Tenerife Legends

Teide National Park

Established in the fifties, Teide National Park is the oldest parkland in Spain. It has been declared a World Heritage Site as well as one of the Twelve Treasures of Spain alongside The Great Mosque of Cordoba and the La Alhambra de Granada. Due to its geographic location and its warm climates, Spain is favored for astronomic observation. Halfway up the mountain on which the National Park is located, there is an astronomical observatory. Teide National Park is the most visited national park in the whole of Europe.

1500 people live in hamlets on the mountainside. They earn a living through farming and live off their own produce some of which includes cheese, fruit, honey, potatoes, saffron and wine. Teide National Park is home to some endangered species of animal including the Laurel Pigeons and the Endemic Lizards. The Village of Masca exemplifies the ancient architecture in the Canary Islands and is situated inside of Teide National Park. 

The oldest building in the Village of Masca is the House of the Avinculados. Nowadays, the house has been converted into an artesania, a lodge and a museum. For keen walkers, the Barranco de Masca is a wonderful valley eroded by running water which stretches from the mountains down to the sea. The Acantilados de los Gigantes are impressive, sky-scraping walls erected from the sea. This is without doubt the best known corner of the island. The walls are totally natural and span 600m (30m are below sea level). 

Parque Rural de Anaga

Macizo de Anaga is a mountain range that formed millions of years ago following a volcano eruption. There are no cars given that the cliffs are too treacherous to build roads. Parque Rural de Anaga was established in the eighties. Benijo Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Tenerife. It's located within the Parque Rural de Anaga. The sand is dark due to being the debris of volcanic rocks. Near to the beach there are some restaurants which serve typical Spanish cuisine and a kiosk which stays open all day long. The beach is popular with surfers because of the strong waves.

Whale Watching: The Royal Delfin is a whale watching boat in Tenerife. It has a license to carry 200 passengers. On board, you can sunbathe; drink in the bar; and catch glimpses of dolphins and whales.  If they are really close to the boat, take a walk downstairs for a look under water through the glass bottom. If not, they can be better seen from above.

800 Year Old Tree: El Drago Milenario de Icod is the oldest tree in the Canary Islands. It is about 800 years old, over 16 meters high and its trunk has a circumference of 20 meters. A garden has been made around the tree.