Santiago del Teide

Overview

Santiago del Teide lies in the north-west region of Tenerife, within the municipality of the same name. Los Gigantes, Puerto Santiago and Playa de la Arena are all popular destinations that form part of the municipality of Santiago del Teide. Unlike some towns which give their names to the greater region that surrounds them, Santiago del Teide is not the biggest or the most popular location.

The town runs beside an 800m strip of road that splits the town perfectly. In parts, homes and businesses sit on one side of the road while the Teno mountains tower over them from other. The Teno mountains reach from Santiago del Teide to the north western tip of the island. Although sometimes forgotten about, many say a walk through them is second only to a trip to the national park of Teide.

Santiago del Teide's other landmark is the Iglesia de San Fernando Rey. The church is often the main attraction for visitors making a quick stop in the town. Many tourists prefer the coastal resorts that are found 15km south of Santiago del Teide. With a lack of amenities, family entertainment and beaches, some would struggle to find enough to do here for a week, but this town is a perfect pit stop on the way to a larger resort or for a day trip.

History

Settlements have existed in today's Santiago del Teide ever since the original inhabitants, the Guanche, lived here. After the Spanish invasion however, more emphasis was placed on fishing and inter-island trading instead of their traditional agricultural practices. With the town of Santiago del Teide without a port, one was constructed in Puerto de Santiago (Port of Santiago). As the fishing industry brought wealth to those who would travel from Santiago del Teide, many simply decided to move from Santiago del Teide to live in Puerto Santiago.

In 1909 the island's most recent volcanic eruption occured. Volcán Chinyero erupted for nine days, drastically changing parts of the town. By the 1960's however, a different change was under way. Juan Manuel Capdevielle helped put Los Gigantes on the map for many tourists. The municipality of Santiago del Teide now had its first hotel, with Los Gigantes and Playa de la Arena quickly becoming top tourist attractions. 

The fate of the Santiago del Teide town was not the same. With no beaches, and being 15km away from the nearest resorts, it did not receive the same level of interest. Today it is a quiet town that has a few restaurants and activities for visitors, but it is mainly residential.

Culture

With Santiago del Teide being a mainly residential town, it is a perfect example of true Canarian culture. The houses are built in a style synonymous with traditional architecture. The lack of tourism means that Spanish is usually the only language heard, and many livelihoods are based on agriculture. The small community has a church for local use; there are several doctors, a bank and a petrol station. This town isn't selling its culture to the tourism industry, instead the people are simply living very typical 21^st century Canarian lives.

Economy

Due to the relative lack of tourists visiting Santiago del Teide, only a small proportion of its wealth comes from that industry. The town is much more of an agricultural economy. Tomatoes and bananas are the biggest generators of income, with vineyards and variety of other vegetable plantations bringing money into the town. Money from tourism in Los Gigantes and Playa de la Arena also drips down to the town as they are all part of the same municipality.

How to get there

By Bus:
Four TITSA buses stop at Santiago del Teide. The 325 route departs from Puerto de la Cruz several times a day, taking slightly over an hour to arrive. From the north west of the island, the 355 service departs from Buenavista every couple of hours and takes around 40 minutes to get to Santiago del Teide. The town can be reached from both Playa de las Américas and Icod de los Vinos taking the 460 line. From Playa de las Américas the journey can take up to an hour, and from Icod de los Vinos you will arrive in half an hour. Finally the 462 bus runs four times a day from Guía de Isora, taking half an hour to arrive.

By Car:
Connecting to the TF-82 will get those travelling by car to Santiago del Teide. If arriving from the north west the TF-436 will take you to the town.

Sights

Iglesia de San Fernando Rey (Church)

Originally built in 1679 by Fernando Solórzano, it has since been restored several times. Today it stands as one of the most beautiful churches in Tenerife. Located in the centre of the town square, it is one of the main reasons to stop off in Santiago del Teide. The whitewashed walls beautifully compliment the grey stones that the square is made from. On the left side of the church is a belfry with a simplistic but modern clock face.

The colour found inside the church is a complete contradiction to the grey-scaled exterior. Many religious sculptures and paintings are along the walls and near the altar. The church becomes even more vibrant during fiestas and religious events, with flowers and petals being used as decorations.

Address: Calle la Placeta, 38690 Santiago del Teide, Tenerife.

Señorio del Valle

This tourist complex offers a variety of activities for all the family to enjoy. The site consists of a wine museum, a visitor centre, a restaurant, a café, and horseback riding! With so much to do at Señorio del Valle you might need somewhere to rest for the night, and luckily they have a hotel too. The visitor centre and wine museum give visitors the chance to understand more about the history and traditions of the town; whereas the horseback riding gives the whole family a chance to explore the area in a different way. Samples of locally made products can also be found in the souvenir shop. Señorio del Valle  understands that Santiago del Teide is a good place to make a brief visit, but with so many activities, they hope you'll be staying a little longer.

Street: Avenida de la Iglesia, 38690 Santiago del Teide, Tenerife.
Admission: Varies depending on activities and group size

Museums

Activities

Walking Trails

Santiago del Teide is seen by many as a good starting point for several walking tours. One popular route is to the north west of the island, exploring the Teno mountains. Stretching through small hamlets, farming land, and rock formations, the paths will take you to great heights with fantastic views. Another trail also takes hikers to nearby Arguayo. The short walk is ideal for those not wishing to work up too much of a sweat. Many companies throughout the island provide guided tours through a wide selection of towns, including Santiago del Teide. The Barranco de Masca trail is less than 6km away. TITSA bus departs (and return) 4 times a day from Valle Santiago to Masca.

Picnic Spot

If you are undertaking a long drive to other parts of the island, a stop off at the north entrance to Santiago del Teide is a great place for a picnic. A specially created area benefits from the cooling shadows of trees, park benches, and swings for the children. You may wish to have a look at the nearby Iglesia de San Fernando Rey or just simply enjoy the sights of the Teno mountains.

Señorio del Valle

This tourist complex offers a variety of activities for all the family to enjoy. The site consists of a wine museum, a visitor centre, a restaurant, a café, and horseback riding! With so much to do at Señorio del Valle you might need somewhere to rest for the night, and luckily they have a hotel too. The visitor centre and wine museum give visitors the chance to understand more about the history and traditions of the town; whereas the horseback riding gives the whole family a chance to explore the area in a different way. Samples of locally made products can also be found in the souvenir shop. Señorio del Valle  understands that Santiago del Teide is a good place to make a brief visit, but with so many activities, they hope you'll be staying a little longer.

Address: Avenida de la Iglesia, 38690 Santiago del Teide, Tenerife.
Admission: Varies depending on activities and group size.

Festivals

Festivals in Santiago del Teide are often influenced by the timing of the larger Playa de la Arena and Los Gigantes ones. Santiago del Teide's smaller events consist of visits to the site of the last volcanic eruption, celebrations on Avenida de la Iglesia, and fireworks. The following events take place:

Representación de la Pasión - Holy week of Easter

Camino de Santiago - July

Belén Viviente - December

Restaurants

Restaurante Bodega Chinyero

This restaurant specializes in grill and canarian meat, fish and vegetable dishes. Goat meat, rabbit in sauce and pork knuckles are some of its specialities.

Address: Avenida de la Iglesia, 2-B, 38690 Santiago del Teide, Tenerife.
Telephone: (+34) 922 864 040
Opening hours: Daily 09:00 to 22:30
Average meal: €15.

Bar- Cafeteria Parada

For a beer or quick bite to eat.

Address: Av. Iglesia, 41, 38690 Santiago de Teide, Tenerife.
Telephone: 922863241

Nightlife

Restaurants and bars are not hard to come by. The town is full of small family establishments which sell alcohol until late. There aren't any nightclubs, and the town isn't particularly known for its lively atmosphere. For a quiet few drinks it is ideal, but for a more entertaining night out, a trip to Playa de la Arena is a good idea.

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