From the mountains to the beach in Tenerife
Mount Teide, Garachico and Masca
It is visible from afar and probably the most visited place on the island of Tenerife: Mount Teide. With 12,190 feet (3715m), it is the highest elevation in Spain. If you’re unlucky, you might not be able to get to the Teide due to snow. Charlie was lucky when she came to visit. The sign at the entrance to the national park read “Teide Abierto” – the Teide was open that day.
Vilaflor and vineries
The guided tour that Charlie had booked started in Los Cristianos and from there, the bus drove straight up into the mountains. On their way to Vilaflor they passed by plenty of vineyards. There are more than 100 vineries in Tenerife and Vilaflor is one of the wine areas. Already from this point, the views were stunning towards the ocean and along the winding roads up the mountains passing by pine forests. At certain points, Charlie could see Gran Canaria towards the East. In the West, the islands of La Gomera and La Palma stood out in between a sea of clouds.
Visiting Teide
There are multiple access points to the Teide. The tour that Charlie had booked passed by the Museum Juan Evora where one could learn about the history and traditional ways of living in the area. A few lava fields further along the road, was the visitor centre Cañada Blanca and from there Charlie got to admire the rock formation Roque Cinchado and the southern side of the Teide.
It wasn’t part of Charlie’s tour, but there is an option to get closer to the peak of the Teide by cable car.
Icod de los Vinos
After their visit to the Teide, the whole group drove down the mountains towards the North of the island. The next stop was in Icod de los Vinos, another wine area and a place that hosts other tourist attractions.
Parque del Drago
Located in the heart of Icod is the oldest Dragon Tree surrounded by a botanical garden. It is also referred to as the Drago Milenario, the Thousand-Year-Old Dragon Tree. However, its exact age is disputed. You can see the Drago from the square next to the Church de San Marcos. If you want to get a bit closer and visit the whole park, you have to pay an entrance fee of € 5.
Mariposario del Drago
Next to the Parque del Drago at the bottom of the church is another place worth visiting, the butterfly park. The entrance fee is € 9.50 (€ 6.50 for children).
On the way back to the tour bus, Charlie had Arepas for lunch. You certainly can’t miss this place not far from the Mariposario. She enjoyed an Arepa with traditional Canarian cheese. Yummy!
Garachico
Located on the Northern coast of Tenerife and about 15 minutes’ drive from Icod de los Vinos is the town of Garachico, the first capital of the island. Upon arrival, Charlie was immediately reminded of Madeira. The formation of the coast and the way how the waves roll into some natural pools are very similar to what you can see in Porto Moniz. There is one difference though: Garachico feels less touristy, and Charlie spotted only one restaurant directly on the waterfront. That doesn’t mean that you can’t get a good meal in town. There are more restaurants and bars just on the other side of the road.
Garachico was founded in 1496 and became an important harbour for the Canary Islands until a volcanic eruption and a lava stream destroyed parts of the town and the harbour in 1706. Santa Cruz became the new capital and the most important harbour.
When you stroll through Garachico, you won’t see any traces of the tragedy anymore. It is a quaint colonial-style town with beautiful squares (e.g. Plaza de la Libertad), town houses, historic palaces and a church. Take the time to explore the small alleys and the Parque de la Puerta de Tierra.
Masca
From Garachico the tour continued up into the mountains once more, this time towards the village of Masca. The valley below is one of the most photographed views of Tenerife and that for a good reason! You can see the sun coming through this green valley and enjoy views towards the ocean. You could even hike down the 3-mile-long ravine and take a boat to Los Gigantes at the end.
The road into Masca from either side is winding and narrow. The views are spectacular, and Charlie has outmost respect for the bus drivers that day that managed the steep curves with ease.
