What to see in Tegueste, Tenerife

Tegueste Tenerife, the wine valley and the island's most authentic Romería

Tegueste is one of the three municipalities in Tenerife with no coastline, along with El Tanque and Vilaflor. Its territory occupies a fertile valley in the northeast, entirely surrounded by the municipality of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, a unique geographical quirk on the island. The name comes from the old Guanche menceyato that ruled this land before the conquest. Today Tegueste is a benchmark for wine tourism and the most authentic rural life in the north of Tenerife: vineyards of the D.O. Tacoronte-Acentejo, guachinches, a historic centre declared a Cultural Heritage of Interest and the Romería de San Marcos, considered one of the most important traditional festivals in Canary Islands.

The historic centre and the founding site of La Arañita

The centre of Tegueste was declared a Cultural Heritage of Interest in 1986. Its layout preserves the memory of the first colonial settlement and holds buildings representative of several centuries of history. The Plaza de La Arañita — also known as El Llano — was the exact spot where the village was founded. Its location in a sheltered, fertile part of the valley made it the starting point for all the urban development that followed.

Around the centre are the Iglesia de San Marcos Evangelista, the Casa de los Zamorano — today an ethnographic interpretation centre —, the Casa de los Tacoronte, the Casa de la Audiencia and the Puente de Palo, among others. The Camino de los Laureles, which runs through the municipality among trees, is the quietest and greenest walk in the centre. The town hall also offers guided tours of the historic ensemble, by prior booking at the Tourist Office.

The vineyards and wine tourism

Tegueste is one of the municipalities with the strongest winemaking tradition in the D.O. Tacoronte-Acentejo, the Canary Islands' first designation of origin Canary Islands. Its vineyards cover a good part of the valley's landscape, with an image of volcanic soils and low vines that defines the municipality's visual identity. From the Tourist Office organises wine-heritage routes that combine visits to farmland with tastings at the area's wineries. It is, for this reason, one of the best-structured wine tourism destinations in the north of Tenerife.

The guachinches in the municipality round out the gastronomic offering: family-run venues where the winegrower serves their own harvest wine with simple Canarian food. Wrinkled potatoes, cold cuts, roasted cheese and grilled meats are the usual dishes. The season runs from October to March, although it's worth confirming opening times before going.

The Romería de San Marcos

The Romería de San Marcos is the most important festival of Tegueste and one of the most highly regarded in Canary IslandsIt is held on the last Sunday of April in honour of the municipality's patron saint. Thousands of people fill the streets of the centre with decorated ox-carts, horses, regional costumes, folk music and the festive atmosphere found only in the northern Tenerife romerías. Tenerife.

What sets this romería apart from others is its deeply local character. It's not an event designed for tourism, but a festival in which the whole community takes part with real, genuine involvement. That's why it draws both locals from across the island and those seeking a cultural experience away from conventional tourism. Besides the romería, the municipality also celebrates the Festivities of Our Lady of Los Remedios and the Holy Week, which also bring the community together around its traditions.

Hiking and the Anaga Rural Park

Tegueste sits right at the gateway to the Anaga Rural Park, one of the most spectacular natural areas in Canary Islands and a biosphere reserve. Signposted trails set off from the municipality, connecting the valley with the laurisilva of Anaga, among the densest and best-preserved in Europe.

The municipality has more than 30 of its own trails for discovering the rural surroundings, the ravines and the farming landscape. The Camino de Los Laureles within the centre, the route to La Arañita and the PR-TF 12.1 trail connecting Tegueste with the Anaga massif are the most popular. For cycling and trail-running fans, the valley and its surroundings offer routes of varying difficulty in a very uncrowded setting.

Gastronomy in Tegueste

The gastronomy of Tegueste revolves around wine and country cooking. The municipality's restaurants and bars serve grilled meats, homemade cheeses, vegetable stews and wrinkled potatoes with mojo. Local wine — especially listán negro reds — goes with any meal and can also be tasted directly at the wineries during the wine-tourism routes. The Mercadillo del Agricultor also brings together local producers with fruit, vegetables, honey and seasonal produce.

How to get to Tegueste

Tegueste is in the northeast of Tenerife, about 11 kilometres from Santa Cruz de Tenerife and 4 kilometres from San Cristóbal de La Laguna. From the TF-5 motorway, take exit 14 towards the TF-235. The journey from Santa Cruz takes about 20 minutes by car and from the Tenerife North Airport about 15 minutes. By public transport, several TITSA bus lines connect the municipality with La Laguna and Santa Cruz throughout the day. Also check the live cameras in Tenerife to help you navigate the island.