Ла-Оротава

The north coast is mild and green, and the Orotava Valley is cooler and more humid than the south of the island. Spring and autumn are comfortable, while summers are warm and winters mild with some rain and cloud.

Corpus Christi (usually in late May or June) is the main event, when the town's streets and squares are decorated with carpets of flowers and coloured sand. Mount Teide can be snowy in winter, and it is much colder at altitude than at the coast.

• Casa de los Balcones is a 17th-century mansion with carved wooden balconies and a courtyard, now with craft shops.
• The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción is a Baroque church with a tall façade and towers, considered one of the best in the Canaries.
• The Ayuntamiento (town hall) faces the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, which is decorated with flower carpets for Corpus Christi.
• The Jardines del Marquesado de la Quinta Roja are terraced Victorian-style gardens above the town.
• The Hijuela del Botánico is a small garden annex of the botanical garden of Puerto de la Cruz.
• Casa Lercaro is another historic mansion in the old town.
• Pico del Teide is the volcano and the highest peak in Spain, at 3,715 m, in Teide National Park.
• Roques de García are dramatic rock formations on the high plateau of the park.
• Pico Viejo is the second volcano of the park, next to Teide.
• Playa Bollullo is a black-sand beach on the coast of the municipality.

• Walk through the old town and its balconied mansions.
• Visit the gardens above the town.
• Drive up to Teide National Park and ride the cable car, or hike the trails of the Roques de García.
• See the flower carpets at Corpus Christi.
• Taste Canarian food in a local tavern.

• Teide National Park (about 30 km): the volcano, the lunar landscape and the cable car.
• Puerto de la Cruz (about 8 km): a seaside resort with a botanical garden and lido.
• Garachico (about 40 km): a coastal town with lava pools.
• Santa Cruz de Tenerife (about 45 km): the capital.
• La Laguna (about 35 km): a UNESCO World Heritage colonial town.

Other places nearby:

• Tenerife: Tenerife, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Garachico and El Rosario.
• Nature: Teide National Park.

• By air: Tenerife North airport (TFN) is about 25 km away, and Tenerife South (TFS) about 70 km.
• By bus: TITSA buses run from Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz to La Orotava, and some lines continue to Teide National Park.
• By car: The TF-5 motorway and local roads link the town with the north coast. The road to Teide climbs through pine forest.

• On foot: The old town is compact but steep, with cobbled streets.
• Bus: Local buses connect the upper and lower parts of the town and Puerto de la Cruz.
• Car: A rental car is the easiest way to get to Teide National Park and other viewpoints.

• Is a car worth it?: Yes, for Teide and the north coast. The old town itself is walkable.
• Parking: Parking is limited in the old town, and there are car parks at the edges.
• Roads: The road up to Teide is winding. In winter, check for snow and ice. Mountain weather changes fast.

Canarian dishes dominate. Try papas arrugadas con mojo (salted wrinkled potatoes with red and green sauces), gofio (toasted cereal flour), conejo en salmorejo (rabbit in a spiced marinade), queso asado (grilled cheese) and fresh fish. The Orotava Valley produces wine, bananas and vegetables.

La Orotava is safe. At Teide National Park, the altitude can cause headaches and breathlessness, and the sun is very strong. Bring water, warm clothes and sun protection. A permit is required to reach the summit crater beyond the cable car station, and the cable car can close in strong wind.

The area was home to the Guanches, the native people of Tenerife, until the Spanish conquest in 1496. La Orotava was settled as a town in the early 16th century, and became a wealthy centre for sugar and wine.

The Baroque mansions and churches date from the 17th and 18th centuries. The town's tradition of flower carpets for Corpus Christi began in the 19th century.

Quick practical facts for Spain at a glance: