Icod El Alto: Trails, Views and Cultural Heritage

If you are planning a trip to Icod el Alto, historic paths, viewpoints and cultural heritage offer a range of options for planning your days. When choosing a hotel in Icod El Alto, you can consider whether hiking landscapes, cultural history or both will shape your stay. The following places and traditions have their own distinct features and can help you plan your trip.

Hiking Trails and Views

The Camino de las Vueltas connects Icod el Alto with Realejo Bajo and follows an old pre-Hispanic route. It crosses sedimentary slope deposits. The landscape described along the way includes degraded Fayal-Brezal formations and isolated elements of Monteverde. This route therefore brings together a historic path, geological features and different types of vegetation.

Another point of interest for hikers is the Mirador de La Corona. It stands at an elevation of 750 metres on a rise in the Tigaiga massif. From there, views stretch across the Valle de La Orotava and northeastern Tenerife; numerous hiking trails are also accessible. The viewpoint also has a launch area for paragliding and free flight. If you plan to take part in these activities, check the current conditions in advance.

The Mirador de El Lance is on the access road to the centre of Icod el Alto and offers wide-ranging views across the Valle de La Orotava and Tenerife’s north coast. The viewpoints offer different perspectives: from La Corona, you can see the valley and the northeast of the island; from El Lance, the valley and the north coast. The sculpture of Mencey Bentor, inaugurated in 1996, also stands at El Lance.

Culture and History

The sculpture at the Mirador de El Lance depicts a traditional story: the last Guanche Mencey, Bentor, is said to have leapt to his death from this spot rather than surrender and submit. The story has been passed down as a tradition and is the monument’s point of reference.

The Museo de Los Alzados is located in the Centro de Educación Obligatoria La Pared. It is dedicated to reviving the region’s music and traditional way of life. In 2012, the museum received the Premio Canarias de Cultura Popular. The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Buen Viaje houses Canarian works of art from the 17th and 18th centuries. The church’s history dates back to a hermitage in Icod de los Trigos, documented in the last third of the 16th century and dedicated to Nuestra Señora del Rosario.

The Lavaderos del Dornajo also tell the story of everyday life in the past. For centuries, women gathered here to collect water, washerwomen washed their clothes and cart drivers watered their livestock. The washing places are beside the old Camino Real de Icod el Alto, on the west side of the Barranco del Dornajo ravine.

Agriculture, Gofio and Festivals

Potatoes and wheat are among the most traditional crops grown in Icod el Alto. Around 1622, Don Juan Bautista de Castro had potatoes brought from Peru planted on his land in Icod el Alto. This story links local cultivation to a specific historical episode, while the traditional crops reflect the area’s agricultural character.

At the Molino de Gofio Mesa, grains are roasted, milled and then packaged. The products are sold directly to the public as well as to small and medium-sized businesses. The varieties on offer include gofio made from millo, a grain blend, wheat and various grains. Gofio is therefore another tangible connection to the region’s food culture.

Icod el Alto celebrates several festivals throughout the year; the most important takes place at the end of August. Another recurring religious tradition is the procession carrying the image of Nuestra Señora del Buen Viaje on the last Sunday in August. These dates give you a seasonal reference for planning your trip; check the current festival dates before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Brezal, Llanadas, Cruz Santa, Palo Blanco, Tigaiga.

For the broader travel overview: Los Realejos.