What to see in Los Silos, Tenerife
Town in the northwest, between Teno and the sea
Los Silos Tenerife, the village of the three silos in the far northwest
Los Silos is one of the most peaceful and authentic municipalities in the northwest of Tenerife. Its name comes from the three grain silos built in the 16th century by the town's founder, Gonzalo Yanes. A land-distribution document from 1509 mentions it for the first time.
Today the municipality combines a historic centre declared a Cultural Heritage of Interest, a coastline of volcanic rock pools and trails that lead into the Teno Rural Park. Its Festival Internacional del Cuento has also given it cultural reach beyond the islands. You can check the live cameras in Tenerife to see the weather in the north of the island before visiting.
The historic centre and the Plaza de la Luz
The historic center of Los Silos received the designation of Cultural Heritage of Interest with the status of Historical Ensemble in 2004. Its centre is the Plaza de la Luzone of the best-kept in the northwest of Tenerife, with colourful gardens and the quiet feel of villages that have barely changed in decades. The municipality's most important buildings are arranged around it.
The Iglesia Parroquial de Nuestra Señora de la Luz dates from the 16th century and holds an image of the Virgin that, according to legend, a Portuguese fisherman found on the coast. Architect Mariano Estanga , from Valladolid, redid its façade in Neo-Gothic style in the 1920s, giving it the striking towers that define it today. The Antiguo Convento de San Sebastián de Monjas Bernardas, founded in 1649, is a Historic-Artistic Monument and today houses the municipal library. The Casona de los Trujillos serves as the town hall, and the Casa de la Música from 1917 is still home to the local band.
The volcanic coastline and rock pools
The coast of Los Silos is about 5 kilometres long, with a volcanic beach, cliffs and natural rock pools. The Charco Los Chochos, in La Caleta de Interián, is one of the most distinctive in the northwest of Tenerife: a pool of crystal-clear water formed among the lava that lies underwater at high tide. The Charco de la Araña, the Playa del Gomero and the Playa de Agua Dulce round out the coastal options for swimming and snorkelling.
In El Puertito de Daute still has two 19th-century industrial kilns. An English company built them in 1889 to produce sugar cane in the area. Today they are a point of interest within the northwest of the island's industrial heritage.
The Teno Rural Park and its trails
Los Silos is part of the Teno Rural Park, one of Tenerife's most distinctive protected natural areas. TenerifeSeveral trails set off from the centre, running through ravines, abandoned hamlets and viewpoints over the north coast.
The PR-TF 55 Los Silos – Talavera – El Palmar trail climbs up to the Caserío de Talavera and then descends towards El Palmar with views of the coast. The PR-TF 54 Los Silos – Las Moradas – Monte del Agua trail sets off from Erjos, climbs up the Barranco de Los Cochinos and reaches the Monte del Agua passing through the historic hamlets of Las Moradas, where houses, pens and an old 20th-century tile kiln are still preserved. The Cuevas Negras trail was the old royal road linking Los Silos with Santiago del Teide and today surprises visitors with abandoned buildings and machinery amid nature.
Las Charcas de Erjos
On the border between Los Silos and El Tanque, at around 950 metres above sea level, are the Charcas de Erjos. They were once aggregate quarries; over time water and vegetation turned them into seasonal lagoons. Today they are home to moorhens, coots and grey herons, and during migration season species not easily found elsewhere on the island arrive. Because of all this, the Teno Rural Park includes them within its territory and the Natura 2000 Network protects them as a special bird area.
The Festival Internacional del Cuento
Every year, during the Puente de la Constitución in December, Los Silos hosts the Festival Internacional del Cuento. The historic centre then becomes a stage where storytellers from various countries fill the town's squares, streets and spaces with live storytelling. It is one of the most renowned oral storytelling festivals in Spain and has put this small municipality on the archipelago's cultural map.
Gastronomy in Los Silos
The bars and restaurants in the centre and in La Caleta de Interián they serve wrinkled potatoes with mojo, catch of the day and grilled limpets. The local produce comes straight from the sea and the market gardens of Tierra del Trigo and Erjos. The Mercadillo del Agricultor de Los Silos, open Sundays from 9:00 to 14:00, brings together homemade cheeses, seasonal fruit, honey and homemade preserves. It is also one of the liveliest markets in the northwest of the island.
How to get to Los Silos
How to get to Los Silos
Los Silos is in the northwest of Tenerife, about 57 kilometres from Santa Cruz de Tenerife via the TF-42. The drive takes between 55 and 65 minutes. From Icod de los Vinos it's about 20 kilometres, and from Garachico barely 10. It is recommended to have your own car, as public transport runs infrequently in the area. From Los Silos it's also easy to reach Buenavista del Norte and the entrance to the Teno Rural Park to continue exploring the northwest of the island.
Frequently asked questions about Los Silos Tenerife
Why is it called Los Silos?
The name refers to the three grain silos built in the 16th century by the town's founder, Gonzalo YanesIt first appears in a land-distribution document from 1509 signed by the conqueror Alonso Fernández de Lugo.
What is the Charco Los Chochos?
It is a pool of crystal-clear water formed among volcanic lava on the coast of the La Caleta de Interiándistrict. At high tide it is completely covered by the sea. It is one of the most distinctive natural pools in the northwest of Tenerife and an ideal spot for swimming and snorkelling.
What are the Charcas de Erjos?
They are seasonal lagoons located on the border between Los Silos and El Tanque, at around 950 metres above sea level. Formed from old quarries, they are today a protected wetland within the Teno Rural Park and the Natura 2000 Network, with great value for waterbirds and migratory birds.
What is the Festival Internacional del Cuento in Los Silos?
It is an oral storytelling festival held every year during the Puente de la Constitución in December. The historic centre of Los Silos hosts storytellers from various countries who fill the town's squares and streets with live stories. It is one of the most renowned storytelling festivals in Spain.
What trails are there in Los Silos?
Notable ones include the PR-TF 55 Los Silos – Talavera – El Palmar, which climbs up to the Caserío de Talavera with views of the coast; the PR-TF 54 Los Silos – Las Moradas – Monte del Agua, with historic hamlets and laurisilva; and the Cuevas Negras trail, the old royal road between Los Silos and Santiago del Teide.
How do you get to Los Silos from the north of Tenerife?
From Icod de los Vinos it's about 20 kilometres via the TF-42, approximately 20-25 minutes by car. From Garachico it's about 10 kilometres and 10-15 minutes. It is recommended to have your own car due to limited public transport frequency in the area.