Playa de las Americas is a very young town, when tourism started on the island of Tenerife, the tourists were attracted to the north of the island. It was only in the late 1950´s that the south of the island started to attract its own tourists. At this time, Los Cristianos was the only part of the south that had any form. It was used as an import and export port for the island.

The south was incredibly dry and arid with nothing but deserts existing there. From the 1960´s onwards, more and more tourists started making their way to the island and the south of the island became more popular. In 1971, the Gran Tinerfe Hotel was the first hotel to be built in Las Americas. Since then hundreds more have been built, and Las Americas and surrounding towns are no longer vast deserts.

The opening of Reina Sofia Airport in November of 1978 played host to the massive tourism boom to the south of the Island, Las Americas is now known worldwide, and at one stage got a bad name for Lager lout Brits, and partying teens. Over the past 10 years the town has cleaned up its act considerably, it still has great nightlife for the youths, but also has some fantastic family spots.

Entertainment in Las Americas now caters for all ages and tastes. Some lovely man made beaches have been constructed, at which you can relax or enjoy some of the water sports. There are also plenty of excursions that you can indulge in from the town, a fantastic 18 hole golf course, and also right on the door step is Puerto Colon from where you can enjoy a Whales and Dolphins sightseeing tour.