The Most Beautiful Towns In Tenerife
Tenerife is one of the places with the greatest biodiversity and climatic variety in the world. In fact, its unique conditions, being an island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the great height of a volcano like the Teide, with its 3,718 metres of altitude, its steep cliffs, the beautiful beaches and a history of a mixture of towns and people, have given this Canary Island a varied character that is reflected in its people and, of course, in the idiosyncrasy of its towns and villages. That is why today we are going to discover some of the most beautiful and picturesque municipalities on the island. As the saying goes, they are not all there are, but they are all there are. Remember that you can rent a car in Tenerife with Atlas Rent a Car and then visit the beautiful island of Tenerife.
Garachico
It is undoubtedly one of the most charming towns on the island and one of those that have best combined modern development with the conservation of its magnificent historical and artistic heritage. Garachico, the former capital of Tenerife, had to reinvent itself. It all happened after the eruption of a volcano whose lava flow completely destroyed the town during the 18th century. Nowadays, the town exudes peace and tranquillity in its streets that follow a grid layout, its Plaza Mayor or the beautiful buildings with balconies typical of the island, which were the inspiration for the development of the cities of Spanish America. A visit to Garachico would not be complete without a refreshing swim in its magnificent natural pools, El Caletón, the result of the erosion of the sea and the wind on the volcanic rock over centuries.
Icod de Los Vinos
Icod de Los Vinos is located, like nearby Garachico, in the northern part of the island of Tenerife. As its name suggests, this town is well known for the production of wines, famous for their high quality. In a privileged setting, surrounded by vineyards, you can learn more about the grape harvest and, of course, taste its best wines. Perhaps Icod de los Vinos does not attract attention for the beauty of its buildings. Instead, it stands out for its impressive nature. And it has something that is unique on the entire planet. We are talking about the ancient dragon tree, the symbol of the Canary Islands. The size of the Drago is also impressive, with a height of more than 18 metres, a crown diameter of around 20 metres and some three hundred main branches on a tree that is between 700 and 1,000 years old. Nearby is the Cueva del Viento, which is the fifth largest volcanic tube on the planet, and the first to be found outside the US archipelago of Hawaii.
Tegueste
The municipality of Tegueste is located next to the Anaga mountain range, in the northeastern part of the island. It is a very small village, but is home to some good, well-preserved examples of traditional Canarian architecture. It is also the venue each year for one of the most famous pilgrimages in the whole of the Canary Islands, that of San Marcos, or Romería de Tegueste. There you can witness the Danza de las Flores, a tradition with more than 500 years of history that has survived to the present day. It is a great opportunity to get to know the town and enjoy its traditions and its famous gastronomy.
Puerto de la Cruz
This is the smallest municipality on the island of Tenerife, but it is one of the most attractive places for tourists in the whole of the Canary Islands. In fact, we are talking about the place where modern tourism was born, one of the first holiday centres in Spain and in the whole of Europe. Nevertheless, it has some of the best urban beaches in Tenerife, such as Playa Jardín or Playa Martiánez. Next to it is Lake Martiánez, the work of the brilliant Canarian artist César Manrique. El Puerto de la Cruz is also home to the Loro Parque, one of the world’s most renowned parks dedicated to the conservation of flora and fauna. In addition, the centre of the town is a network of streets and squares that conserve the most traditional Canarian air. The avant-garde is to be found in the fishing quarter of La Ranilla, where dozens of young urban artists have filled its façades with graffiti in a great cultural action.