In this short guide, we will present our favorite villages, towns, and cities in Tenerife. Most of them are located in the northern part of the island. The Northwest of Tenerife with its sub-tropical climate is one of the most fertile areas in Spain, but hardly accessible and populated. The Northern part is where most locals live and a good number of interesting places can be visited. But there are also very interesting small towns like Candelaria south of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Tenerife, an island split into two by the vast semicircular cañade del Teide crater, is much more than the beaches and resorts in Puerto de la Cruz or the Southern Part of the Island (Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas or Costa Adeje). Indeed, the most interesting places are somewhere else and awaiting to offer a rich cultural heritage, gastronomy, landscapes and local traditions.
Located inside the natural park of Anaga, this charming village with a charming name will welcome you with cobbled streets and its small houses. The most interesting cultural element in Taganana is the 17th century Santa Catalina chapel though it is not often open. Near Taganana it is worth visiting the Roque de las Bodegas. Wine used to be stored and transported from this Roque) this explains the name “Rock of cellars”. El Roque is a place where locals come to enjoy lunch on weekends.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is located on the island of Tenerife which is part of the Canary Island archipelago, a Spanish territory of the coast of Morroco. It is the capital of the island and its largest and most cosmopolitan city. The Island of Tenerife is a tropical jewel that enjoys amazing weather all year round and features some of the most spectacular beaches you will ever see.
Located 20 kilometers west of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tacoronte is a delightful place that has been put on the map to a large extent thanks to the wine DOP (denominación de Origen) with the same name. There is a small museum dedicated to local wine culture: La Casa del vino. It is located on a 17th-century wine estate. You will be able to sample wines from the different wine regions in the Canary islands!
The parish church of Santa Catalina in Tacoronte is a good example of baroque style in Tenerife. The high altar contains Mexican silver brought by the Mexican silver fleets.
San Cristobal de la Laguna was founded in 1496 and it was the capital of the island for centuries. Its charm lies in its architecture. Any person with a thirst for buildings and colonial architecture will enjoy a good time at La Laguna. Its historical center with cobbled streets was designed following certain planning schemes and its layout was used to shape some of the towns and cities in Latin America.
Puerto de la Cruz was Tenerife´s top tourist resort till the lated 1970s. Despite it is not the most authentic place in the island, there are a good number of interesting buildings and attractions which make it an interesting visit.
La Orotava has a very interesting historical district, the most interesting one in the island after the one in San Cristobal de la Laguna. When the sky is blue mount Teide provides the perfect landscape scenery on the back of La Orotava.
The name of Icod (with its surname “vinos” -wines-) dates back from pre-hispanic times. Icod is a pleasant small town, located 30 kilometers west of Santa Cruz. Icod is mainly known to the oldest drago tree in the island (dragron tree) El Drago Milenario of Icod de los vinos is said to date back 2,000 years. The drago milenario is one of Tenerife´s top tourist attractions.
The parish church of San Marcos dates back from the 16th century and houses a baroque altarpiece.
Locals enjoy going to a beach near Icod: Playa de San Marcos. The beach boasts a fantastic volcanic tube, more than 1,800 meters long, and which can be visited.
Garachico was one of the first settlements of the Spanish conquistadores when they arrive to Tenerife (it was founded in 1496) and its port was the main port of Tenerife will the 17th century. The mountain of Garachico or Vulcano Arenas Negras erupted in 1706 and the fortunes of Garachico changed for ever. Part of the town was destroyed, including its port. Today this misfortune has brought a tourist attraction to Garachico. Part of the historical district remained however untouched and it can be enjoyed today. There are also natural pools created by the flaws of lava which are worth visiting.
Puerto de Santiago, today a tourist resort, has retained a bit of its fishing village identity. A beautiful promenade that reaches almost to Los Gigantes cliffs, which are with no doubt the main reason to visit Puerto de Santiago and one of the top sights in Tenerife.
A small fishing village and an important place of pilgrimage 25 kilometers south of Tenerife.
There is a very interesting story about Candelaria. 100 years before the conquest of the island, the guanches (the original inhabitants of the island) found a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary on the beach in Candelaria. This was taken to the grotto of San Blas and it was reputed even before the Christians came to the island. Nuestra señora de ña Candelaria is the patron saint of the canary islands. The might basilica de la Candelaria is dedicated to her. It was finished in 1953 and its white color contrasts with the deep blue a few meters from it. The town fills up on both February 2dn and August 15th when locals celebrate in honor of La Virgen.
Find in this article the top ideas to enjoy in Tenerife during your vacation in the island. There are intersting things to do for all: children, couples looking for romance, adventure travellers, or those simply expecting fun or relax.
