La Orotava

Travel Agent's View

perfect for those who are wanting a great fun filled holiday with lots to see and do close quotes

La Orotava lies on the Northern coast of Tenerife in the Orotava Valley on the banana plantations. It is 5 km from Puerto de la Cruz.

La Orotava is perfect for those who are wanting a great fun filled holiday with lots to see and do. The resort was once known to be the home to some of the islands most wealthiest families who settled here after the Spanish conquest. The streets are lined with big mansions and houses for the rich.

La Orotava has 3 beautiful dark sandy beaches, El Bullullo, Martin Alonso and El Rincon. These beaches are very rarely crowded.

Los Rodeos Airport is approx 36 km from the resort.

Insider's View

Tenerife's classiest town ... you'll be eyeing up the windows of the estate agents close quotes

The first thing to note about La Orotava is that some of its streets ought to provide ropes and crampons for pedestrians to use close quotes

If you're after Brit bars and fish and chips, forget La Orotava. This is Tenerife's classiest town and if you enjoy exploring old streets, museums, gardens, hidden courtyards, churches and monasteries, you'll be eyeing up the windows of the estate agents.

The first thing to note about La Orotava is that some of its streets ought to provide ropes and crampons for pedestrians to use. The second thing is that in winter it's cooler than the coast, so pack a sweater.

Thousands of visitors get herded to the Casa Turistica; a beautiful old mansion with carved wooden balconies which is packed to the beams with hand made embroidery and souvenirs. My advice is to avoid the crowds and head inside Casa Méndez-Fonseca across the road. Sit awhile in its leafy courtyard then pay the peanuts fee to go upstairs and wander around the rooms filled with dusty exhibits; it's like a time warp.

The town's awash with churches and monasteries but one not to miss is the big, Gothic, Iglesia de la Concepción to see the coloured dome from the inside and at night time, stand in front of the Town Hall and photograph its skyline.

Wander around the Victoria formal Italian gardens and climb to the mausoleum, then go to the Botanical Gardens behind the Town Hall for a mini-jungle and nice toilets.

Find time to sit below the bandstand in Plaza Constitución and enjoy a barraquito coffee (assuming you like coffee and liqueur with your sugar) and at lunchtime pop into the grand Liceo de Taoro opposite for their set lunch.

And the must-sees? You simply have to see the flower carpets at Corpus Cristi, you may never see anything as beautiful again. Go up to a balcony on the 1st floor of the Town Hall for the best view of the sand tapestry.