Viewpoints, historic trails and cultural traditions give Icod El Alto several distinct ways to plan a trip. The Mirador de La Corona combines sweeping views with access to hiking trails; the Camino de las Vueltas follows an old route to Realejo Bajo. There are also places where you can explore the area’s history and traditional way of life. When choosing a focus, it helps to decide whether you are more interested in scenery, outdoor activities or cultural heritage.

Views and trails around Icod El Alto

The Mirador de La Corona is located at an altitude of 750 metres on a rise in the Tigaiga Massif. From there, the view stretches across the Valle de La Orotava and northeastern Tenerife. Numerous hiking trails can also be accessed from the viewpoint. There is also a launch site for paragliding and free flight. If you plan to take part in this activity, check the current operating conditions before your visit.

The Mirador de El Lance offers a different perspective. It is located on the access road to the town centre of Icod El Alto and provides sweeping views across the Valle de La Orotava and Tenerife’s north coast. While La Corona offers not only views but also access to hiking trails and a launch site for free flight, El Lance combines its views with its location on the road leading to the town centre. These different features make it easier to include the viewpoints separately in your plans.

The Camino de las Vueltas connects Icod El Alto with Realejo Bajo and follows an old route dating from pre-Hispanic times. Its course crosses sedimentary slope deposits with degraded fayal-brezal formations and scattered elements of Monteverde. The same route thus brings together a historic connection between places and a clearly described landscape. Those interested in historic trails will find a different focus here than at the two viewpoints.

Cultural Heritage, History and Tradition

A sculpture of Mencey Bentor stands at the Mirador de El Lance. It was inaugurated in 1996 and depicts a story passed down through tradition: the last Guanche mencey, Bentor, is said to have thrown himself to his death from this spot rather than surrender and submit. The site therefore combines sweeping views with a remembrance whose content is explicitly passed down as a traditional account.

The Museo de Los Alzados is located in the Centro de Educación Obligatoria La Pared. It is dedicated to reviving the region’s music and traditional way of life, and received the Premio Canarias de Cultura Popular in 2012. The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Buen Viaje offers a different way to explore the area’s cultural heritage: it houses Canarian artworks from the 17th and 18th centuries. Its history dates back to a hermitage in Icod de los Trigos, documented in the last third of the 16th century and dedicated to Nuestra Señora del Rosario. The museum, church and sculpture thus each focus on different aspects: music and way of life, art, and a traditional account of history.

Agriculture, Gofio and Festivals

Potatoes and wheat are among the most traditional crops grown in Icod El Alto. One story about the history of the potato dates to around 1622: Don Juan Bautista de Castro had potatoes he had brought from Peru planted on his land in Icod El Alto. Agriculture is therefore not only a present-day topic but also part of the historical stories associated with the area.

At the Molino de Gofio Mesa, grains are roasted and milled, then packaged and sold directly to the public as well as to small and medium-sized businesses. The range includes gofio made from millo (maize), a grain mixture, wheat and various grains. This offers a concrete insight into a regional product and how it is made; the documented activity covers production and sales.

Several festivals take place throughout the year; the main one is held at the end of August. On the last Sunday in August, the image of Nuestra Señora del Buen Viaje is also carried in a procession. If you want to plan your trip around festivals, check the exact event dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Cruz Santa, Brezal, Llanadas, Palo Blanco, Tigaiga.

Go to the overview of destinations: Los Realejos.