Route 02 · North Tenerife in one day
The Tenerife many visitors never get to see
If you want to discover a greener, quieter, more authentic Tenerife, drive north. Historic towns, roads winding through banana plantations, cliffs, natural pools and some of the island's most spectacular scenery make this one of our favourite routes.
Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Route
La Orotava → Icod de los Vinos → Garachico → Buenavista del Norte.
La Orotava
Start with a walk through the old town. Traditional houses, wooden balconies and cobbled streets make La Orotava one of the best first stops on the route.
Icod de los Vinos
Stop to see the famous thousand-year-old Drago tree and take an unhurried walk through the historic centre.
Garachico
One of the essential towns of the north. Its history, architecture and natural pools make it worth a long stop.
Buenavista del Norte
Carry on west and enjoy the landscape of the Isla Baja. The roads and the shifting scenery are part of the experience in themselves.
Food
Along the way we suggest looking for a traditional guachinche to try local cooking and Tenerife wines.
Time to allow
A full day.
VviewCanarias tip
Don't try to get through the route as fast as possible. The point is to stop whenever you find a landscape, a village or a corner that catches your eye.
Where to stay
Our homes are spread across Tenerife and La Gomera, so almost all of these routes are a short drive away.
See homes in El MédanoOther routes
Route 01
The roof of Spain
There are places you visit and places you remember. Climbing Teide belongs to the second kind. At 3,715 metres, Teide dominates Tenerife and offers one of the most striking landscapes in the Canaries. To really enjoy it, it is worth planning the visit and giving it time.
Route 03
The forest where Tenerife feels like another island
Anaga is one of those places you struggle to believe is in Tenerife. Mountains, mist, narrow roads, ravines and small villages hidden among the vegetation make up one of the most remarkable landscapes in the Canaries.
Route 04
A day beside the Atlantic
Tenerife has beaches for every taste: golden sand, black sand, natural pools, small coves and wide beaches open to the ocean.