A Guide to La Orotava – Tenerife’s Most Beautiful Town

Located only a short drive from Puerto de la Cruz on the north-west coast of Tenerife, La Orotava is a small mountain town that completely surprised us with its beauty. The town is the definition of a postcard-perfect place, with its charming cobbled streets, lively squares, houses with traditional wooden balconies and lovely viewpoints. The historic centre seemed small at first, but we could easily find interesting places to visit such as museums, gardens and churches to learn more about La Orotava’s history. In this guide we’ll detail the best ways to get to La Orotava, as well as some of the top things to do during your visit.

If you’d like to see what we got up to in La Orotava then watch our dedicated Tenerife video which we’ve shared on our YouTube channel Kitti and Jon.

About La Orotava in Tenerife

The town of La Orotava is located on the north coast of Tenerife, 4 km southeast of Puerto de la Cruz and 28 km southwest of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which is the island’s capital. It sits in the Orotava Valley about 400 m above sea level. La Orotava is also the centre of the larger municipality of the same name which includes Teide National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The town’s historic centre was declared a “Conjunto histórico” (historic ensemble) in 1976. In addition, it’s also included in the Inventory of the European Cultural Heritage Protection and Monumental.

How to Visit La Orotava in Tenerife

Hire Car

The best way to visit La Orotava is with a hire car. Having our own vehicle gave us the chance to get there as early as we wanted to and stay in the town for as long as we liked. We could also time our visit to avoid tour groups, which meant that we had some of the top places all to ourselves.

There’s a large, free parking lot just outside the historic center (here on Google Maps).

Things to Do in La Orotava in Tenerife

1. Visit the Museums

Museo de Artesanía Iberoamericana de Tenerife (MAIT)

The Iberian-American Craft Museum is a great one to visit if you wish to see a wide collection of artefacts. It’s housed in the former convent of San Benito Abad, which was run by the Dominican order. The museum itself only opened in 1991, after the building was used for different purposes and suffered a period of neglect over the decades.

You can walk through 10 rooms with temporary and permanent exhibitions showcasing the artisanal heritage of Ibero-America, with a special focus on Canarian crafts. The building itself is worth visiting this museum for, especially since from the courtyard you’ll be able to see the iconic tower of the Church of Santo Domingo that dominates La Orotava’s skyline.

Opening times and entry fees. The museum is open Monday to Friday, 10AM to 2PM, and Saturday from 10AM to 1:30PM. It’s closed on Sundays. Entry is free.

2. Stroll Through the Parks, Gardens, and Squares

Marquesado de la Quinta Roja Garden (Victoria Gardens)

For some incredible views of La Orotava and beyond, don’t skip the gardens of Marquesado de la Quinta Roja.

Also known as Victoria Garden (Jardin Victoria), it is a beautiful terraced garden overlooking the town. It was designed together with a mausoleum at the end of the 19th century to house the remains of the Marquis of Quinta Roja. Initially, he wasn’t allowed to be buried in the family vault due to his involvement with the Freemasons, which is why the family built the garden.

The stepped terraces are decorated with walkways, water fountains and a variety of plants. At the top is the mausoleum, which stands empty but still has symbology following Masonic principles. From the monument, the views looking out towards the Atlantic Ocean are stunning.

Opening times and entry fees. The gardens are open between 9AM and 8PM and are free to visit.

Plaza de la Constitución

The beating heart of La Orotava is Constitution Square. It sits just opposite the Liceo de Taoro and the Church of San Agustín. It has a Neo-Mudejar style kiosk in the middle, with cafes and other old buildings nearby. From here, we could also enjoy an overview of La Orotava, including the stunning dome of the La Concepción Church and the tower of Santo Domingo Church.

Thanks to a book fair event, the plaza was pretty lively despite the early hour.

Plaza del Ayuntamiento

Another lovely square to stop in is Plaza del Ayuntamiento. This small tree-lined square hosts multiple events and fairs throughout the year. Occupying one side of it is the beautiful Neo-Classical style Town Hall. The building was designed in 1869 after the demolition of the Convent of San José, however it wasn’t completed until 1895.

There are also more historical buildings with wooden balconies surrounding the plaza.

3. Admire the Manor Houses and Other Historical Buildings

Liceo de Taoro Cultural Society

It was impossible not to notice the grand red building standing right next to Victoria Gardens. Looking like a palace, it was the home of the Ascanio family before it became the headquarters of the Liceo de Taoro Cultural Society. It holds exhibitions, conferences and concerts and has different sports facilities for members, such as tennis courts.

Luckily, you can reserve a table at the Cafetería Liceo de Taoro and enjoy a drink on the terrace with lovely views.

Casa Mesa

Located across from the Santo Domingo Church, Casa Mesa is one of the oldest preserved properties in La Orotava.

It dates back to the 16th century and was built by Diego Mesa, who was responsible for the urban layout of the town. Casa Mesa has undergone numerous alterations over the centuries. Up until the 20th century it was one building with Casa Torre Hermosa, the yellow building with the wooden balcony next door.

Casa Monteverde

This 17th century building is just around the corner from the impressive Church of La Concepción. Commissioned by the Monteverde Ponte y Molina family, it has a beautiful façade with a doorway in the late-Renaissance style. The door is framed by Corinthian columns, with a little balconet on the top half.

This is also the house where the flower carpet tradition started for the procession of Corpus Christi.

Casa Lercaro

Also known as Casa Ponte Fonte, this 17th century house is right next to the Molino de Gofio Museum. The façade of this building is lovely, with sgraffito latticework and wooden windows and balconies, with the central balcony made of wrought iron.

It is a huge property and, over the years, it has had a variety of uses, including as a residential building, a storehouse and even a tobacco drying facility.

4. Check Out the Religious Buildings

Church of La Concepción

There are many beautiful churches in La Orotava, but the most impressive one was the Church of La Concepción (Iglesia de La Concepción). Over the decades it has undergone countless modifications before being inaugurated the way you see it today in 1788. Its façade is a great example of Canarian Baroque architecture, whilst its interior has a Neoclassical style. Since 1948 it’s been a National Historic-Artistic Monument.

We especially loved the church’s dome, which was visible from all over La Orotava, as well as the two bell towers. Walking around the building is a great way to appreciate its architecture from every angle.

Church of San Agustin

Another must-see church is the Iglesia de San Agustin next to Plaza de la Constitucion. Work on this church started in 1671 and ended in 1694. It belonged to the Augustine order until the 19th century, when it was seized and used as an infantry barracks. In 1976, the City Council converted it into a Cultural Centre.

We really loved the church’s façade, which follows a classical design but incorporates Baroque elements, such as the Baroque bell gable. Inside the Church, there’s an image of Our Lady of Grace by Manuel Pereira of Portuguese origin, as well as other carvings and sculptures.

Church of San Francisco

Just a short walk from the Casa de los Balcones is the Church of San Francisco. Although it’s one of the oldest buildings in La Orotava, what you see today isn’t the original structure. A fire destroyed the initial Franciscan convent that had stood at the site since 1519.

Church of Santo Domingo

Located close to the MIAT museum and Casa Mesa, it’s worth stopping by the Church of Santo Domingo. It was erected in the 17th Century on the site of an old hermitage with the support of the Mesa family. We could see the tower of the church from various points across La Orotava, just like the dome of the Church of La Concepción.

Final Thoughts on Visiting La Orotava in Tenerife

La Orotava became one of our favourite small towns we visited during our week in Tenerife. We came here first thing in the morning, when the town was still quiet, so we could really appreciate the empty cobblestoned streets and historical buildings. The town came alive pretty quickly though, giving us the chance to enjoy some of the fairs happening in the plazas.

We hope this guide inspired you to add a short visit to La Orotava to your Tenerife itinerary. If you found this blog post useful and want to show your support, you can buy us a coffee here.