Having visited in one week most of the must-see places of the Island of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, one of the most impressive spots I have seen is without any doubt the rural park of Teno with its magnificent green cliffs and its winding roads in the heart of the massif.
Geographical location:
The Teno rural park is located in Buenavista del Norte, in the north of the island of Tenerife, which is part of the Canary Islands. This park is a mountainous massif that exceeds 1,300 metres in altitude and is surrounded by the sea. 8,063.3 hectares, it is one of the most beautiful natural areas of Tenerife, a real change of scenery. It is made up of several hamlets, El Palmar, Teno Alto, Las Lagunetas, Las Portelas, Los Carrizales, Masca and Erjos, which live on livestock and agricultural activities. To get there by car from Buenavista, take the TF-436 Buenavista-Santiago del Teide road, and by bus, take the 355 line.
History of Teno Rural Park:
Teno was originally a small separate island which then joined with others to form the current island of Tenerife. The massif is in fact the eroded remnant of the Teno shield volcano, one of the three main shield volcanoes composing the island of Tenerife. The landscape is thus marked by deep valleys, the outcome of the significant erosion following the end of volcanic activity in the massif. This geographical isolation has allowed it to preserve biodiversity, architecture and customs especially among its ravines and narrow valleys, difficult to find in Tenerife in the resorts and mass tourism. The most important local agricultural products that can be found here are potatoes, cheese, wine, local saffron, fruit and honey.
The Masca Valley:
The small village of Masca located on the heights of "Santiago Del Teide" in the rural park of Teno is an old pirate hideout which, thanks to the unobstructed view of the sea, allow occupants to see their enemies from far away and enjoy protection from the cliffs and mountains surrounding the village. The village of Masca is made up of old houses with some stores and restaurants that offer local products. One of the most famous restaurants is the Casa Riquelme, which is located in the house of one of the inhabitants and offers a panoramic view of the valley.
You will have understood that Tenon Park is an incredible place not to be missed.
