Garachico is a historic town on the north coast of Tenerife, around 22 km west of Puerto de la Cruz. It was founded in 1496 following the Spanish conquest of the island and, for many years, became an important centre for trade between Europe and the Spanish colonies in the Americas. That came to an abrupt end in 1706, when lava from a volcanic eruption destroyed parts of the town and most of its harbour.
Fortunately, Castillo de San Miguel escaped the lava. This relatively small fortress was built in 1575 to protect the town from pirates and was declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 1999. Visitors can go inside, where there is a small art exhibition, as well as excellent views of the coastline from the top of the fortress.
Not all of Garachico was destroyed by the eruption, and the historic centre is a delight to explore. Its narrow streets, relaxed atmosphere and interesting architecture give the town plenty of character. It is not widely known, but experts consider Garachico to have one of the best-preserved historic centres in the Canary Islands.
Next to the fortress is one of Garachico’s main attractions: the natural sea pools of El Caletón. These small seawater pools are surrounded by low volcanic rock formations. There are several flat areas where you can relax in the sun, and the pools are very popular.
Just behind El Caletón is the Rocamar restaurant, which has a wide selection of delicious fish and seafood dishes on the menu. A little further along the road, we recommend stopping for an ice cream at Heladería Artesanal Italiana Fragola. Both places offer lovely views across the Atlantic and towards the small island of Roque de Garachico, which lies around 300 metres offshore.
There are also several other interesting attractions nearby. El Drago Milenario, a dragon tree believed to be more than 1,000 years old, is just 4 km from Garachico, while the beautiful mountain village of Masca is 10 km away and is also well worth a visit.
Garachico on the map
The natural sea pools of El Caletón are located in the western part of the town. To the south-west is Playa de Garachico, a beach covered with stones. The southern tip of the small island of Roque de Garachico can be seen at the top of the map.
