What to see in Vilaflor de Chasna, Tenerife
The highest village in the Canary Islands
Vilaflor de Chasna Tenerife, the highest village in Spain among pines and lava
Vilaflor de Chasna is one of the three municipalities in Tenerife without a coast, alongside Tegueste and El Tanque, and the highest of them all. With its capital at about 1,400 meters above sea level, it is also one of the highest villages in Spain. Its territory rises to 2,848 meters in the cliffs closing the Llano de Ucanca to the south, nearing the Teide National Park. In just a kilometer of terrain are found the thickest tree in Spain and the tallest known Canarian pine. Moreover, the first Canarian saint was born here, the Santo Hermano Pedro, evangelizer of Guatemala in the 17th century. You can check the live cameras in Tenerife to see the conditions before climbing.
The historic center and Santo Hermano Pedro
The centre of Vilaflor de Chasna preserve the calm and authentic atmosphere of a highland village in the south of TenerifeThe Church of San Pedro Apóstol, whose origins trace back to a hermitage ordered to be built by Pedro Soler and his wife around 1530, presides over the main square. It was not elevated to a parish until 1568 and today holds a white alabaster image signed by the Aragonese sculptor Pedro Villar, one of the most valuable pieces of religious heritage in the south of the island.
Next to the church is the Sanctuary of Santo Hermano Pedro, dedicated to Pedro de San José Betancur, born in Vilaflor in 1626. He was the first saint canonized in Canary Islands — in 2002 by John Paul II — and evangelizer of Guatemala, where he founded the first hospital for the poor in Central America. His birthplace is now a museum and pilgrimage center. The Casa de los Soler, with traditional 17th-century architecture, and the old Water Mill complete the civic heritage of the area.
The Pino Gordo and Pino de las Dos Pernadas
A few meters from the historic center are two of the most extraordinary trees of Spain. The Pino Gordo is the native tree with the largest trunk circumference in the country: over nine meters in perimeter and estimated to be several centuries old. In front of it, the Pino de las Dos Pernadas is the tallest known Canarian pine in Spain. Both grow in the Natural Park of the Corona Forestal and can be visited on foot from the village center in a few minutes. The sight of these giants in the middle of the pine forest is one of the most impressive scenes of Tenerife.
The Lunar Landscape
The Lunar Landscape — also called Los Escurriales — is the most famous natural attraction of the municipality and one of the most unique geological formations of Tenerife. Columns and white pumice stone cones, sculpted by erosion over centuries, form an extraterrestrial-looking landscape amidst a forest of Canarian pines. The contrast between the light rocks, blue sky, and dark green of the pines is hard to forget.
The most popular access is the PR-TF 72 trail, a circular route of 13.5 kilometers of medium-high difficulty starting from the center of Vilaflor and lasts between four and five hours. The path follows part of the Camino Real de Chasna, a historical route over 500 years old that connected the north and south of Tenerife. For those who prefer a shorter option, it is also possible to drive closer via a forest track to reduce the walk to the last two kilometers.
The Corona Forestal and Teide National Park
Vilaflor is surrounded by the Natural Park of the Corona Forestal, the largest protected area of Canary Islands and the green lung of the south of Tenerife. Its Canarian pine forests cover the area from the village's outskirts up to 2,370 meters, where the trees coexist with the Teide broom. From the municipality, several routes connect directly to the Teide National Park via the road TF-21, the only access route to the park from the south of the island.
The position of Vilaflor as the southern gateway to Teide makes the municipality an ideal base for those wishing to ascend to the park without starting from the coastal tourist centers. About 25 kilometers from the village, you'll reach the crater, the Roques de García and the park's main viewpoints.
Cuisine and wines of Abona
Vilaflor de Chasna belongs to the Denomination of Origin Abona, which covers the municipalities of the south of Tenerife at medium and high altitudes. Its vineyards, cultivated between 1,200 and 1,700 meters, produce fresh and aromatic white wines thanks to the cool nights and altitude. Additionally, the municipality produces Vilaflor potatoes — highly valued throughout the island —, almonds, and seasonal fruits.
The town's restaurants and bars serve traditional Canarian highland cuisine: wrinkled potatoes with mojo, grilled meats, artisanal cheeses, and vegetable stews. The mineral water Fuentealta, bottled at the springs of the municipality at 1,400 meters above sea level, is another of Vilaflor 's own products with distribution throughout Canary Islands.
How to get to Vilaflor de Chasna
Vilaflor is in the south of Tenerife, about 50 kilometers from Santa Cruz de Tenerife via the TF-1 and TF-21 (approximately 55-65 minutes by car). From Los Cristianos or Las Américas the journey is about 35 kilometers and 40-45 minutes via the TF-28 and TF-21. By public transport, the bus 342 of TITSA connects Costa Adeje with Las Cañadas del Teide passes through Vilaflor. Using your own car is recommended for visiting the Lunar Landscape and forest areas. Check also the live cameras in Tenerife to help you navigate the island.
Frequently Asked Questions about Vilaflor de Chasna Tenerife
Is Vilaflor the highest village in Spain?
Vilaflor de Chasna is one of the highest villages in Spain, with its capital at about 1,400 meters above sea level. Its municipal area climbs up to 2,848 meters, nearing the Teide National Park. It is also the highest municipality in Canary Islands and the only one in the south of Tenerife without a coastline.
How to reach the Lunar Landscape from Vilaflor?
The trail PR-TF 72 starts from the village center and reaches the Lunar Landscape in about 6 kilometers, partly following the Camino Real de Chasna. The full circular route measures 13.5 kilometers and takes between four and five hours. It is also possible to drive closer via a forest track to shorten the walk to the last two kilometers.
Who was Santo Hermano Pedro?
Pedro de San José Betancur was born in Vilaflor in 1626 and became a missionary in Guatemala, where he founded the first hospital for the poor in Central America. John Paul II canonized him in 2002, making him the first saint born in Canary Islands. His birthplace in Vilaflor is now a museum and pilgrimage site.
What is Pino Gordo?
It is the native tree with the largest trunk circumference in Spain, with a perimeter of over nine meters. It grows just a few minutes' walk from the center of Vilaflor, within the Natural Park of the Corona Forestal. Next to it is the Pino de las Dos Pernadas, the tallest known Canarian pine in the country.
What wines does Vilaflor de Chasna produce?
The municipality belongs to the D.O. Abona. Its vineyards, at altitudes between 1,200 and 1,700 meters, produce fresh and aromatic white wines thanks to the cool nights. The exceptional altitude of the vineyard gives these wines a unique character within Tenerife.
How to ascend Teide from Vilaflor?
From Vilaflor take the TF-21 north. In about 25 kilometers, you'll reach the entrance of the Teide National Park, the Roques de García and the main viewpoints of the park. It is the southern access route to Teide on the island, less frequented than the northern approaches.