Buenavista del Norte

Overview

Buenavista del Norte is the most North Western region of the island of Tenerife. It is quiet and tranquil, but above all else, it is beautiful. The scenery placed within this city could quite easily glide into any exotic Hollywood feature. The city has plenty of majestic sights and it even has an 18-hole golf course. While not a clubbing hotspot, this area has enough bars to keep the mild mannered tourist satisfied for an evening or two. Definitely worth a visit especially if you’re situated nearby!

Buenavista del Norte is situated directly between Masca and Garachico, which is worth bearing in mind should you decide to travel here.

History

Buenavista del Norte is such a pretty part of the Island, even the Spanish conquerors of old couldn’t ignore it. Consequentially, they gave the land the name it still carries today as a tribute to its beauty (Buenavista del Norte quite literally translates to ‘good view’ of the North).

Retrieved historic documents suggest that this city was thriving as early as the year 1516 and if you visit the area today, you’ll find it very much the same!

Reports suggest that, in the year 1513, Spanish conqueror Juan Mendéz pressed the govenment to allow him to create a village in the area of Buenavista del Norte. The superiors agreed, and Mendéz went about creating the first few houses. Before long, the area became incredibly populated and a favoured spot among the conquerors. Buenavista del Norte was officially born. Undoubtedly the area’s agricultural potential and Mendéz's seemingly endless water supply greatly contributed the area’s rapid development, but the incredible scenic views also had a part to play! Buenavista del Norte’s development also went hand in hand with the sugar cultivation exercised in the area.

Recently, however, this city suffered a fairly substantial loss. In the year 1996 the Nuestra Señora de los Remedios Church was severely damaged in a fire and although it has been restored since, many priceless historical artefacts perished in the flames.

Culture

Buenavista del Norte is another religious city which prides itself on its historical structures. The Nuestra Señora de los Remedios Church takes centre stage in the central region of the area and commands respect from all onlookers.

It’s not necessary to convert your religion and take a knee inside the church when you visit Buenavista del Norte, but you do need to be respectful of the area and of its ritualised practices.

Buenavista del Norte, like many other areas in Tenerife, is a very laid back place which refuses to rush anything. Drinks may take a while longer to arrive on your table and opening hours may fluctuate, but when you experience the beauty the area has to offer you’ll find it pretty difficult to care!

Economy

The area of Buenavista del Norte does not heavily rely on tourist income. Hotels are not plentiful and tourist-specific attractions are few and far between. Instead, it has emerged as something of a master ‘craft’ town, with products from the area highly in demand from neighbouring lands. Buenavista del Norte’s basket making, wood works, canary knives and bone canes have achieved critical acclaim and provide the area with a certain degree of income.

This area depends on its agricultural market a fair amount. Banana plantations in Buenavista del Norte are plentiful and they generate a sustainable amount of income for the area. The area also harvests potatoes and tomatoes, and the cattle breeding industry here is important for the locals.

Although rare, Buenavista del Norte does have some attractions specifically built and designed for tourists. The most prolific of these types of attractions can be seen in the shape of Buenavista del Norte Golf course. This attraction entices many foreigners to visit the area and it, too, can be seen as a source of income for the area.

How to get there

By Bus:

TITSA bus 107 runs from Santa Cruz all the way to Buenavista del Norte every 2 hours. The town is the last stop on this service too, so it’s pretty difficult to get lost in all honesty. There is a big gap from the 13:15 to the 17:15 buses though so be aware.

If you’re coming from the West then the 355 bus is probably your best bet. This bus also runs every couple of hours and the first one in line leaves at 06:45 in the morning.

If you’re travelling from Puerto de la Cruz then the bus to take is the 363. This bus departs the city every hour, from 06:00 in the morning to 22:00 at night. Buenavista del Norte is also the last stop of this service.

By Car:

If you travel by car then things are a lot simpler. If coming from the south, just follow signs for Autopista Norte TF-5 and turn off onto that motorway when you get a chance. Then, travel to the end of the TF-5 and follow signs to Icod de los Vinos, Garachico and eventually, Buenavista del Norte. This will lead you onto the TF-20 and TF-42A roads, which are smaller than the TF-5 Autopista. If you’re travelling from the North, it’s advisable to simply follow the same route.

Sights

Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios (Church)

The Nuestra Señora de los Remedios church is a stunningly intimidating structure, which was erected in the 16^th century. There has been much renovation to the building since its inception, especially after the tragic fire of 1996, which destroyed the majority of the church along with many priceless artefacts. The church houses a very beautiful, yet sullen, atmosphere and sees locals visiting regularly to pay their respects.

Address: Plaza de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, s/n, 38480 Buenavista del
Telephone: 922 127 027

Punta de Teno (Parque Rural de Teno)

Located on the West coast of Tenerife just past Buenavista del Norte, is a beautiful stretch of scenery by the name of Punta de Teno. The views in the area of Teno are truly breathtaking. Sky-scraping mountains ethereally dance with the clouds at your very feet and on a clear day, you can even see the island of La Palma from up here! There’s also a very old (created in 1895) and a fairly new (1976) lighthouse located on this pretty stretch of coast.

Museums

Museum and Craft Centre, Buenavista del Norte

This museum is located in Masca, a region in the southern area of Buenavista del Norte, and it once resided as the home of a local. As you would expect, it’s not big, but it certainly offers an interesting insight into the rich history and culture of the area.

Alternatively, if you prefer your museums to be a bit larger, you could always take a quick trip to Puerto de la Cruz. Puerto is located on the North coast of the island and it plays host to a whole range of different museums and galleries.

Activities

Buenavista del Norte Golf Course

If you fancy testing out your golf swing then this is a great place to do it. With 18 holes, all year round sun and a lot of beautiful scenery, Buenavista del Norte golf course is a dream come true for any avid golfer.

The course has a par of 72 and a length of over 6,000 metres. Rules dictate that men have, at least, a handicap of 28 and women a handicap of 36, to compete on the course.

Direction: leaving Buenavista del Norte town heading towards the main road, take Autopista TF-445 heading west and follow the signs at the roundabout.
Telephone: (+34) 922 129 034
Opening hours: Open 365 days a year, summer opening hours 09:00 to 20:00.
Fees: Greenfees range from €22 to €76.
Web: www.Buenavista del Nortegolf.es

Beaches

La Masca Beach

Located at the end of Masca Valley is La Masca Beach. Like many of Tenerife’s beaches, the sand in this area is black due to ancient volcanic activity. This, of course, implies that it is wise to stay clear of the beach between the peak hours of overhead sun, as the sand will undoubtedly reach unbearable temperatures. At approximately 400metres long and 15metres wide, La Masca beach is relatively large, and this, coupled with the area’s isolated nature, means that finding space will rarely be a problem. You can gain access to this beach via boat, or alternatively, a 4-kilometre hike. Both sound slightly tenuous, but when you experience the calm, crisp water that La Masca has to offer, you’ll think it was worth every step…(or wave).

Beaches around Punta de Teno area

Buenavista del Norte has many other beaches on its coast too, most notably the pretty, modest beach located on the Punta de Teno stretch and the beach by the Buenavista del Norte golf course. Both of these beaches are very easy on the eye and deserve to be explored.

Restaurants

Restaurante La Cabaña

La Cabaña is located in the city centre and attracts many locals and tourists alike. Fresh fish is the main specialty here, but the poultry dishes are well worth a try too.

Address: Calle del Puerto, 26, 38480 Buenavista del Norte, Tenerife.
Telephone: (+34) 922 127 050
Average price: €15, menu of the day €8.50.

El Burgado

This restaurant offers a pleasant atmosphere at a very reasonable price. The kitchen here serves up a fantastic range of fresh fish which must be tried! This restaurant is 2km (about 5 minutes drive) away from Buenavista town centre, via Autopista TF-445.

Address: Camino del Rincón Playa Las Arenas, 38480 Buenavista, Tenerife.
Telephone: 922 127 831

Nightlife

Bars in Buenavista del Norte are plentiful, but if you’re looking to dance all your troubles away in a club until the early hours of the morning, then you’re better off taking a short bus trip to Puerto de la Cruz. Listed below are some examples of local bars which are worth a try!

Bar Pilón

A very tranquil bar, perfect for those looking to relax and get away from it all. Music is sometimes played through loudspeakers in the evening, however this is limited to love songs of the Spanish variety. €5 here will be more than enough for some food and drink!

Address: Bar Pilón. Pl. Remedios, 13 , 38480 Buenavista del Norte del Norte, Tenerife.

Bar Plaza la Cruz

A slightly livelier bar than the rest, most probably due to its offer to screen live football matches on a near daily basis! €5 in here will set you up with a nice cold beer and some very tasty Spanish food.

Address: Plaza General Eulate, 8, 38480 Buenavista del Norte del Norte, Tenerife.

Shopping

Buenavista del Norte is crammed with shops selling a range of local produce and there’s a supermercado every couple of hundred metres, so buying food will hardly ever be a problem. If you’re looking to get your hands on something branded though, you’d be better off travelling to the neighbouring Icod de los Vinos, which has a range of stylish shops available!