 Parish Church of San Pedro, Vilaflor | ||
| Vilaflor | ||
| region | Canary Islands | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 1.715 (2020) | |
| height | 1,414 m | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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Vilaflor is a small town in the mountains on the south side of Tenerife.
background
The municipality of Vilaflor is at an altitude of 1400 m, making it the highest place in the Canary Islands and at the same time in all of Spain. It lies off the beaten track and has therefore largely retained its originality. The mineral water supplied by the company is an important branch of the economy Fuente Alta is bottled.
getting there
By plane
Vilaflor is about 25 km from the Tenerife South Airport away
In the street
You can reach Vilaflor from Arona on the TF-51, of San Miguel de Abona on the TF-563 and from Granadilla de Abona on the TF-21. All three streets are also connected to the motorway TF-1. The one goes from Vilaflor TF-21 continue to Teide National Park.
mobility
The old town center of Vilaflor is manageably small, but the streets are relatively narrow and sometimes steep.
Tourist Attractions
- San Pedro. The Canarian-style parish church of San Pedro is located at the top of the Plaza Doctor Pérez Cáceres.
- Birthplace of Pedro de San José Betancur the first saint of the Canary Islands on Plaza de San Pedro. - It was transformed into a small monastery with a chapel, today's one Santuario del Santo Hermano Pedro. Many houses in the village have pictures in memory of the saint.
- Molino de Agua de Vilaflor - At the side of the Plaza de San Pedro A staircase leads to the last still preserved watermill in the village, the exact age is unclear, but it was at least in the 17th century. mentioned in a document on modernization. You can see the water supply pipe and the funnel for the water. In the small mill building there is still a Gofio mill and you can see how the drive works from the outside on the floor below
- There are some particularly powerful Canarian pines above Vilaflor Mirador del Pino Gordo. These trees belong to the nature park Corona Forestal, it surrounds the top of the Teide. Canary pines are characterized by their long needles, some of which can reach a length of more than 30 cm.
- Around Vilaflor there is intensive farming according to the age-old method of Dry farming operated as already practiced by the Guanches. The fields are laid out in terraces, the earth is covered by a thin layer of volcanic rock, usually light-colored pumice, which largely prevents the evaporation of water.
activities
Vilaflor is a popular starting point for hikes. Goals are above all
- the Cañadas at the crater rim below the Teide
- the Paisaie Lunar or as Lunar landscape designated.
Hike to the Paisaje Lunar
The hike leads through the nature park of the Corona Forestal and is as PR-F 72 marked with a yellow and white marking. The route is part of the Camino de Chasnaas Vilaflor was called during the Guanche times.
The easy way from Vilaflor is a good 6 km with a difference in altitude of 450 m. The hike is classified as easy. The starting point is the small village church. From it you go downhill to the eastern edge of the village and descend into a small gorge at the last house. You reach the ascent via a small stream and past some dry field terraces and water containers. The path is - if you find a marker - marked with 3 stripes in the colors red, yellow and white, it is pleasantly wide, but quite rocky. It leads continuously upwards to an altitude of approx. 1700 m, on its side there is a water pipe. At the top you pass an agricultural property. A few hundred meters further on, the path takes a short turn into a small gorge where you can see brick-red volcanic rock.
Further up you come to a signpost that shows that you have just covered 2.7 km. The other two arrows show two directions to the lunar landscape, it is a ring road totaling 7 km in length, so it is a good 3 km to the destination. The left path (3.3 km) initially leads leisurely uphill, with a forest path to be crossed several times. You should pay attention to the markings: red-white-yellow in straight lines is correct, crossed lines indicate that the direction is wrong. The stone in the picture on the right is on the highest point: the red path continues uphill in the direction of Cañadas, the yellow path branches off to the right just a few meters before Paisaje Lunar. Now it goes a few 100 m along the slope, suddenly the gorge opens and you stand in astonishment in front of the peculiar rock formation of the Lunar landscapewho once also called Los Escurriales was designated. There are two viewpoints here with informative panels and benches, and you deserve to enjoy this view for a few minutes. If the view is overcast, which can happen at this altitude, you wait a few minutes, usually the clouds then tear open and the view is free at least for a short time.
The Paisaje Lunar are formations of tuff, created by countless layers of different colored volcanic ash, compressed and exposed by erosion. Everywhere in the upper layer, for example, a stone was in the way of the rain, pillars formed, their flanks were abraded by wind and weather and show colored bands comparable to annual rings. These sensitive structures should be preserved for as long as possible for future generations, which is why the descent into the gorge into this lunar landscape has been forbidden for several years.
There is therefore only the way back, or you can continue on the way, in this direction it is approx. 3.7 km. A few times you can see the cone of the Teide and often you can see the places below by the sea. Mountain bike routes and forest paths cross the path repeatedly, and on the way you pass long abandoned and dilapidated houses. Then it goes downhill again for the last 3 km back to the village.
shop
There are several shops in the village that sell embroidery and other handicrafts made in Vilaflor.
kitchen
Vilaflor is a popular weekend destination for the locals to go out to eat with family and friends. There are some good, small restaurants with typical, hearty Canarian cuisine in the old town center around the plaza. For example "pickled rabbit", stews or baked cheese. That's why it's not easy to get a seat on Saturday or Sunday. On the upper and lower outskirts there are larger restaurants with viewing terraces, which are also used by tour groups.
Restaurants
- El Rincon de Roberto, Avenida Hermano Pedro 27. Tel.: 34 9227090 35. From the outside inconspicuous, small restaurant with a beautiful, old and cozy dining room with fireplace as well as excellent Canarian cuisine, casual service. There is also an extra room on the first floor for groups. Mon Tue day off.
- La Vendimia, Camino San Roque S / N. Tel.: 34 922709930. The head chef of the restaurant of the Hotel VillAlba offers upscale cuisine with a mix of Canarian cuisine and international influences. A reservation is recommended for evenings, open daily, for lunch from 2pm to 4pm.
nightlife
accommodation
- Hotel Spa VillAlba ****, Camino de San Roque s / n. Tel.: 34 922709930, Fax: 34 922709341, Email: [email protected]. Very quiet on the outskirts on the edge of the pine forests. Well-arranged with 27 rooms, restaurant, spa - however, children under 14 years are not welcome in this hotel.
health
The local health center "Consultorio Vilaflor" is open Mon-Fri from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is located on Avenida Hermano Pedro 24.
Practical advice
trips
Vilaflor offers itself as a starting point for Teide National Park. The vast area is easily underestimated, you can drive long distances up there in a rental car, but there is not a single refueling point within the national park.
