Tejina

Travel Agent's View

Tejina holds one of the prettiest fiestas on the island of Tenerife, the Hearts of Tejina, where there are huge hearts made from fruit and pastries close quotes

Tejina is a small beachside suburb on the North coast of Tenerife. The resort is perfect for a quiet holiday and for those wanting to explore the island.

Tejina is within the area of La Laguna, there are a few shops and restaurants in the resort, but its mainly businesses.

Tejina holds one of the prettiest fiestas on the island of Tenerife, the Hearts of Tejina, where there are huge hearts made from fruit and pastries. In the nearby resorts there are plenty of bars and restaurants to enjoy.

Insider's View

a complete stranger to Tenerife's guide books and travel brochures, and quite possibly to much of the island's population too close quotes

Tejina's the site of Tenerife's only remaining rum factory where they produce Rum Guajiro close quotes

Tejina's a complete stranger to Tenerife's guide books and travel brochures, and quite possibly to much of the island's population too. Admittedly there’s not a great deal to do in the village and, to be honest, other than the pretty church square, there's not a lot to see either.

But what it lacks in looks, it makes up for in heart - The Hearts of Tejina to be exact. This is the bizarrely wonderful August fiesta in which three rival streets construct gigantic hearts of fruit and flowers on heavy wooden crosses which are then raised onto poles in the church plaza and everyone shouts abuse at the others' hearts. It's all very Alice in Wonderland and I go every year.

Tejina's the site of Tenerife's only remaining rum factory where they produce Rum Guajiro which goes down very well after a few 'tapas' in Tasca Bajo in the centre of the village, and is well worth taking a bottle home.

I can't visit Tejina without popping into one of their garden centres; they’re like the set of 'Lost', filled to bursting with exotic plants. This area is known as "Tenerife's greenhouse" because of its humid climate and it provides the rest of the island with its tropical plants and trees.

Almost joined on to Tejina is Tegueste, a real hidden gem of a place and home to the Lomo Bodega (vineyard). Lomo is my favourite Tenerife wine and I recommend a tour, a tasting and a couple of bottles to take home - oops, there goes the baggage allowance.

And the must-sees? The farmers' market in Tegueste (behind the PCAN garage) every Saturday and Sunday morning is excellent. Also in Tegueste on the Sunday closest to 25th April is the Romería of San Marcos; boats on wheels pulled by oxen and free food and wine - it's one of the best on Tenerife.