Vilaflor is the highest village in the Canary Islands, located at 1,500 meters above sea level in the south of Tenerife. It is the gateway to Teide from the south, guardian of a unique forest of centuries-old pine trees in the world and a perfect setting for those seeking nature, silence, and well-being away from the noise of the coast. And it is exactly here where you will find the Hotel Spa Villalba.
Before we tell you everything you can discover, let us answer the two questions most frequently asked by those planning their visit.
Where is Vilaflor?
Vilaflor de Chasna is a municipality located in the south of Tenerife, in the mountains near the Teide National Park by the TF-21 road. Its altitude of 1,400 meters makes it the highest municipality in the entire Canary archipelago.
When is the best time to visit Vilaflor?
Any time of the year. In summer, it offers cool temperatures when the rest of the island is sweltering. In autumn and winter, the atmosphere becomes especially intimate and quiet, ideal for a romantic getaway or a real disconnection.
Spain’s largest pine trees: Vilaflor’s best-kept secret.
Just over a kilometer from the town center, in the natural area known as Los Paredones, there are two unique trees in the country. The Pino Gordo (Fat Pine) is Spain’s thickest tree: it measures 9.36 meters in circumference, rises 45 meters, and is between 700 and 800 years old. Just 200 meters away, the Pino de las Dos Pernadas (Pine of the Two Legs) is the tallest Canary Island pine in the country, standing at 56.30 meters.
Seeing them in person is an experience that stops time. Their shade covers over 500 square meters. Trying to wrap your arms around them is impossible, but attempting it has become a ritual among those who visit them.
Hiking in Vilaflor: trails for all levels.
Vilaflor is the starting point for some of the best hiking trails in the south of Tenerife.
Ruta del Pino Enano (Dwarf Pine Route).
The most accessible walk from the urban center. It runs under the shade of the pine forest and offers panoramic views of the village with the sea in the background. Perfect for all levels.
GR-131 Camino Natural Anaga-Chasna.
Long-distance route that crosses the municipality connecting the north of the island with the Teide National Park and Arona to the south. Intended for experienced hikers.
Brother Pedro: the first Canarian saint was born here.
Vilaflor is not just nature. It is also history and spirituality. Pedro de San José Betancur, the first Canarian saint of the Catholic Church, was born in Vilaflor in the 17th century. In the village, the chapel built on his birthplace is preserved, its construction started in 1766 and was not completed until the year of his canonization. A detail that speaks to the scale of time in these places.
Gastronomy in Vilaflor: flavors from the summit.
Local cuisine reflects the agricultural and artisan identity of the village: internationally awarded cheeses from Guía de Isora, goat in sauce, potatoes with mojo sauce, wines from the Abona DOP grown in some of the highest vineyards in Spain like those of Bodegas Reverón, and artisan pastries with almond cakes, almond pastries, and rosquetes (ring-shaped biscuits) made in bakeries like Dulcería Hermano Pedro.
At Hotel Spa Villalba, the gastronomic experience goes a step further. Our restaurant La Vendimia works with the flavors and products of this environment to create proposals that make every meal part of the journey.
Local craftsmanship: the Roseta de Vilaflor.
The Roseta de Vilaflor is a centuries-old technique of manual embroidery and lace-making, passed down from mothers to daughters for generations. It is crafted on a circular pillow by distributing pins around which cotton thread is threaded, creating shapes of great delicacy. It had its heyday in this village and then spread throughout Tenerife and Lanzarote.
In stores like Artesanía La Roseta or the multidisciplinary space Mar de Nubes, which brings together more than 60 artisans and 55 producers from all the islands, you can take home a genuine piece of Vilaflor.
Vilaflor is part of Tenerife that you didn’t expect. The Hotel Spa Villalba is the perfect way to experience it.
