Itinerary
A day through the villages of the Isla Baja
West of Icod, before the road climbs into the Teno massif, are three small villages that fill an unhurried day, never more than half an hour's drive from the old town.
- 1Day
- 6Stops
- 25 minFurthest point
- YesCar needed
First thing
El Tanque and its 1728 church
12 min · 8,6 km from the old town
An inland midland municipality twelve minutes away. The church of San Antonio de Padua, in El Tanque Bajo, was rebuilt in 1728 after the 1706 eruption and is a listed Bien de Interés Cultural. More than half the municipality is protected natural land.
First thing
The Lomo Molino viewpoint
13 min · 11,5 km from the old town
On the TF-423, the road between El Tanque and Tierra del Trigo (km 0.5). From here the Isla Baja makes sense at a glance: the Caleta de Interián, the Garachico rock and, on a clear day, La Palma on the horizon.
Mid-morning
Los Silos and the Plaza de la Luz
17 min · 12,2 km from the old town
An old quarter listed as a Historic Site, at the foot of Teno. The Plaza de la Luz with its 1923 bandstand, the church of Nuestra Señora de la Luz and the former San Sebastián convent, founded in 1649 and now a library, exhibition room and visitor centre. On Sundays there is a farmers' market from nine to two.
Midday
The Buenavista del Norte old town
20 min · 15,7 km from the old town
The last village before Teno, with a grid of straight streets listed as a Bien de Interés Cultural in 2005. The church of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, from 1513–1518, burned in 1996 and was restored; from there you carry on to the Casa de la Viuda, the old San Francisco convent and the wash-houses of the Triana ravine. The full walk takes about an hour and a half.
Afternoon
Las Arenas beach or Charco Roque
25 min · 18,1 km from the old town
On the road towards Punta de Teno. Las Arenas is a pebble and black-sand beach whose sand the sea takes in winter and brings back in summer, with ample parking and the municipal pool next door. Charco Roque, between Las Arenas and El Fraile, is the locals' rock pool: mid tide, no lifeguard and only with a calm sea.
On the way back
Garachico from El Guincho
7 min · 3,9 km from the old town
Seven minutes from Icod, the El Guincho viewpoint looks down on Garachico with the rock in the foreground and the harbour below. If there is light left, drop into town: the promenade and the El Caletón pools are a few minutes away.
Good to know
Punta de Teno, at the end of the same road, cannot be reached by private car, on foot or by bike: the only ways in are the 369 bus from Buenavista bus station or a taxi. If you want to include it, plan the day around that bus.
If you have an afternoon to spare and fancy Masca or Teno Alto on the TF-436, check first that it is not a fire-alert day: on those days the Cabildo restricts visitors' car access to the Teno hamlets.
Other days
If this one does not fit
Three days based in Icod
Icod, Garachico and Teide in three days, with real drive times from the old town and without driving the same road twice.
A whole day without leaving the municipality
The dragon tree, the old town, Europe's largest lava tube and a black-sand beach, in one day and under six kilometres of driving.
Finca Julia · Icod de los Vinos
And at the end of the day,
the terrace.
An old Canarian house on the hillside, with the Atlantic in front. Availability and price are on the official Airbnb listing.