Unique locations in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are a natural paradise with unique locations. We'll show you some of them in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, so that you can make the most of your visit.

These are some of the most amazing places on the islands of El Hierro, La Gomera, Tenerife and La Palma, which make up the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. They provide a good chance to enjoy up to three national parks.

El Hierro

The landscape will impress you both because of its volcanic origin and the effects of the wind. You'll see them clearly in El Sabinar, a place populated by one-hundred-year-old savin trees which have strange shapes formed by the strong wind. The Garoé tree, known by many as the sacred tree of the old inhabitants of the island, can also be found here. The surroundings are especially beautiful and hold many magical legends. The horizontal rain phenomenon also takes place here, because of the condensation from the clouds on the branches of the trees.

Also in the north we find El Mocanal, where there is a town in its original condition, with houses built with stone walls and rye straw roofs. Take into account that the village is only occupied in summer and at weekends.

La Gomera

Especially outstanding is its Garajonay National Park, which has the UNESCO World Heritage designation. It is an enormous unspoilt and humid laurisilva forest. One of its most visited areas is La Laguna Grande, where the rain forms a small lake. On the island there are also several viewpoints affording spectacular views, like those of Igualero, César Manrique and Los Roques. They are three essential places to get to know the inland landscape of La Gomera. La Punta viewpoint, on the other hand, overlooks the coast. The island also has many marked hiking routes.

If you want to discover the coast, we recommend a boat trip. That way you'll be able to see the "organs", a natural volcanic monument that can only be observed at sea, and which looks like a giant organ with large pipes.

Tenerife

The Teide National Park is the main example of volcanic territory on the island. Awarded the UNESCO World Heritage designation, here we can find the highest summit in Spain - the Teide - which is a unique nature area.

There are other interesting spots on the island. For example, the Teno Rural Park, with limited and difficult access, but affording some of the most spectacular views in Tenerife. Here you'll find wooded areas and many birds, such as ospreys.

At the other side of northern part of the island we find the Anaga Rural Park, near the capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. It is a vast rugged area which also has the so-called "path of the senses" (marked routes that take visitors to the world of laurisilva through its different textures, colours, aroma and sound of the woods).

La Palma

It is the greenest island in the archipelago, known as the "isla bonita" (beautiful island). One of the reasons for that is the Caldera de Taburiente National Park. It is a large area shaped as an enormous crater with a diameter of eight kilometres, and great difference in level that causes the formation of low cloud. As well as the feeling of walking above the clouds, you'll also be able to enjoy the sky like never before, thanks to the Roque de los Muchachos Astrophysical Observatory, one of the most important in the world.

Other places not to be missed are the so-called Volcanoes Route, a 24-kilometre hiking route to enjoy the landscape; and Bosque de los Tilos, one of the most important laurisilva forests in the Canary Islands and centre of La Palma Biosphere Reserve, a designation awarded by UNESCO. On the coast, the most spectacular beach is probably Nogales, situated next to an enormous cliff.