La Orotava

The three-storey house was built in the 16th century and is noteworthy for its carved wooden balconies, not only those on the outer facade but especially those inside the courtyard which are also decorated with subtropical hanging plants. The house functions as a museum, and still has its original furniture as well as a wooden wine press in the back of the courtyard. There is also a large souvenir shop on the ground floor which has an especially good selection of traditional embroidery.

Built in 1592, the museum has exhibits illustrating the tradition of alfombras, volcanic sand 'carpets' used in the Corpus Christi celebrations.

Located in a former 17th-century convent, the museum is devoted to the exhibition of arts and crafts from the Canary Islands, as well as from Latin America and the Philippines. The building is worth seeing in its own right.

Named after the Prussian naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, the view today encompasses many more buildings than it did in his day when he passed through the valley and admired it in 1799. It's unclear whether this exact spot is the same visited by Humboldt (there is also a restaurant and another parking spot with the same name); from both spots however there are fantastic views from La Orotava to Puerto de la Cruz, and on clear days the peak of Teide is also visible. Take a moment too to look in the other direction – on the upper part of the mountain is the Cueva de Bencomo, where it is believed the Guanche king Bencomo once lived.

Visitor centre and ornamental garden displaying Tenerife's native flora. It houses an exhibition that journeys across the island in altitude and historically. Considering free admission, the Centre is worth exploring before climbing Mount Teide to learn about its history.

The Catholic Feast of Corpus Christi has been celebrated in the Canaries since the arrival of the Spanish in the 15th century. As in some other nearby parishes, street processions take place atop elaborate flower 'carpets' (alfombras), laid out the day before by neighbourhood groups, in a tradition practiced since the mid-19th century. Unique to La Orotava is the giant volcanic sand 'carpet' in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. This tradition dates to 1912, and its creation requires several weeks; visitors can observe the process from the upper steps of the plaza.

Given that Teide National Park extends right up to the edge of the city, Orotava is a good starting point for a number of hikes of varying length and difficulty, a few of which can be accessed by public bus. However, the wildfires of 2023 caused massive destruction in the forests above the Orotava valley. As of early 2024, the whole area of the fire is completely off-limits for civilians and virtually all nearby trails are closed. Check the official map for up-to-date information before you head out.