Situated on the north-west coast of Tenerife in a valley of the same name, the aristocratic town of La Orotava boasts a fascinating history, having been home to many of the island’s wealthiest and noblest families who settled here after the Spanish conquest.
The legacy of this past remains in the form of the resort's magnificent architecture, with the streets of the old town lined with Renaissance mansions and other historical buildings including churches and convents. The modern aspect of La Orotava is evident in its exclusive shops and elegant restaurants, while the resort also boasts three beaches.
The closest airport to La Orotava is Tenerife South Airport, which is around 33km away, and can be reached from a vast number of cities across Europe.
To get from the airport to the resort, you can take one of the regular public buses to Puerto de la Cruz, and then catch a connecting bus on to La Orotava. Alternatively, you may want to book a hotel transfer in advance, pick up a hire car at the airport, or for greater convenience simply jump in a taxi.
Whilst La Orotava enjoys the same beautiful summer weather experienced across Tenerife, the resort’s location in the north of the island means that it is not quite the picture-perfect winter destination as many of its more southern counterparts can claim. Temperatures remain pleasant in theory, but with little protection from the winds, things can get a little chilly in practice.
This weather may be fine for exploring the region’s landscape, as well as making for excellent water sports conditions, but for those wanting to lay in the sun, winter months should be avoided.
Perhaps the best time to visit La Orotava is a little out of peak summer time, when the weather is still delightfully warm, but the resort is not too crowded and travel and accommodation prices become more affordable.
La Orotava can best be explored on foot, characterised as it is by beautiful architecture, picturesque squares, wide streets and traditional Canarian houses. The quaint historical centre is in a perfect state of conservation, and has been declared of National Historical and Artistic Interest.
The town is also blessed with an abundance of churches and monasteries, the best of which are the Gothic-style Iglesia de la Concepción and the Baroque-style Iglesia de San Agustín.
In additional to its stunning architecture, La Orotava is also one of Tenerife’s most vibrant cultural centres This city is steeped in artisan tradition, making it one of the top spots to shop for mementos such as ceramics, lace, woodwork and leather.
Set in a valley, La Orotava is also an important centre of agriculture, especially for the growth of bananas and grapes – two of the main fruits produced on the island. If you have never seen a banana plantation this is a good opportunity to see how the food is produced.
There are three beaches in La Orotava – El Bollulllo, Martín Alonso and El Rincón – all of which have dark sand and are rarely crowded, even during the peak summer months.
Another popular attraction in La Orotava is the perfectly manicured flower beds of the botanical Victoria Gardens, which strangely and in sharp contrast is also home to a mausoleum.
For cultue vultures, there are two excellent museums in the village. The Museo de Céramica houses almost 1000 pieces of traditional Spanish pottery, while the Museo de Artesanía Iberoamerica exhibits handicrafts from Latin America and Spain.
Other than a small choice of bars and restaurants, most of the nightlife in La Orotava is hotel based. If you want something livelier, head to the nearby resort of Puerto de la Cruz which offers some of the best late night entertainment on the island.