (Cliffs of the Giants). This natural phenomenon is a very popular tourist attraction due to its beauty and scenic situation.

The coast offers excellent diving and fishing conditions.

In the Los Gigantes Town you will find some great pubs, restaurants, cafes and resorts. There is also a wide choice of diving excursions and watersports.

It is worth pointing out that you may take sailing lessons in a sailing club which is based there.

Some of the smaller towns and villages try to organise their events so as not to clash with the two giant events. But for all of them, carnival follows a traditional pattern of groups of music, dance and sumptuous costumes.

The burial of the sardine is another ritual conducted everywhere, though those in Los Realejos, La Orotava and Puerto de la Cruz are considered to be the best.

Each of the cities, towns and villages sets a theme for its carnival celebrations, this year’s being the ‘World of Fashion’ in Santa Cruz and ‘Paris of the 1920s’ for Puerto de la Cruz.

In La Orotava, the theme for 2007 is ‘Fiestas in Egypt’. The grand parade is on Tuesday, February 20. A parade of vintage cars begins the day’s actitivities at 10am from Plaza de la Constitución.

The carnival parade at 4pm sets out from Cruz del Teide to Plaza de la Paz. The partying carries on long after the parade has finished.

Thursday, February 22 sees a Drag Queen Festival at 9pm in La Orotava, featuring some of the best drag acts from Gran Canaria and Tenerife.

This year’s carnival theme in Los Realejos is ‘Atlantis – the Lost Continent’ and it runs from February 9-21, while in Los Gigantes it runs from March 1-5, the theme for 2007 being Mexico.

Los Cristianos stages one of Tenerife’s smaller carnival celebrations, though it’s still the biggest in the south of the island, from February 20-24, events including a masked ball, children’s carnival queen competition and a parade of horses.

Just as everywhere else, celebrants adorn themselves in the ridiculous, the daring and the unashamedly outrageous, converging on the streets and squares to the rhythms of congas, sambas, rumbas and the more traditional Spanish zarzuela – providing a good chance to take in some songs and dances indigenous to the island.