One of Tenerife's first Spanish settlements, Taganana is also one of the most remote villages on the island. On this trip, it's just one of three scenery-packed locations you'll visit, alongside Candelaria and Anaga Country Park. Jonay, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘Anaga Country Park is unique, and it's been listed by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve. It's home to one of the last primeval laurel forests in the world. This mystical forest, known as Laurisilva, is characterized by ancient laurel trees, ferns, mosses, and other endemic plant species.'
In maximum groups of just 30 passengers per trip, you'll travel in a fleet of minibuses to discover hidden Tenerife in style. Up until the 60s, the fishing village of Taganana, where sugarcube house cascade down towards the ocean, was only accessible on foot or by boat. These days, a winding coastal road connects it to the rest of the island. Next we'll head to Candelaria, the religious centre of Tenerife – its waterfront basilica can hold 5,000 faithful – for a spot of sightseeing.
We'll continue up the coastal road towards the whitewashed village of Taganana and a lunch of regional delicacies in an authentic, traditional restaurant. In the afternoon, you'll drive through the mountains to the Anaga Country Park with its deep ravines and forests, a landscape that has remained almost unchanged since the Iron Age. Jonay adds, ‘Anaga's ancient forests are a haven for rare flora and fauna such as the Tenerife blue chaffinch and Bolle's pigeon. There are several species unique to the island.
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