Hotels in Northwest & Historic Towns

Northwest & Historic Towns

The northwest corner of Tenerife is a living museum of Canarian heritage, where time-worn cobblestone streets, volcanic natural swimming pools, and centuries-old traditions have been preserved from the pressures of mass tourism. Garachico, once the island's most important port before a devastating volcanic eruption in 1706, has reinvented itself as one of Tenerife's most atmospheric towns, with natural rock pools carved by lava flows and a beautifully restored historic centre. Icod de los Vinos is home to the Drago Milenario, a thousand-year-old dragon tree that has become an icon of the Canary Islands, surrounded by a botanical park and traditional wine cellars. Buenavista del Norte sits at the foot of the rugged Teno massif, offering championship golf and access to remote hiking trails through ancient laurel forests. The smaller villages of Los Silos, San Juan de la Rambla, and La Guancha reward visitors with cliffside natural pools, local fiestas, and panoramic views that stretch across the Atlantic. Accommodation in the northwest leans toward rural tourism — restored Canarian houses, boutique fincas, and small guesthouses that immerse you in island culture. The region is greener than the south, with banana terraces and vineyards cascading down to the coast. Restaurants serve traditional dishes like papas arrugadas with mojo sauces, grilled goat cheese, and wines from local cellars at remarkably honest prices. This is the Tenerife that existed before the resort boom, and it remains the best place on the island to experience authentic Canarian hospitality and architecture.