We will exit from the seaport of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1) towards the Teide National Park. After passing through the village of La Esperanza (El Rosario) (2), crossing the mountain chain of the island, we will climb the Mount of La Esperanza until we reach the Mirador de Ortuño (3), at an altitude of 1550 meters, from where we will observe a valley formed by the sliding of large masses of material leaving hillsides as the one of Tigaiga in the town of Los Realejos and the one of Santa Ursula. Beyond this valley rises majestically, as if it was a guardian, the colossal Teide of 3718 meters, occupying the central part of the island.

Then we will continue until the Mirador de la Cumbre (4) that leads to two viewpoints, the first toward the southern part of the island, where on a clear day you can see much of this part of the island and the northern side, with an unbeatable panoramic of the Teide and the Orotava Valley.

Next, we will cross the National Park Cañadas del Teide (5) till reach Roques de Garcia, one of the most popular and visited places. This is a line of large rock formations, remains of the former summit of the island, before the caldera was formed, water and wind have been working over the centuries, creating strange shapes with the rocks, as for example, Roque Cinchado. From the existing viewpoint we can admire the spectacular rock formation "The Ucanca Valley (6)," the greatest gully of the National Park. In the proximity we will find the "azulejos" formation, which will draw our attention for his blue-green colour due to a chemical alteration of the rock. Given the beauty of the place, we will make a stop to take photographs.

Our excursion will continue in the municipality of La Orotava (7). We will visit the downtown area of this city of artistical and cultural value, as it consists of several very well preserved streets of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. If we have time, we can go for a walk through the village, taking a look to its steep streets and quiet places. In the downtown area we shall highlight the church of La Concepcion, La Casa de los Balcones and the town hall. In the main artery of the old city, we can admire a large numbers of houses, which belonged to the aristocracy that once settled this village.

As perfect finale to our journey, we will go to the Avenida Maritima de Martiánez in which the tourist resort Lago Martianez is settled, pride of Puerto de la Cruz (8) and one of the most admired examples of a coastline transformation. A prestigious team of experts, led by the famous artist from Lanzarote Cesar Manrique, carried out this work adapted to the unique canarian architecture, complemented with vegetal elements of our native flora and original sculptures. Its artificial lake, with about 27,000 cubic meters of seawater, enhances its original design and beauty. A variety of bars, shops and kiosks as well as a night club - unique in the world due its location below sea level- lend the resort a special vitality, one of the most striking places throughout the island. In this last stop we will have free time to stroll and/or go shopping.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

It´s the capital of the island´s province of the same name; this is a cosmopolitan, modern and cheerful city. The town life flows between larges avenues, pleasant squares and roads plenty of activity.

In its gardens and avenues (to highlight the city park Garcia Sanabria) there´s a permanent exhibition of sculptures of the world's largest artists, with works ranging from great creators of universal fame, like Moore, until canarian avantgarde artists, as Jose Abad. In the classy shops are sold all kind of items and goods all over the world at interesting prices.

Santa Cruz stands in amphitheater from the shore of the ocean. Port of great importance, it´s a communication hub between Europe, Africa and Americas, as ships of all flags arrive every day.

It has architectural and monumental examples of great value, as the churches of La Concepcion and San Francisco.

The one of San Francisco is a beautiful baroque exponent of the seventeenth century; Palacio de Carta, also of the same century; monuments to the Candelaria and Los Caídos, the group of sculptures by Juan de Avalos, situated at the confluence of Las Ramblas and the Avenida de Anaga, the palace where the Cabildo Insular seats; the Castle-Fortress Paso Alto, the Castle of San Juan ...

Just a few miles from the downtown and near the harbour quarter next to San Andres, is the Playa de las Teresitas, with blond and golden sand. Like other bathing areas, the city also counts with the "Parque Maritimo Cesar Manrique," work of the famous artist from Lanzarote of the same name.

The social and cultural life of Santa Cruz is very intense and his large land area covers rural districts in the area of Anaga, which, because of its local colour and beauty, worth a visit.

La Orotava

The town of La Orotava extends over the banana Valley that bears his name. This old population stands out for the magnificence and greatness of its monuments, for the noble personality of its shady canary stile courtyards, its squares and ancient houses.

The old part of town, with historical and artistic monuments of national interest, requires a detailed visit. The parish church Nuestra Señora de la Concepcion is also a national monument

Las Casas de los Balcones is a jewel of the island's traditional style. Inside them are placed the "Museo de las Alfombras" and the Handicraft Centre Eladio Machado.

The town also has a garden that introducts and acclimatizes plants- La Hijuela del Botanico- with about 100 different species, mostly tropical and subtropical, from South and Central America, Africa and Australia.

Also in the center of town, we can find the Victoria Garden, a green area with a great variety of trees and flowers and with its famous Lyon´s marble mausoleum executed by the French architect Adolph Coquet in 1882.

Given its importance as focus of the aboriginal population is easy to deduce the presence of a great number of archaeological remains in the town.

The whole town of La Orotava, especially the old part of town, is a very special cultural center: The church of La Concepcion retains significant artworks, like the parish of San Juan Bautista del Farrobo. We may visit the church and convent of San Agustin, Santo Domingo (former San Benito), the church of San Francisco, as well as some civilian buildings such as Las Casas de los Balcones, Mesa, Molina, Ponte-Fonte, Monteverde, Ascanio Monteverde (Liceo Taoro), etcetera.

The Town Hall Square and the Constitution Square are also splendid.

Las Cañadas del Teide

The Teide, the most visited national park in Spain (3.142.148 persons in 2007), is undoubtedly one of the most exotic and amazing in Europe. Its volcanic landscapes, the colours of the earth and the basaltic lava making strange shapes, give the scenery a spectacular beauty.

The park, declared as such in 1954 (the oldest in the Canary Islands), contains landscapes of exceptional beauty and geological elements of extraordinary uniqueness and worldwide relevance. The structure of the stratovolcano Teide-Pico Viejo, the highest peak in Spain with its 3,718 metres above sea level, is located 7,500 meters above the bottom of the ocean and is estimated to be the third largest in the world for its size. Formed in the Pleistocene, it remains active. It is situated in the heart of a great depression, La Caldera de Las Cañadas, bordered on the north, east and south part by walls of up to 650 metres. These walls show, over 25 kilometres and through its various stratum, the geological history of the area.

The worldwide importance of the Teide is, in fact, that is a vivid testimony of the geological processes underlying the evolution of the oceanic islands. Its specificities in relation to its natural beauty and archeological value earned resulted in his declaration as World Heritage by the Unesco in 2007.