Happy TravellerWelcome to La Orotava, a picturesque town and municipality located in the northern part of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands of Spain. With an area of 207.31 km2, it is the largest municipality of the island of Tenerife and home to a population of 41,255 (2013). The town of La Orotava, which is the administrative center of the municipality and also its largest settlement, is situated near the north coast, at about 400 m elevation in the Orotava Valley. It is 4 km southeast of Puerto de la Cruz and 28 km southwest of the island’s capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
La Orotava is a town steeped in history and culture. The historic center of La Orotava was declared Conjunto histórico in 1976 and is included in the Inventory of the European Cultural Heritage Protection and Monumental. The coat of arms of La Orotava was adopted by Alfonso XIII in 1906, the dragoons escorting the drago and the tree of golden apples refers to the mythology of the Garden of Hesperides, believed was located in La Orotava. In gastronomy, La Orotava was honored for the Denominación de Origen Valle de La Orotava or the Denomination of the Origin of the Orotava Valley (Valle de La Orotava) in wines.
La Orotava is also a nature lover’s paradise. The area of the municipality stretches from the north coast to the mountainous interior, and includes the summit of the Teide volcano, Canary Islands and Spain’s highest point at 3,718 m. Much of the Teide National Park (a World Heritage Site in 2007) is located within the municipality. The Orotava Valley stretches from the sea up to the mountains at 2,000 m which begins near Las Cañadas up to Pico del Teide at 3,718 m is Spain’s tallest mountain. The valley includes the municipalities of Los Realejos, Puerto de la Cruz and La Orotava.
La Orotava has a rich land for farming and its economy has been based on agriculture for centuries, with products such as wine, tomatoes, bananas and others that were exported mainly to Europe and the UK. It was not until beginning of the 19th century that the tourism industry broke through. The natural environment of La Orotava helped attract many researchers and exclusive high-class groups from Europe. At this stage La Orotava was a leading cultural center accommodating many travelers and writers, among others William Wilde and Alexander von Humboldt. Nowadays, La Orotava is visited by Northern Europeans all year round, especially during the winter months when the climate is quite mild, and over Christmas and New Year.
Come and experience the charm and beauty of La Orotava for yourself. Whether you’re interested in history, culture, nature, or simply relaxing in the sun, this enchanting destination has something for everyone.
