Icod De Los Vinos: Volcanic Tunnel, Drago Tree and Cultural Heritage

In Icod De Los Vinos, things to see and do range from volcanic origins to art and local culture.

Volcanic Tunnel and Drago Tree

Cueva del Viento is a volcanic tunnel formed around 27,000 years ago by an eruption of Pico Viejo. It extends for about 18 kilometres from Pico Viejo to the coast of Icod De Los Vinos. The official visit is a guided, interpretive tour: it starts at the visitor centre and leads across a lava field and along an old royal road to the cave entrance. If you plan to take this tour, check the booking conditions before your trip.

The Drago tree of Icod is a specimen of the Dracaena draco species and was declared a National Monument in 1917. Parque del Drago covers three hectares and includes paths, botanical signs, traditional irrigation channels, old cultivation walls and historic remains. In the Guardería de Dragos, an educational area of the park, the development of the species is shown through specimens of different sizes and ages. The designation of a particular specimen and the development of the species across different sizes and ages are thus presented as two distinct nature-related topics.

Coast, Architecture and Art

Playa de San Marcos is a black volcanic-sand beach in a horseshoe-shaped bay with calm waters. The beach also has visitor facilities; individual services may change. If you rely on a particular facility, check before your visit.

The historic centre of Icod De Los Vinos is an urban ensemble designated a Bien de Interés Cultural, with cobbled streets and traditional architecture. Iglesia San Marcos is also a monument classified as a Bien de Interés Cultural; it received this designation in 2006. The church’s namesake statue of San Marcos is a Gothic sculpture, probably dating from the 15th century, with Flemish influence. The church also displays a silver filigree cross weighing 47 kilograms and measuring 2.40 metres in height. Access to the exhibition may vary; check the visiting conditions in advance if you want to see the artworks.

Local Experiences and Visit Planning

A museum in a former hacienda offers a self-guided tour with exhibitions about banana cultivation and a small banana plantation. After the tour, visitors can sample local banana products such as mojos, sweets and liqueurs; tastings may not always be available. If you plan to take the tour or sample the products, check the visiting conditions in advance.

Traditions can also shape your travel plans. The tradition of the Globo de San Antonio continues in one neighbourhood of Icod De Los Vinos: the same family makes and launches the balloon every year. Another tradition involves sliding down steep streets on boards made of tea wood. Specific event dates may vary from year to year; check them before planning your trip.

Consider whether you mainly want to plan a guided tour, nature-related activities, time on the coast, or a visit focused on architecture and art. For a specific hotel offer, check the stated location, facilities and booking conditions so you can compare them with your own priorities.

Discover more destinations: Santa Barbara, La Florida, Vega Alta, Cueva Del Viento, El Amparo, El Sauzal, Almáciga, El Rosario.

For the overview of the wider destination: Tenerife.