Tenerife: The Most Beautiful Places for a Canary Islands Vacation

With Puerto de la Cruz, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and La Laguna, there are three major cities on Tenerife. In contrast, there are charming small villages where the life of the islanders remains authentically traditional. We present the most beautiful places on Tenerife that you definitely should visit during your vacation.

The small mountain village of Masca in the northwest of the island is located at an altitude of 650 meters in the Teno mountains. Up there, there are just about 100 residents, 80 houses, and the old legend that Masca was a refuge from pirates in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Today, you can stroll through the quaint village and taste village specialties in various restaurants and bars, such as palm honey, which has a flavor similar to maple syrup, or prickly pear juice. On the village square, you can also buy herbs, natural cosmetics, and handicrafts from the locals.

La Orotava is not a village, but a small town in the north of the island. Known as one of the oldest settlements in the Canary Islands, La Orotava still preserves a rich architectural, scenic, and cultural heritage.

The area around La Orotava is the largest and most forested community on Tenerife. Its location in the green valley and its old town, which is a protected monument, have made the mountain town famous.

In the middle of the Anaga Mountains, you'll find the village of Taganana, which was partly built on steep cliffs and was only accessible by donkeys and horses until the 1960s. Today, 7,000 people live in the largest village in the Anaga Mountains, which mainly thrives from wine growing and tourism.

There are small restaurants with delicious fish dishes, three beaches below the village, and wonderful hiking trails all around that pass terraced fields and goat pastures.

The pilgrimage site of Candelaria is located on the east coast of Tenerife and is particularly enchanting with the Basilica of Nuestra Señora, which stands right by the sea. Most of the time, the village is rather sleepy, but in August, many people make pilgrimages there to admire the Virgen de la Candelaria, a Madonna figure, attributed with protective qualities.

The original is said to have washed ashore 100 years ago, but was lost in a storm surge. Today you can see a replica housed in the church.

Garachico, in the northwest of Tenerife, is one of the island's oldest places and was founded in 1496. The village is famous not only for its long history and beautiful old town but also for its natural pools.

As a result of various volcanic eruptions, natural pools in the sea, known as 'Charcos' by the locals, have formed there, attracting many visitors.

The village of San Andrés in the southeast of the island has about 4,700 residents and a special feature: It is entirely built on a hillside! As many of the houses are also brightly painted, a unique panorama emerges.

The highlight of the town is the church with colonial architecture, one of the oldest Catholic churches in the Canary Islands. It was built in 1505. In summer, the town fills up as one of Tenerife's most beautiful beaches, Playa de las Teresitas, is located right next to the village.

If you're heading to the Teide, Tenerife's island volcano, you'll pass through Vilaflor, a charming village surrounded by mountains. The area is very rural, with potatoes, wine, and almonds being grown.

It's interesting to note that at an altitude of about 1400 meters, Vilaflor is the highest location on Tenerife and in all of Spain. You'll be amazed by the town center with its typical Canarian architectural style as well as the panorama with the Pico del Teide.

Tamaimo is a district of Santiago del Teide in the southwest of Tenerife. Life there is very traditional. The 2500 residents live off agriculture, primarily growing local fruits: mangoes, papayas, and bananas, as well as potatoes and wine.

The village is known because it is located about 600 meters above Los Gigantes, the 'Cliffs of the Giants,' which are the second-highest sea cliff in Europe.

In the northeast of Tenerife is the dreamy village of Igueste. The houses stand on a green gorge that extends to the Atlantic Ocean.

The village was once only accessible by sea until a single road was built into the rocks in 1922, followed by a paved road in 1940. Today, you can take a leisurely stroll through the village, away from mass tourism, visiting the small San Pedro Plaza and the namesake chapel dating from 1786. Other than that, there is only one restaurant and a small store.

Looking for more inspiration? Find tips for all top travel destinations at bettercities.net.