North: La Laguna, La Orotava & Puerto de la Cruz

This tour concentrates on the green north of Tenerife and its historic towns. Indeed, it takes in a UNESCO old town, a valley of manor houses and the island’s oldest resort. Moreover, the north stays lush all year thanks to the trade winds.

Three Towns of the Green North

La Laguna, the former capital, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose grid of streets was copied across the Spanish Americas. Afterwards, La Orotava sits above a wide terraced valley, with carved wooden balconies and old manor houses along its steep lanes. Finally, Puerto de la Cruz on the coast has welcomed visitors since the 19th century and keeps a relaxed seafront charm.

Tour Highlights

The UNESCO old town of La Laguna
The manor houses and balconies of La Orotava
The terraced Orotava valley
The seafront of Puerto de la Cruz

The Orotava Valley

The valley below La Orotava is one of the most fertile places in the Canaries. Indeed, early travellers described it as a garden, and terraced fields still climb the slopes in long green steps. Water from the mountains has been channelled here for centuries, which is why so much grows in what is otherwise volcanic rock. Moreover, the town above it grew wealthy on sugar and later on wine, and the merchants built the manor houses that line its steep streets today. Above all, the carved wooden balconies on those houses are the finest on the island.

A Resort with History

Puerto de la Cruz began welcoming visitors in the 19th century, long before mass tourism reached the Canaries. Therefore, it kept a genuine town centre rather than becoming a strip of hotels. Finally, the black sand beaches and the seawater pools give it a character all of its own.